The company began in 1948 when David P. Flaccus started an offset printing business in Missoula. Over several years the company evolved into an independent publishing company and eventually a distributor for other publishers. The company's largest and most popular series of books is Roadside Geology with 27 titles and sales of over 1 million total copies. Other popular series include Geology Underfoot (6 titles) and Roadside History (18 titles).