American Essence

The world’s most beloved crayon has inspired creativity since the first box of eight rolled off the production line.

Lucy M. Long deliciously recalls the beloved fruit’s impact on the regional culture and economy.

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit a New York City cultural hub with outstanding 19th-century interiors.

In ‘This Week in History,’ personal tragedy and national compromise motivated an Ohio writer to pen the classic ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’

An eclectic array of instruments offers a glimpse into the musical life in a rising Republic.

In this installment of “The Art of Liberty,” we meet a daughter who followed in her mother’s footsteps.

Author and relationship coach Laura Doyle gives tips on how couples can stay connected for a long, healthy marriage.

Although little-known, Curtis’s rise to power to the country’s second-highest executive office is a source of inspiration.

From learning barbecue to incorporating global flavors into her latest creations, barbecue champion Melissa Cookston is charting her own path.

In this installment of ‘Profiles in History,’ an American pilot becomes an ace in two theaters of war and earns the revered Medal of Honor.

A volunteer dog trainer shares inspiring stories of how her pups have become heroic service animals to those in need—and offered her healing in the process.

Benedict Arnold displayed remarkable grit in Quebec against a resurgent British army determined to crush America’s hopes for a 14th colony.

An orphan from Liberia found comfort in song, and, today, feels blessed to have a loving family in the American South.

Though later overshadowed by Mark Twain, Bret Harte helped establish the American West as fertile ground for literature.

In America, everyone has the freedom to pursue whatever passion he or she wants, and that is what makes this country beautiful.

Psychoanalyst Erica Komisar explains why the mother’s presence in a child’s first three years of life has a huge impact on the latter’s emotional health.

My grandmother, who was unabashedly proud of her adopted country, showed me why America was worth cherishing.