Discover America

The rusting blast furnaces that tower over Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, once powered the largest shipbuilding company and second-largest steel manufacturer in the United States. For nearly 140 years, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation fueled American industry and development, revolutionizing the techniques and methods used to create high-grade iron and steel. It was Bethlehem Steel that supplied the materials necessary to win world wars and build modern cityscapes. The fires for eac

Tucked away from the sprawl of Philadelphia International Airport stands one of the most significant forts in American history. Fort Mifflin was a Patriot stronghold that defended the Delaware River during the early years of the Revolutionary War. American soldiers put up a valiant defense here in late 1777 when British forces attempted to gain control of the Delaware after having captured Philadelphia. For six bloody weeks, British forces shelled the fort with a relentless t

The American Revolution was far from a unified affair. Fierce partisan warfare between Loyalist (Tory) and Patriot sympathizers ravaged the fragile sociopolitical climates of the colonies, especially those in the South. Georgia and the Carolinas were particularly volatile, as they harbored numerous loyalist strongholds with diffuse Patriot resistance. Britain sought to exploit this divisiveness in their “Southern Strategy” by capturing the sympathies of the Tory population an

Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Range, towering prominently over the highlands of North Carolina at 5,946 feet above sea level. The mountain derives its name from a crag on its rugged precipice called Profile Rock, which bears the resemblance of a bearded old man. Grandfather’s high-altitude ecosystem is home to 73 rare and endangered species living in sixteen distinct ecological communities and has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1

The Blowing Rock is a small park in western North Carolina that has entertained tourists for nearly ninety years, while its legend has been a Native American oral tradition for countless generations. Long ago, during a period of tense conflict between warring tribes, a Chickasaw chieftain sent his daughter to the Carolina Highlands to protect her from the violence in the plains. One day, while perched on a cliff, she spotted a lone Cherokee brave wandering the woods below. Sh

Located at 1201 E. Clay Street in Richmond, Virginia, the former Executive Mansion of the Confederate States stands rather unassumingly among Virginia Commonwealth University's bustling Medical Campus. To passers-by, nothing on the house's exterior indicates anything of importance besides an old historic marker on the sidewalk. Municipal expansion has slowly intruded and crowded the estate into near obscurity. However, upon closer examination, this ordinary house is actually

Shirley Plantation is America’s oldest family-owned business dating back nearly four hundred years. The estate has been actively farmed and occupied by direct descendants of its original owners spanning twelve generations. The plantation’s embellished past, unique architectural features, and exquisite condition makes it one of the premier historical attractions along the James River. The history of Shirley Plantation begins in 1613 when Sir Thomas West, Baron de la Warr, was

In the realm of international relations and policy, few can compare to the respect and influence garnered by General George C. Marshall. Over his 44-year military and legislative career, he orchestrated the victorious Allied operations of World War II, fostered diplomacy between fragmented nations, and rescued Europe from total economic collapse. Our world as we know it today could not exist without Marshall's exceptional efforts for peace. George Catlett Marshall was born in

Over the course of American history, no one person's celebrity has ever garnered the national esteem bestowed to George Washington: America's premier founding father. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, helped outline the U.S. Constitution, and was elected the First President of the United States. His brilliant efforts on the battlefield and in office helped establish the foundation of a nation and fostered the ideals for Amer

Richmond, Virginia: the contentious capitol of the Confederacy. Its preeminence as a prosperous city of commerce and industry made Richmond a strategic location to establish the Confederate States' new political center. In May 1861, Richmond earned that distinction, and almost immediately drew the ire of the Union Army. Throughout the Civil War, Richmond was the target of numerous, hard-fought campaigns that tested the strength of the its defenses, the tenacity of its leaders

As the Civil War entered its fourth year in 1864, little progress had been made to quell the rebelling states. President Abraham Lincoln received numerous requests from his field commanders over the course of the war asking approval to target civilian infrastructure during military campaigns. Lincoln originally opposed civilian involvement, hoping to minimize the damage inflicted on the South. However, climbing casualties and political turbulence on Capitol Hill prompted Linc

The anomalous geologic formations of Chimney Rock have been captivating the inhabitants of North Carolina’s Hickory Nut Gorge for hundreds of years. It is a beacon of supernatural power, according to Cherokee lore, and a site of scenic splendor and aesthetic to European settlers. Today, it is one of North Carolina’s newest state parks, open to all who appreciate natural and historic wonder. Chimney Rock’s potential as a park was recognized in 1902 when Dr. Lucius B. Morse and

There are few historic sites in America that accurately reflect our nation’s greatest triumphs while simultaneously recognizing some of its greatest tragedies. Historic Brattonsville is one of those places. This living history museum and working plantation offers visitors detailed insights about the European colonists who settled the region and the enslaved populations who toiled in its fields. The stories told at Historic Brattonsville will evoke strong emotions and an even

Measuring nearly 179,000 square feet, the Biltmore Estate is the largest privately owned home in America. Constructed between 1889 and 1895, this impressive architectural marvel—the epitome of Gilded Age grandeur—originally served as George Washington Vanderbilt II’s summer retreat home, intended only to be accessed by highly-esteemed members of society. Over the years, however, the estate’s purpose evolved into something much greater. Biltmore became a major stimulus to the

Richmond, Virginia, was the political and industrial capitol of the Confederacy—at its center was the Tredegar Iron Works. This massive industrial complex was once the fourth-largest iron works in the nation and the leading producer of armaments and munitions for the Confederate States. Tredegar barely survived the tribulations of the Civil War and proved to be a critical asset during Reconstruction. As the demand for iron declined in the 20th century, Tredegar’s prominence s

Amidst the roaring rapids of the James River and the towering skyline of downtown Richmond, Virginia, Belle Isle stands out as one of the South’s most significant historical and industrial landmarks. From humble beginnings as a modest Native American fishery, this 54-acre island exploded with activity following the arrival of European settlers in the 17th century. William Byrd was the first to purchase the land in 1676. His son, William Byrd II, the founder of Richmond, conve

For millennia, people have been fascinated by the concept of human flight. From the Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus to the designs of Leonardo da Vinci, aviation was perceived as an ambitious, yet highly unrealistic, goal to attain. While advances in aeronautics manifested over time (such as the invention of the hot air balloon in 1783), powered flight remained elusive to humankind into the early 20th century. That is, until two brothers from Ohio—Orville and Wilbur Wright—

The Roanoke Colony was England’s first attempt at establishing a permanent settlement in the New World. In August 1587, over 110 colonists called the island home. Three years later, they vanished without a trace. The events leading up to the settlement’s disappearance have baffled historians for centuries and the fates of the settlers remain unknown, making the Lost Colony of Roanoke one of the greatest mysteries of the Western Hemisphere. Diplomatic relations between England

Thomas Jefferson spent decades as a faithful public servant to the American people. He authored the Declaration of Independence, was the nation’s first Secretary of State, second Vice President, and third President. He was an American icon whose life was heavily influenced by overwhelming responsibilities and public scrutiny. The constant attention and unnecessary stress grew increasing difficult for the aging Jefferson to manage. He longed for a place of solitude and regress

The Civil War was about slavery. That statement simplifies our nation’s most tumultuous era to its very basic structure. It’s easy to make that conclusion in the eyes of hindsight, but it is far from comprehensive. The Civil War resulted from a complex culmination of events and conflicting ideologies, most of which had direct ties to the issue of slavery: Morality: Is it morally permissible for a man to not only own another man, but conscript him into forced labor? Economy: S