What Boston landmark was first envisioned in a newspaper column? Which of the city’s nicknames was originally meant as an insult? What is the story with that costumed bear playing music in the T? You’ll find the answers to these questions and many more in Secret Boston—a guide to the unknown, strange, forgotten, and wonderful places and people that make up the Hub of the Universe. In a city with this much history, the mists of time are bound to hide more than a few hidden gems. Learn the fascinating history of the area’s more unique landmarks, quirkier places, and legends, generally known only to locals, and sometimes not even by them. Learn about the building that announces the weather by color. Hear the stories behind the tourist stops, like the person who rowed out to the USS Constitution and sawed off its figurehead or the iconic Boston sight created by a nun. Author and longtime local Kim Foley MacKinnon brings an insider’s perspective to revealing the secrets of this historic and creative city. Even those who think they know everything about Boston will be surprised by some of its forgotten history, hard-to-find landmarks, and colorful characters.

Did you know ...that a hidden room exists behind Abraham Lincoln s head on Mt. Rushmore? ...that North Carolina was almost accidentally destroyed in a nuclear holocaust? ...that the Mason-Dixon Line had nothing to do with dividing north from south? ...that Major League Baseball once hosted a single game between three different teams? ...that there is a designated state highway in Michigan where cars are not allowed? ...that 21 people were once killed by a 15-foot wave of molasses that devasted a Boston neighborhood? ...that the National Security Agency has a gift shop with logoed merchandise? Whether you want to visit the New York grave where Uncle Sam is buried, stop by the future hometown of Star Trek's Captain Kirk in Iowa or see the room in California where the Internet was created, Secret America: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure is your ticket to some of the nation's least-known but most interesting spots. It is here where you can explore a historical marker dedicated to Barack and Michelle Obama's first kiss, find out how to acquire logoed merchandise at the National Security Agency's gift shop or examine why Case Western Reserve University has such an unusual name. Secret America is a look at the United States as you've never seen it before a tourist guide that gives you answers to the questions no tourist ever never knew they were supposed to ask. If you are tired of trying to enliven dull family roadtrips searching backroads for the World's Largest Ball of Twine, this is a handbook for truly interesting sites that can transform any cross-country adventure into a tour of the unique spots that make America the odd but fascinating nation that it is.

Where in Providence can you…pay homage to the birth of sideburns?...visit a Vampire grave….? view North America’s largest collection of fresco paintings?...see a tree that “ate” a state founder?...get a glimpse of a 58-foot blue bug?...discover the origin of the Seabee?...spend the afternoon at the home of America’s longest-played baseball game?...explore a castle in the middle of the city? You’ll find all these unique—and often little-known—landmarks, attractions and hidden gems and more inside Secret Providence: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Whether you’re interested in Rhode Island’s haunted, hysterical, surprising or somber, Secret Providence gives you insider access to all the mysteries you never knew the city was holding and takes you on a tour like none you’ve seen before. Founded to establish a community of and home for visionaries looking to break free of rules and the status quo, Rhode Island has a deeply rebellious history and those who call it home have always celebrated its spirit of individuality and embraced its welcoming of the offbeat and unique. This scavenger-hunt type guide to the state’s capital city and beyond is an exploration of the weird, wonderful and obscure odds and ends that continue to make it an idyllic spot for uncommon living.

There’s something about Cape Cod and the Islands that has long held fascination for fascinating people, whether it’s Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Tennessee Williams, Fred Rogers, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, or writers from the Harlem Renaissance. The region was the first landing place of the Mayflower pilgrims, the final resting place of John Belushi, and where Maria Mitchell discovered a comet from a rooftop on Nantucket. It’s where Bob Dylan gave an impromptu concert for middle-aged ladies competing in a mah-jongg tournament. It’s also the domain of ghosts and spirits lurking in the stacks of old bookshops and among the rafters of sea captains’ mansions. There are weird towers stuck in incongruous places; mysterious stones; and enchanting landscapes that inspired painters, playwrights, and the writers of children’s fairy tales. There are Gilded Age mansions, whaling-era Greek Revivals, modernist cottages, and rose-covered bungalows fashioned from antique fish shacks. Secret Cape Cod and Islands reveals the best and most unexpected aspects of the region and shows you how to experience them for yourself. Want to know where to find the best places for watching a sunset, swimming in hidden ponds, savoring a chef-prepared feast in a farm field, making your own jam, or seeing a play with Broadway-level talent? Veteran journalists Linda Humphrey and Maria Lenhart, aka the Hard News Travel Team, left no scone unturned while spending countless hours investigating the secret treasures of a region they have known and loved for many years.

What’s the true story behind the “buffalo” wing, and why do Buffalonians refuse to call it that? Where is the nature preserve that was once an outlaw colony? Which obscure shop on the city’s East Side produces hats for Hollywood? Find the answers to these questions and many more in Secret Buffalo, a guide to the mysteries, surprises, and incredible stories of this Gilded Age hub. Now known for its architecture, food, and natural beauty, Buffalo’s history hides more than a few gems to astound visitors and locals alike. Learn about an early motion picture theater, the first woman to run for US president, the first Olmsted-designed park system, and more. Discover Buffalo’s hidden public art, travel the Underground Railroad, and make a bucket list of hidden parks to enjoy. It’s all here, and with local author Elizabeth Licata’s lifetime of exploration to guide you, you’ll be well on your way through the weird and wonderful sides of the Queen City. Uncover the secrets of a city you thought you knew.

