Books (223)

History often focuses on people of prominence—political, social, and economic leaders. However, the role of “ordinary people” often gets neglected. Sacramento has had many “hidden figures” in its past. These...

Three miles outside California’s jurisdiction amid the second half of the roaring twenties, a handful of bootleggers, gamblers, Mafiosi, and political fixers sank their earnings into a boisterous new venture....

Two young brothers chronicle their 1852 wagon train journey to California, capturing hardships, discoveries, and enduring legacies. In Journal Across the Plains, 1852: The Brothers Verdenal, Missouri to California, pre-teen...

Junkyard Nights is a nocturnal love letter to the ghosts of our automotive past. Follow photographer, Troy Paiva, as he shoots two old school junkyards in California’s agricultural heartland by...

Showcases Pennsylvania's rich railroad history and modern operations through striking photography, highlighting its vital role in U.S. railroading. Although the road names and equipment have radically changed over the past...

This is the untold story of Lewis Chalmers, a Scottish mining capitalist who spent two decades chasing silver sixty miles south of the original Comstock Lode. In lengthy letters to...

This book presents tales of an eager and idealistic young wildlife biologist’s four summers in the wilds of Alaska among Kodiak bears and sockeye salmon. Readers will enjoy the details...

The discovery of gold on the magical date of January 24, 1848, when James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill near Coloma, started a rush that was unprecedented in all...

Lake Sammamish, a freshwater lake located east of Seattle, Washington is nestled among the cities of Issaquah, Bellevue, Redmond, and Sammamish. The shores of the lake have been home to...

Professional and amateur photographers have captured images of Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada, since the invention of the camera. In this photographic journal, we experience the transformation of Lake Tahoe...

The Sweater Girl, Queen of the Silver Screen, Lanita, Nightclub Queen—Lana Turner was known by many nicknames after her rise to fame, most of which she detested. Her private life,...

Lancaster, California Through Time enables the reader to explore the community's architectural legacy, which is constantly changing; although many of its earliest structures have disappeared or exist in dilapidated remains,...

This is a book that takes the reader to destinations in Northern California that most people seldom visit or are even aware of. Venturing into these abandoned worlds, Manol Z....

The establishment of then-Limestone Air Force Base in 1947 was a watershed moment in United States Air Force history, with the air base designed and constructed as a "superbase," able...

The only constant in Hollywood is change, and as the movie business rushes headlong into the digital age, the effects of physical and cultural change can be seen most clearly...

It was a sailor's dream: more than 100 bars, casinos and whorehouses, just a short boat ride across the Napa River that separated the sprawling Mare Island Naval Shipyard from...

Making sense of Monroe is problematic. Her so-called autobiography cannot be relied upon, not least because she was insecure, introspective and unable to even make sense of herself There has...

Established during World War II, Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) has supported the defense of the United States for nearly eight decades. Originally a heavy bomber training base, Great Falls...

In 1832, the captain of the brigantine Catalina ordered Scotsman James Black, dying of typhus, abandoned at Monterey, California. Nursed by J. B. R. Cooper's wife, Black survived to hunt...

The Mendocino Coast is known for its breathtaking beauty. Jagged cliffs surround pristine beaches. Giant redwoods follow the coastline. It’s no surprise that many movies have been filmed here. Artists...

The history of Marin County is intimately connected with the birth and early growth of the state of California. Marin is home to one of the last Spanish missions and...

More Moments in Marin History: Familiar Tales and Untold Stories, Volume II is a collection of historical photographs and accompanying articles that first appeared in the Marin Independent Journal newspaper....

Mountains and Molehills is essential reading for anyone wishing to build a mental picture of San Francisco and the Sacramento areas during the period of the Gold Rush from 1850...

Mountains and Molehills is essential reading for anyone wishing to build a mental picture of San Francisco and the Sacramento areas during the period of the Gold Rush from 1850...

Murder for hire plots, conspiracy to commit murder, and contract killings may seem like something that only happens in the Mafia, but Oregon has had more than its fair share...

Northern California has a fascinating criminal history. Some of America’s most infamous criminals and outlaws lived and died in the area, including John Paul Chase, partner of Public Enemy Number...

Against the backdrop of majestic mountains, rivers, and streams that showcase Oregon’s beauty lie many true crime stories. Hidden amongst the otherwise serene landscape are murderers and serial killers. Read...

Southern California can be called a sunny place for shady people. Its criminal history is as rich and varied as anywhere. Old West outlaws, serial killers, gangsters and thieves have...

Washington may be known as the Evergreen State but hidden amongst the evergreen trees are true crime stories spanning the past century. Come and explore the Ghoul of Gray’s Harbor...

Murder is shocking. The savagery of Elizabeth Short’s (also known as the Black Dahlia) slaying was beyond anything Los Angeles, indeed the U.S., had experienced. Short would not be the...

Las Vegas is a city of glimmering lights, tanned celebrities, and mega-resorts. Every year, millions of tourists visit, seeking time in the sun, entertainment, and perhaps to return home with...

Before Las Vegas became the entertainment capital of the world, there was Reno. Known as the Biggest Little City in the World, Reno was the legalized gambling, prostitution, and divorce...

John Charles Frémont—popularly known as "The Pathfinder" during his times—played a major role in opening up the American West to settlement by pioneers. His reliable accounts, including published maps, narrations,...

Night Salvage is a nocturnal love letter to three rarely seen collections of junk cars, lost in the deserts of Southern California. Follow the author as he haunts these vehicular...

The city of North Ogden, Utah, that we know today has seen many changes through the years. Although the majestic Ben Lomond Peak still towers over the city, homes continue...

This family saga of westward migration is told through the voices of people who lived 100 years ago by means of letters, diaries, oral history and photographs. It includes a...