Name: Route 66 St. Louis Style
Brand: Joseph R. Sonderman
SKU: 9781467160575
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Route 66 St. Louis Style

9781467160575

$24.99

For Route 66 to become the most famous highway in history, it had to pass through the "Gateway to the West." St. Louis is the largest city between Chicago and Los Angeles, and "St. Louee" comes first on the list of those that Nat King Cole and many other artists sang out on "(Get Your Kicks) on Route 66." The highway took a maze of different routes, including crossing the greatest of rivers on a bridge with a bend right in the middle. The roadside was lined with flashing neon, classic diners and gas stations where attendants provided speedy service. Also, there were classic amusement parks, drive-in theaters, a man selling frozen custard from a building adorned with wooden icicles, and a motel with a racy but beloved reputation.
Joe Sonderman is a St. Louis area radio personality and traffic reporter who has been writing books on Route 66 for 15 years. Since that first work, he has been collecting Route 66 postcards and photographs, some never published before, along with new research on the paths Route 66 took through the area to come up with an entirely new look at Route 66 St. Louis Style .

Route 66 in Missouri

9781467102667

$24.99

Route 66 is the "Main Street of America," heralded in song and popular culture. It took a maze of different routes through St. Louis before slashing diagonally across the "Show-Me State" through the beauty of the Ozarks. In between, there are classic motels, diners, tourist traps, and gas stations bathed in flashing and whirling neon lights. Natural wonders include crystal-clear streams, majestic bluffs, and wondrous caverns. Roadside marketers concocted legends about Jesse James, painted advertisements on barns, lived with deadly snakes, or offered curios such as pottery and handwoven baskets. That spirit is alive today at the Wagon Wheel and the Munger-Moss, the Mule, Meramec Caverns, and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, just to name a few. Their stories are included here.

St. Louis

9781467104616

$24.99

Founded as a humble trading post along the Mississippi River 250 years ago, St. Louis has since grown into a thriving metropolis. It appears to be a calm city, but like the mighty Mississippi, it has powerful undercurrents. Known as the "Gateway to the West," St. Louis was a port city and home to many manufacturing businesses making everything from shoes to ships. St. Louis, though, is perhaps best known for its breweries and distilleries. St. Louis: Out and About in the Gateway City captures the energy of people bustling along the street, dining out and going to movies, hopping a trolley, swimming, picnicking, clip-clopping along in horse and carriage, ice skating, or driving an automobile. It also touches upon issues of the day that had to be overcome-suffrage, the Great Depression, and civil rights, to name a few-and shows the resilient spirit of the people of St. Louis.

Highway 61 through Minnesota

9781467106931

$23.99

Driving on Highway 61 through Minnesota provides a rare opportunity for one to see virtually every type of landscape in the North Star State. Along the highway's path are pastoral farms and towering bluffs, as well as the largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior. There are picturesque small towns and populous cities, yet stretches of the highway have been abandoned. Despite Highway 61's east-west counterpart Route 66 getting more attention, the north-south byway is arguably the most fascinating stretch of road in the country. Throughout the highway's history, music lovers, foodies, and thrill seekers alike have discovered its fun and uniqueness. The 1,400-mile highway signals where the West begins and has a fabulous history that can be traced from the civil rights movement to the development of various genres of music, including jazz, blues, and alternative rock. Famous Americans such as Mark Twain, Bob Dylan, Jessica Lange, and even Kermit the Frog keep the highway in the national psyche.

Iowa City

9781467161060

$24.99

Truly a frontier town when it was founded in 1839, Iowa City was created to become the new capital of Iowa Territory.

Author Tom Schulein has been researching and speaking widely on Iowa City history for over a decade. With the arrival of the railroad in 1855, growth was rapid, and is now known variously as an "Athens of the West," a UNESCO City of Literature, and the "Greatest Small City for the Arts."

Forest Lake

9781467160254

$24.99

Like so many of the places that lined the route from St. Paul to Duluth, Forest Lake came of age as a railroad town and was first incorporated as a township in 1874. Situated on a lake by the same name, it soon became known as a resort town where many residents from the Twin Cities could leave their cares behind for some fishing and sunbathing. Because of its secluded nature, it also attracted well-known gangsters of the era. Minnesota native George "Bugs" Moran had a hideout near the lake, as did the Ma Barker gang. As the resort traffic dried up, progress soon took over, and with it came residential development and downtown revitalization. Today, Forest Lake's population has increased nearly twentyfold and continues to attract visitors to its pristine lakes.

Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park

9780738551296

$24.99

In 1883, two notable individuals traveled along similar, yet later diverging paths from the eastern United States to a hamlet located on the west bank of the Little Missouri River in southwestern North Dakota. Both men, the Marquis de Mores and Theodore Roosevelt, were to distinguish themselves as wealthy cattle ranchers within months of arriving on what was then the western Dakota frontier. The names of both individuals continue to resound through the historical chapters that shaped this part of the American landscape.

Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Joslyn Castle

9781467107976

$23.99

In the spring of 1893, media titans George and Sarah Joslyn bought a farm in Omaha, Nebraska, that would prove to be one of the city's most noteworthy real estate transfers. On this land, the Joslyns would construct a transformational home that would become an Omaha landmark known as Joslyn Castle, a Scottish baronial-style home built of limestone from neighboring Kansas. They chose their good friend, Canadian-born architect John McDonald, to design the residence, and he did so in grand style. Over the years, the Joslyn Castle has survived a devastating tornado, served as a home base for the administrative staff of the Omaha Public Schools, and charmed thousands of visitors who have come to tour the grounds. It stands today as a reminder of a bygone era and the dream of the Joslyns, who shared their home--and their wealth--with the city they loved so much.

Custer State Park

9780738534053

$24.99

Custer State Park is one of the largest and most beautiful state parks in the nation. From towering granite spires and pine-draped mountains to trout streams and remote savanna, the park offers scenic wonders and recreational opportunities seldom matched on the Northern Great Plains. First established as a state forest in 1912, today the park is home to one of the largest bison herds in the country, as well as other rare flora and fauna. Prior to settlement, the Black Hills were Lakota territory. After gold was discovered along French Creek in 1874, the government waged war on the Lakota, forcing them onto reservations, and settlers rushed to the region. Photos and narrative in this book provide an intriguing overview of the park's rich natural and social history. Whether the subject is Cathedral Spires or Sylvan Lake, General George Custer or Black Elk, Custer State Park will engage those who value history and the last few unspoiled places left in the country.

Deadwood's Mount Moriah Cemetery

9781467126441

$24.99

Nestled on a mountainous plateau overlooking Deadwood's downtown core district is one of the premier historic cemeteries in Black Hills: Mount Moriah Cemetery. Established in 1878, this cemetery contains some of North America's most recognized Western legends, including James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, Martha "Calamity Jane" Canary, Seth Bullock, John "Potato Creek Johnny" Perrett, and Henry Weston "Preacher" Smith. They represent a small portion of the more than 3,600 people buried in Mount Moriah whose memories have been carved, chiseled, and etched into the monuments within this cemetery. Deadwood's Mount Moriah Cemetery is a combination of historic and contemporary photographs chronicling the history of the cemetery and the stories of the individuals--both colorful and illustrious--who helped carve Deadwood into the annals of the American West.

Forest Park

9781467125802

$24.99

At 1,293 acres, Forest Park exceeds the size of New York's Central Park by nearly 500 acres, and within are lakes, hills, wetlands, woodlands, and bountiful recreational opportunities. Within a few decades of its 1876 opening, Forest Park became the host for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, as well as the 1904 Summer Olympics. Known as the "Heart of St. Louis," the park features amazing attractions, such as the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, The Muny, and the Saint Louis Science Center. Millions of Americans have come to Forest Park for world-class festivities and for celebrations of heroes, from Lewis and Clark to explorers of outer space. Today, the park continues to host remarkable events, including Fair St. Louis, Earth Day, Shakespeare in the Park, and LouFest.

Hutchinson and Reno County

9781467109192

$23.99

Reno County was founded in 1871, and immediately settlers began arriving to break ground on a new frontier. Life here progressed as in most other Kansas counties until the discovery of salt in 1887. Three railroads competed to establish routes to bring the coal in for the manufacturing process and to ship the salt out. The growth of railroads and the central location of Reno County in Kansas created a hub of activity for the grain industry. Hutchinson became the first town founded in Reno County in 1872 when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad reached the banks of the Arkansas River. Shortly after, Hutchinson became the county seat and from then on has been at the center of the dramatic changes that have come to the county. Throughout the 20th century, fortunes and empires were built on wheat and salt. Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2021, Reno County continues to make a national impact with these two industries.

Minneapolis's Lake District

9781467161299

$24.99

Named for the network of lakes and waterways stretching along the city's western edge, the Lake District helps define Minneapolis as a place of great natural beauty.

With stately homes lining the parkways surrounding these bodies of water, the district may convey an image of affluence and prestige, but the district is not an exclusive preserve of the well-to-do. People from all walks of life flock to the area's parks and lakes that serve as public playgrounds for the entire region. The Lake District was not always the public amenity that it is today. During the late 19th century, much of the area consisted of marshy swamps that had little recreational or economic value. It took a group of forward-looking civic leaders to recognize the undeveloped area's potential. In the 1880s, they came together to form the Minneapolis Park Board, the public agency that would acquire and improve the lakes, preserving them for future generations.

Iric Nathanson tells the story of this appealing urban district using archival images from the Hennepin County Library Special Collections and the Minnesota Historical Society. Nathanson's most recent work, University Avenue of the Twin Cities, was published in 2023 as part of Arcadia's Images of America series.

