They steamed westward with America, carrying goods and people to the new frontier. They powered through the industrial revolution, moving with the times. And they transported a nation in motion, soldiers and settlers and ...

For the aficionado of farm equipment, or the scion of an old farming family nostalgic for the old days, or the grown-up boy who still loves a classic piece of old-time machinery, the vintage tractor can be a thrilling find like no other. This boo...

How did he do it?  So many years later, it’s still the question guitar aficionados ask about Jimi Hendrix, whose music was like nobody else’s.  Song by song, album by album, concert by concert, this book analyzes how Hendrix achieved that s...

In the mid-1970s, the city of Boston entered a period of upheaval on both its historic cobblestone streets and its legendary parquet basketball court. The Boston Celtics’ long dominance of the NBA came to an abrupt end, and the city's image as a hub of social justice was...

Here is the definitive guide for the digital camera enthusiast. This book is a practical, step-by-step handbook  for those who want to make the leap from compact digital or film SLR to digital SLR, or existing SLR owners who are ready for the ne...

The spirit of Colorado’s land is mirrored in all who prize its wildness and seek its preservation. Its sublime mountains, sun-dazzled plains, rugged canyons, wildflower-splashed meadows, and crystalline waters have long inspired people from div...

By the time it was merged into the Union Pacific in 1995, the Chicago & North Western was one of the nations oldest surviving railroads, a testament to the Midwestern stoicism with which it had gone about its business since 1859. This illustrate...

As Americas first common-carrier railroad--a railroad mandated to operate for the public and for commerce--the Baltimore & Ohio set the stage for North American railway development. And as such, the railroad racked up a remarkable list of firsts...

As pets or livestock, goats are increasingly popular animals on farms large and small. Easier and cheaper to keep than many larger animals, they will keep a pony company, pull a cart, and produce the perfect milk for many artisan cheeses or meat...

Created by an act of Congress in 1862 and surviving intact as one of only seven Class I railroads in North America today, the Union Pacific is rightly considered by many to be the quintessential U.S. railroad. Its history has featured key figure...

From sprawling beaches to dramatic cliffs, the landscapes carved out by the mighty Pacific Ocean have been a destination for adventure and discovery since the earliest Spanish explorers arrived in the 1600s. While here and there the coasta...

Gwen Petersen earlier enlightened us on the joys of shoveling manure. Now, in this delightful new collection of pithy and hilarious essays, she explains how her philosophy of life comes with a good dose of horse sense.  Here’s advice on how to...

The story of the American quilt is the story of America itself, stitching together the history, hopes, and heartaches of a nation. From colonial to pioneer quilts, Civil War to Victorian crazy quil...

Kept as pets, raised for their milk, meat, or fiber, or prized for their beauty or rarity, goats are increasingly popular animals on farms large and small.  Whether you raise a favored few or a hundred head, this guide is the ultimate resource o...

Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, is one of the premiere centers for Norwegian-American heritage in the United States.  As such, it houses one of the country’s most extensive collections of the textiles and handknits that have woven ties bet...

Training a horse is one of the biggest challenges a 4-H’r (or any animal lover, for that matter) can take on, and one of the most rewarding.  This step-by-step illustrated guide offers the first-time horse trainer straightforward instructions ...

James Oliver sold his first “chilled” plow in 1870--“chilled” because the cast iron was cooled quickly with water to harden the metal and strengthen the plow.  And when Oliver Chilled Plow Works merged with the Hart-Parr Company in 1929,...

Walk the bustling streets of Manhattan and imagine the lush and solitary land that greeted New York’s first settlers. Visit Ellis Island and envision the gateway to the New World teeming with immigrants. Vacation on Lake Champlain alongside the...

An exhilarating, photo-filled journey through the history of America’s favorite toy trains, The Lionel Legend whisks readers through more than a century of Lionel. Veteran hobby historian and author Robert Schleicher conducts us all th...

