A Living History of the Ozarks [Paperback]

Phyllis Rossiter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 1992

The Ozarks region-spanning parts of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma-overflows with visible fragments of the past. A Living History of the Ozarks is a guide to the region through landmarks and sites which offer clues to its intriguing history. This splendorous land inspired Phyllis Rossiter, a native of the Ozarks, to write about the area to help people learn to appreciate its beauty and to recognize our dependence upon nature. "I feel that it's important to safeguard what we have left," says Rossiter. "In my writing, if I can help achieve that, then that's what I want to do-to help people acquire an appreciation for nature." Abounding with sparkling lakes and rivers (including the great Lake of the Ozarks), clear blue springs, rugged mountains, ancient caves, and windswept prairies, the Ozarks are a visitor's wonderland of natural beauty and legendary mystique. Author Phyllis Rossiter explores the major areas that make up the storied Ozarks. The Lake of the Ozarks region, the Springfield plateau, Ozark mountain country, the Buffalo National River, White River Hills, and the Big Spring region are all covered in depth. A detailed appendix lists places to view ongoing history such as caves and rock formations, Indian artifacts, bridges and ferries, gristmills, Civil War monuments, heritage crafts, mountain music, hiking trails, floatable rivers, national parks, and more. Offering keen insight on the area's history, as well as a complete guide to the sites and scenic spots of this popular American vacation destination, this book is a marvelous documentation of "living history" for tourists and interested area residents alike. Phyllis Rossiter resides in Gainesville, Missouri, where she is an active writer, photographer, conservationist, and lecturer. She is a member of the Missouri Writers Guild, the Ozarks Writers League, the Society of Children's Book Writers, and the Outdoor Writers of America.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...The book also provides a generous suggested reading list and is nicely indexed, so that if you want to visit Grand Gulf or Elephant Rocks, you can easily learn what is there and how to get there." -- The Springfield News-Leader, September 20, 1992

"Ozarks book should be read in advance and in entirety: Phyllis Rossiter's A Living History of the Ozarks is a history book first, a travel book a distant second... it is filled mostly with a detailed accounting of the development of the Ozarks region." -- The Kansas City Star, August 30, 1992

"Phyllis Rossiter's book... is more in-depth than most guides. There are masses of history, cultural information, explanations of names and of colloquial terms, accompanied by black-and-white photographs... the focus definitely is on providing detailed stories and background information to help travelers appreciate the area to its fullest." -- The New Orleans Times Picayune, October 23, 1994

"Rossiter takes the reader through the six areas into which she has divided the Ozarks. She provides a thorough examination of each area's history and sights and includes... photos, maps and charts, and lists... complete the book's many useful features." -- Missouri Libraries, March/April, 1993

"The first pleasure came in discovering the introductory section, called 'Guideposts to Living History,' which provides a splendid overview, not only to the remainder of this book but to the region as a whole. Although this book will be a resource for the increasing number of travellers interested in learning more about the history and heritage of the area they are visiting, Ozarks residents, as well, will gain new insights and understandings about the place they live... The book demands maps and pictures and they are supplied, lots of them, illustrating and explaining the places described in the text... are a treat to browse through." -- Dr. Robert Gilmore, OzarksWatch, Summer-Fall, 1992

"What she manages to do is to offer a rich story of the way of life in the Ozarks, a story of human condition that has long fascinated people, those who know the region and those whose only knowledge of it stems too often from inappropriate and false images... When Ms. Rossiter writes that 'In the Ozarks, things have a way of skewing into the fourth dimension and time seems somehow out of synch,' she has nailed down the real meaning of the fabulous region." -- Log Cabin Weekender, Conway, Arkansas, July 25, 1993

From the Author

Guideposts to Living History: How to Use This Book

This book will be your guide to the living history of the Ozarks. Of course, one book cannot pretend to illuminate more than ten thousand years of successive layers of human history over a 50,000 square mile area. Nor can one book be a comprehensive travel guide to such an enormous region. But this book will provide a familiarizing overview of the Ozarks and direct the way to the many places and the many ways you can visit the region's past and, to a large extent, the past of America. The book will introduce you, in particular, to my favorite sections, those that seem to be most representative of the whole, some of the most celebrated and, often, the most overlooked.

The chapters are arranged to lead the way on self-guided driving tours while furnishing a "popular" history of the most significant sites in each. While you can pick and choose among the individual chapters (tours) if you wish, the overview chapters are almost entirely history--and are all essential to your understanding of any of the parts. Taken together, they offer a fairly comprehensive "overview" of Ozarks history.

Mysteriously, the Ozarks often rewards those who seek it with a peculiar serendipity that will lead you to many discoveries of your own. "There is something strange about the Ozarks, a feeling almost fey in the Auld Sod sense," wrote the late Dan Saults, and "the region attracts those marching to a different drummer, who do not fit social patterns or cultural stereotypes." Some of the visitors, Saults said, might be looking for the myth of "pioneers who were happier, wiser, better than we are today, who above all were spiritually pure." He thought perhaps that "is why tourists come among us and want to see 'real hillbillies' who are barefoot, illiterate, bearded, talk funny, know little, but are 'real' people, unlike filling station proprietors, motel operators and mistresses of souvenir stands."

This is certain: If you look for ugliness, that is what you will see; if you look for beauty, you will discover it everywhere. But whatever you are searching for, the chances are good you will find it--and a soothing homeyness, comforted by the wrinkled, peaceful brow of the aged hills in these magical, mystical Ozarks.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 488 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing; 1St Edition edition (July 31, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882898019
• ISBN-13: 978-0882898018
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #739,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The rest of the story . . ., April 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Living History of the Ozarks (Paperback)

When the subject of the Ozarks comes up in South Alabama, the first word to pop into the minds of most people is "Branson". Phyllis Rossiter's book proves there is much, much more to that complex and beautiful part of the country and its people.

Anybody planning to visit the Ozarks, or anybody living there, would do well to invest in a copy. As a travel guide, it shows there is something in the Ozarks for every taste. It provides great suggestions for fascinating, varied and unexpected things to see and the best ways to see them. Ms. Rossiter also gives addresses for getting more information about the places she describes.

In addition to its excellence as a travel guide, A LIVING HISTORY comes with a special bonus: Ms. Rossiter's insight into history and the Ozark culture and psyche. That insight will help explain the reasons for the uniqueness of the area and its people. Even native Ozarkers will come away with a better understanding of themselves. Don't head for the Ozarks without it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Info, February 23, 2008

By 

Bit Twiddler "Ron" (MO USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Living History of the Ozarks (Paperback)

Just moved here and this book is providing lots of background information plus wonderful day trips around the area!

4.0 out of 5 stars Good history of Ozarks, September 26, 2011

By 

Salubrious Slim - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Living History of the Ozarks (Paperback)

I got this book to read more about the Ozarks. It's an informative, interesting read. Lots of lore and country cures, superstitions in this book. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in this subject.