An illustrated history of Beaumont, Texas, paired with histories of the local companies.

When a bill creating the Big Thicket National Preserve was signed into law, it climaxed more than half a century of environmental debate, planning and destruction. The preserve opened new vistas for recreation. In this revised and updated version, Gunter not only describes the history and rich diversity of the region saved from the bulldozers of real estate developers and lumber companies, but also the dimensions of the new Big Thicket Preserve. He makes it possible to plan a trip there by including descriptions of each stream corridor unit, maps and canoeing conditions, hiking trails, and camping facilities. He lists representative flora and fauna. The book provides a background—both historical and biological—which will make clear just what the visitor to the Big Thicket is seeing; why it has mattered, and why it will continue to matter.

In this quiet and spacious landscape lies the story of some of Chapel Hill's rich cultural and natural history. When University of North Carolina botany professor William chambers Coker purchased the hilly area now known as Coker Hills, he bought it with a keen eye for the flora and the dramatic rises. Author Jill Blackburn is a graduate of UNC, with a M.Ed. and PhD. Her family moved into the area many years ago. She and the other residents appreciate the feel of "living in the woods" while being close to amenities.