Arizona's 20 national parks and monuments celebrate the natural wonders and rich heritage of Arizona, preserved through the efforts of countless citizens and the American Antiquities Act of 1906. Aggressively implemented by eight US presidents, this legislation permits the president to unilaterally proclaim sites as national monuments without congressional action. The Antiquities Act was applied in Arizona 23 times, more so than any other state in the union. Using more than 200 historical photographs, many of which have never been published, this book contains the stories of the creation of each of Arizona's national parks and monuments, emphasizing the importance of the landscape and cultural heritage to Arizona's identity.

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, seeking to create a strategic outpost for New France, built Fort Toulouse in Creek territory. This area would eventually become Wetumpka, located on the banks of the Coosa River and standing at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. The fort became the headquarters for Gen. Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812, and later it was where Creek Indians ceded their lands to the federal government. Wetumpka's presence was also large outside of military endeavors. During the cotton boom, two years after the city's incorporation in 1834, a New York newspaper declared it and Chicago, Illinois, the "two most promising cities in the West." Although fire, floods, and the Civil War hindered growth, infrastructural transformations and cultural additions have helped mold modern Wetumpka into the "City of Natural Beauty" and propel it to occasional roles on the big screen.

In the heart of central Kentucky Bluegrass country, Lexington boasts a long, proud history reaching far back before this "Horse Capital of the World" reared its first thoroughbred. Early Lexingtonians built an intellectual and economic center from their frontier outpost and quickly claimed the first college, newspaper, and millionaire west of the Alleghenies -- among many other firsts.

Mount Juliet was born on the headwaters of Stoner's (Lick) Creek, which was named after 18th-century long hunter Michael Stoner. The small agrarian community had a handful of families who raised cattle and were dedicated to digging into the rocky soil, planting crops to make ends meet. Plans moved full-steam ahead for the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad. God-fearing country folks filled churches, while others lifted their spirits at Eagle Tavern. Some historians say the city's moniker derived from a manor in County Kilkenny, Ireland. As time progressed, images of the bucolic setting faded, and a modern-day frontier of infrastructure took shape. Adjacent to Nashville, the country music capital, Mount Juliet was in a prime position for growth. The city became home for producing pioneer Owen Bradley, who helped make Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn legendary entertainers, and country icon Charlie Daniels. The "City Between the Lakes" is now one of the state's fastest growing communities, boasting nearly 400 new houses each year and a new business permit every two days.

Ocean City Beach Patrol is the story of the elite group of men and women who serve as guards along the sandy beaches and gently rolling surf of Ocean City, an eight-mile-long barrier island off the coast of southern New Jersey. Although the coastline slopes gradually into the sea and the water is generally calm, deadly rip currents and strong undertows can occur at any time. Thus, the lifeguards often risk their lives to protect the thousands of bathers enjoying these waters each summer.

Marines of Washington, D.C. takes the reader on a visual tour that explores the dynamic history of the United States Marine Corps in the nation's capital. The Marines have played an integral role in the development of the social, structural, and political landscape of Washington for over 200 years. This volume traces the history of the Marines from the founding of the "Oldest Post of the Corps," Marine Barracks Washington in 1801, to participation in the War of 1812, the Civil War, the World Wars, and into the modern day. Explore the lasting impact of famous Marines, including Commandant Archibald Henderson, Marine Band Director John Phillip Sousa, and Commandants Alfred M. Grey and John A. Lejeune. Marines of Washington, D.C. highlights the unique relationship between the Marines of the nation's capital, the President, and the citizens of the United States they serve.

Wawa has more than two hundred years of history in American business. Founded in 1803 and incorporated in 1865, Wawa has roots in the manufacture of cast-iron water pipes and decorative lampposts. Using the resources and surplus water power from the iron business, the family opened a cotton mill and began producing cotton piece goods, including Red Star diapers. The first Wawa milk plant opened in 1902; by the late 1950s, the Wawa Dairy had expanded its home delivery business to include over one hundred forty-five routes. The first Wawa Food Market opened on April 16, 1964. Today, the company is familiar to many as a chain of five hundred forty convenience stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia that offers a wide selection of fresh foods, coffee, and gasoline. Wawa contains vintage images documenting the evolution of the company as it adapted to changing economic and social conditions. From the early days of iron manufacture to the opening of the first store in Folsom, Pennsylvania, Wawa brings to life the many facets of one of America's top privately owned companies.

On April 22, 1889, the federal government opened the unassigned lands in central Oklahoma for settlement. Entrepreneurs, cattlemen, and farmers, all seeking new opportunities, anxiously staked their claim to town lots and 160-acre homesteads. From their tents on Norman's Main Street, businessmen started to sell their wares. Tents soon gave way to wooden shacks and, finally, two-story brick buildings. By the beginning of the 20th century, Norman was a bustling frontier town that quickly matured into a trade center, a county seat, and a university town. In the 1940s, Norman became the home of the Naval Air Technical Training Center, a naval base constructed to train navy pilots and ground support crews for World War II.