Roadside History of Idaho (Roadside History Series) [Paperback]

Betty B. Derig (Author)

Book Description

Series: Roadside History | Publication Date: December 1, 1996

The best way to enjoy Idaho's rich heritage is to visit the sites where history happened. Roadside History of Idaho makes you feel like you've got a native guide at hand as it transports you to those places through well-researched, well-told stories and vivid historical photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"With quips and anecdotes, directions to towns and highways, this book was an adventure." --Library Research Association, Inc.

About the Author

Betty B. Derig holds a master's in American history from the University of Montana. She has written numerous articles and four books on western history, including Roadside History of Idaho. Derig, an avid gardener, is a member of the Idaho Native Plant Society. Her love for the West's varied terrain, from its deserts to its evergreen forests, led her to team up with Margaret Fuller to write Wild Berries of the West. Derig lives in Weiser, Idaho.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Mountain Press Publishing Company (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878423281
• ISBN-13: 978-0878423286
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #734,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Travel > United States > States > Idaho

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful exploration, December 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Roadside History of Idaho (Roadside History Series) (Paperback)

Betty Derig's book, A Roadside History of Idaho, travels the entire state, giving useful, interesting, and often rarely known facts and stories about Idaho. Without sounding too academic, the book is authoritative. Without being fluffy, it is light and enjoyable. Perhaps the most enjoyable element of the guide is that by cataloguing the history, the people, and the out-of-the-way places of Idaho, Derig successfully conveys a sense of mythology about the state. The reader, while enjoying the interesting and entertaining facts, gets the sense that Idaho has texture and history and a culture all its own - that the state is more than some sparsely populated, out of the way state that is only good for producing potatos. Betty Derig's book reveals Idaho for the enchanting, enchanted place that it is.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent history for travelers in Idaho, January 20, 2006

By 

Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roadside History of Idaho (Roadside History Series) (Paperback)

The Roadside History series is an excellent one, useful for anyone traveling in the state a particular volume covers (the volumes published so far are strongly representative of the western states, not so much the eastern ones). This Idaho volume by Betty Derig is typical and presents a thorough and interesting historical perspective on various sections and locals within the state. The book is in four parts (Southeast, Central, Southwest, and North) and centers around the major highways in each section (I-84, US 93, US 95, Idaho 55, for example). The history of cities and towns (even ghost towns) along the way is given in detail, and lots of illustrations and photographs are included. It's also a great state history book for armchair travelers. I recommend all the books in the series.