Robert Schleicher wrote the book on slot car racing—literally. In the three short years since Schleicher’s Slot Car Racing: Tips, Tricks & Track Plans was published, the hobby has been virtually transformed by new products and technologie...

College football in the South, it has been said, is like a religion, and nowhere is the passion and dedication more evident than at the twelve universities that make up the Southeastern Conference. The SEC is one of the most storied associations ...

This encyclopedia provides the most detailed and complete account ever given of Ford tractors, from the earliest Fordsons to the Ford-Fergusons, the Ford N Series, and the Ford "world" tractors manufactured into the 1970s. Amply illustrated, the ...

"To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower. To hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour." William Blake, "Auguries of Innocence" 1805 Here is the world viewe...

Away from the bustle of Miami Beach and the tourist extravaganza of Disney World, another Florida beckons to those looking for backroads adventure, quieter fare, or more discriminating fun. This is the Florida where backroads and secret sp...

The first fully detailed, full-color, comprehensive history of knitting in America from Colonial times to the present, with vintage pattern booklets, posters, postcards, and photos.

Hardly anyone bought the Velvet Underground’s albums when they were released, but most everyone who did formed a band.  This was the kind of influence the Velvets exerted, and it persists to this day in the sounds of groups as diverse as Patti...

This is the first ever hands-on how-to manual devoted to the famous Gibson Les Paul, in production since 1952.  This guidebook shows owners and dreamers the basics of selecting and buying a Les Paul; maintenance and repairs such as tuning, setti...

The first general-purpose tractor with narrowly spaced front wheels, the original Farmall was designed to do fine-tuned field cultivation as well as anything a team of farm horses could do—in short, to “farm all.” The rest is history, even ...

Teaching a dog commands, let alone tricks, can be--well, tricky.  This step-by-step illustrated guide introduces beginners to the basics of dog training.  In no-nonsense, easy-to-follow terms, the guide covers everything from establishing trus...

Once the second-largest steam locomotive builder in the U.S., American Locomotive Company (Alco) produced 75,000 locomotives, among them such famous examples as the 4-6-4 Hudsons and 4-8-4 Niagaras built for the New York Central, and the 4-6-6-4 ...

From the first, U.S. railroads have carried coal from mines to docks, steel mills, and power plants across the country. In this authoritative book spanning the whole of that history, from the mid-nineteenth century to present, noted rail author B...

To explore the New England Coast is to explore the roots of our nation, from the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock to the Battle of Bunker Hill. It is to experience the traditions that have shaped our culture and livelihood, from the quaint fishi...

The crazy quilt was anything but "crazy." It began with necessity and ingenuity, the piecing together of any odd scrap of fabric that outlasted its first (or even second) use, and evolved into an a...

As model railroaders began demanding ever-greater realism, Lionel responded in 2004 with its FasTrack system featuring an integrated roadbed, scale-sized ties, and a less-obvious center rail. Veteran hobby author Bob Schleicher follows up his ...

The illustrated history of the oldest American railway operating under its original name and the busiest commuter railroad on the continent.

Before a snowflake melts on your tongue, it makes an epic journey.  This is the story of that journey, step by step, from a single snowflake’s creation in the clouds, through its fall to earth, to its brief and sparkling appearance on a child...

As some knitters craft mittens and sweaters, others find themselves taking flight into the realm of art.  Some become true fiber artists, creating exhibition-quality quilts and sweaters and shawls, yarn mobiles and sculptures and gigantic abstr...

From humble beginnings in the 1800s, the Pennsylvania Railroad grew to be one of the most powerful, influential railroads in American history--a railroad that Fortune Magazine called “a nation unto itself.” It owned its own shops, coal mi...

With their loveable looks, gentle demeanor, and eagerness to please, golden retrievers are among the world’s most charming dogs. Easily trained, loyal, and friendly almost to a fault, they are pets and companions beyond compare, as easygoing a...

For as long as people have knitted, they have gathered to share their craft--and each other’s company.  Knitting bees brought industrious colonists together to socialize.  Knitters joined forces during the World Wars to knit warm socks...

