Arcadia Publishing

Philadelphia's 1876 Centennial Exhibition.

As part of a series celebrating the history of cities and towns across the nation, this volume showcases the international fair held in Philadelphia to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American independence. Gross and Snyder, both with the Hagley Museum and Library in Greenville, Delaware, chronicle the Centennial Exhibition in period photos and commentary on its organization and exhibits reflecting technological advances and a globalizing consumer society. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Route 66 in California.

It served pioneers, agricultural refugees, cultural icons and burgers. It featured long stretches of desert and a bouquet of neon signs trailing for miles, and its name may be the most recognized of all the roads in America. Stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 was itself a cultural icon long before Milner and Maharis perpetually bisected it, and today efforts are being made to bring it back to its glory days, complete with giant shoe-shaped delis and dancing dragon gates. Enthusiast Duncan, who was born along its splendor and managed to stay there, moves mile by mile as he describes the passage from the desert through the foothills, the Arroyo Secon communities, Hollywood and Beverly Hills. He and his supporters, the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation, provide archival photographs as well as photo essays of the portions of the Route that still stand in all their pastel glory. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)