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From Alabama to Wyoming, join us on a journey through the fascinating history of the UnitedStates of America. We’ll explore how this great nation came to be, chart how each of the 50 states joined the Union and travel to the remote locations that are part of the US without actually being classed as states. Examine the colonial roots of New England and the industrial heritage of the Mid-Atlantic states in the North East, voyage through the rural heartlands of the Midwest, get acquainted with the rich cultural traditions of the Southern states, delve beyond the cowboy culture of the Western mountain states, encounter the innovative American dream-influenced identity of the West Coast Pacific states and cruise through the diverse history of the five permanently populated US territories. The many…

Sharing a common and ancient heritage with other states of the Southeast, Alabama progressed from a territory of the United States to full statehood in only two years, becoming the 22nd US state on 14 December 1819. The capital was located first at Huntsville in the north, and then moved to Cahaba and Tuscaloosa in the central part of the state before finally resting in Montgomery in 1846. Brothers William Wyatt and Thomas Bibb were instrumental in Alabama’s path to statehood. Wyatt, a former US senator from Georgia, served as the first territorial and state governor while Thomas later was elected governor as well. Charles Tait, another Georgia senator, was prominent in leading the bill for Alabama statehood through the US Senate. He earned the nickname ‘Patron of Alabama’ and…

The wild landscape that makes up Denali National Park and Preserve covers a space of 6 million acres and is home to North America’s tallest peak, Mount McKinley. The park is named in honour of this steep ascent, as Denali is based on the Koyukon word for ‘tall’. Koyukon is the language of the indigenous Koyukon Athabaskans who live in the area. Mount McKinley is 6,190 m (20,310 ft) above sea level and the third most isolated mountain on Earth. Due to Alaska’s winter temperature being between 0°F/-18°C and-30°F/-35°C, the mighty mountain’s high altitude keeps it snow-topped year-round. The remaining land of the national park is protected to conserve the wildlife and cut down on hunting practices. Some of the top animals to spot roaming the space include moose, black…

The 25th state admitted to the Union, Arkansas is the only US state with a publicly accessible diamond mine, located at Crater of Diamonds State Park, in the southwest. The precious gem was first discovered in Arkansas in 1906 by farmer John Huddleston, and since then more than 35,000 stones have been found. However, Arkansas also gleams in other respects. Its natural beauty is enhanced by many lakes and waterways as well as the scenic Ozark and Ouachita mountain ranges. The state’s original dependence on agriculture has transformed into an economy that centres on the service sector. Farming has largely become the realm of the industrial conglomerate, but the state is well known for the founding of the behemoth Wal-Mart retail enterprise, the brainchild of entrepreneur Sam Walton, who opened…

In 1923, a sign advertising a new housing development, Hollywoodland, was erected on the side of Mount Lee in the Santa Monica Mountains. The sign cost $21,000 (about $390,000 today) and was only intended to remain for 18 months. However, the sign soon became synonymous with Hollywood itself and stayed in place. In 1932, an actress named Peg Entwistle committed suicide by jumping off the H, adding a layer of tragedy to its growing mythos. It was only in 1949 that the ‘land’ part of the sign was removed, along with a general restoration of the decaying letters. By the 1970s, the remaining letters were beginning to crumble. One ‘O’ was blown down and another broke, leaving the sign reading ‘HuLLYWO D’. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce replaced the old…

Long ignored by the European settlers who made their way to Colorado, the area that is now Rocky Mountain National Park was home to Native Americans for thousands of years, and contains archaeological evidence of ancient battles, summer camp grounds, and vision quests, as well as all of the tools of daily life. During the gold rush and the Civil War a few hardy souls made their homes out in the wilderness, but were driven back by the harsh winters. Nonetheless by the 1870s the area was becoming popular with a certain kind of holidaymaker, those who appreciated silence, clean air, and hunting. Enos Mills, who moved to Estes Park as a teenager, wrote many books and articles expounding on the beauty of the region. The park was officially created…

Delaware is famous for being the first state to ratify the US Constitution. Although Delaware is relatively small in both size and population, its significance today and historically can’t be denied. After becoming a state, Delaware grew its economy and political power. The success of its growing economy is largely due to the Delaware River, which expanded the state’s trade routes. By 1815, steamboats were a common sight on the river. Delaware river is the largest undammed river in the US, eastoftheMississippi, anditspotentialwas quickly recognised, with its water power used to run mills. As a result, Delaware could produce grain, textiles and paper. During the Civil War, Delaware was in a unique position as the state boarded the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy). While the southern states seceded from…

Located on Merritt Island between Miami and Jacksonville along Florida’s Space Coast, the John F. Kennedy Space Center, known simply as the Kennedy Space Center or KSC, is one of ten National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) field centers dotted across the US, but it is by far the most famous. First opening its doors in 1962 as the Launch Operations Center, it was later renamed in JFK’s honour following the 36th president’s death on 22 November 1963. The center’s global infamy is perhaps due to the fact that it has been the launch site for all of the United States’ human-crewed space flights since 1968, including the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar landing mission where astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were launched to the Moon. The facility…

Before it became an official US state, Idaho was first formed as the Idaho Territory on 3 March 1863. This was established by President Abraham Lincoln, as part of the Act of Congress, dividing parts of Washington Territory and Dakota Territory to form the land that would be Idaho state. The allocated land was home to vast plains of canyon-carving rivers and dramatic mountain peaks. The first people drawn to the state were prospectors, keen to make their fortune from Idaho’s gold. These prospectors didn’t just strike gold for themselves, but launched Idaho’s legacy. The settlers were successful in finding large gold deposits in towns such as Pierce and Idaho City, giving Idaho its mining reputation and bringing in traders and entrepreneurs. However, Idaho is famous for more hidden treasures,…

108 years. That’s how long it took the Cubs to win the World Series again. After a couple of barnstorming seasons in 1907 and 1908 when they took home almost every trophy going, the Chicago Cubs entered one of the longest droughts in sports history. It would take until 2016 for them to take home the World Series trophy again. While the early part of their drought coincided with the socalled ‘dead ball era’ of baseball, when fewer home runs were scored by teams across the board, the majority of the longest trophy drought in North American sports history was spent during one of baseball’s golden ages. Despite not taking home a trophy for over a century, the Cubs fielded plenty of hall-of-famers and some of the top home-run hitters…

Did you know that one Iowa family grows enough food to feed 279 people? This is largely due to the state’s fertile soil, which is black prairie soil. Prairie plants once covered the state and were crucial in the soil’s formation as they decomposed and added nutrients to the ground. It was this fertile soil that drew settlers to the region in the early 1830s. One of the Native American tribes, who called this land home at the time, was the Iowa tribe, which the state was then named after. Iowa becme part of the US in 1803, three decades before the arrival of US settlers, due to the Louisiana Purchase. This was when the US bought enough territory from France to nearly double its size, with the land that…

