Treasures, in the time-honored tradition of Europe and the Orient, are the jewels, paintings and palaces created for the rich, for royalty and for the Church. The treasures of America have a wider compass. There are, to be sure, the great works commissioned by the rich, but there is also the work of carpenters, mechanics and craftsmen who made objects for everyday use but made them with such exquisite care and sensitivity that they have since become museum pieces. The treasures described in this book include mills and meetinghouses, humble dwellings, bridges and dams, marvelous trains and automobiles, buildings made for commerce, great parks and gardens and places that are steeped in the history of our land.
The treasures of America have a character and quality unlike those of any other place: they are a direct expression of the vitality derived from the blending of many peoples from many different countries and cultures. One of the strengths of the American way has been our ability to work together with the materials at hand and to learn from one another.
Among the more than 5000 treasured places described in this book, you will find the familiar and expected such as Mount Vernon, the collections of the Smithsonian Institution and San Simeon. You will also find hundreds of fascinating small museums, out-of-the-way historic houses and special displays of artifacts and other objects-and many of these may be closer to your home than you think.
If you wish to get on with the pleasure of seeing what is to be found in your area, or locate a place you plan to visit, simply turn this page and check the contents of the book. You will see that we have divided the country into nine regions, each with its own treasure map.
If you are intrigued by a particular subject, such as sculpture, early American painting, automobiles, silver or clocks, turn to the Topical Directory starting on page 592.
The treasures are here and the book is yours to use.