American History Books?

[KC]

A while ago I mentioned that I'd be dropping everything, quitting my job, etc. to travel the US for a year on a motorcycle. I'm finally sitting down and getting a general route planned out.

I'm interested in visiting a ton of historical sites, and so I was wondering if anyone knows any good American History books - labor-related or otherwise - that I could check out and help me out with planning some sites to see.

Also, it'd be cool if anyone knows of a website or something that documents American history by state, anyone know of anything like that?

[Tablo]

I'm sure everyone will mention A People's History of the United States

[Martin Blank]

Strike! - Jeremy Brecher
There is Power in a Union - Phillip Dray
Battle Cry of Freedom - James Macpherson
Black Reconstruction in America - W.E.B. Dubois

These four are good for labor and Civil War/Reconstruction history.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Strike is decent (I guess) but it doesn't really have a lot of info related to specific places to visit...just generalized stories about actions in states & cities.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Anyway, I don't really have much to offer as far as labor-related stuff goes, but Blue Highways: A Journey Into America is a decent read. One of my friends read the entire book on a road trip he took...it's basically about a guy who took an extended road trip along America's backroads, and all of the weird little towns and interesting people he met along the way.

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

I really liked Subterranean Fire which I found a pretty good history of militant labor activism in the US.

[Hoplite]

I dont know of any books, but I do know some places.

Just off the top of my head;

Pullman, Illinois to visit the scene of the Pullman Strike
Terre Haute, Indiana to visit the birthplace of Eugene Debbs

[Fulanito de Tal]

African American Historical Sites
http://usparks.about.com/od/afriamerhistory/AfricanAmerican_Historical_Sites.htm

http://soulofamerica.com/vote-for-soulofamerica.phtml

http://www.soulofamerica.com/content/images/b095fdbc0dd9017c34ca63cd75c0bfc4.jpg

First Nations/Indigenous Americans
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wounded_Knee_Massacre

Personal Experience
The Pacific Coast Highway from LA to San Fran. It's the most beautiful drive I've ever done.

[KC]

Wow thanks for those, I really appreciate it!

[NoOneIsIllegal]

There is Power in a Union - Phillip Dray
Read this book with a grain of salt.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

You probably won't see much. For example, in Pittsburgh, where in 1877 the workers took over the city during the Great Strike, there is only a tiny sign on the side of the road. And where the Homestead Strike took place down the river a few miles there is only a small granite monument and another blue sign:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mbVNdn8BVwY/Sf9ZVeSSqAI/AAAAAAAAGqg/hDrIqO5vhxA/s400/P1010226.JPG

[Hoplite]

You probably won't see much. For example, in Pittsburgh, where in 1877 the workers took over the city during the Great Strike, there is only a tiny sign on the side of the road. And where the Homestead Strike took place down the river a few miles there is only a small granite monument and another blue sign:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mbVNdn8BVwY/Sf9ZVeSSqAI/AAAAAAAAGqg/hDrIqO5vhxA/s400/P1010226.JPG

That's a horribly depressing sign. It almost seems like a marker for a victory over the strike rather than a memorial to the fact that people fucking died.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Yep, same with this one:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1405/839350762_0f676c0748.jpg

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

This one is a little better:

http://howlingmobsociety.org/images/sign%20images/39thst.jpg

"In the Great Strike of 1877, a labor dispute between workers and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company set off a popular uprising. Militiamen were called in to put down the strike and clashed with disgruntled citizens. On the second day of the conflict, the Philadelphia militia retreated eastward, pursued by angry Pittsburgh residents.

Fleeing the city, the troops sought refuge at the Allegheny US Arsenal, which once stood at this location. Looking for safe-have and reinforcements, the troops were instead turned away by the Arsenal's commanding officer, who refused to shelter them from the furious crowd.

Left unaided, the troops retreated across the river to evade Pittsburgh’s wrath. After the troop’s flight, rioting continued for another day before dying down here, while conflict raged on in other cities throughout the country. "

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

And this one:

http://howlingmobsociety.org/images/sign%20images/historycenter.jpg

"The Great Strike of 1877 was not exclusive to Pittsburgh. The first signs of what would become a popular uprising appeared on the B&O Line in Baltimore, on July 16th 1877. Unrest in Baltimore was initially suppressed. The next day, however, trainmen in Martinsburg, West Virginia went on strike. News from Martinsburg helped to re-ignite the flame of discontent in Baltimore. Citizens rose up in support of workers and met violent opposition from the Maryland National Guard.

Within a week, the strike reached more than a dozen lines and extended from New York State west to the Rockies and south to Texas. Mass rallies were held in Buffalo, Albany, Trenton, Boston and New York City. In Chicago, a crowd of 10,000 people fended off police attacks. A general strike in Saint Louis lasted five days. Over all, 100,000 people are estimated to have participated in the strike and the popular uprising that ensued in many cities across the country."

Still.. it's largely just these signs.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

KC, if you do make it to Pittsburgh, here's a map with locations and info about the Great Strike: http://howlingmobsociety.org/howling%20mob%20site/hmsmap.html

[southernmissfan]

James w. Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me, has written two books in similar vein to the topic. One, Lies Across America, examines historical markers/sites that are inaccurate. The follow up, Surprises on the Landscape, detail those that got it right. I haven't read either of them nor am I sure they are exactly what you are looking for, but maybe that will help.

[MarxSchmarx]

Murdered by capitalism
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1238/1333794000_b94082f286.jpg
http://images.indiebound.com/789/255/9781560255789.jpg

If you are traveling through Northern California (near the Oregon border) read this book.