GHPA's Last of the Past, written by William Scott Field, discusses more than 50 of downtown Houston's most historic structures through historic and contemporary photos, text descriptions, floor plans and line drawings. Published in 1980, the book has been out of print for years, and used copies now sell for as much as $50. But for a limited time, you can buy a first-edition, as-new copy from GHPA's archives for just $30.

Last of the Past not only offers information on historic structures, but also a look at downtown before many large-scale restoration projects were undertaken. Some of the structures featured in the book, including the Pillot and Kiam buildings, are shown before they were restored; others, such as the South Texas Commercial National Bank and the row of buildings on the west side of Market Square, have been demolished since the book was published. Last of the Past is a valuable resource for anyone interested in Houston's architectural history.

Softcover, 116 pages