In the capital city of Topeka, the Kansas Statehouse is the seat of government for the state, where its laws are proposed and debated. The grand building features 17 different types of marble from different countries, crystal, granite and gold-leaf paint – and it is the second tallest traditional dome Capitol in the US. The building itself was a 37-year-long project, being constructed from 1866-1903. Its completed, striking copper dome reaches a height of 93 m (304 ft). The Kansas Statehouse is more than just a visual statement, but a representation of the state’s role in shaping national political debates and Kansas’ voice.…

In what would become the biggest land acquisition in history, the US – a nation still in its infancy – almost doubled in size with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803. President Thomas Jefferson originally sent envoys to Paris to negotiate the sale of the port city of New Orleans, but Napoleon, looking to fund his wars in Europe, had something bigger in mind. He offered up the entirety of the Louisiana Territory, some 828,000 square miles, for the small price of $15 million. Despite Jefferson’s worries that the purchase was unconstitutional, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse, and within a year the expansive territory officially came under ownership of the US. With so much new land, the problem became how to govern it. In…

Along with Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, Maine claims to have invented the cocoa delight that is the Whoopie Pie. Two chocolate sponge cakes sandwiched together with a rich creamy filling, the Whoopie Pie was allegedly first created by the wives of Maine farmers in the early 20th century. These women would allegedly make the small sweet treats, for their husbands’ to take to work, from leftover cake batter. However, other origin stories for the Whoopie Pie include that they were created by Amish bakers or that they were made as a variation of a British Victoria Sponge. Whatever the truth, Maine designated the Whoopie Pie its official state treat in 2011.…

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the sixth state admitted into the United States, lies on the northeastern shores of the region known as New England. Its roots go far back, to the early decades of the 17th century, when the ship Mayflower landed there in 1620, bearing the Pilgrims who sought to start new lives in the New World. No fewer than five presidents of the United States have derived from Massachusetts to some degree. These have been John Adams, the second president, who held office from 1797-1801. John Quincy Adams, his son, became NHL: the nation’s sixth. Calvin Coolidge presided from 1923 to 1929. In the modern era, John F. Kennedy held the nation’s highest office from 1961-1963. Most recently, George H.W. Bush (born in the state) was president from…

Like many states, Michigan at the time of its admittance to the Union was an agricultural state. The state experienced a flurry of migration during the 1830s with many families moving from elsewhere in the US, in what came to be known as Michigan Fever. In 1820, Michigan’s population had numbered under 9,000 but by 1840 that number had expanded rapidly to over 212,000. Migration to the state was only increased by discoveries in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the 1840s, which revealed the area to be rich in copper and iron ore. As a result, Michigan became a leading state in the copper and iron mining industries and was the biggest producer of iron ore in the US between 1844 and 1890. For much of the 19th century,…

In 1992, the Mall of America was opened to the public. It was, and remains, America’s biggest shopping and entertainment centre. Built in Bloomington, Minnesota, the idea for the mall was first proposed following the relocation of the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings sports teams to a new stadium in Minneapolis. The abandoned Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington provided an opportunity for development, and work began on the grand mall in 1989. At the time of its opening just a few years later, the Mall of America was home to 330 stores as well as restaurants and a cinema. Now, the Mall continues to impress with its huge size and enticing shopping opportunities and attracts nearly 40 million visitors every year from around the world.…

Missouri officially became part of the United States in 1803 when it was acquired as part of the infamous Louisiana Purchase. At the time, the state of Missouri as we know it today was part of the large Louisiana Territory bought by the US from France. The deal was a defining moment in American history. A few years later, in 1812, the Missouri Territory was established by Congress and in 1821, Missouri became a state and was admitted to the Union as a slave state as part of the Missouri Compromise, in which Maine was also admitted as a free state. In 1830, with the passing of the Indian Removal Act, Missouri witnessed one of the darkest times in American history. Tens of thousands of Native Americans were forcibly displaced…

The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, located in the Crow Reservation, marks the Battle of Little Bighorn. The battle, between George Armstrong Custer’s army cavalry regiment and a force comprising people from the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, took place from June 25-26 1876 as part of the Great Sioux War. Inside the monument, there’s a memorial dedicated to the Native American fighters, white markers indicating where the soldiers of the 7th Cavalry fell, and Custer National Cemetery, where known and unknown soldiers are buried. The monument, a short drive from the city of Hardin, is open to the public.…

While it had been the 1859 discovery of silver at the Comstock Lode that brought a rush of migration to what would officially become the Territory of Nevada in 1861, the upcoming presidential election of 1864 saw Nevada swiftly upgraded to statehood just three years later. This urgency was spurred by Abraham Lincoln’s need to be reelected for a second term during the ongoing Civil War. Not only would the Union gain access to the territory’s vast mineral wealth, but three electoral votes would be secured for the incumbent president, along with support for Lincoln’s proposed amendments to the US Constitution. Despite the territory’s population falling short of the requirement for statehood, Nevada’s strategic importance led to an enabling act being passed by Congress in March 1864, which would grant…

Known for its views, particularly in the fall, the Kancamagus Highway is the eastern part of New Hampshire Route 112, a highway that runs through the state from east to west. It’s named after Kancamagus, a chief of the Pennacook Confederacy who ruled over part of what’s now southern New Hampshire in the 19th century. It opened in 1959, linking two stretches of road, and connects the towns of Lincoln and Conway via the White Mountains. It’s a popular drive for tourists in September and October in particular due to its views of fall foliage, and there’s all manner of waterfalls, hiking trails, and scenic viewpoints.…

Though it’s often thought of as arid wasteland as far as the eye can see, New Mexico, with its terrain and climate ranging from forested heights to tawny deserts, wide grasslands, mountains, badlands and tumbling river gorges, is a miniature world within a single state. Its population is as varied and diverse as its landscapes and its flora and fauna. It boasts a rich and deep Native American history as well as heritage from the 16th century Spanish conquistadors, making it one of only seven majority-minority states, including the largest state population percentage of Hispanic and Latinx people and the second largest population percentage of Native Americans. Its Wild West history as a flashpoint between Native Americans, Mexico and the nascent United States – it borders Texas, Arizona, Colorado and…

Half of the population of this Great Plains state lives in a rural area, although that might soon change: Bismarck and Fargo are both among the fastest growing cities in the US, with over a fifth of North Dakotans calling the latter home. With its wide open spaces and rolling prairies presenting the ideal environment for wheat farming, the state’s early pioneers soon replaced their hardscrabble fur-trapping lifestyle with something far more stable and lucrative. During the Dakota Boom of 1886, gigantic farms swept across the once-wild landscape, and the railroad competed to keep up. By the time North Dakota was admitted to the Union, this one-time frontier was the well-connected breadbasket of the Upper Midwest. The pioneer spirit was still strong, however – North Dakota had been content to…

