Customer Reviews

Rock City Barns: A Passing Era

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Dave Jenkins has published an incredibly gorgeous book of color photography. It is a collection of photographs of old barns taken throughout the South that were painted with advertising slogans for a family attraction called "Rock City." I was a bookseller for 13 years, and this book is as fine an example of Americana and color photography as I have ever seen. It has a thoroughness and care to it that speaks with the voice of love on every page. I sent a copy of this book to my parents as soon as I saw it. They loved it too. I'm buying it for several other people for the holidays this year. Everyone enjoys beautiful old barns, fine photography, and an interesting story. Rock City Barns is a joy to own and the perfect gift to share with others.

This is the best coffee-table book for anyone who has ever driven through the South and experienced the "See Rock City" phenomenon! I have lived in Tennessee and Georgia and seen many fading Rock City Barns. With this book, I can show my children someday these beautiful, creative advertisements that are familiar to anyone from around here!

A beautiful, thoughtful, and sensitive documentary of a too rapidly disappearing part of Americana. Anyone who has ever seen a "See Rock City" barn will appreciate the photography and written details of this bygone era. This book should be in the reference section of every library in the USA.

An artistic, historial look at rustic barns throughout the United States with a slightly different hand-painted message on each of them urging all within sight to see Rock City,"a ten-acre tract of massive stone formations overlooking Chattanooga, Tennessee and the North Georgia countryside". Mr. Jenkin's photography is truly inspiring, a delight to the eye. This book can easily transport the viewer to simplier times via a subtle palette of colors and lighting. Highly recommended.

While not a complete collection of Rock City Barn photographs (I doubt that this would be possible,) David Jenkins has captured quite a few of them in all of their shoddy, historic glory. New finds pop up all the time, but it's safe to say that no new ones are being painted. While this is a shame on one hand, it also makes the ones that remain that much more special.
(See www.ohiobarns.com for an ever growing section of Rock City Barns from across the south and midwest.)

This superb pictorial work covers a truly passing era. These beautiful barns are slowly disappearing from the southern countryside, yet Mr. Jenkins has found a way to captured and preserved these relics for generations to come. Beautifully photographed and presented, this work will be cherished by anyone who appreciates Americana history and the glory of American advertising ingenuity.

Donald Maldonado, MD

My wife and I purchased this book nearly 10 years ago, while living in Gadsden, AL. With the top down on my Jeep, we hit the road and spent many enjoyable weekends, this book and notebook in hand, tracking down many of the barns listed.

When we found a Rock City barn, we took a picture, then logged in the directions. With the obvious help of this book, we've seen most of the ones in the Southeast. In the book, Mr. Jenkins was graceful in acknowledging Clark Byers, the southern gentleman who, along with his crew, painted the barns many years ago. Around 1999, we had the privilege of meeting and spending time with Mr. Byers and his wife at their home in Rising Fawn, GA one evening.

Mr Jenkins is to be commended for helping to preserve the memories of a true Southern landmark, the Rock City Barn. My wife Jeanne and I would heartily recommend this book.