Secret Rochester: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is a reference book like no other, offering a rare, sharply detailed glimpse into what makes this city so intriguing.

Meet a shy, 21-year-old hotel maid who secured the right to vote for all Puerto Rican Americans. Learn how a book written by Frederick Law Olmsted—designer of Highland, Maplewood, Seneca, and Genesee Valley Parks—opened Malcolm X’s eyes to the horrors of slavery. Discover why inspiration for the design of the famed Mushroom House is tied to an empty Coke bottle.

With short narratives and pro tips, this book takes you on a kaleidoscopic journey through the past and present. Did you know the cut-out bicycle saddle and reclining shampoo chair were both invented here? Or that you can nab a front-row seat to watch animal exams and surgeries at the Seneca Park Zoo?

Whether you’re a lifelong resident or lucky transplant, may the stories within these pages told by journalist Robin L. Flanigan invite you to become more curious about—and excited to be part of—this place we call home.