It’s a state shaped by hardship, ambition and a pioneering spirit that is enshrined in its legend and legacy. Situated in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon attracted settlers with the promise of fertile land, opportunity and a desire to escape economic instability in the East. They were also driven by the concept of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the US was destined to expand across the continent. From the early 1840s to the late 1860s, the iconic Oregon Trail became the major migration route west for those in search of a new life. Oregon was admitted into the Union on 14 February 1859 and had a ‘whites only’ clause written into its original state constitution. The state also adopted a law in 1862 requiring all ethnic minorities to pay a $5…

There are few places in the United States more closely associated with the nation’s founding than Independence Hall, originally known as the State House. The Declaration of Independence, explaining the colonists’ reasons for separating from the British Crown, was adopted there on 4 July 1776. After independence had been won, representatives of the states again gathered in the State House, this time to frame a new charter for the country, in what is called the Constitutional Convention. Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the resulting United States Constitution. The State House was already an elderly building by then. Its condition was so poor that it was nearly razed. The historic edifice was saved by the intervention of donors, who gave enough money to enable Philadelphia to purchase it from…

The city of Newport is home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The former Newport Casino site, with its uniquely New England Shingle Style architecture, is the perfect setting to showcase the game’s long and courtly history. The on-site Museum explores this from the 12th century roots of the games Jeu de Paume and the famously Tudor real tennis, both played indoors, to the history of the modern outdoor game beginning around 1859. Outside of the Museum, which is packed with artefacts from famous games, champions and more, the complex boasts 13 lawn courts as well as a selection of indoor and hard courts too.…

In 1803, the still fledgling United States made a deal with Napoleon Bonaparte to acquire 530,000,000 acres of territory. Known as the Louisiana Purchase, for a price of $15 million the size of the US doubled overnight and among the obtained land was the future state of South Dakota. 71 years later, the area saw a flurry of activity following George Armstrong Custer’s discovery of gold in the Black Hills, as hordes of eager prospectors flocked there in an attempt to recreate his success. The subsequent Gold Rush, the earlier Homestead Act of 1862 (which provided 160 acres of free land to would-be farmers) and the construction of new railways, led to the ‘Great Dakota Boom’, with the population increasing from 80,000 in 1878 to 325,000 by 1887. In November…

You might think that the world famous Grand Ole Opry is only a landmark for fans of country music. You would be mistaken, however, as it also broadcasts the longest running radio show in the United States. The Grand Ole Opry radio show is famed for hosting performances of all different genres of music from folk and the blues, to pop, rock and roll and everything in between. The show, which was founded on 28 November 1925 by George D. Hay, originally under the title of WSM Barn Dance, has been broadcasting every Saturday without fail for almost 100 years – amounting in excess of 5,175 episodes and playing approximately 6,000 songs each year. So hold your horses before y’all leave the Southeast and take a moment to enjoy some…

According to Forbes, the Dallas Cowboys, a storied National Football League powerhouse, have been the most valuable professional sports franchise in the world for nearly a decade. A 2024 estimate of the team’s value topped $10 billion, and this number jumped to $13 billion in 2025. The Cowboys have earned this distinction through performance excellence during the last 65 years. The team officially began league play in 1960, and has amassed a won-loss record of 569-423-6 (by the end of the 2024 season) while reaching the NFL playoffs 36 times. The Cowboys have further claimed five Super Bowl championships. Through the years, the Cowboys have developed a national – even international – fan base and earned the nickname of ‘America’s Team’. Legendary coaches Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson led the…

The story of Vermont begins in the 17th century, when French and English settlers first made their homes in the lush and rich landscape for which the state would become known. In 1777, Vermont declared its independence from both the New York Colony and the British crown, establishing itself as a country in its own right – The Vermont Republic. ‘Vermont’ comes from the French; ‘Verts Monts’, referring to the state’s famous Green Mountains. That same year, the Constitution of Vermont was adopted, creating a system of public schools, granting suffrage to all males and banning slavery outright. In 1791, Vermont became the 14th state admitted to the Union. Windsor was the state’s home from 1777, but Montpelier was named the new capital in 1805. But trouble was on the…

Arlington National Cemetery, located in Arlington County, near Washington D.C., is the most famous cemetery in the United States. Some 400,000 persons have been laid to rest on its hallowed grounds. They come from all branches of service, and include soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, as well as later conflicts. Women have been interred with their husbands here, but it should not be supposed that they may do so only as a matter of marriage. In modern times, women who themselves served in the military have also found their places at Arlington. Perhaps the most iconic place at Arlington is the Tomb of the Unknowns. Here was first buried an American soldier who had died in World War I whose remains could not be identified. He was later…

There had been a permanent English colonial presence in North America since the establishment of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. English and Scottish colonies then grew to stretch from Canada in the north to the Mississippi River in the west and Florida in the south. Following the Act of Union between England and Scotland in 1707 and the creation of Great Britain, these colonies became known as ‘British America,’ with a nucleus of ‘Thirteen Colonies’ along the Atlantic coast. The Thirteen Colonies were divided into New England (New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island), the Middle Colonies (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania), and the Southern Colonies (Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia). While they pledged allegiance to the British Crown, these colonies were largely self-governing and became…

Founded in November 1992 in Birmingham, Alabama, and a focal point of the change that swept the US during a racially-charged period of the nation’s history, the Civil Rights Institute welcomes thousands of visitors each year and touches many more through travelling exhibitions and award-winning programmes. The Civil Rights Institute captures the spirit of the movement, the lives and times of its leaders and common people, and the ongoing effort to make equality real and vibrant. Exhibitions include the actual jail cell from which Dr. Martin Luther King penned the iconic ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ on 16 April 1963, and documents, artefacts, memorabilia, film, and photos that commemorate significant moments in the struggle for equality. Part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, the Civil Rights Institute is affiliated with…

The land that makes up the state of Arizona was ceded to the US in 1848 after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Due to its desert landscape being smothered in intense heat and dry conditions, development in the area was slow. It wasn’t until minerals such as copper were discovered and mined that train tracks and other infrastructure were built and settlement in the area increased. The abundance of copper in Arizona makes it a main source for US copper production and has gained the state an additional nickname of ‘The Copper State’. In order for a transcontinental railway to connect the southern states of the US, President Franklin Pierce sent his Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, and his friend – and ex-military officer – James Gadsden…

