Contrary to popular opinion, the opening of the American frontier was not a simple land purchase; it was actually a hardscrabble fight. Even as Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out on their legendary journey to the Pacific Ocean, other forces were taking the measure of the land with far darker ambitions.
Aaron Burr, the charming and treacherous former vice president, determined that if he could not be master of his nation, he would instead become emperor of the next best thing: the Louisiana Territory. Slyly working with the powerful and ambitious commander of the U.S. Army, General...

From the earliest days of French and Spanish rule to school integration in the 1960s, It Happened in New Orleans offers a unique look at intriguing people and episodes from the history of the Crescent City. March along with Creole Wild West during their first Mardi Gras. Experience the ten heady days of the longest woman-suffrage convention ever held. And discover a lovingly restored mausoleum where great New Orleans musicians are laid to rest.Meet the voodoo queen, a baroness, a pirate and many more real-life characters who helped make New Orleans the famous city it is today.What happens...

It Happened in San Antonio gives the reader an insiders view of the Alamo City, bringing to life the characters of today and yesterday, from the early Canary Island residents to the ghosts of the Alamo to Fiesta Royalty. The pages reveal thirty compelling stories of intrigue, perseverance, tradition, and the rich cultures from the city rooted in the wild frontier by the waters of the San Antonio River.

A fascinating collection of twenty-five compelling stories about events that shaped the Mile High City, It Happened in Denver describes everything from a nineteenth-century gold rush that turned a tent city into a bustling frontier outpost to the mid-1990s construction of a baseball stadium and the urban renewal that accompanied it. Discover why Denver nearly burned down in 1863 and why it was flooded a year later. Learn how wine barrels helped lay a foundation for the ski industry. And meet David Moffat, the man most responsible for building a rail line across the Rocky Mountains. In an...

True Tales from New York's Past From Beatlemania at Shea Stadium to the hoax of the Cardiff Giant, It Happened in New York gives readers a unique look at intriguing people and episodes from the history of the Empire State. Meet the young Polio Pioneers and Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed, tested, and refined the vaccine that has saved the lives of millions. Discover why a peach provoked a three-day war in Manhattan. And learn how erosion and rock slides at Niagara Falls nearly destroyed one of America's most beloved attractions. Newly revised and updated, this book features thirty lively...

A fascinating collection of thirty compelling stories about events that shaped the North Star State, It Happened in Minnesota describes everything from harrowing shootouts with Sioux Indians to the mass execution of thirty-eight men, a bank robbery by Jes

A fascinating collection of thirty-five compelling stories about events that shaped Old Dominion, It Happened in Virginia describes everything from the invention of America s original instrument, the banjo, to how Stonewall Jackson acquired his nickname."

From the establishment of Roanoke to a miracle of modern medicine, It Happened in North Carolina takes you on a behind-the-scenes tour of thirty compelling episodes from the vibrant history of the Tar Heel State. Guess the identity of the wealthy and mysterious stranger of New Orleans. Go back to June 27, 1857, and climb the highest peak in the East along with Elisha Mitchell, who died there. Discover how the last shot of the Civil War was fired in 1941. Get the inside story on the North Carolina gold rush, the Wright brothers' first real flight, a showdown at Torpedo Junction, and the case...

A fascinating collection of thirty compelling stories about events that shaped Gotham, It Happenedin New York City describes everything from the installation of the Statue of Liberty to the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, from the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11 to the construction of the new Yankee stadium, slated to open in 2009.

From Ponce de Leon's discovery of the "Land of Flowers" in 1513 to the suspense of the 2000 presidential election, It Happened in Florida takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of thirty of the most compelling episodes from the Sunshine State's vibrant past. This revised edition includes brand new glimpses into Florida history, a map, and a thorough index.