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From a lonely carosel ride to a southern vacation destination, the story of Libertyland is as surprising as its legendy roller coasters and as delightful as its memorable characters.Nestled in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, the Libertyland theme park debuted on America's bicentennial: July 4, 1976. The quaint park celebrated America's history, heritage, and culture. Not only was it home to Elvis Presley's favorite roller coaster, Libertyland also offered guests rides on the historic Grand Carousel, exciting shows, gift shops selling handcrafted souvenirs, delicious food, and much more. The park's themed areas--Colonial Land, Frontier Land, and Turn-of-the-Century Land--paid tribute to some of the country's most historically significant eras. From its opening in 1976 until its closure in late 2005, Libertyland was a first roller coaster ride, a first date, a family reunion, a summer job, or simply a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the real world.

The 1960s and 1970s were a time of significant change in the history of Springfield, Illinois, as the city redefined itself through major developments in education, technology, and commerce. This pictorial history allows readers to remember the familiar places of those decades, such as the downtown area, and acquaint themselves with the history of the new institutions that started in this time period. Colorful images, many taken by amateur photographers, document the theme of change in the landscape and culture of Springfield as the city moved into the future.

Virginia's Hampton Roads region has long attracted diverse and mobile people, some of whom embraced same-sex love or fluid gender identities long before lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities identified as such. By the mid-1900s, Hampton Roads would lead the state in its development of LGBT institutions and infrastructure. Our Own Press would chronicle the extraordinary burst of creativity and activism that seemed to place LGBT developments in the region on a national stage. In the late 1980s and 1990s, however, military crackdowns and the HIV/AIDS epidemic devastated the leadership of local LGBT communities. Only in the new century would there be a renaissance of networking and engagement to bring the annual Pride Festival to center stage at Town Point Park in Norfolk.

The story of Waco's modern era starts with a disaster and ends with rebirth. In 1953, a record-setting tornado swept through the city's downtown, killing 114 people and destroying a century's worth of original buildings. From the devastation came an ambitious urban renewal project, an explosion in suburban developments, and several cycles of waning and revitalization in the downtown area. Baylor University's steady growth in academic excellence and national exposure kept the city on the map. The images in this book detail the milestones and memories of a proud city founded in the 1840s, and they highlight achievements both personal and civic.

Wyoming is home to some of the world's most famous dinosaurs. As early as 1872, dinosaurs were excavated, placed on railcars, and shipped east. For the past 140 years, paleontologists have scoured Wyoming to excavate tens of thousands of dinosaur bones, now displayed internationally. It was not until 1961 that a dinosaur from Wyoming was mounted and placed on display at the University of Wyoming's Geological Museum in Laramie.

The Los Angeles River was tamed years ago. The river, by nature wanting to be violent and random, doses now in a concrete bed through downtown Los Angeles. In the city's core, there are over a dozen bridges that connect Los Angeles across the river--and these bridges are architectural marvels! These bridges were built in the first decades of the 1900s, and their history continues. The largest and longest bridge, the Sixth Street Viaduct, is in the process of being replaced. Others have been upgraded and enlarged; Spring Street is underway now. Many of the bridges were designed by one man, Merrill Butler, who made each bridge different, yet matching. In this volume, the reader will explore the necessity of the bridges, how they came to be, and where they are going in the future. The time is ripe for a reexamination of these jewels of downtown Los Angeles.

Founded as a "River Town" in 1825, Lafayette grew quickly and became a city in 1853. It was named after the famous French general Marquis de Lafayette, who helped America win its independence from England. In its more than 150 years in existence, Lafayette has come a long way. After the city celebrated its centennial, its growth remained stagnant from the 1960s through the 1990s. However, the addition of a Subaru plant and Wabash National changed this and started a movement that has turned the city into a major industrial and population center in the Hoosier state. Its continued economic growth is almost assured with the expansion of several plants and the addition of other companies.

Born out of tragedy and like none of her predecessors, over the course of her 25 missions and her 19-year career, this new orbiter would perform many vital and historic missions for humanity. Inspiring pride and admiration, Endeavour would fix the Hubble Space Telescope, begin construction of the International Space Station (ISS), and perform several Spacelab missions, never failing to expand man's knowledge of space. Endeavour's story was not to end with 25 missions in space but with one final mission, mission 26, her move from Florida to her new home in California. Atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, Endeavour was flown piggyback across the United States for her final victory lap. Welcomed and waved along by millions of admirers, she was carried through the streets of Los Angeles to her final destination, the California Science Center in Downtown Los Angeles.