About Us

Hello! My name is Bill Flood; I am a passionate historian, and the founder of Landmarks and Legacies. Since my college years I have been interested in history and historic preservation, particularly with 20th century social and commercial life.

I’ve been called an “evangelist” for retro Americana, promoting the icons of mid-century popular culture to those who love them. In any given week, you might find me traveling down a historic road, writing about a landmark drive-in restaurant, researching the history of a vintage bowling alley, photographing the fantastic lines of a Googie-style building, or even reporting on the happenings at a surviving mid-century tiki bar.

I founded Landmarks and Legacies to help people record the narratives of their past – the stories that can so easily be lost to time.

My company, Landmarks and Legacies offers a wide range of services to help individuals and organizations document their heritage. For some, it may be writing a short descriptive booklet or coffee table book on their history. For others, it’s photo-documenting an old house, or maybe crafting the text for an interpretive sign or developing an online interactive historical map.

Here is a list of just some of the services we offer:

• Research and writing of historic accounts of all types – personal or organizational
• Conducting and recording oral interviews to capture histories and stories before they are lost
• Investigating the details of historic buildings and preparing house histories or preservation documents
• Helping with the preparation of historical exhibits and signs for private and public spaces
• Assisting with the establishment and maintenance of archives to preserve personal or local histories
• Preparing applications for grants and historical designations, and writing appeals to donors

Landmarks and Legacies works with individuals, community groups, small businesses, and civic organizations. They all engage our research, writing, and presentation services for projects such as biographies, corporate histories, documenting historic structures, and preparation of historic displays and interpretive signs.

Even those requiring more specialized research engage our services – such as when an out-of-state researcher needs information from local archives but can’t travel to our locale.

We’re located in Columbus, Ohio. While our main geographic service area is central Ohio, we provide services nationwide and can consult with you onsite, via phone, email, or online. We work with partners throughout the country so that we can be of service anywhere in the United States.

Examples of our work Include:

• Heritage Travel Writing – we’ve written numerous articles for historical and heritage tourism publications on topics such as: Route 66 and the National Road; mid-century residential neighborhoods; surviving tiki architecture across the country; restaurant reviews of vintage diners and drive-ins; and, narrative accounts of antique shows and other vintage-themed events.
• History Book Publishing – Whitehall, Ohio: Images of America, published 2015
• Historic Preservation – preparation of historic structure reports for properties ranging from an 18th century mansion on Washington, DC’s Logan Circle, to a circa 1830’s tavern in Maryland, and even a 1950’s tract house in Richmond, Virginia.
• Educational Programming – development of local history programs for middle school students, the general public,and senior citizen travel-and-learn groups. Topics included: the History of Baltimore, Maryland; This Old House – What Style is It? Bullets and Beer; A History of Detective Fiction; the History of Tidewater Virginia; and, most recently, Whitehall, Ohio and the National Road.

Whether you need us to tackle your history project from start to finish, or simply need guidance for your in-house efforts, we are happy to help. Get your project started today by contacting us. We will handle the rest.