Bought this when I was about 7 (not this edition). Really anchored my interest in architecture. I can remember actually finding some of the buildings pictured within and snapping photos, trying to duplicate the vantage points.
The Austrian author put a lovely spin on Victorian Americana. Loved it! He did most of this project himself, from the photographs to the text to the layout and cover. It's impressive. This is the old 1957 edition. I would be interested in seeing the updated edition.