Colorful characters once populated the Upper Mississippi River Valley swamps and floodplain forests.  These are the river rats, hill folk, and swamp dogs whose stories Kenny Salwey tells so well.  Now long gone, these legendary denizens of the ...

Formed in a Minneapolis basement in 1979, the Replacements were a notorious rock ’n’ roll circus, renowned for self-sabotage, cartoon shtick, stubborn contrarianism, stage-fright, Dionysian benders, heart-on-sleeve songwriting, and—ultimat...

Now Russell Olsen’s best-selling collections featuring Route 66 filling stations, main streets, motor courts, cafés, campgrounds, honky-tonks, truck stops, and barbecue joints as they appeared both in their heyday and today is available in one package.

For more than 30 years, Route...

A funny thing happened on the way to the quilt show. . . .

So the story invariably goes, because, where Robbi Joy Eklow (a....

With 43 beautiful full-color posters of horses of every breed, this book should find its way into the hands (and onto the walls) of horse lovers everywhere. All kinds of fascinating information about ea...

This book tells the story of the enigmatic John Hacker, who started Hacker Boat Company in Detroit in 1914 and drafted some of the most successful and popular boat designs of all time. This book is organized chronologically,  concentrating on t...

Arizona is one of the most scenically spectacular places on earth, and few photographers capture this breathtaking beauty better than Kerrick James. Here is Arizona at its most exquisite and its most monumental: the towering walls of the Grand Canyon, the molten palette of the Painted Deser...

For as long as locomotives have been the stars of North American railroads, rolling stock has trundled and raced along behind, carrying raw materials, finished goods, and people. Illustrated with more than 250 photographs, Railroad Rolling Stock...

Texas has hill country?  Who knew?  Well, the Lonely Planet guide to Texas, which calls the Hill Country “rightfully one of the state’s biggest tourist draws . . . an area of gently rolling hills and valleys freckled with cacti and cat...

In his bestselling Every Farm Tells a Story, Jerry Apps brought color and detail to the dreams so many of us have of simple rural life. Here, in his signature style, he spins warm-hearted tales abo...

Rabbits are a wonderful animal to raise as a pet or as part of the livestock on a farm. They are a great starter animal for children who participate in 4-H or other rabbit shows. This book will detail information on raising animals in both urban and rural situations, breed ...

Thinking of acquiring a horse?  Studying equine breeds and traits?  Or simply curious about the magnificent creatures?  This book, with profiles of one hundred horse, pony, and draft breeds, i...

This lavishly illustrated collection celebrates all the classic tractors, from the earliest models to the most modern. Here are the great John Deeres, along with the familiar Fords and Farmalls, models from Minneapolis-Moline, Allis-Chalmers, Oli...

At the dawn of "Morning in America"--a period that would nurse the rise of suit-and-tie culture--there emerged a national network of anti-corporate record shops, college radio stations, fanzines, nightclubs, and entrepreneurial record labels.

In the watershed year 1981, this "indie"...

When you are researching rabbits, this first-ever, full-color pocket guidebook to all kinds of rabbits will be a valuable resource in choosing the perfect rabbit. This book will help guide you through the maze of rabbits and arm you with inform...

Beyond New Jersey’s bustling cities and busy turnpikes are lesser known marvels of nature and history, all within easy reach of a traveler consulting this book. Let Backroads of New Jersey gui...

New York State's remarkable variety unfolds in its myriad splendors in the routes charted in Backroads of New York. Whether you flirt with the outskirts of Manhattan or follow the call of the road all the way to the Niagara Frontier, each...

Few railroading scenes are as enduring as those that depict a train traversing river or roadway, creek or cayon, atop a sturdy structure specially engineered for the situation. In this marvel...

One of the countrys best-loved quilters shares her observations on the whys, wherefores, and wonders of applying needle to fabric and creating a world. A collection of amusing, moving, and invariably wise essays from Helen Kelleys beloved "Loo...