It looked impossible. A mile-wide strait, with deep water, swirling fogs and sudden storms separated the city of San Francisco from Marin County. To cross the strait, people relied on ferries, which were frequently suspended because of bad weather. In 1916, city planner James Wilkins proposed a bridge and over the next 18 years a team of engineers and architects refined the design. The construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began on 5 January 1933. This was during the Great Depression, so the jobs provided by the huge project provided a welcome stimulus to the local economy. The work took four years and many lives were saved by stringing a safety net under the workers; the men who fell into the net formed the Half Way to Hell Club. Despite…

Connecticut boasts a rich and illustrious history as one of the thirteen original colonies and it was a key player in the American Revolution. The Connecticut Colony was founded by English Puritans at Hartford in the late 1630s and established a system of self-government called the ‘Fundamental Orders’. This is regarded as the first written constitution of democratic government and it earned Connecticut the nickname of ‘the Constitution State’. Connecticut ratified the US Constitution on 9 January 1788, becoming the fifth state to join the Union. The state played a key role in shaping the Constitution, particularly with the Connecticut Compromise which established a two-house legislative system. In the years following the American Revolution, Connecticut prospered. Mills and textile factories were built and deepwater ports such as New Haven, New…

Rohoboth Beach is a popular summer destination, drawing in beachgoers from surrounding states. The charming resort town is famous for its bustling boardwalk along its beautiful beaches and is a top choice for families. Originally, however, the beach was the location of a religious camp – an idea of Reverend Robert W. Todd of St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1873, the Rehoboth Camp Meeting Association was formed and 414 acres of land was bought off the local farmers. A year later the wide streets and distinctive boardwalk was constructed. The Camp Meeting Association carried out its formal meetings at Rohoboth Beach until 1881. Since then the town has been reshaped and repurposed many times. Its boardwalk has been destroyed by storms and redesigned multiple times over the years. Today,…

When describing Hawaii, the great American writer Mark Twain hailed it as “the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean”, an opinion undoubtedly shared by many. There is something magical about this archipelago, a place made up of a combination of numerous islets, atolls and islands located approximately 6,200 kilometres (3,850 miles) from Japan and 3,860 kilometres (2,400 miles) west of California surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. Its unique location makes it one of the most isolated population centres on Earth, and its combination of differing weather and clean air provides optimum conditions for seeing numerous rainbows (Hawaii is known as the ‘rainbow capital of the world’). The only state not connected to the mainland, Hawaii is also the only US state situated in the tropics and…

Idaho typically produces over 13 billion pounds of potatoes, due to the state’s volcanic soil being rich in minerals and well-draining to create the perfect growing conditions. Also credited for the success of Idado’s potato industry is the Snake River, which is responsible for transporting and depositing the soil that potato farmers use across their farmland. The river feeds the soil with water – essential as potato plants need a soil makeup of 80 percent water to grow. At the Idaho Potato Museum, in the Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot, visitors can learn more about the state’s history and potato perfection. Information inside includes the growing and harvesting process and top potato trivia. Showcased on its shelves are notable items such as the world’s largest Pringles potato crisp, which measures…

When Indiana became the 19th US state in 1816, its borders on today’s maps were established. Within these boundaries, Indiana was still largely unsettled woodland and farmland. The original capital city, Corydon, was where the first governor of the Indiana Territory, William Henry Harrison, lived. The city also had a limestone courthouse, the Harrison County Courthouse, which served as the state’s legislative building and was where the state’s constitution was drafted. Corydon was near the state’s south-east border and so, by 1825, the government moved the capital to the purpose-built capital Indianapolis, to establish a more central city base. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Soon after being admitted to the Union, Indiana’s infrastructure evolved. The government prioritised the building of roads, canals and railroads to connect the state. The Michigan Road, running north…

Iowa is famous for its largest event – the Iowa State Fair in the capital of Des Moines. More than one million people flock to the fair, travelling from across the globe to attend this 11-day event in August. The diverse activities and competitions celebrate Iowa’s agricultural heritage, including livestock exhibitions, antique shows, concerts, flea markets, trade shows and many other events that vary with each year. The state fair has been at the heart of Iowa since it first took place in 1854, managed by the Iowa State Agricultural Society. To get into the event in the earliest years, admission cost just 25 cents – in 2025 it is $16 at the gate. Winners of each competition received a red ribbon if they came first, white for second and…

Admitted to the Union as the 15th state, Kentucky was the first state west of the Allegheny mountain range. Its territory was carved from the sprawling land of colonial Virginia, and the wilderness was explored by the legendary Daniel Boone who blazed a trail for settlers through the Cumberland Gap. European settlers, many of German descent, also ventured west of the mountains via the Ohio River, and within a generation of early expansion Kentucky had been brought into the national fold. Isaac Shelby was a key figure in the pursuit of statehood and served as the first governor of Kentucky, following the establishment of Harrodsburg, the oldest town in the state, by James Harrod, and the delaying influence of James Wilkinson in the adoption of Kentucky’s first constitution. The early…

Mardi Gras is a vibrant, iconic celebration that sees millions of people flock to New Orleans every spring, donned in costumes to await the sight of decorated floats on parade. Mardi Gras translates to ‘Fat Tuesday’ in French, the day before Ash Wednesday, when people would overindulge in preparation for Lent, and is rooted in French Catholic traditions brought to Louisiana in the 18th century. In the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras, different ‘krewes’ put on elaborate parade displays and hold invite-only parties and balls. Some of these krewes were founded over 150 years ago and continue to host events today. In 1872, the Rex krewe proclaimed the colours of Mardi Gras: purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. While Mardi Gras attracts people from all…

Maryland is border country. But it’s not a border with another country, such as the states that border Mexico and Canada. Nor is it a border state with the Old West, one of those states that turned its gaze to the expanding American frontier in the 19th century. No, Maryland is the border within America itself, the fault line between North and South that was exposed during the titanic struggle of the Civil War. Indeed, the Mason-Dixon Line, which delineates Maryland’s northern border with Pennsylvania, was generally taken to mark the dividing line between the North and the South. Maryland itself lay south of this line but the state did not join the Confederacy during the Civil War, in part because President Abraham Lincoln placed Maryland under martial law to…

In Boston sits a living relic of the War of 1812 with Great Britain. During this conflict, several US Navy warships won glory, but none more than the powerful frigate USS Constitution. Launched in 1797, she, along with her equally potent sisters, United States and President, were the strongest frigates in America’s fleet. They were very heavily-armed and bigger than the opponents they came to face. A frigate was a fast warship intended to perform reconnaissance on behalf of the main fleet. A frigate often fought duels against other frigates. In 1812, Constitution fought two engagements against British ships, HMS Guerrière and HMS Java, and won both. During the fight with Guerrière, some of her opponent’s cannonballs rebounded from her hull timbers, from which came her moniker of ‘Old Ironsides.’…

