Books, Noted
Architectural Follies in America
Gwyn Headley, 1996
An illustrated guide to this British author's selection of 130 individual and unusual structures, from the hand-built castles of reclusive visionaries, to the derivative casino tombs of Las Vegas. Some unusual discoveries.
Road Trip USA: Cross Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways
Jamie Jensen, 1996
From the guidebook veterans Moon Publications, who produce the most consistent state-by state guides in the US, comes this new guidebook to attractions along selected highways. Highlights the usual historical and cultural sites, but presents the information in a linear format, which is more compatible to today's type of touring.
A Sense of Place
J.B. Jackson, 1994
A collection of recent of essays by the great landscape geographer. The balance and breadth of Jackson's observations is inspirational.
Floating West, The Erie and Other American Canals
Russel Bourne, 1992
America's canal system is often romanticized into non-reality, however, the remains of this massive transportation infrastructure lurk in and around the overgrown countryside. Bourne's book is an historical account of the building of some of the major canals, focusing on New York State..
Getting There: The Epic Struggle Between Road and Rail in the American Century
Stephen B. Goddard, 1994
An historical account of the battle of industrial barons and the evolution of America's dominant transportation systems.
The Mojave: A Portrait of the Definitive American Desert
David Darlington, 1996
Darlingon depicts the present day Mojave by telling a few tales of land use conflicts, and introducing us to some of its more vocal denizens, including the outspoken local historian Dennis Casebier.
The Lawn: A History of an American Obsession
Virginia Scott Jenkins, 1994
An entertaining and informative volume on this high-impact, small-scale land use. Taken together, the lawns of America cover 30 million acres, and support multi-billion dollar chemical, service, and mechanical industries.