Raising chickens teaches more than animal husbandry.  It’s a hands-on chance to learn the character- and community-building principles and practices that 4-H is all about.  And, of course, it’s fun.  This easy-to-follow, illustrated guide ...

In the middle of the country and the middle of the continent, a Great Lakes state and a great Midwestern center, Michigan is the sum of America past, present, and future--a state in which yesterday’s history and tomorrow’s promise endlessly ...

Known for its canyons and breathtaking views, its whitewater rivers and Wild West outposts, its tranquil lakes and fantastic rock formations, Utah is one of the most beautiful and varied plac...

Union Pacific is America’s most popular railroad. The first to create a transcontinental railroad link in 1869 in conjunction with the Central Pacific, UP was also the first U.S. railroad to create a modern streamlined passenger train. Sleek, ...

Suddenly, anyone with a cell phone is a photographer.  This book takes the basics of digital photography and makes them the tools for creative, interesting, and artistic picture-taking.  Illuminating the most popular of 4-H projects, Daniel Joh...

They have done time as jewelry and tools, as medicines, currency, and symbols of industry--and they have intrigued people, from beach-combing toddlers to serious scientists, since time began. Native interest meets natural history in this exquisitely illustrated account of the science and cu...

With its ancient pueblos and dinosaur bones, its gold mines and railroads, and its pioneering place in the westward push of the American frontier, Colorado is a state alive with history. This illustrated adventure through historical Color...

Known as the Main Street of America and the Mother Road, U.S. Route 66 is the nation’s best known highway. Once the microcosm of a culture increasingly connected by automobiles, its sights and attractions are now a fascinating reflection of a ...

The World’s Top Photographers’ Workshops pairs in-depth, practical advice with stunning images and personal tips from the world’s leading photographers. The latest in this series, Celebrity and

This wonderfully illustrated book celebrates Golden State railroading, offering a colorful look at California’s legendary railroads, the men who built and ran them, and the engineering feats that made them possible, and the legacy those railroa...

Now MBI Publishing Company’s two top-selling boating titles—written by one of the world’s top authorities on the subject of antique wooden boat restoration—are available in one volume. In this comprehensive restoration guide for owners a...

For many Americans, Katrina’s deadly destructiveness offered a first harrowing lesson in the power of hurricanes.  For those living along the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, Katrina was one more disastrous encounter with an overwhelming...

Nothing evokes the charms of the country kitchen like the smell of freshly baked cookies—or better yet, the taste.  With the 250-plus recipes in this cookbook, you’ll be able to recreate the best-loved cookies and bars eve...

Pigs were once known as "mortgage lifters," a term that endears them to many small farmers. Whether you want a pig on your property for pleasure or profit, on a small scale or large, this is the book you should have. From first considerations ...

Readers of Flying the Alaska Wild marveled at Mort Mason’s true tales of braving the elements at the extremes in a Piper Super Cub.  But the bush pilot, adventurer, and raconteur was just beginning, and in this book he revisits his most m...

Whichever comes first for you, the chicken or the egg, this book shows you what to do next. In this hands-on, easy-to-use guidebook, longtime chicken breeder and poultry expert Christine Hein...

For all the popular stereotypes of crowded turnpikes and industrial wastelands, New Jersey is in reality one of the most beautiful and diverse states in the nation. From sweeping countryside to vibrant urban centers to the celebrated Jersey Shore...

If it happened in Minnesota sports in the last forty years, Dave Mona was there. Working the sports beat for print and radio, covering the big stories and the ones others missed, rubbing shoulders with the stars and introducing the rookies, Mona...

This is the first hands-on how-to manual devoted to the Telecaster.  This guidebook shows owners and dreamers the basics of selecting and buying Telecasters.  It covers maintenance and repairs such as tuning, setting intonation, tremolo alignm...

The early twentieth-century world of The Farmer’s Wife may be vastly different than our own hectic, high-tech times, but some things never change—like a taste for the kind of food that’s cooked all day, the long-simmered stews and ch...