If this book is out of print, try looking here.

Alas, this is likely out of print. A larger format book that is all about Route 1: Its history, its routing, its foibles, its fascinating stories. If you can find a copy, it is a wonderful addition to your library.

The author of the book, Dr. Roadmap, has a web page available at http://www.drroadmap.com/ where he offers freeway-based games, as well as a downloadable update to the book.

This is one of the books that got me started on this hobby. A look at LA's freeway system and how it effected the development of Los Angeles, with great maps.

This is a great collection of photos of California's Highway development, and includes an excellent chronology of Caltrans.

This book provides a fascinating look into the history of the most outrageous highway construction projects of the 20th century. This little-known highway parallels the route of the present day I-5 near the Grapevine northwest of Los Angeles. The old highway features 627 curves over the course of about 30 miles and is a true historical gem.

This is the history of the ACSC. Great vintage photograph and information on their contribution to Southern California.

This profusely illustrated book is a wealth of information, presenting unusual and interesting facts and stories about the Golden State - from missions to trails, from mining camps to ghost towns, from Death Valley to the giant redwood forests. This is a delightfully told story of a leisurely jaunt around California, visiting not only the well-known places but making side trips into the backcountry. You explore the hideouts of some of the early bandits and colorful road agents; you unearth many forgotten tales of strange goings on in the Gold Rush days and in more modern times.

This book wasn't what I was expecting -- it is a very good analysis of how to avoid the traffic in Southern California by understanding how the traffic works and why it is there, as opposed to just being alternate routes. Highly, highly, recommended.

A look at the history of California Highways, in particular, Route 99 between Oregon and Sacramento. Lots of good information on bridges and tracing the original route.

Route 99 between Sacramento and the Mexican Border. Lots of information on the various routings of the Ridge Route, along with information on tracing original US 99.

This book contains 20 driving trips around SD county, southern Orange and Riverside counties, and northern Baja. The author includes a few highway history tidbits, including some from the California Highways web sites.

A collection of Steve Harvey's columns from the LA Times. Amusing.

Probably out of print. Traces the transition of the Pacific Electric from a primarily trolley system to a bus system. Great information on old bus routes.

Has some good information on El Camino Real and how it got transformed into US 101.

This may not be available through Amazon. Another source is the Historical Society of Southern California.

The history of Griffith Park. Includes some interesting notes on how the routing of I-5 in that area was chosen. Hard to find, but it is available in the LA Public Library (I know there is a copy in the Mid-Valley Branch)

A short summary of the derivation of a number of place names in California.

The history of the SCE transmission grid. Lots of historic pictures. Probably out of print.

Those of us who are Road Scholars of LA usually know the alternate routes, but this book gives some interesting routes for when traffic is bad.

A wonderful look at California in the 1960s, and the social and campaign impacts of Pat Brown and Ronald Reagan.

Explores the impact of the automobile on the development of Los Angeles. I haven't read this in a while.

Another great collection of historic photos of Los Angeles.

A collection of historic photographs, contrasted with equivalent photographs taken today.

A look at urban planning, in particular, the construction of planned communities. Includes information on the development of Leimert Park, Westechester, and Panorama City.

Probably out of print. A collection of vintage photographs of Los Angeles, which are compared with contemporary photographs taken from the same location.

I just picked this up at the bookstore at the Gene Autry Museum. It has a nice chapter on the construction of Mulholland Highway, as well as a chapter on the construction of Forest Lawn.

The history of Murrieta, including the history of Murrieta Hot Springs (which I remember visiting as a boy). Murrieta was on old US 395.

Providing a look at California highways, its highway-signage standards and surrounding scenery.

A nice collection of old and new pictures of the valley. Includes one photo of early US 101.

A nice summary of the history of the San Fernando Valley. Includes some information on early Sepulveda Bl and Sherman Way, and some nice pictures of freeways under construction.

The history of Santa Monica, with lots of Historic Photographs.

