Situated strategically in the midst of such large urban centers as Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City, the city of Wilmington, Delaware, boasts its own unique character as well as a fascinating and continuously evolving history that has spanned more than 350 years. Officially chartered in 1832, this determined community has steadily developed a prosperous business economy--fueled in earlier times by the demands of war and more recently by a liberal tax structure--as well as a dynamic residential life for the thousands who make Wilmington home.

A city of rare beauty and fascinating history, Wilmington attracts armies of tourists and visitors year-round eager to view its picturesque waterfront, to learn of the old port citys remarkable heritage and traditions, and to enjoy its grand beaches and landscapes. This visual history explores the citys and the vicinitys unique story from the late 1890s to the 1960s through the medium of postcards, a popular way of documenting a towns famous buildings, dwellings, personalities, and scenery.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the 200 historic views in Delaware in Vintage Postcards provide eloquent commentary on the First State in the early part of the twentieth century. Capturing the era between 1905 and 1925, this charming retrospective takes readers on a journey from Selbyville and Fenwick Island to Claymont, Arden, and Hockessin, and down the picturesque Main Streets of more than fifty Delaware towns. Illustrated postcards, which became popular at the turn of the last century, highlight the economic importance of land and sea, the state's varied architectural beauty, and the everyday lives of Delaware citizens.

Discover Wilmington's enduring spirit in these images of past and present. Since 1739, Wilmington has seen centuries of change along the banks of the Cape Fear River to the beaches of the Atlantic. Through the years much has been lost to war, neglect, and progress, but in many places the past is well preserved and still visible today.

From the 1890s through the 1920s, the postcard was an extraordinarily popular means of communication, and many of the postcards produced during this "golden age" can today be considered works of art. Postcard photographers traveled the length and breadth of the nation snapping photographs of busy street scenes, documenting local landmarks, and assembling crowds of local children only too happy to pose for a picture. These images, printed as postcards and sold in general stores across the country, survive as telling reminders of an important era in America's history.

Carved out of fertile farmland along the border of the Carolinas in 1787, Robeson County is North Carolina's largest county, spanning 948 square miles. The county is called “The State of Robeson” not only because of its size, but because of its fierce independence and self-reliance. Unique in its equally balanced tri-racial population, Robeson County has residents that are Native American, African American, and white. Over the centuries, these people have worked together to create a culturally diverse community.

This fascinating new history of Pennsylvania's Southern Chester County showcases more than 200 of the best vintage postcards available.