Perfect for anyone who loves to look at charming old houses and imagine their histories, this book offers a selection of what are probably the most historically interesting, aesthetically appealing, and photogenic of the nineteenth-century houses in the Key West historic district. It includes full color photos, as well as a variety of charming anecdotes about old Key West gleaned from interviews with descendants of the families who built houses there.

Key West was an industrial town and many of its houses were for workers who had little to spend on housing. The shotgun houses are simple,...

Soak in a little New Orleans history while enjoying a visual tour of her homes. Known for beauty and style, New Orleans delivers as much in its architecture, even the simple shotgun houses in working neighborhoods. Houses of the Garden District and plantations beyond are simply stunning. A foreword by John Michael Vlach, Professor of American Studies and Anthropology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., traces the roots of New Orleans signature homes to their origins in Africa and Haiti. Author Alex Caemmerer takes care to point out the rich detailing that was lavished on even...