In addition to putting Michigan on the map, Henry Ford also left the state with one of the most intriguing and fascinating museums in the US. A great collector, Ford believed it was important to preserve historical items for the purpose of education and thus founded the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in 1929 in Dearborn. The museum opened in 1933 and over the years, Over the years, it has acquired many significant objects, including the Wright Brothers’ home and bicycle shop (acquired by Ford in 1936 and relocated from Ohio to the Dearborn museum) and the bus upon which Rosa Parks made her history-changing civil rights protest.…

The state of Mississippi is said to offer the heartfelt slogan of ‘The South’s Warmest Welcome’, and many would agree that arriving here feels like coming home. Bordered by Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico, it is of course home to one of the world’s most recognisable waterways. The Mississippi River is located at the very heart of the Bible Belt, boasting more churches per capita than anywhere else in the country. Following a tumultuous history with much changing of hands, the region of Mississippi eventually landed in the lap of the Americans following the Revolutionary War, and the US Congress made Mississippi its 20th state on 10 December 1817. Originally Natchez had been the capital but that changed and moved several times before landing on Jackson…

In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established a national park in St Louis, Missouri, which was to be the location of a new monument to commemorate “Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a transcontinental United States”. The stainless steel arch design of Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen was chosen for the memorial and work began on the structure in 1963. The monument, known as the Gateway Arch, was completed in 1965 and towered over the national park. At 192m (630 ft) tall it was, and still is, the tallest arch in the world. Since its completion, the Gateway Arch has become a symbol of St Louis and a popular tourist attraction.…

The US acquired the land that would become Nebraska from France in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, and in 1819, Fort Atkinson – east of today’s city of Fort Calhoun – became the first army post west of the Missouri River. In 1854, Congress created Nebraska under the Kansas-Nebraska Act. After settlers began to move in, claiming free land under the government’s 1862 Homestead Act and increasing the population, Nebraska became the 37th state in 1867. Lincoln, then named Lancaster, became its capital. Over time, railroads were built to help connect the state to the rest of the US – before then, people, livestock and goods were brought in via water. The Union Pacific Railroad, the second-largest in the country, has its headquarters in Omaha. The population continued to rise…

Built on federal land bordering Nellis Air Force Range and the Nevada Test Site, where the infamous nuclear tests of the Cold War era were carried out from 1951, Area 51 is one of the most mysterious military facilities in the US. Operational since 1955 and administered by Edwards Air Force Base, all research and testing is highly classified. As such, rumours of spacecraft, alien technology and government wide conspiracies have captured the public’s attention. Publicly acknowledged by the CIA in 2013, the site officially called Homey Airport is used to test experimental aircraft such as the U-2 spy plane. The the SR-71 Blackbird, A-12 Archangel and F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighters were also flown at the base. While sightings of these advanced aircraft are likely to blame for the alleged…

New Jersey was the third state to adopt the Constitution and the first to approve the Bill of Rights. It also played a major role in creating the structure of the new United States government. At the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, New Jersey delegate William Paterson put forward the ‘New Jersey Plan’. His proposals would contribute to the establishment of the US Senate and ensured that every state, regardless of its size, would have equal representation. New Jersey was the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. In 1791, founding father Alexander Hamilton and his associates selected an area of land along the Passaic River to build Paterson, the first planned industrial city. The river powered the new city’s textile factories and paved the way for New Jersey becoming an…

In 1947, the US was gripped by two imperative fascinations. For the military-minded this was the threat of Soviet spy planes, atomic tests and missile launches. For everyone else, it was the Flying Saucer Craze. In an America newly embarked on the strangeness of the Cold War and where new types of airborne craft were being trialled daily, it was no wonder people thought they saw UFOs. In Roswell, New Mexico, the downing of what the army claimed was a mere weather balloon collided with science fiction (and maybe even science fact). A rapidly retracted press release initially claimed the Air Force was in possession of a ‘flying disc’ before doubling down on the weather balloon story. But in 1978, a retired officer alleged that the mystery object that came…

Beyond the production of the weapons of war, New York also plays a role in shaping the men and women who use them. West Point, lying along the Hudson River some fifty miles north of New York City, was once a linchpin of American defence during the War of Independence. So critical was its position guarding the Hudson River that the infamous traitor Benedict Arnold tried to hand it over to the British in 1780. In 1802, a school for officers, with a focus on engineering, was established at the direction of President Thomas Jefferson. West Point cadets and the graduates of the Academy are known as ‘The Long Gray Line’ because of the colour of the uniforms they wear. West Pointers have served the nation well in war and…

With one entrance north of Dunseith, North Dakota (on the US side) and the other south of Boissevain, Manitoba (on the Canadian side), the International Peace Garden allows visitors from both sides to move freely between the two countries within its walls – although you’ll need to clear Border Customs on your way out (even if you’re going back into the country you came in from). The idea of a garden between two international borders, that celebrated peace and harmony, was the brainchild of Dr Henry J Moore of Ontario, Canada. North Dakota was chosen for the American side because the state contains the geographical centre of the US. The site was officially dedicated in 1932 and today the site is a haven of formal gardens, wild landscapes, memorials and…

The sheriff takes a drag on his wellchewed stump of cigar and stares incredulously at the cowboy hero before him. “You mean to tell me you followed the rustlers all the way clean out there? Boy, that’s Indian Territory!” It’s not the punchline of a Western movie, a lawless nowhere ridden only by Native American braves and the cowboys who vied with them for supremacy. It was once the name of what would become Oklahoma. ‘Indian Territory’ described anywhere that was set aside by the 19th century federal government for the forced displacement of Native American tribes. The Trail of Tears led to Oklahoma, but the tribes would not be left in peace there for long. By 1887, settlers were eager for even more land, and the Dawes Act of…

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was a crossroads town in early July 1863. It was destined to become the site of the most famous and deadliest battle of the Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, had sought to relieve pressure on Virginia by taking his army north into Pennsylvania. Lee reasoned that the Union’s Army of the Potomac would be drawn away to prevent him from attacking the US capital of Washington. The two armies met at Gettysburg on 1 July 1863. The battle developed slowly, until it culminated on 3 July with a titanic Confederate frontal assault on the centre of the Army of the Potomac’s line. ‘Pickett’s Charge’, as it is known, involved some fifteen thousand men stretched out longer than a mile.…

Previously known as the sovereign state in Confederation, South Carolina, now fondly nicknamed the Palmetto State, is vast and diverse, boasting a large variety of natural environments. Shaped by mountainous terrain leading down to the coastal plains that stop at the Atlantic Ocean, South Carolina features six individual geographic regions: the Coastal Zone, Inner and Outer Coastal Plain, Blue Ridge, Sandhills and Piedmont. The state’s tourism slogan could not be more accurate – “Smiling Faces. Beautiful Places” – and indeed, there are a myriad of these beautiful places to visit and enjoy in South Carolina. The region is divided into The Up Country and the Low Country, the latter is so called as the majority of the state sits below sea level. In addition the state also has approximately 34…