Did you know that there’s a Connecticut hotel room with a real helicopter inside? Can you guess who inspired the character of Indiana Jones, who was president before George Washington, and who flew before the Wright Brothers? Find the state’s most interesting and offbeat stories in Secret Connecticut: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Are you interested in taking a safari or racing a chariot? Had you ever heard that Martin Luther King Jr. spent two summers in Connecticut? Included are more than eighty engaging stories that provide insight into one of America’s oldest states. Inside are tales of pirates, an underground prison, and a possessed doll. Aren’t you curious about the spectacular stained glass church that was unknowingly built in the shape of a fish by a famous architect? From the world’s smallest Native American reservation to professionally coiffed cows and a replica of Marie Antoinette’s palace, you’ll find intrigue around every corner of this small but surprising state. Author Anastasia Mills Healy brings to life the long history of intriguing people, places, and events that will fascinate even life long residents of Connecticut.

To the untrained eye, Los Angeles may seem like a spectacle of glitz and glamour, freeways and traffic snarls. But beneath those superficial impressions hides a richly complex and diverse city teeming with quirky art, dazzling buildings, hidden histories, strange spectacles, and inspiring cultural landmarks. Secret Los Angeles guides you to the hidden gems that make the city and surrounding county truly sparkle. Discover the story behind the featherbrained “Statue of Liberty of L.A.” and the butterflies of an abandoned oceanside neighborhood. Stroll along the other walks of fame and drive along a musical road. Explore a historic movie palace hidden in the Jewelry District and find the inspiration for Disneyland nestled within Griffith Park. Find the secretive locations of Prohibition-era speakeasies and sip top-notch booze at a Willy Wonka-like distillery. Experience a reenactment of the Great Los Angeles Air Raid and uncover the history of Central Avenue’s jazz legacy. Local author Danny Jensen directs you to under-the-radar destinations that are often overlooked, even by locals, yet offer fascinating insight into a place that captures so many people’s imagination. Whether you’ve recently arrived or lived here all your life, this book will help you see and understand L.A. in a completely new way and inspire you to explore further.

How did Omaha get its nickname, “The Gateway to the West” and where can you gawk at the footsteps of the first human to walk in space? Just scratch the surface of a city best known for Warren Buffett, college baseball, and a great zoo and find far more than meets the eye. And Secret Omaha: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is just the book you’ll need to uncover all the stories of Nebraska’s lone metropolis. Omaha rises up out of the low broken bluffs along the west bank of the Missouri River and sprawls west across what was once the prairie grasslands of the Great Plains. The buffalo wallows have been replaced by a more urban mix of grit and gentrification, with tree-lined avenues, boulevards, and varied communities that hold on to their heritage for generations. There’s a giant fork in Little Italy and stories told in stone around what was the world’s largest livestock market. There’s an old blues song by Big Joe Williams about an Omaha intersection that’s now on the National Register, and Irish Nationalists erected a grand monument to the Fenian who invaded Canada twice. Anyone in Omaha can take a gander at Goose Hollow or visit a haven for herons, but now author and Omaha enthusiast Ryan Roenfeld takes you on your own behind-the-scenes tour of the Big O. With his book as your guide, you’ll discover a whole new side to the city that’s inspired him for years.

here do the tunnels under the Colorado State Capitol go and why were they dug there in the first place? What is the backstory behind Tom’s Baby, the largest piece of gold ever unearthed in Colorado? Denver may be known worldwide as the Mile High City, but its elevation is just one item on a long list of anomalies. In Secret Denver: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure you’ll find many more quirks and mysteries to explore. Learn why Lakeside is one of the most historic amusement parks in the nation. Discover cemeteries repurposed as parks, streets once paved with radium, elves hiding in museum dioramas, and a seemingly endless parade of ghosts. Local journalists David Lewis and Eric Peterson tackle these conundrums and many others in the city they call home. With their combined experience traveling the trails less taken and the questions rarely asked, Secret Denver is bound to illuminate the city from an unexpected perspective.

Around the world, Washington, DC, is known for its powerful government, majestic monuments, and world-renowned museums. Secret Washington, DC: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure reminds us that the fabric of the city isn’t solely embedded in its callous political parties, exhausting lawmaking policies, and rampant tourism. Rather, it’s woven through its rich and complex history, mysterious relics, underground societies, forgotten and abandoned buildings, and controversial scandals. From the assassinations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and James Garfield and Francis Scott Key’s son, to crimes of passion and rage at the US Capitol, Secret Washington, DC uncovers many of the dark and untold truths of how our nation emerged. At the same time, it shines a bright light on the capital’s numerous signs of creativity and innovation through the exploration of quirky art installations like Foamhenge and Barbie Pond on Avenue Q, to oddly shaped and decorated homes like the Mushroom House and the Vanadu Art House. Local author and educator JoAnn Hill will introduce you to the other side of Washington, DC: a treasure trove of mystique, peculiarities, and hidden history just waiting to be explored.