| SUBJECT | TITLE | AUTHOR |
| Year 1776 in US colonies | 1776 | David McCullough |
| First flight | The Wright Brothers | David McCullough |
| Lost Colony of Roanoke Island | The Secret Token | Andrew Lawler |
| 1775 Hurricane season & what was happening in colonies | Hurricane of Independence | Tony Williams |
| Jamestown & how it started | The Jamestown Experience | Tony Williams |
| Civil war | The Civil War | Geoffrey C Ward, Kenneth Burns |
| General Grant | Grant | Ron Chernow |
| Jefferson’s white & black daughters | Jefferson’s Daughters | Catherine Kerrison |
| Civil war – this was extra good, according to me | The History Buff’s Guide to the Civil War | Thomas R. Flagel |
| Slave escape, true story | Master Slave Husband Wife | Ilyon Woo |
| Historical 18th century – so wild, hard to believe it is true but it is | The Wager: a Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny & Murder | David Grann |
| One of my most favorite books! | The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks | Rebecca Skloot |
| A guy follows the Pony Express on a horse in current days | The Last Ride of the Pony Express | Will Grant |
| Battle of Little Bighorn, Custer, Sitting Bull & Crazy Horse | The Last Stand | Nathaniel Philbrick |
| John Muir & saving Yosemite – it took me a while to get through | Guardians of the Valley | Dean King |
| Deaf & blind – an amazing woman | The Story of My Life | Helen Keller |
| David Koresh & Branch Davidian | Waco | Jeff Guinn |
| Made Dodge City come alive for us, however, there is a lot of bad words, bad scenes, but you feel you are right there! A favorite! (Mom, don’t read. You won’t like it.) | Doc | Mary Doria Russell |
Write in the comment section if you have any questions for me about these books!
Travel Means Life 
Charla, thank you so much for putting this post together! I know reading these books (or at least some) will enrich our visits when we see these places in person. I hope you’ll update it as time goes on and you visit more places. That’s a lot to ask I know, but I do think such a list will be very useful to us travelers. You could even turn it into an ebook – if you continue to add books and maybe the campgrounds you stayed at. Okay, I’ll stop thinking of things for you to do. 🙂 I do want to mention, since you loved Helen Keller’s autobiography, a post I wrote when we visited Ivy Green. It was a truly moving experience to see her home. You didn’t comment in the post, so I don’t think we knew each other back then. Here’s the post: https://chambersontheroad.com/2022/04/26/ivy-green/
I also wrote about another place near Ivy Green, and this is another place to visit with so much heart. https://chambersontheroad.com/2022/04/30/sacred-tears-in-spring-park/
Hope you don’t mind the links; I thought you would enjoy the posts. Again, thank you for this post. Once a year, in August, we attend a huge bookfair. I’ll be looking for these books there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are most welcome. I am so happy to share the books I have found that makes visiting a place come alive! I love it!! 😃
Thank you for the links. Of course I don’t mind at all your ideas. If I do an e-book I know who to ask advice from (you). 😃
I am most definitely planning to update the book list every time I read one. So happy to share.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is great! Thanks, Charla!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How fun to peek at your bookshelf Charla! I feel like we’ve read some “kids versions” of some of them. Riders of the Pony Express, Johnny Tremaine, Little Britches Father and I Were Ranchers, … My oldest just read one he really liked about the Hoover dam, and a series about spies in WWII. I love historical fiction and I try to read books set in places we visit. It’s So Fun! I’m hoping to read “Al Capone Does My Shirts” and “Esperanza Rising” this summer! Happy reading 📖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes, I am not kidding, I get into a book so deep that I totally forget to make us dinner. Haha I just can’t put it down. 🤣
I think it is wonderful you and your kids have a love of reading. Have you seen the series for kids about adventures in some National Parks? I haven’t read them but they look good. In fact, even though I am definitely not a kid, ha, I have one on hold at the library just to see if they are any good.
Enjoy reading; it can take you anywhere. 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
The only book on this list that I’ve read is the Henrietta Lacks book and I agree, it was great. The Wright brothers book is on my shelf to be read. I have read several of David McCullough books. I will add these to my own wish list! I don’t currently have a library card anywhere, so I’m reliant on Kindle for my supply, as well as the used book shelves at campgrounds! Just curious, do you read fiction at all?
LikeLiked by 1 person
David McCullough is one of my most favorite authors. Yes, I do read fiction…especially during the Christmas season. 🤣 I like historical fiction, too. This list is of books that I have read that helps me “feel there” when we visit the place or area. Just wonderful! I often read a book out loud to Kevin on our travel days. That helps the time pass and lets us know more of where we are going.
I have found I don’t read much else because I get so excited and want to learn more. 😃
Do you have any book recommendations for me?
LikeLike
Have you read any books by Erik Larson? He writes non-fiction, and I particularly liked The Devil in the White City. It’s a good book to read if you are ever going to visit Chicago. I also just enjoyed a book about Juliette Low by Stacy Cordery. I read a lot of different types of books-besides non-fiction and biographies, I also like historical fiction and mysteries.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t heard of those book but I am putting them in my list. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, and classics too. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person