A classic book on the unique entity that is Southern California

A visual story of Los Angeles in its innocent days, the 50ths, when even the swimming pools had fins, and Googie architecture was everywhere. Remember the toasters at Ships?

Explores how the development of street railroads affected the development of the city of Los Angeles

Explores the image of Los Angeles as presented through Orange Crate labels.

I recently picked up a copy of this, and it was a wonderful read. It gives one a tremendous insight into the home-grown engineering skill of Mr. Mulholland, as well as the political battles involved in creating the 1^st Los Angeles Aqueduct. It also blows apart the conspiracy theory about the Owens Valley. I also like the quote of Mulholland: "I can deal with the shit; it's the farts that wear me down".

From The History Channel 's award-winning "Modern Marvels" series, this program tells profiles the development of the Interstate highway system from its beginnings.

An enriching and telling account of the development of transportation corridors in Harris County. This book charts the advancement of transportation issues in the greater Houston area and establishes a foundation upon which future progress can be made. Includes a comparison of the development of the Houston Freeway system with the Los Angeles Freeway system.

A history of the development of Route 66, including maps and a photographic essay.

Another history of Route 66, with maps and photos.

This book is of interest because it contains a discussion of the cultural mores that helped create America's current car glut--namely, our attitudes toward land use and growth management. The change in these attitudes can be seen quite readily in the different manner highways are routed between the 1950s/1960s growth period vs. growth in the 21st century with EIRs and community input.

Based on descriptions, this book explores urban planning to deemphasize the automobile. Why would a road scholar be interested in this? Because planned urban growth will take many approaches, and one must understand these to build effective highways in the future.

Provides a look at Great Basin highways, its highway-signage standards and surrounding scenery. A comprehensive index outlines where and which highways you should take to reach your destination. Includes views of Washington County, Utah.

A mostly textual history of Las Vegas.

Julius Weintrab was a vice president of the Dunes and had connections with several other Vegas hotels. His specialty was organizing and personally conducting the junkets that brought in high rollers from the East Coast. This is his story and theirs, along with a variety of other characters that added a colorful element to Las Vegas in the 1960's and 70's.

Actually, I have the 2nd edition. Although this is a travel book, it contains quite a bit of good history and pictures on Las Vegas. He does get a few facts wrong in the edition that I have; hopefully these are corrected in a later edition.

I recently picked up a copy of this book. There are a few errors in the text (as usual, they forget to mention the original builder of the Flamingo), but lots of great pictures, so it was worth the price.

For several decades the author worked first as a Las Vegas newspaper reporter and then as a public relations executive at the Flamingo, Four Queens, and Stardust Hotels. In this book he describes with first-hand insight the events and personalities that shaped Las Vegas during some of its most glamorous and eventful years.

An interesting story of the early days of Las Vegas, told by the daughter of one of the founders. Numerous inaccuracies in the identifications of the photos, but that can be attributed to a child's memory. Interesting reading.

One of my favorite books on Vegas. Lots of history and lots of pictures.

A look at the roadside architecture that is Las Vegas. Many photos, although a lot are postcards. Good focus on the relationship between buildings and signs. Includes information on where to find "old vegas", although alas, quite a few sites listed are now gone.

Gives a history of the development of the Gas Station, including unique identifying styles.

Looks at a special type of architecture that developed in the 1940s and 1950s, where buildings were shaped to resemble what they were advertising. From the Giant Orange to the Giant Donut, many of these are still around today.

Possibly out of print; I picked mine up at Disneyland. Gives the history of Disneyland, including how the original site was chosen, and some of the early planned sites near Griffith Park.

What goes on behind the facade of Disneyland. Interesting stories.

Recommended by Don Hagstrom. This book helps people understand and respond to so-called smart-growth plans that threaten to increase urban congestion, housing prices, and taxes while reducing urban open space.

The history of the Burma-Shave sign, including the text for all the signs.