During the 1920s, South Dakota State Historian Doane Robinson decided that what the state desperately needed was more tourism. But how to coax them to visit? For that South Dakota needed an attraction; a big one. Having read of mountain carvings in Georgia, he contacted Sculptor Gutzon Borglum. In 1927, Borglum began carving the vast faces of the four presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Famously, the carvings at Mount Rushmore were intended to be far larger, showing the presidents down to waist. However, Borglum died before it could be completed and despite his son overseeing some additional works, it was largely left unfinished.…

Second only to Alaska in size among the 50 states, Texas encompasses 268,597 square miles (695,662 km2) and is the largest of the lower 48 states. An old saying goes that “everything is bigger in Texas.” While such a proclamation may be a bit exaggerated, there is truth in recognizing that the Lone Star State is rich in history and influential today, with a heritage and promise whose breadth is every bit as deep and wide as its colourful heritage. The 28th state admitted to the Union, Texas officially lowered its historic flag of national independence and raise the Stars and Stripes in the capital city of Austin on 29 December 1845, following nearly a decade as a sovereign nation. A small portion of Texas had been included in the…

Utah is formed by its extraordinary natural geography and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). The state has no less than five national parks, second only to California’s nine, while Mormons make up about half of the population. The exact proportion is difficult to ascertain as different counting methods produce different results. The state was admitted to the Union on 4 January 1896. Utah’s relatively late accession was because of controversy over the previous Mormon practice of polygamy. Congress only agreed to accept Utah to the Union after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS) banned polygamy in 1890. The area around the Great Salt Lake had originally been settled by Brigham Young and Mormon pioneers from 24 July 1847. About 70,000 other…

Founded in Vermont in 1978, Ben and Jerry’s is one of the world’s most popular makers of ice cream. Known for their many unique flavors, such as cookie dough, cherry garcia and phish food (containing marshmallows, caramel and chocolate ‘fish’), some 300 flavours have been discontinued during their 57 years of operation. Beginning in 1997, the company opened a ‘flavour graveyard’ located at their Waterbury factory. Inside, the company has erected tombstones for over 35 of its most popular flavours from the past, containing the flavours’ name, ‘birth’ and ‘death’ date. They estimated that over 250,000 ‘mourners’ visit the site every year to pay their respects.…

When the US Constitution of the United States was drawn up in 1789, it called for the establishment of a federal capital that would be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the US Congress. Therefore, what is now Washington, D.C. (District of Colombia) is unique in that it is the only American city that is not part of any one State and is also not a State itself. The location of the new capital was debated between the northern and southern states who had different vested interests. As a compromise, President George Washington chose a site along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers with land that was ceded from Maryland and Virginia. Founded in 1790, the city was named in honour of the president with the surrounding land of the ‘District of…

Alaska cost the US $7.2 million dollars when it purchased it from Russia in 1867. As well as expanding the US, this put an end to Russia’s attempts to claim North American land. This caused some controversy among the US population as, at the time, Alaska was largely unexplored. It was thought of as useless land and was even given the nickname of Seward’s Folly after the Secretary of State William Seward, who was responsible for the transaction. However, Alaska soon proved bountiful in natural resources such as gold and oil, making it a valuable US asset. The Klondike Gold Rush In 1880, Joe Juneau found gold in the Silver Bow Basin of Alaska. The capital city of Alaska was later named after this miner, because this event, along with…

Geologically, Arizona’s land has been subjected to drastic shifts in its tectonic plates, lifting its rocks in the northwest of the state between 70 and 30 million years ago. This created a high, flat area of land called the Colorado Plateau. Over time, the region’s Colorado River carved a gorge into this land, gradually eroding away the rock to form today’s colossal canyon, reaching 1,857 metres (6,093 feet) deep at its deepest point. The Grand Canyon is 446 kilometres (277 miles) long and 29 kilometres (18 miles) wide. After Arizona became a US state, President Woodrow Wilson made the Grand Canyon a national park in 1919. This helps the canyon and surrounding area maintain its natural beauty and rich biodiversity, as an attraction to over six million annual visitors.…

Only New York City comes close to matching California’s embodiment of the American Dream. But the New York of emigrant aspiration is a singular sprawling metropolis; while in California, the American Dream is manifested in an entire state with several star-spangled cities. It’s appropriate that the Golden State’s ascent to statehood began with gold. On 24 January 1848, James W. Marshall found gold in Coloma, California. At that time, the United States and Mexico were still at war for control of what would become California, as well as many of the other states of the South West. But the war ended on 2 February, just nine days after Marshall found gold, with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Under the terms of the treaty, Mexico ceded California, Nevada,…

Colorado has been a lot of things to a lot of people. For 13,500 years it was inhabited only by Native Americans, but the Age of Discovery changed all that. First it was Spanish – hence the name, which means ‘red land’. Then, while the fledgling US was engaged in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, it became a bone of contention between Spain, who claimed it, and France, who tried to sell the eastern flank of the Rocky Mountains to the independent Americans as part of the Louisiana deal. A United States Army reconnaissance mission made its way into the disputed territory in 1806, only to fall afoul of a troop of Spanish cavalry, who escorted them south into Mexico proper before unceremoniously expelling them. For the Spanish, then, Colorado…

Like the blue crab dishes of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, the lobster roll has become synonymous with Connecticut cuisine and opinions abound on how best to serve it. The origins of this New England dish began in Connecticut, at Perry’s restaurant in Milford, where it reportedly first appeared as a hot dish in 1929. At first, the lobster meat was tossed in butter and served on a hot dog bun. Its popularity spread along the Connecticut coast and variations emerged, most notably in the form of the Maine-style lobster roll, which consists of cold lobster meat mixed with mayonnaise and served in a split-top bun.…

The state of Florida has a unique, rich and diverse history that stretches back thousands of years. Today it is a lively melting pot of cultures – renowned for its stunning beaches, the best OJ in the country, and as the nation’s number one retirement destination. Floridian culture is shaped by its Latinx, Caribbean and Indigenous roots, African Americans, Jewish Americans, European Americans and White Southerners. It has made a major mark on US culture through music, art, literature, film, food and more. But when the US acquired the territory from Spain in 1821 via the Adams-Onís Treaty, it was a relatively empty and lawless region. So how did this wild, hurricane-prone land filled with gators and snakes transform into the tropical haven we know today? The Floridian Frontier In…

