Profiles Vancouver's most notable and notorious residents, from the city's namesake, British Captain George Vancouver, and explorer William Clark to modern day musicians and philanthropists.

Once a rural paradise known as "Noddle's Island," East Boston is the site of key developments in the nation's history, including the first naval battle of the American Revolution, the creation of the world's fastest sailing ships, the country's first underwater tunnel, and the nation's first public branch library. It has had its share of famous residents, from Colonial governor John Winthrop and repentant Salem witch trial judge Samuel Sewall, to clipper ship builder Donald McKay and the world's first female clipper ship navigator, Mary Patten. Women's suffrage activist Judith Winsor Smith called East Boston home, as did the first Civil War nurse, Armeda Gibbs; Massachusetts governor John Bates; and Boston mayor Frederick Mansfield. Pres. John F. Kennedy's paternal grandparents and father were born in East Boston, where they started their first businesses and political ventures, and the neighborhood has produced numerous community activists, musicians, artists, writers, and athletes.

Throughout the history of Allston-Brighton, individuals have dreamed, struggled, and created a remarkable piece of American culture. Legendary Locals of Allston-Brighton features people representing an amazing mix of talents and activities, sometimes with far-reaching effects. In response to a plea from George Washington to feed his army, father and son Jonathan Winship I and II created what became Allston-Brighton's thriving cattle industry that remained part of Allston-Brighton until the mid-20th century. David Stoia, the present-day owner of Boston Lock and Safe, succeeded his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather in the company, which can be traced back to Colonial times. Intriguing stories continue with Boston poet laureate Sam Cornish, owner of Sunset Grill and Tap Marc Kadish, owner of Caf Brazil Valter Vitorino, state representative Kevin Honan, award-winning documentary filmmaker Liane Brandon, owner of Mr. Music Sal Barone, artist Richard Salvucci, Olympic gold medalist Harold Connolly, and baseball great Ted Williams. These images and narratives of the legendary locals of Allston-Brighton represent a vibrant community of Boston.

Perched on a hilly clearing between the Pacific Ocean and a rainforest along California's coastal highway, Arcata occupies a special niche behind the "Redwood Curtain." A cultural and geographic crossroads, Arcata's story is told in the faces of its people. The Wiyot were the first to inhabit Kori; their massacre on nearby Indian Island was boldly condemned by young Arcata (then Union) newspaper editor Bret Harte. Austin Wiley and sons carried on the newspaper tradition as pioneers Zelia Vaissade and Henrietta Moranda helped establish dairies on the Arcata Bottom. Arcata matured into a college town with Humboldt State College. Its first graduate, Susie Baker Fountain, became Humboldt County's first historian. Working men like Warren Dowling built the town's homes and churches, while the first woman city councilmember, Alexandra Stillman, helped usher in the modern age. Today, killing fields escapees Kimhak and Rasmey Chum make doughnuts and pizza that draw people at all hours, and Arcata fairly boils as a stew of contrasting traditions, styles, and icons with its artsy, eclectic, liberated citizens bringing Humboldt County's North Coast its most vibrant tiny big city.

A bustling lumber and trading port on the shores of Lake Champlain founded by Ethan and Ira Allen in the 1780s became the city of Burlington in 1865. With a current population of almost 43,000 residents, Burlington is still Vermont's "Queen City," consistently nationally ranked for quality of life and as a great place to both raise a family and to retire. It is not just the beautiful scenery and endlessly interesting weather that makes Burlington desirable but also the amazing people and businesses of Burlington that make it unique. Burlington is the hometown of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream; Horatio Nelson Jackson, the first man to drive an automobile across the continental United States; the Lake Champlain Chocolate Company; first lady Grace Coolidge; the Vermont Pub & Brewery, one of the nation's first brewpubs; philosopher and educator John Dewey; the world-renowned jam band Phish; a small army of accomplished and eclectic artists; and more interesting coffee and tea shops than almost any other small city in the country.

From its founding as a frontier outpost through its role as the birthplace of a new state during the Civil War and its evolution into a manufacturing center, Wheeling has been home to a fascinating array of personalities. The old legends feature Betty Zane's bold dash to save Fort Henry and Samuel McColloch's daring leap on horseback from Wheeling Hill. Businessmen like Henry Schmulbach and Michael Owens contributed to Wheeling's industrial rise, while Augustus Pollack and Walter Reuther earned fame as friends of labor. And even as notorious men like "Big Bill" Lias capitalized on Wheeling's wide-open ways, community leaders like James "Doc" White worked quietly for racial justice. On local ball fields built in the shadows of steel mills, Wheeling's gritty sports heroes, like Chuck Howley and Rose Gacioch, demonstrated their athletic prowess. Notoriety in the arts was earned through the music of Doc and Chickie Williams and opera star Eleanor Steber as well as the works of writers like Keith Maillard and Marc Harshman, the current West Virginia Poet Laureate.

This book delves into the history of some of the unique individuals and groups, past and present, who have made a memorable impact on their community throughout its history.