U.S. History
Making Peace with Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a holiday fraught with American history. Let's get it right.
Santa Fe’s Indian Market
The Santa Fe Indian Market, started a century ago to save Native American culture and art, is the largest Native American event in North America.
The World’s Glaciers
Glaciers, one of the world's priceless natural resources, are melting rapidly because of global warming.
The Earth’s Massive Wrinkle
Capitol Reef National Park encompasses a 100-mile-long fold in the Earth in which 270 million years of history is captured.
The Troubling Legacy of North America’s Oldest Brick House
Bacon's Castle in Virginia is a microcosm of major trends in U.S. history and culture.
The Style that Went Around the World
Most Gothic architecture was built in the 19th and 20th centuries when the medieval style underwent a global revival. Now, Gothic is trending again.
Tracking Dinosaurs in the Wild
With a pandemic raging and snarled air traffic, it's a perfect time to head into the past and the wild to track dinosaurs.
Tweaking Traditional Thanksgiving Foods
What if you love Thanksgiving as a holiday, but aren't crazy about some traditional Thanksgiving foods? These recipes might help.
The Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone, which revolutionized the study of Egypt and ancient languages, continues to court controversy today.
Going On A Mammoth Hunt
Scientists are stitching together a DNA sequence to produce a living mammoth as well as learning more about the chubby long-haired giant.
Comeback of the Courtyard House
The pandemic, soaring cost of housing and environmental concerns are renewing interest in courtyard houses, albeit on a miniature scale.
Central Coast Chillin’
When you need a break and relaxing activities that are relatively safe in the pandemic, try California's Central Coast.
Rebuilding after 9/11
Remembering September 11th has been a national opportunity to evaluate the past and move on with the long messy process of rebuilding.
Reinventing Civil War Reenactment
Civil War reenacting has taken a hit from the pandemic and controversy over the Confederate flag's association with racism.
Versailles’ Checkered Legacy
Versailles has an image of lavish opulence under the Sun King, Louis XIV, but the palace also has a history of revolution and American ties.
Confucius Conundrum
Chinese-sponsored Confucius Institutes have taken an international hit because of broader controversial China policies.
The Booming and Broiling Southwest
The American Southwest is the fastest growing region in the United States, but also the hottest and most arid.
For the Love of Arches
Arches National Park in southeastern Utah is being loved to death, and the park service is scrambling to manage the attention.
Why is Washington, D.C. so Roman?
The U.S. capital has more Roman-style architecture than almost any major city. We explore why.
Seagrove’s Marvelous Pottery
For beautiful handmade pottery, there is no better place in the United States than Seagrove, North Carolina.
Yellowstone Roars Back To Life
As the pandemic wanes in the United States, the crowds have returned to Yellowstone National Park.
Seeing the Big Picture
We are living in the Great Age of Panoramas, with super wide angle photography permeating our everyday lives.
Mining Towns of the Old West
Colorful Western mining towns where the ancestors of many Americans once flocked to seek their fortunes have become upscale tourist meccas for outdoor adventure.
Duke’s Beautiful Campus, Academic Excellence and Mixed Legacy
Duke University's Gothic architecture and academic excellence alongside its mixed historical legacy makes it a microcosm of the American South's historical dilemmas.
Making Your Own Family Museum
Making a family museum is a perfect way to teach your family about your heritage in a fun way.
La Purisima Mission
The history of La Purisima Mission in Lompoc, California, is a cautionary tale about the consequences of environmental damage, epidemics and racial inequality.
The Real Cost of COVID
Exit polls showed that many voters saw boosting the economy and controlling the pandemic as competing goals, but experts say they need to happen in tandem.
Election Perspective
On a day that included both voting and getting tested for COVID-19, we look to the past for perspective on elections.
Renovating a Western Landmark
The Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square, among America's most popular tourist destinations, are undergoing a major renovation.
The History of Race in America
The racial history of the United States belongs to us all, with the responsibility to resolve the accompanying outstanding problems.
The Racism of Confederate Statues
The racist past associated with the Confederacy and Confederate monuments has a complex history.
Getting A Vaccine against Racism
A mother of non-white children compares her fears for her children because of COVID-19 and her fears for them because of racism.
Lighthouse, Tide Pools and Seals
Yaquina Head, Ore., has one of the Pacific Coast’s premier tide pool observation sites, a lighthouse and seal and seabird colonies.
New Orleans - Exuberant Hybrid
New Orleans's hybrid culture is the result of its 300 years as the gateway to trading networks of the Mississippi River.
Utah’s Rock Stars
Utah's spectacular scenery harbors one of the world's most complete and diverse dinosaur fossil records.
Wolf in Ship’s Clothing
The picturesque town of Bristol, Rhode Island, once was a slave port and home of the nation's leading slave traders, the DeWolfs.
Mountain Men and the Fur Trade
The colorful annual mountain men rendezvous at Fort Bridger, Wyoming, commemorates the 19th century global fur trade.
Patriotic New York City
New York City, America's great atypical metropolis, taught me what America means. Here are my favorite patriotic sites in the city.
The River That Keeps on Giving
The mammoth Colorado River is the lifeblood of the southwest United States, supplying water and power for cities and agriculture.
Memorial to Once-Forgotten People
A moving monument and burial ground in Manhattan comemorates enslaved people who once made up more than a third of New York City.
Enchanted Land, Part 1
A search for ancestral roots in southern France leads to a legendary land with a walled medieval town and tales of a magic sword.
Illuminated Manuscripts
Illuminated medieval manuscripts preserved culture and religious beliefs and set a foundation for book design and art styles.
What does it mean to be Hispanic?
What does it mean to be Latino or Hispanic in the United States? This blog explores the ambiguous origins of these two terms.
Barbecue Santa Maria Style
Santa Maria's scrumptious grilling is California's premier barbecue style.
The Land of Junipero Serra
Junipero Serra's "sainthood" is controversial, but the extent of his cultural impact on California is indisputable.
