Anthony M. Sammarco is a noted historian and author of over seventy books on the history and development of Boston, and he lectures widely on the history of his native city. His books Lost Boston, The History of Howard Johnson's: How A Massachusetts Soda Fountain Became a Roadside Icon, Christmas Traditions in Boston, and The Baker Chocolate Company: A Sweet History have been bestsellers.
In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony banned by law the celebration of Christmas as it was deemed to be a time of seasonal excess with no Biblical...
The Church of the Holy Spirit was founded by Annie Lawrence Rotch as a memorial to her father, Benjamin Smith Rotch. She said in her booklet, Early Days of the...
When Samuel Stillman Pierce opened his store in 1831, he vowed, “I may not make money for the next five years, but I shall make a reputation.” Pierce went on...
Milton Cemetery's evolving landscape and storied headstones vividly reveal centuries of Milton's diverse historic legacy. Laid out in 1672 as the Field of Reedman, Milton Cemetery evolved over the next...
The Christmas Tree Shops was an icon of New England, with stores that offered a diverse assortment of merchandise from seasonal decorations, home decor, housewares, food and giftware, and just...
St. Michael's Church in Milton, Massachusetts, was built in 1898 as an "early English style of architecture," composed of rough coursed granite blocks set in a random ashlar design with...
Noah Webster described Thanksgiving as “The act of rendering thanks or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies,” and it has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789. Governors of...
Valentine’s Day Traditions in Boston is a fun and interesting way to recall the holiday from the exchange of Valentine cards in day school to the cards, candy, and flowers...
Noah Webster describes Easter as “an annual Christian festival in the spring, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.” Though a solemn religious holiday preceded by forty days of Lent and a...
Noah Webster identifies Halloween as “October 31: observed especially with dressing up in disguise, trick-or-treating, and displaying jack o'lanterns during the evening.” Concise and correct, but it is so much...
Inferno: The Great Boston Fire of 1872 was written to commemorate the 150th anniversary of a devastating fire that destroyed sixty-five acres of land in Boston, from Washington Street, between...
The name Mattapan originated with the Neponset Tribe of the Massachusett Indians, a tribe of the Massachusetts confederation of Native Americans. For well over 200 years, the area remained farms...
The Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston has long been a thriving nexus of cultures, with residents of all walks of life, including numerous workers in the medical field, making it...
Kenmore Square and The Fenway of Boston Through Time chronicles the history and development of an area of the city of Boston that only began in the early nineteenth century....
The Other Red Line is literally the connecting point between Scollay Square and the Combat Zone, the two preeminent adult entertainment districts in Boston. With burlesque houses such as the...
Beacon Hill is not just the location of the Massachusetts State House but is a neighborhood which has evolved over the last two centuries as a thriving nexus of cultures....
Known in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as the Jamaica End of Roxbury, the neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, evolved from agrarian farmland for over 200 years into one of...
In his new book East Boston Through Time, Anthony Sammarco outlines a neighborhood of the city of Boston which was once known as Noddle’s Island, one of five islands that...
In his new book Anthony M. Sammarco outlines the Back Bay of Boston, a neighborhood of the city that is not just the quintessential Victorian neighborhood of the 19th century,...
Brighton and Allston Through Time outlines a neighborhood of the city of Boston which was once known as Little Cambridge before it became an independent town from Cambridge in 1807....
Excellent book! It was such a good read, that I couldn't put it down. There were great stories with lots of interesting facts. Barry's writing style makes the reading informative and interesting. And each story includes amazing photographs that brought me right there to the scene of the action.
📸✨ Just picked up NolaDeej’s *Deserted New Orleans* and it is outstanding!
It is outstanding to learn the history of abandoned New Orleans from a true native who knows every back road and forgotten corner of the city. His passion for the lost and forgotten is evident on every single page — you can feel the respect and wonder in his words and photos as he brings those haunting landmarks back to life.
The images pull you right in, capturing that beautiful Southern decay and the stories time tried to erase. It’s the kind of book that makes you slow down, linger, and really see the magic in what most folks drive right past.
Highly recommended for your coffee table — it’s one you’ll keep coming back to with your morning coffee, flipping through and getting lost in the history all over again. If you love urban exploration, Southern charm, or just damn good storytelling through pictures, this one’s a must-have. 🤠📖
Big thanks to NolaDeej for sharing his hometown’s hidden side with the world!
Deserted New Orleans: A Journey Through Abandoned Landmarks
Stephanie
This author does an excellent job at explaining the importance and history behind these now abandoned buildings. The photographs in this book are breathtaking. Every page you turn feels like you’re transported back in time. I highly recommend this book if you’re interested in history and abandoned asylums. 100/10!
Abandoned Asylums and Institutions of Massachusetts: The Bay State of Decay Rises
Rosa
Incredible history of New jersey’s southern beaches towns with great photos!
I purchased this second volume of the Ocean Access series; part one was for the northern beaches (point pleasant, LBI) - this one covers those between Atlantic City and Cape May. While I’ve been to both of these towns, I’ve never made to the other ones featured in this book and WOW - they look amazing. Avalon, Sea isle City, Stone Harbor - The photos in this book make these towns look like postcards. I always wanted to learn about how these shore towns began, and these two Ocean Access books explain it perfectly.
Ocean Access: The Beachfront Towns of Atlantic & Cape May County, New Jersey
Ruth Mattingly
Great Asylum Documentation
Excellent documentation of the many asylums of New York. Great photography and plenty of interesting facts. Also a great explorer :)
Abandoned Asylums and Institutions of New York: The Empire State Strikes Back
C Sonder
“Memphis: Juke Joints, Civil Rights, and Soulful Nights” by Adam David is a heartfelt photographic tribute to the rich history and vibrant culture of Memphis. Through compelling street photography, David captures the city’s essence—from its musical heritage and civil rights landmarks to the enduring spirit of its people. This collection not only showcases iconic scenes but also delves into the narratives that have shaped Memphis, making it a must-have for both locals and visitors seeking a deeper connection to the city and the indelible mark it made on the blues and beyond.
Memphis: Juke Joints, Civil Rights, and Soulful Nights