From the languid, colonial beauty of Savannah to the vibrant streets of Atlanta and Athens, Georgia is a state steeped in historic Southern charm. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the US Constitution in 1788, with Augusta, on the Savannah River, as its state capital. Its western lands were developed rapidly prompting the forced removal of Native Americans. The Creek tribes sold their lands in 1827 and migrated to Arkansas. After years of resistance, the Cherokee were the final tribe forced to undertake the notorious ‘Trail of Tears’ and relocate to Indian territory in what is now Oklahoma in 1838. Like other Southern states, Georgia’s reputation is blighted by the legacy of slavery. The soaring demands for cotton from British textile manufacturers led to slaves making up over 40…

For non-Americans who grew up on the John Hughes movies of the 1980s and 90s, Illinois is America. Chicago and its suburbs form a major part of both the settings and shooting locations for everything from holiday favourites Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Home Alone, to Brat Pack teen classics like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Hughes wasn’t the only director to see in the long suburban boulevards, elegant cities and rolling fields of the Prairie State an archetypal and iconic America that would resonate with audiences at home and abroad: John Carpenter’s Halloween franchise is set in a fictional Illinois town, The Blues Brothers centres on Chicago, and titles as diverse as Natural Born Killers, Mean Girls, Caddyshack, and Something Wicked This…

Indiana is the home of the famous annual automobile race, the Indianapolis 500, commonly known as the Indy 500. For over a century, this 805 kilometre (500 mile) race has taken place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis and it is one of three that makes up the Triple Crown of Motorsport – alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix. The only years that the race didn’t go ahead was during the war years of 1917-18 and 1942-45. Every year, the Indy 500 attracts hundreds of thousands of people, making it one of the most popular single-day sporting events in the world.…

Before becoming a US state, Kansas’ land was part of that acquired by the nation during the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Providing new territory for US settlers, the vast open landscapes made ideal environments to launch the state’s successful future in agriculture. Without the Louisiana Purchase, Kansas simply wouldn’t exist. From 1854 to 1861 there was a series of violent conflicts in the territory – triggered by the question of whether it would join the Union as a slave state or a free state – known as Bleeding (or Bloody) Kansas. But, after joining the Union as a free state in 1861 tensions settled as the region became commitment to freedom and equality. FARM-LED ECONOMY Agriculture has continued to serve as a skeleton of the state’s success throughout history. In…

Hailed as the most “exciting two minutes in sports,” the Kentucky Derby is held on the first Saturday in May each year at Churchill Downs, a legendary race track instantly recognised with its twin spires, in metropolitan Louisville. The course covers 1.25 miles (2 km), and the finest racing equine thoroughbreds in the world vie for glory and a substantial financial purse during the “Run for the Roses.” First held in 1875, the Kentucky Derby attracts more than 150,000 spectators each year. The names of thoroughbred winners resonate across the decades, including Secretariat, which set the track record in 1973 at one minute, 59.4 seconds, a mark that still stands tody, along with Spectacular Bid, Citation, Swaps, Count Fleet, Seattle Slew, Whirlaway and others.…

It the time Maine became the 23rd state admitted into the Union in 1820, its population was primarily an agrarian one. Farming provided an income for many families in the state, though industrialisation soon transformed the state into an economic powerhouse. Lumbering had begun in Maine during the 17th century and by the 19th century, with logging innovations changing the way the lumber industry operated. Moreover, the city of Bangor had become the largest port in the world for lumber exporting. It is believed that nearly nine billion board feet of lumber were shipped from Bangor between 1832 and 1888. Maine also saw a boom in shipbuilding following its admittance to the Union and by the 1830s the Pine Tree State was building more ships than any other state. At…

Chesapeake Bay is Maryland’s opening to the world’s oceans and the channel that the world’s trade took to enter America. The largest estuary in the US, the bay receives 150 rivers and streams into its 64,299 square miles (166,534 km2), including the Potomac and York rivers. The bounty provided by this diverse environment drove a great deal of the early settlement in the region, with whole communities based upon fishing and the famous Chesapeake oysters and blue crabs. Although pollution damaged the bay’s ecosystem in the 20th century, multi-agency restoration work is improving the conditions in the bay, allowing iconic species such as the bay’s oysters to start to recover. Chesapeake Bay is a place of natural beauty and one of America’s great centres for water sports, nature watching and…

The fabled Green Monster Looms over the left field of America’s oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball: Fenway. It is an enormous wall, soaring 11.3m (37 ft) in height and running 73m (240 ft) in length. It has witnessed some of the Boston Red Sox’s greatest players take the field, such as Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk, Mo Vaughn, Roger Clemens, and Curt Schilling. Fenway Park opened on 20 April 1912, with the Red Sox playing a home game against the New York Highlanders. Originally seating 28,000 attendees, the park can now accommodate a little over 37,000. Though the Red Sox have had so many storied players on their rosters over the decades, they failed to win a championship after the last came in 1918. Some claimed that this…

When the American Civil War broke out in 1861, Minnesota became notable as the first Northern state to send volunteers to fight. Governor Alexander Ramsay offered 1,000 men for the Union cause which was a substantial number considering Minnesota’s smaller population. Just a year later, and only four years after Minnesota was admitted to the Union, the state became embroiled in a brutal conflict known as the US - Dakota War. The Native American Dakota tribe had seen their land and resources reduced for decades and in 1862, they staged an uprising against white Minnesotans. Within five weeks, the bloody conflict resulted in the deaths of over 600 people, with a further 38 Dakota men executed for their roles in the violence. Minnesota’s economy depended on logging, mining and the…

It was in one of Mississippi’s verdant forests that the humble Teddy Bear came to be, invented in honour of the then president Theodore Roosevelt. Notoriously an avid big game hunter, Roosevelt had embarked on a bear hunting trip with Mississippi’s Governor Andrew H. Longino on 14 November 1902. The president was unsuccessful in his hunt so in order to help him save face his assistants cornered and tied a black bear to a tree encouraging Roosevelt to shoot it. Thankfully the president felt this to be extremely unsportsmanlike and the bear was spared. News of the event however spread across the US like wild fire with articles and cartoons recounting Roosevelt’s mercy, and the Theodore (Teddy) bear was born.…

The majority of Montana was acquired from France in the Louisiana Purchase, and it became the 41st US state in 1889 following the discovery of gold and subsequent population growth in the area over the second half of the 19th century. Mining was prevalent in the state, with silver and copper being discovered in areas including the city of Butte, and businessman Marcus Daly’s Anaconda Company became one of the largest mining companies in the world. The Enlarged Homestead Act was passed in 1909, bringing tens of thousands of farmers to the state, and wheat farming was widespread. Meanwhile, there was conflict between mining companies and the labour unions criticizing them for long hours, low pay, and dangerous conditions – things came to a head when union leader Frank Little…

It’s said that the popular Reuben sandwich is thought to have originated in Omaha. The Lithuanian-born Jewish grocer Reuben Kulakofsky asked for a corned beef and sauerkraut sandwich at his weekly poker game at the Blackstone Hotel in the 1920s. The son of the hotel’s owner worked in the kitchen and made Kulakofsky the first Reuben by adding Swiss cheese and thousand island dressing and putting the ingredients on rye. They put it on the hotel’s lunch menu and a former employee won the national sandwich idea contest with the recipe, giving it greater prominence throughout the US.…

