First African Baptist Church has served the Richmond community since 1780, proving to be a pillar of strength for African Americans in the former Confederate capital. The First African Baptist Church congregation endured slavery, the tumultuous years of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and repression from the white supremacist regime that dominated Virginia politics and persevered as a vibrant force through civil rights struggle and the daunting challenges...

San Francisco was incorporated in 1850, when there was just one communal outdoor space: Portsmouth Square. The square was the literal nucleus of planning for the city, as development maps were measured from its center point. Over time, the city developed into the current metropolis with a population of around 815,000. In a reflection of that growth, 230 parks are now governed and maintained by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. The...

Originally named Shangri-La by Franklin D. Roosevelt, today's Camp David was a well-guarded secret until its existence was revealed after World War II. A US Naval facility set on a mountaintop, Camp David's tight security has piqued the curiosity of Americans and foreigners. Prior to the outbreak of war, Roosevelt had access to the nearby presidential yacht as a "getaway" to escape the pressures of life in the White House. After a brief search of...

This book chronicles the once-vibrant hot rod scene in California's San Fernando Valley--from the iconic Bob's Big Boy drive-in to the San Fernando drag strip. Author and Los Angeles native, Tony Baker, grew up in Hollywood during the height of the sixties hot-rod scene. He has written six books on the subject of motor sports in California for Arcadia Publishing and has had articles published in Hot Rod magazine, Hot Rod Deluxe , and Rodder's Journal...

The Mexican American boxer is one who leaves it all in the ring. They have been described as devastating punchers, fearless fighters, and tough competitors by boxing fans, sportswriters, and commentators alike. Mexican American boxers have long carried a reputation in boxing circles as being the ultimate crowd-pleasers. In continuing that tradition, the dramatic testimonies of seven distinct, valiant, and dashing warriors from the Golden State of...