City of College Station Blog

By Colin Killian, Public Communications Director

College Station will celebrate its 87th anniversary as an incorporated city in October. While that age may seem ancient to some, we remain a relatively young community.

That’s precisely what makes the City’s new 160-page pictorial history book truly extraordinary. From its early days to the present, College Station’s journey has been paved with captivating stories, exceptional people, and compelling images to rival those of much older communities.

On Monday, May 19, the City of College Station will unveil the 12 x 12 coffee-table style book at a public celebration from 6-8 p.m. at Visit College Station (1207 Texas Avenue). The free event will feature refreshments, giveaways, children’s activities, and fun photo opportunities.

The beautiful and unique hardcover book, which contains over 200 rare and remarkable images, is a bargain at $40. It will be available for purchase at the event and, starting Tuesday, at the College Station Visitors Center.

The History Book’s History

When the idea for producing a pictorial history book emerged, we sought bids from top publishers to design and create a first-class product. Such projects are typically expensive, and this one was no exception, with initial estimates as high as $60,000 to cover full production and printing.

Yikes.

Then, it dawned on us that our own incredibly skilled graphic designers, writers, editors, marketers, photographers – and even a historical records archivist — were capable of handling the research and design.

These dedicated City employees willingly accepted the daunting task of creating a pictorial history book from scratch while still fulfilling their daily responsibilities. The effort required significant hours of their own time, but they never complained—well, maybe just a little. Still, it was a labor of love.

Once the book was completed and ready for printing, we engaged an experienced and reputable pictorial book publisher to ensure high-quality results. Nationally recognized Pediment Publishing, with over 1,500 successful titles in its impressive portfolio, was the ideal choice.

The total printing and delivery cost for 500 copies was about $21,000, and Pediment’s top-notch production values were worth every penny. Overall, our in-house development approach saved the City about $40,000.

The project took over 15 months, from concept development to delivery. 

City Councils from 2022-24 championed the visual history book to preserve the City’s unique past for future generations. We sincerely thank past and present members of the Council’s history book sub-committee, including William Wright, Linda Harvell, Dennis Maloney, and Bob Brick. Their vision and commitment to honoring our heritage resulted in a lasting and invaluable resource.

We also acknowledge the Historic Preservation Committee members for their valuable insights and support, which shaped the book’s direction. Their knowledge and dedication to preserving College Station’s history contributed significantly to its success.

Ultimately, City staff created a stunning masterpiece.

A true treasure emerged from the extraordinary talents, creativity, diligence, and boundless imaginations of Ross Brady (chief of staff), Bobbie Lehrmann (assistant director of public communications), Kimberly McNally (historical records archivist), Joelene Tomecek (multimedia manager), Lucero Valenzuela (multimedia coordinator), and Grace Hallowell (marketing coordinator). 

We’re confident you’ll enjoy this fascinating pictorial overview of College Station’s past, and we encourage you to share it with your family and friends.

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