Book excerpt: Augusta and Summerville showcases rare nineteenth-century stereoviews and photographs from the extensive collection of Joseph M. Lee III and the Augusta Museum of History, spanning a 41-year period from 1859 to 1900. The engaging images within these pages were captured on film by some of Augustas earliest photographers, including J.W. Perkins, John Usher Jr., J.A. Palmer, and H.C. Hall, among others. Most of the images have never been published and provide an unusually valuable source of information about Augusta and its environs. Known the world round for its pristine landscapes and Garden City charm, Augusta has always been a photographers dream. Lush, verdant scenes recall a city yet unmarked by the scars of expansion, still enjoying the tranquility of life in the Old South. Views of early businesses and homes on Broad and Greene Streets, the flood of 1888, local monuments, historic churches and cemeteries, pioneering schools, the early cotton crop, and area waterways all contribute to this visual journey. The reader will delight in scenes of yesteryear, diving deep into the annals of one of Georgias most beloved cities.