Arcadia Publishing

Arcadia Publishing is an American publisher specializing in local and regional history books, primarily in pictorial form. Founded in 1993 by Tempus Publishing, a United Kingdom-based company, it became independent in 2004 after a management buyout led by its CEO. The company is headquartered in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Arcadia is known for its extensive catalog of over 17,000 titles, publishing approximately 500 new books annually, often in collaboration with local historians and writers. It also owns The History Press, a subsidiary focused on text-driven books about American history and folklore. In 2018, Arcadia was acquired by Lezen Acquisition LLC, a pooled investment fund led by Lili and Michael Lynton. Business/Product Breakdown Arcadia Publishing's core offering is its Images of America series, which features 128-page books containing 180 to 240 black-and-white photographs with captions and introductory text, documenting the history of specific communities, neighborhoods, or regions across all 50 U.S. states. These books are authored by local historians or writers, emphasizing hyper-local narratives and archival imagery. Beyond Images of America, Arcadia publishes other series, including Postcards of America, Then and Now, Postcard History, Images of Rail, Images of Sports, and Corporate History. Its subsidiary, The History Press, produces text-driven titles in series like American Palate, which covers local food, beer, and wine, and Haunted America, which explores local folklore and ghost stories. Arcadia also operates imprints such as Pelican Publishing, acquired in 2019, focusing on Southern culture and history, and Applewood Books, acquired in 2023, alongside Commonwealth Editions and Wildsam. The company has expanded into children's books with Arcadia Children's Books, launched in 2019, and runs digital platforms like YesterdaysAmerica.com and Crime Capsule for true crime content. Arcadia's proprietary Store Match system enables customized book assortments for retailers, and all books are printed in the U.S. on Forest Stewardship Council paper, emphasizing sustainability. Sales are evenly distributed across direct sales, distribution, and retail partnerships.