Cleveland has a long and colorful history. From the first settlers and the days of the Connecticut Western Reserve to the "Gilded Age" of Cleveland's Millionaire's Row, from the turbulent 1960s to the rebirth of the downtown area in the 1990s, Cleveland is a vibrant, ever-changing city.
Shaker Heights (Images of America Series) (2006)
(courtesy of Arcadia Publishing)
This 126-page book by Bruce Marshall, a Shaker Heights writer and museum curator, tells the story of Shaker Heights, from its early days as a Shaker Settlement to its re-development by the Van Sweringen Brothers as an upscale, planned suburb to its present status as a culturally-mixed, tree-lined neighborhood. Like all of Arcadia's books, the story is enhanced by dozens of historic and current photographs. Softcover.
Cleveland: 1796 - 1929 (Images of America Series) (2004)
(courtesy of Arcadia Publishing)
This is the first of two books by Cleveland historian, Thea Gallo Becker, using a wealth of photographs from the Cleveland State University collection. It's an easy way to learn about Cleveland and the Western Reserve's early history. Softcover. 128 pages.
Cleveland:1930 - 2000 (Images of America Series) (2005)
(courtesy of Arcadia Publishing)
This is the second in a series beginning with the book above. It's a pictorial history of Cleveland and the surrounding area put together by Cleveland historian, Thea Gallo Becker, using photos from the Cleveland State University Collection. Softcover. 128 pages.
Cleveland's Little Italy (2008)
(courtesy of Arcadia Publishing)
This 128-page softcover book tells the story through historic pictures of Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood, from its beginnings as a community of immigrant artisans to its renaissance as an art center and tourist attraction. Arcadia Publishing. (Full Disclosure: the author of this book, Sandy Mitchell, is the primary writer and editor of this Web site.)
Cleveland Amusement Park Memories (2005)
Subtitled, A Nostalgic Look Back at Euclid Beach Park, Puritas Springs Park, and Geauga Lake Park, this book is a must for baby boomer-age Clevelanders and older. It's a sentimental and interesting look at the places of our youth. Softcover. 128 pages.
University Circle (2007)
(cover art courtesy of Arcadia Publishing)
"University Circle" by Wayne Kehoe is the latest in Arcadia Publishing's pictorial history books about greater Cleveland. This volume takes the reader through the history of the city's cultural hub, University Circle, from its beginnings as a public park in 1882 to the present.
Frontline of Freedom (2004)
This book by Keith P. Griffler, subtitled: "African-Americans and the Forging of the Underground Railroad in the Ohio Valley", tells the story of the major contribution to the success of the Underground railroad by Ohio's African-American community. University Press of Kentucky. 192 pages. Hardcover.
Strange Tales from Ohio (2004)
(courtesy of Gray and Co.)
From Neil Zurcher, best known for its "One Tank Trips", comes a fun little book filled with surprising facts and stories about Ohio's history and people. Subtitled "True Stories of Remarkable People, Places, and Events in Ohio History", this book is a real treat for any Cleveland resident of displaced Clevelander. Gray and Co. 232 pages. Softcover.
Cleveland: Then and Now (2002)
This fascinating book compiled and annotated by Cleveland historians, John Grabowski and Diane Ewert Grabowski, pairs historical photographs opposite the same location in recent times. It's interesting to see just how much has changed in the city -- and how much has stayed the same. Hardcover. 144 pages.
Cleveland Metroparks (2006)
(Courtesy of Arcadia Publishing)
This 128-page softcover book by Clevelander Thomas G. Matowitz Jr. is a pictorial look at the history of Cleveland's "Emerald Necklace," from its inception in 1905 to the present 9000 acres of interlocking parks. It's a scenic and fascinating look at one of Northeast Ohio's greatest assets. Softcover; 128 pages; Arcadia Publishing; 2006
