Dow sketches the 80-year attempt--from1871 to 1951--by his home town to establish itself as the dominate civic entity in Harlan County, Nebraska. Its effort has an unusual outcome, but it still claims to be "the only Republican City in the world."

Beginning in 1912, Detroit's Tiger Stadium provided unmatched access for generations of baseball fans. Based on a classic grandstand design, it expanded throughout the 20th century reflecting the booming industrial city around it. Emphasising utility over adornment and offering more fans affordable seats near the field than any other venue in sports, it was in every sense a working-class ballpark that made the game the central focus. Drawing on the perspectives of historians, architects, fans and players, the authors describe how Tiger Stadium grew and adapted and then, despite the efforts of fans, was abandoned and destroyed. It is a story of corporate welfare, politics and indifference to history pitted against an enduring love of place. Chronological diagrams illustrate the evolution of the playing field.