Fort Sheridan is a national historic treasure nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan. It was established as an army base in 1887 and decommissioned in 1993, giving way to its rebirth as a township and forest preserve. Laura Tucker, a six-year resident, avid photographer, and Fort Sheridan enthusiast, has researched and compiled a collection of photographs and facts that highlight the ever-changing uses of the structures and the chameleon-like personality...

Formed in 1790, Patrick County is named for the Commonwealth of Virginia's first governor, Patrick Henry, who lived in neighboring Henry County. Located along the border of North Carolina where the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachian Range cross the state line, the "Free State of Patrick" is half piedmont and half mountain plateau. This dividing geographic feature is reflected in the mountain people of Scots-Irish and German descent along with...

Established in 1895 when other factory towns consisted of shabby mill-owned structures and dirt streets, Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, was uniquely designed by the firm of Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot to be greener and more architecturally pleasing for residents. The town's early emphasis on green space and resident-owned homes was ahead of its time, and aspects of its history continue to surprise even residents.

Permanently settled in 1645, the farming town of Gravesend, Long Island, was annexed to the city (now borough) of Brooklyn, New York, in 1894. Few reminders from Gravesend's rural days survive around the urban landscape it has become. Even its more recent past is quickly disappearing.

Perth Amboy, New Jersey, has undergone significant changes since it was settled by Europeans in 1651. It is a constantly evolving community, as seen in its famous waterfront, architecture, and industries that have developed throughout the years.

The pace of redevelopment has accelerated in recent years along Tampa Bay's gulf beaches, leaving tourists and residents alike in awe. This volume provides a glimpse at the beaches as they were and as they are today, and opens a whole new window to view the development that both enhances and threatens the barrier islands. Author R. Wayne Ayers and photographer Nancy Ayers, residents of Belleair Beach, are actively involved in chronicling and preserving...

The rushing Nolichucky River cut deep gorges into Unicoi County's landscape, and the railroad laid track for the town of Erwin's future. Formed in 1875, Unicoi County's 201 square miles border North Carolina, with nearly 50 percent of the land protected by the U.S. government. Known as "the Valley Beautiful," this community comes alive through images of yesterday and today.

Etowah County, located in northeast Alabama, was formed in 1866 from parts of Marshall, Calhoun, St. Clair, DeKalb, Blount, and Cherokee Counties. Originally known as Baine, the area was named Etowah County in 1868. Although the smallest county in Alabama in land area, Etowah is rich in local history.

Salem, Massachusetts, is a little city steeped in history. Known as the Witch City for the Puritan witchcraft trials of 1692, Salem boasts a rich heritage as a major East India seaport. Trading with China made Salem the richest city in America, generating a living architectural history. As Salem developed, it preserved much of its history.

Saginaw is the hub of mid-Michigan and had its beginnings in the 1820s with the establishment of Fort Saginaw near present-day Court and Hamilton Streets. Owing to the lumber industry, two separate cities developed along the banks of the Saginaw River: the west side city of Saginaw and East Saginaw. Intense rivalry resulted in rapid population growth and many civic improvements for both. Consolidation of the Saginaws occurred in 1890, and continued...