I thought I’d share a book recommendation: Developments in Structural Form by Rowland J. Mainstone. While definitely a textbook from some intro architecture class, it’s also part history book and part architectural engineering primer. It traces how new techniques and materials were put into practice and, like you really want, has lots of pictures.
I found it at Orphelia’s Books in lower Fremont here in Seattle – a store I highly recommend. That was many years ago, but you can probably also find it at ThriftBooks. Check it out!