Hillside Letters A to Z: A Guide to Hometown Landmarks [Paperback]

Evelyn Corning (Author), Beth Parker (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2007

Have you ever seen a giant letter on a mountain slope and wondered what it was all about? If you've traveled by car in the West, chances are you've come across at least a few of the hundreds of hillside letters that dot the landscape. Representing towns and schools from Ajo, Arizona, to Zap, North Dakota, these mountain landmarks were created by locals with hometown pride or students full of school spirit. Some letters have been around for a century, many have a story to tell, and all are beloved community icons that boldly declare to all within their viewscape: We are here. This is our place, our school, our home. Hillside Letters A to Z: A Guide to Hometown Landmarks spells out in detail this distinctive western phenomenon, exploring its origins, customs, and controversies, as well as some of the nuts and bolts (or ABCs) of letter building. Adults and children alike will enjoy an engaging collection of stories featuring 60 letters from fourteen western states. Color photographs illustrate the featured letters, and a map shows letter sites nationwide. This book lists all 426 known U.S. hillside letters, where they are, and what they stand for. Hillside Letters A to Z is a must for curious travelers, residents and alumni of letter locations, and anyone interested in western history.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Evelyn Lyman Corning grew up in the quiet southern Utah town of Escalante, where she developed an early fascination for the large whitewashed E on a nearby hillside. She graduated from Southern Utah State College with a degree in elementary education, worked for the National Park Service, and taught school. Corning has authored a number of articles for newspapers and magazines; Hillside Letters A to Z: A Guide to Hometown Landmarks is her first book. She and her husband, Jim, have five children, and live in Tucson, Arizona, the home of a hillside A.

Product Details

• Paperback: 215 pages
• Publisher: Mountain Press Publishing Company; 1st edition (March 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878425330
• ISBN-13: 978-0878425334
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,976,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We love this book!!, December 10, 2007

By 

T. Rydalch - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hillside Letters A to Z: A Guide to Hometown Landmarks (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book. We have thoroughly enjoyed Hillside Letters. I keep this book in my businesses waiting room. My clients love it. Everyone has found a hillside letter in this book that has special meaning to them. They love seeing the history and stories behind the letters. It has been used so much that I had to order another copy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lively local history perfect for travelers, August 4, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hillside Letters A to Z: A Guide to Hometown Landmarks (Paperback)

There are hundreds of letters which have been carved into mountains across the country overlooking towns and schools from Arizona to the East Coast, and HILLSIDE LETTERS A TO Z: A GUIDE TO HOMETOWN LANDMARKS charts these letters, exploring the origins, customs and meaning of mountain landmarks. Color photos of the letters accompany lively local history perfect for travelers who are interested in local oddities and local history.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the girl who once climbed Ricks College's R Mountain, May 11, 2008

By 

Backroads "Scatter-brained book fan" (Cache Valley, Utah) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hillside Letters A to Z: A Guide to Hometown Landmarks (Paperback)

Okay, so apparently I am a pathetic loser for reading this book and enjoying it as much as I did-- which was very much! I first became interested in the book after a newspaper review, and thought it would be interesting to read some of the stories.

I had no idea that the brief histories behind random letters on hills could be so fascinating and addictive. I actually found myself profoundly touched by some of the stories.

It's well-organized and informative, telling a good summary of noteworthy hills while still keeping notes on those that did not quite merit their own section.

It is obvious that Corning was fascinated by these letters, and sadly I am now too.

I live near a few, but now I want to build my own.