American Places: From Vision to Reality

At the stroke of midnight on February 2, 1913, Grand Central Terminal opened for business in New York City. At the time, it was the largest and most luxurious station in the world. Throughout the day, more than 150,000 people pushed through its shiny doors. They gasped at the building's size, beauty, and technological wonders. After seeing it, a reporter called it "the greatest station, of any type, in the world." Grand Central Terminal traces the incredible story of one of the most beautiful and iconic buildings in the United States. The book describes how the massive train station was built and how it utilized smart design and cutting-edge technology to accommodate millions of travelers. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the captivating story.

On May 10, 2013, the final section of One World Trade Center's 408-foot spire was set in place. The 1,776-foot building had officially become the tallest in the Western Hemisphere! For many Americans, the majestic skyscraper was a beacon of hope after the 9/11 tragedy and captured President Barack Obama's words: "We remember, we rebuild, we come back stronger!" One World Trade Center: The Freedom Tower traces the incredible story of a structure that divided New Yorkers before bringing them together. The book describes how the skyscraper was designed and built, story by story. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the captivating story.

In 1933, an ambitious project was underway in the middle of the desert on the Arizona-Nevada border. Dozens of men dangled from long ropes along the tall canyon walls hundreds of feet above the Colorado River. The workers used jackhammers to drill holes into the rock, and then placed dynamite into each hole. Boom! Boom! Boom! This dangerous-and sometimes deadly-work was just the beginning of the construction of the Hoover Dam. The Hoover Dam traces the incredible story of the colossal structure, from its construction to its important modern-day use-including preventing floods and providing electricity to millions of people. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the captivating story, which is sure to excite even the most reluctant readers.

It was 1814. Fifty British soldiers surrounded the large white house, holding poles with flaming rags at the end. All at once, they hurled the blazing poles into the house's windows. Within seconds, the majestic home was in flames. The fire destroyed almost everything inside. If not for a powerful thunderstorm later that day, the White House might have burned to the ground. The White House traces the incredible story of one of the most important and iconic buildings in the United States. The book describes how the massive residence was built and how different presidents have left their personal marks on the structure. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the captivating story, which is sure to engage even the most reluctant readers.

In 1886, more than one million people jammed the streets of New York City to watch a parade led by President Grover Cleveland. When the parade reached the southern tip of the city, people could see a giant metal object jutting out of the misty harbor. It stood more than 300 feet tall and was topped with a giant glowing torch. Many people wept with joy and shouted in delight. They had never seen anything so beautiful. Where had the majestic statue come from? Who had built it and why? The Statue of Liberty traces the incredible story of the monument, starting with an idea dreamt up by a French law professor and ending with the installation of the huge metal structure on a small island. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the captivating story, which is sure to engage even the most reluctant readers.

On January 5, 1933, hundreds of workers began building a huge orange bridge in California. Braving strong currents and chilly waters, divers dove deep underwater to blast away rock to help construct the bridge's two huge towers. Other workers risked their lives climbing to dizzying heights to install iron cables that stretched the length of the bridge. The workers pushed themselves to the extreme to complete one of the most magnificent suspension bridges in the world-The Golden Gate Bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge traces the incredible story of the landmark, starting with the idea for the huge suspension bridge and ending with the unveiling of the massive structure. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the captivating story, which is sure to engage even the most reluctant readers.

In the early 1900s, William Goodwin, a local pastor, was saddened by the state of his historic hometown, Williamsburg, Virginia. The town where George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had once lived and worked was gone. Most of the buildings from the colonial era were either falling apart or had been torn down. Goodwin knew the town's once-great past could be reborn. He just needed help-from townspeople, a team of historians, and one of the richest men in the world. Colonial Williamsburg traces the incredible story of the town, from its heyday as then capital of colonial Virginia to the largest living history museum in the world. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the captivating story, which is sure to excite even the most reluctant readers.

In 1930, anyone walking down Fifth Avenue in the middle of New York City would have seen an incredible sight. A forest of giant steel beams rose hundreds of feet into the sky. Thousands of men stood on the beams cutting, drilling, and hammering. The workers were constructing the Empire State Building-the tallest skyscraper the world had ever seen. The Empire State Building traces the incredible story of the 102-story skyscraper, starting with the dream of two wealthy businessmen and ending with the completion of the awe-inspiring building. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the captivating story, which is sure to excite even the most reluctant readers.