Review of Delaware Before the Railroads by Dave Tabler
A.E. Jackson Review Score: 2 / 5 Ravens
How was this review scored?
I consider myself a proud Delawarean, knowledgeable of the events, culture, and circumstances that shaped our history. While living away from Delaware, or traveling on vacation, I often share Delaware facts and trivia when meeting people for the first time.
It has been my experience that sharing where you’re from helps aid introductions and helps people understand who you are. When the question about Delaware you’re most often asked is - “Which state is that in?” you come up with lots of ways to help your home stand apart as the First State.
Dave Tabler has revealed my limited knowledge and shallow understanding of the many-faceted Diamond State.
If you think you know Delaware, think again. Pirates? Quakers fighting with Pennsylvania? Towns so ugly no one would settle there? With stunning pictures and straightforward storytelling, Dave Tabler opens hidden passages and describes defining moments in this founding American colony. Telling this small state’s story gives you a sense of the big picture in American history.
There is an incredible breadth of knowledge conveyed in this pleasant-sized booklet. The book would be a welcome addition on any road trip through the state’s back road historic sites and bustling cultural birthplaces. The images are intriguing and hint at more to be seen by visiting the multitude of historic sites in person.
However, I would have liked the layout to be more reader-friendly. Flipping back and forth from captivating images to compelling historical narratives became frustrating.
The author’s succinct but fact-saturated Notes on Photography had me exploring Google for even more information on hitherto unknown (by me anyway) Delaware historical facts!
Read more from Dave Tabler at https://davetabler.com and find his social media profiles at Facebook(@davetabler) and Twitter(@davetabler).