This entertaining visual celebration offers a closeup look at the carousel not only as amusement but as cultural icon and craft. Rare historical photographs portray America's earliest wooden carousels, their creators, and the shops where they were carved. Full-color portraits display fanciful pigs, frogs, and tigers as well as an array of magnificent decorated horses.

This entertaining visual celebration offers a closeup look at the carousel not only as amusement but as cultural icon and craft. Rare historical photographs portray America's earliest wooden carousels, their creators, and the shops where they were carved. Full-color portraits display fanciful pigs, frogs, and tigers as well as an array of magnificent decorated horses.

From glistening white unicorns to winged elephants and roaring tigers, this celebration of carousel animals takes a colorful look at an art form that's one part fantasy and two parts exceptional craftsmanship. 100+ photos, some in color.

For a full list of entries, contributors, and more, visit the Encyclopedia of American Folk Art web site. This is the first comprehensive, scholarly study of a most fascinating aspect of American history and culture. Generously illustrated with both black and white and full-color photos, this A-Z encyclopedia covers every aspect of American folk art, encompassing not only painting, but also sculpture, basketry, ceramics, quilts, furniture, toys, beadwork, and more, including both famous and lesser-known genres. Containing more than 600 articles, this unique reference considers individual artists, schools, artistic, ethnic, and religious traditions, and heroes who have inspired folk art. An incomparable resource for general readers, students, and specialists, it will become essential for anyone researching American art, culture, and social history.

"To understand the history and spirit of America, one must know its wars, its laws, and its presidents. To really understand it, however, one must also know its cheeseburgers, its love songs, and its lawn ornaments. The long-awaited Guide to the United States Popular Culture provides a single-volume guide to the landscape of everyday life in the United States. Scholars, students, and researchers will find in it a valuable tool with which to fill in the gaps left by traditional history. All American readers will find in it, one entry at a time, the story of their lives."--Robert Thompson, President, Popular Culture Association. "At long last popular culture may indeed be given its due within the humanities with the publication of The Guide to United States Popular Culture. With its nearly 1600 entries, it promises to be the most comprehensive single-volume source of information about popular culture. The range of subjects and diversity of opinions represented will make this an almost indispensable resource for humanities and popular culture scholars and enthusiasts alike."--Timothy E. Scheurer, President, American Culture Association "The popular culture of the United States is as free-wheeling and complex as the society it animates. To understand it, one needs assistance. Now that explanatory road map is provided in this Guide which charts the movements and people involved and provides a light at the end of the rainbow of dreams and expectations."--Marshall W. Fishwick, Past President, Popular Culture Association Features of The Guide to United States Popular Culture: 1,010 pages 1,600 entries 500 contributors Alphabetic entries Entries range from general topics (golf, film) to specific individuals, items, and events Articles are supplemented by bibliographies and cross references Comprehensive index

A richly illustrated volume celebrating Jewish carving traditions from the Old World to the New

Experience the electrifying, never-before-told true story of amusement parks, from the middle ages to present day, and meet the colorful (and sometimes criminal) characters who are responsible for their enchanting charms. Step right up! The Amusement Park is a rich, anecdotal history that begins nine centuries ago with the "pleasure gardens" of Europe and England and ends with the most elaborate modern parks in the world. It's a history told largely through the stories of the colorful, sometimes hedonistic characters who built them, including: Showmen like Joseph and Nicholas Schenck and Marcus Loew Railroad barons Andrew Mellon and Henry E. Huntington The men who ultimately destroyed the parks, including Robert Moses and Fred Trump Gifted artisans and craft-people who brought the parks to life An amazing cast of supporting players, from Al Capone to Annie Oakley And, of course, this is a full-throttle celebration of the rides, those marvels of engineering and heart-stopping thrills from an author, Stephen Silverman, whose life-long passion for his subject shines through. The parks and fairs featured include the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, Coney Island, Steeplechase Park, Dreamland, Euclid Beach Park, Cedar Point, Palisades Park, Ferrari World, Dollywood, Sea World, Six Flags Great Adventure, Universal Studios, Disney World and Disneyland, and many more.

Landmarks are the Touchstones of the Meandering Traveler From homes that witnessed the birth of the American Revolution to quirky museum collections and vistas of natural splendor amid the Adirondack Mountains, New York is home to more than 270 National Historic Landmarks. Tour the Empire State and travel back in time to discover the unique stories of its history. Carefully curated by a local historian, Historic New York: A Tour of More Than 120 of the State’s Top National Landmarks is the essential guide to the most memorable historic sites in the state. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a local visitor, or a tourist, there is something for everyone in this guide to New York’s past.