New Hampshire became the ninth state to join the union in 1788, one of the Thirteen Colonies that broke away from the British Crown during the American Revolution. In 1832, the Republic of Indian Stream was founded along its border with Canada, and three years later the state annexed it, which ultimately led to a diplomatic crisis between the US and Canada, then under British rule. The issue was resolved in 1842 by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty. The state’s economy was primarily based on agriculture before industries such as shipbuilding and textiles gained prominence. The first factories in the state were water-powered textile mills, transforming New Hampshire into a thriving industrial centre, with cities like Manchester and Nashua leading the way. New Hampshire’s political legacy In the mid-1800s, New Hampshire became…

Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey was the setting for the first officially recorded, organised baseball game using what are considered modern rules. The game took place on 19 June 1846 and consisted of the New York Knickerbockers versus the New York Nine. The New York Nine won by an impressive 23-1. As well as being the first officially recorded fixture, the game is significant because it was played under Knickerbocker’s rules, which helped to standardise the game and laid the foundations for baseball as it is played today. While the Knickerbocker’s code was used as the basis, the rules of modern baseball continued to evolve over the next half-century.…

Founded in the early 17th century as a Dutch colony, ‘New Amsterdam’ was taken over by England and renamed New York City in 1665. This was the beginning of what would become the city’s, and the colony’s, transformation into one of the most important states in the United States, with New York State being the 11th to ratify the US Constitution in 1788. Ever since, the State of New York has been at the forefront of the nation’s economic and cultural development. And such was New York City’s prominence that it was the country’s initial capital, before it was transferred to Philadelphia, and thence to Washington, D.C. The Father of Canals In the early 19th century, moving goods by wagons along roads was expensive and slow. Some believed that a…

North Carolina’s history is a rich and complex one and it played a significant role in the fight for independence before becoming the twelfth state to ratify the US Constitution in 1789. Tobacco cultivation was a major source of revenue for the state by the late 18th century, followed by cotton in the early 19th century, yet both economies were built on slavery. According to the 1860 census, over 330,000 people, or 33% of the population of 992,622, were enslaved African Americans. Until well into the 19th century, North Carolina was a distinctly rural state, with few towns and cities. Raleigh had been officially named the state capital in 1792 but by 1860 it had less than 5,000 residents. During the American Civil War (1861-65) North Carolina joined the Confederacy…

Route 66 is the world’s most famous highway. The age of the motor car’s answer to the wagon trails west, in the Dust Bowl era Route 66 saw thousands of Americans migrate west in search of a better life. Today, America’s Main Street is a premier tourist destination, and in Oklahoma, you can discover everything you want to know about the Mother Road’s history and culture. It’s arranged by decade and multimedia exhibits allow you to experience the sights and sounds of Route 66’s history vividly. Plus there’s an excellent gift shop full of iconic souvenirs.…

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the second state admitted to the United States, is today the fifth most populous in the nation. It was founded as an English colony by the Quaker William Penn in 1681. Pennsylvania, which means ‘Penn’s Woods’, was named in honour of Penn’s father. The younger Penn was especially noteworthy for his religious tolerance, and also gave shelter to Native Americans driven from other colonies. The Pennsylvania colony was very successful. Its largest city at the time of the American Revolution, and indeed, of all the Thirteen Colonies, was Philadelphia, the ‘City of Brotherly Love’. Philadelphia would host the signing of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which crafted the United States’ bedrock governing document, the United States Constitution. It would…

Despite its name, most of Rhode Island is in fact on the Eastern Seaboard mainland. It takes its name from the largest island in Narragansett Bay on the eastern side of the state. Rhode Island proper, also known as Aquidneck Island, is linked to the mainland by three bridges. Having played important roles in both the Civil War and in the advent of the Industrial Revolution on US shores, Rhode Island’s active, self-made residents chafed impatiently under the restrictions of its outdated colonial charter of 1663, which restricted voting and legal representation to wealthy landowners. In 1841, politician Thomas Wilson Dorr led a popular uprising against these restrictions, claiming that they violated the US Constitution. In the clashes that followed, Dorr and his supporters led an armed insurrection against the…

Famed for its warm and welcoming atmosphere the historic coastal and biggest city of Charleston easily captures the heart of anyone passing through her. Easily recognised and defined by her pastel coloured houses, cobblestone streets, well-preserved historic architecture, antebellum homes and old south plantations, Charleston remains an intriguing mixture of old South customs combined with a more modern and popular art scene. The elegant French Quarter and Battery districts are alive with art, culture and history and the State’s annual arts festival, Spoleto Festival USA, is renowned across the country. Charleston is also home to The Charleston Museum, the first museum in the US, as well as the first theatre and the first public college. There is plenty to enjoy all year round, with many visitors to the city choosing…

Tennessee can best be described as a state filled with a rich, compelling history, cultural diversity and a hidden beauty that makes one of America’s older states all the more fascinating. This breathtakingly beautiful region is home to numerous national parks with unique natural features, like the The Lost Sea, the largest underground lake located in Sweetwater, and the Great Smoky Mountains (the Smokies), which are said to be the salamander capital of the world and most visited national park in the whole of the US. The state slogan proudly announces that Tennessee is “America at its Best!” and it would be hard to disagree. Bordered by eight other states Tennessee has three very individual regions, West, East and Middle Tennessee. Its name is said to originate from the Native…

They are believed to have died to a man, but in doing so the defenders of the Alamo, an old Spanish mission in San Antonio, Texas, etched their names in immortality and inspired the future fighters for independence to decisive victory months later. When the Mexican Army under President and General Antonio López de Santa Anna crossed the Rio Grande, over 1000 men strong, its mission was a straightforward one – to destroy the revolutionary Texas forces and crush the rebellion that had erupted in open hostilities in late 1835. When the Mexican host reached the Alamo, it appeared to be only a slight impediment to their belligerent advance. However, the Texans, numbering only about 260 at their greatest strength, refused to retreat, surrender, or yield their hastily fortified position.…

Salt Lake Temple, the largest LDS church in the world and the sixth completed, is closed for renovations at the moment, with its reopening planned for 2026. When the renovations are complete, there will be a brief period when the Temple will be open to visitors. However, once the Temple has been rededicated, it will become off-limits to anyone other than members of the Church of Latter-day Saints. So if you’re in Utah when the Temple is open to visitors, make sure to avail yourself of the opportunity. After the rededication, the area around the Temple will remain open for visitors, including the beautiful gardens and the Tabernacle, home to the famous Tabernacle Choir.…