San Francisco native Frank travels to four of the abundant kitsch monuments in Northern California and combines personal narrative, local legend and state history to describe the sites' sources and legacies. The sites of interest are the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's "Cave Train Ride," a window into possible Bay Area prehistory; the "Stone Cats" statues in Los Gatos; Big Basin Redwoods State Park, home of the slice of 2000-year-old redwood; and the Pulgas Water Temple on the San Francisco Peninsula. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
A professor's nostalgic journey to childhood tourist attractions reveals their hidden histories and universal relevance.
A historian&;s nostalgic trip to a series of local daytrip sites takes an unexpected turn as she explores the mysterious draw of these places. Childhood memories and urban myths lead to research into hidden stories, and what&;s revealed tells much about the politics of history-making.
Writing in a personal, funny, and engaging style, Dana Frank brings the reader along on her process of discovery. Full of surprises and plot twists along the way, her adventures are quirky, fun, and informative. Each essay is accompanied by a map and illustrated with photos, news clippings, and memorabilia.
Dana Frank is a professor of history at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
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