Silver Palaces

Vintage and modern-day photographs and advertisements add depth to Silver Palaces: America's Streamlined Trailers, a must-have book for this fall. It is historically significant for those who suffer from wanderlust, some fulfilled by owning and traveling with a "silver palace," or perhaps owning an older model that's been rebuilt and refurbished.

With a simple, historical beginning, the streamlined trailer got its start. There were challenges in making mobile spaces for living-could anyone make a self-contained streamlined trailer complete with full hookups? After World War II, housecars and motorhomes were seen everywhere-a result of aluminum becoming available for trailers. Once these silver palaces were on the road, RVs and travel associations became popular . . . and well, the end of the highway was never in sight.

Doug Keister has photographed fourteen award-winning, critically acclaimed books. His credits with Gibbs Smith, Publisher, include Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography and Classic Cottages: Simple, Romantic Homes as well as Fernando's Gift (El Regalo de Fernando), a Sierra Club Book for Children. Doug lives in Chico, California.