Presque Isle State Park

9780738575414

$24.99

Presque Isle State Park, a peninsula extending seven miles into Lake Erie, attracts four million visitors each year. Since the late 1800s, it has been both an ecological and recreational paradise. It is a place where visitors can enjoy solitude, reflection, and the wonders of nature in addition to the sand and sun. Since 1814, man has been struggling against the forces of nature to protect Presque Isle from the storms that move in off Lake Erie and cause destruction and erosion. Through vintage images gathered from the collections of the author, Erie County Historical Society, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and various local sources, Presque Isle State Park reflects the history and special aura of the park known as a place for all seasons.

Kansas City's Historic Hyde Park

9780738588506

$24.99

Hyde Park, located on Westport's outskirts south of early Kansas City, was the first stop on the long trek down the Santa Fe Trail. Good pasture and a natural cave spring were early attributes. During the real estate boom of the 1880s, the area was platted, but the crash of 1888 intervened, and only a few houses were built. By 1900, with the recovery of the economy and the development of Janssen Place as a private street, the area became the preferred community for Kansas City's wealthy. The architectural style is Queen Anne, Prairie School, Neo-Georgian, Colonial Revival, Kansas City Shirtwaist, and Shingle. These homes glitter with original brass fixtures, lead and stained-glass windows, and oak, mahogany, and walnut interiors. Some of Kansas City's most famous and notorious have lived in Hyde Park, from wealthy businessmen and entertainment stars to serial killers.

McDonald County

9781467107389

$23.99

Wichita's Riverside Parks

9780738583723

$24.99

Wichita was founded in 1870 at the junction of the Little and Big Arkansas Rivers in south central Kansas. From the very beginning, the rivers have been a focus for social and recreational activity. Parks, both public and private, were established along these waterways near downtown to capitalize on this natural asset and have gone through many changes. Some of these parks are now over 100 years old, but one no longer exists, having literally been dug up and hauled away in wheelbarrows in 1933. This book chronicles many of the colorful activities and events that have occurred in these parks over the years, and shows how vital they are in the Wichita of today.

Livingston County

9781467160124

$23.99

By 1833, settlers began arriving in what became Livingston County, Missouri. The first railroad to span the state cut through the county in 1859, and more followed, which led to the founding of new towns along the railways. Residents built successful farms, schools, churches, and businesses. They served their country in the military. Chillicothe was awarded the State Industrial Home for Girls in 1889. Allen Moore founded the Chillicothe Normal School in 1890, choosing Livingston County because of its "progressive spirit." Rosina Dome was the first Livingston County woman to cast a vote. Lulu May Ott was the only female poultry judge in Missouri in 1915. In 1928, in Frank Bench's bakery in Chillicothe, a loaf of bread was commercially sliced and sold for the first time. Life in Livingston County included races, circuses, theatres, train wrecks, sports, and the Great Flood of 1909. Residents still exemplify a forward-thinking spirit. The history of Livingston County is presented here via rich images uncovered by the authors, Kirsten Mouton and Brenda Anderson O'Halloran, from the collections of the Livingston County Library and the Grand River Historical Society Museum, as well as treasured photographs from the private collections of longtime local families. Many of these pictures have never been shared with the public.

North Dakota Rodeo

9780738582535

$24.99

Rodeos have been around in what is now North Dakota since the early cattle drives brought cattle and ranching to the Northern Plains and Badlands. The horse culture was there much earlier, as Native American tribes used horses for transportation and hunting. Simpler than modern events, early-day rodeos offered a Sunday recreational activity after six days of hard work. Today's rodeo is much different than in the late 1800s and brings out a diverse audience--not just cowboys, cowgirls, and ranchers but also city slickers, families, white- and blue-color workers, and first-time visitors to the state and country.

Badlands National Park

9780738532264

$24.99

The South Dakota Badlands seldom fails to stir a sense of wonder to those who encounter its surreal landscape for the first time. From a distance, the eroded formations look like the ruins of an alabaster city, but upon closer inspection, the sculptured terrain appears rough and rugged. Within these pages of historic photographs, the remarkable story of the Badlands unfolds. After the process of geological changes, Indians came to the Badlands on seasonal hunting trips. In the mid 1800s, fur traders, fossil hunters, and freight haulers passed through to places more hospitable. Cattlemen and homesteaders arrived in the 1890s, intent on staying, but most gave up and left. To preserve its grandeur, Congressman Peter Norbeck and his associate Ben Millard worked for many years to set aside thousands of acres of the unyielding land for a national monument in 1939. The Badlands became a national park in 1978.

Gay and Lesbian St. Louis

9781467115926

$24.99

In the late 19th century, St. Louis--America's fourth-largest city--was a hub of robust commerce and risqué entertainment. It provided an oasis for those who lived "in the shadows." Since 1764, the Gateway to the West's LGBT community has experienced countless struggles and successes, including protests, arrests, murders, celebrations, and parades. St. Louis had its own version of Stonewall in October 1969 and is the hometown of icons such as Tennessee Williams and Josephine Baker. A colorful array of activists, drag queens, leather men, artists, academics, business leaders, and everyday folks have contributed to the rich fabric of the lesbian and gay community in St. Louis.