State Oddities takes a different kind of look at the American nation, spotlighting the fun foibles, peculiarities, and twists in each of the 50 states that are (mostly) united under the Stars and Stripes. State Oddities is a fascinating trip through the 50 states for students studying America, teachers planning classroom activities, and general readers who will enjoy an eye-opening journey through the nation's fun side. It offers a compelling look at the character of America through the individuality of 50 very distinct states that together form the USA. This book paints a picture of the broad sweep of the American story, offering a gateway to the country as it developed into one nation filled with individual states that can be remarkably different from each other, yet unified under such national symbols as the American flag and "The Star-Spangled Banner." The author of State Oddities has become known as a master of "painless history," telling America's story in a sparkling style along with the historian's eye for fascinating detail. On the book's cross-country journey, the reader will find that it differs from other works by taking a fresh look at stories we think we know.

Giant fiberglass statues of Paul Bunyan. Enormous balls of twine. A hiking trail atop a manmade mountain of contained nuclear waste. This is the landscape of an American oddities roadtrip, and it is also the poetic muse for John Wojtowicz, a clinical social worker, adjunct professor, and outdoorsman. Where other people may see a photo opportunity, John sees deeper truths and rolls them out in poems that are entertaining, profound, and well-crafted. In this edition, the poems are richly illustrated with color images of the attractions he describes.

Discover Alabama's curious underside with this oddly entertaining little guide! Travelers with a taste for the bizarre, tacky, and hilarious can visit the Coon Dog Cemetery, learn about the cattle-mutilation mystery, view the world's largest boll weevil, and sip Kudzu Tea. Only a true Southerner could capture the essence of these and other authentic Alabama phenomena, and Andy Duncan does his home state proud.

Discover more than 200 of the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Bay State has to offer in this completely revised and updated edition.

Touch down at Dead Cow International Airport and sample the state's bumper crop of bizarre history. The most commonplace sights contain unlikely stories, from the bulldozer's Morrowsville origins to the sunflower's journey from outlawed weed to state symbol. Some of this heritage lies submerged or buried, like the world's only saltwater spring, which now sits at the bottom of a man-made lake. Rumored caches of the Fleagle Gang's loot still draw treasure hunters in spades. From mariachi legends to rodeo roundups, Roger Ringer gathers in a vast and varied harvest of Kansas lore.

The definitive collection of Texas's odd, wacky, and most offbeat people, places, and things, for Texas residents and anyone else who enjoys local humor and trivia with a twist.

Ready for a wild ride through the wonderfully weird Midwest? The Midwest is known for its lakes, beer, cheese curds, state fairs, and four seasons... but did you know we also have plenty of awesomely WACKY places for you to explore? Fun weirdos, unite! 101 Bizarre, Quirky, and Totally Fun Adventures in the Midwest is your ultimate guide to the region's most extraordinary and unforgettable attractions. From gravity-defying vortexes and mythical creatures to human hair art and automotive Stonehenges, this book unveils the hidden gems that will leave you amazed, amused, and eager to explore. Perfect for families seeking laughter-filled expeditions, this is your passport to the peculiar treasures that make the Midwest a must-visit destination for the bold and curious. Get ready to experience the 12 states in the heart of America like never before!

From our earliest schooldays, we are shown the world as a colorful collage of countries, each defined by their own immutable borders. What we often don't realize is that every political boundary was created by people. No political border is more natural or real than another, yet some international borders make no apparent sense at all. While focusing on some of these unusual border shapes, this fascinating book highlights the important truth that all borders, even those that appear "normal," are social constructions. In an era where the continued relevance of the nation state is being questioned and where transnationalism is altering the degree to which borders effectively demarcate spaces of belonging, the contributors argue that this point is vital to our understanding of the world. The unique and compelling histories of some of the world's oddest borders provide an ideal context for this group of experts to offer accessible and enlightening discussions of cultural globalization, economic integration, international migration, imperialism, postcolonialism, global terrorism, nationalism, and supranationalism. Each author's regional expertise enriches a textured account of the historical context in which these borders came into existence as well astheir historical and ongoing influence on the people and states they bound. To view more maps from the David Rumsey Map Collection, visit www.davidrumsey.com.

This all-new series title covers the entire Empire State, including a bizarre cemetery on 400 acres in the Bronx and a renowned restaurant in Rochester known as the Home of the Garbage Plate. If you can't do it here, you can't do it anywhere!

Arizona has stories as peculiar as its stunning landscapes. The Lost Dutchman's rumored cache of gold sparked a legendary feud. Kidnapping victim Larcena Pennington Page survived two weeks alone in the wilderness, and her first request upon rescue was for a chaw of tobacco. Discover how the town of Why got its name, how the government built a lake that needed mowing and how wild camels ended up in North America. Author Marshall Trimble unearths these and other amusing anomalies, outstanding obscurities and compelling curiosities in the state's history.