Perhaps it is President Obama’s inauguration, Black History Month, and the fact that February brings us Presidents’ Day that puts me in a patriotic mood and receptive to Americana.
I was thus charmed by a site, America’s Story, from the Library of Congress.
The site was designed especially with young people in mind, but also offers
“great stories for people of all ages.” These teasers illustrate the site’s storytelling potential:
Here, you can discover what Abraham Lincoln had in his pockets on the night he was assassinated. (You will be surprised.) Or you can read about other “Amazing Americans” such as Buffalo Bill Cody and his “Wild West” show; the heroism of Harriet Tubman, who helped many slaves escape bondage; the music of jazz great Duke Ellington; or the inventions of Thomas Edison. (You will even be able to see his first motion picture!).
If you think break-dancing is a new invention, then visit “Join America at Play,” where you’ll see a film of an early break-dancer from 1898! Ever hear of a “cloth sandwich”? You’ll know what I’m talking about when you read the stories in this section. And, of course, we have many tales to tell about baseball, America’s pastime — from the “Cyclone” (pitcher Cy Young) to Jackie Robinson, a hero both on and off the field.
“Jump Back in Time” and find the settlers who landed on Plymouth Rock. Or jump to a more recent age and read about be-bop, a type of music invented long before hip-hop. Do you know what happened on the day you were born? You can find out here.
Want to travel across the country? Then click on “Explore the States,” where you’ll find fascinating facts and stories about all the states and Washington, D.C.
And if you’ve ever wondered what the first cartoons looked like, then click on “See, Hear and Sing.” You’ll read about a man who in 1896 figured out how to make inanimate objects move. You know about the guitar, the piano and the trumpet, but how about the oud, the zurna and the marimba? These unusual instruments influenced today’s modern musical instruments.
It’s a fascinating and lively romp through history told with a strong storytelling flavor.