Fictionalized biography of Colonel Charles Jesse Jones ("Buffalo Jones"), 1844-1919, a frontiersman and wild game hunter. Jones, the last of the plainsmen, and several associates venture into the region of Buckskin Mountain, along the northern rim of the Grand Canyon. In a continuing quest to establish dominion over wild animals, Jones leads his men on a journey to capture untamed cougars and bring them back alive. After several run-ins with Navajo,...

The smog beast wafted into downtown Los Angeles on July 26, 1943. Nobody knew what it was. Secretaries rubbed their eyes. Traffic cops seemed to disappear in the mysterious haze. Were Japanese saboteurs responsible? A reckless factory? The truth was much worse--it came from within, from Southern California's burgeoning car-addicted, suburban lifestyle. Smog town is the story of pollution, progress, and how an optimistic people confronted the epic...

Layton was settled in 1850 by pioneers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. An outgrowth of Kaysville, Layton separated in 1902 following a 20-year legal battle. The city incorporated in 1920. The Layton Sugar Plant opened in 1915, and the town was an agricultural and ranching hub until 1941, when the United States entered World War II. In less than 10 years, by 1950, Layton's population had tripled, mainly because of Hill Field, a...

How much do you know about one of most unique states within the United States of America? Do you know which crop is only grown in Hawaii? How many letters are in the Hawaiian alphabet? Or do you know which ethnic group is a majority in Hawaii? Hawaii is a state that has a fascinating history, diverse geography, and unique characteristics. Loaded with pictures and snippets of interesting information, readers of all ages will enjoy expanding their knowledge...

Though a relatively young city, San Ramon has history stretching back to California's founding. Ohlone Indians first inhabited the area before rancheros grazed the land more than a century ago. Drawn by the Gold Rush, pioneers and prospectors settled the place promoters labeled a "Garden of Eden." Diversified farming of the valley, full of orchards and plentiful fields, sustained the rural population. Sitting in the shadow of historic Mount Diablo,...

The real lives of the historic figures in Old West Showdown are shrouded in controversy and myth. Was Jesse James a Southern Son fighting for the cause of the fallen Confederacy, or a blood-thirsty cutthroat justly pursued by the authorities? Was Billy the Kid a misunderstood youth or a cold-blooded killer? Did Buffalo Bill Cody truly ride for the Pony Express as a young man? Or, was he just a blowhard who trumped up his own past in an attempt to...

Andres Duarte was a Mexican army veteran who was awarded a 6,595-acre grant south of the San Gabriel Mountains in 1841. Parceled out to settlers and farmers, the Rancho Azusa de Duarte began thriving when rail lines were built to access the citrus crops. Duarte was home to the City of Hope, a tuberculosis clinic that became a world-class cancer research and treatment center. The old U.S. Route 66 brought thousands of new Californians through the residential...

The four-square-mile incorporated city of Solana Beach rests along the coast of northern San Diego County. The name Solana means "sunny spot" in Spanish. For centuries, native Kumeyaay Indians called this once arid, sagebrush-covered landscape home. The land remained mostly untouched until the turn of the 19th century, when a local businessman named Ed Fletcher began to turn the tiny little hamlet into a full-fledged community. Fletcher was instrumental...

State Facts for Fun! Colorado How much do you know about The United State of America's most "colorful" state? Are you able to name a national park located in Colorado? Or what famous actor is from Denver? How about what city in Colorado is the highest city in the United States? Colorado is America's 38th state, and comes with its own amazing history. Because of its popularity (millions of people visit the state every year), Colorado has had its fair...

From the shooting of a Secret Service agent in the wilds near Hesperus to the "grave misfortune"? of Kid Adams, a not-so-successful highwayman, these tales from the lofty heights of the San Juans are packed with mystery, pathos and fascinating historical details. Mined from the frontier newspapers of Ouray, San Juan and La Plata Counties, these stories tell of range wars, desperadoes and cattle rustlers, lynchings, ill-tempered ranchers with trigger...