History of Columbia
Columbia is the personification of the United States. Her name is historically used to describe the Americas and New World. The District of Columbia is named after her. The patriotic hymn “Hail Columbia” is also in reference to her. This … Continued
History of Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is another iconic symbol of American Independence. Philadelphia had a city bell which was used for public proclamations or warnings of danger. The bell had been in use since the city was founded in 1682. The original … Continued
History of Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam personifies the American government, but where did he originate? The first literary reference to Uncle Sam was in the 1816 The Adventures of Uncle Sam, in Search After His Lost Honor by Frederick Augustus Fidfaddy, Esq. His origins … Continued
History of The Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is another symbol of freedom in America. On June 20, 1782 the Continental Congress adopted the design for the Great Seal of the United State. This symbol is an eagle grasping 13 arrows and an olive branch … Continued
Who Was Yankee Doodle?
In the spirit of the Fourth of July, let’s take a look at the history behind the popular song Yankee Doodle Dandy. We all think about the Revolutionary War when we hear the song, however the folk song dates back … Continued
History of The Statue of Liberty
Édouard René de Laboulaye commented one day he would like to give the United States a gift on behalf of France. This gift was for the recent achievements in democracy. His words inspired his friend Frédéric Bartholdi, a noted sculptor. … Continued
The Declaration of Independence
We celebrate the Declaration of Independence of the 4th of July, but what is this Declaration of Independence? Many colonist still longed for reconciliation with Great Britain, even after the Battles of Lexington and Concord. In May 1775, the 2nd … Continued
History of the 4th of July
The birthday of the United States is once again upon us. There are many ways to celebrate this holiday, even from the comforts of home. A Capitol Fourth airs on PBS and Macy’s 4th of July airs on NBC and … Continued
The Fight for American Independence
Our celebration of the fourth of July is a remembrance of our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. But how did that come to be? The thirteen colonies in the New World and Great Britain’s relationship had been deteriorating slowly … Continued
History of July
July was the seventh month of the year on both the Julian and Gregorian Calendars. It is also the fourth of seven months to have 31 days. The name is in honor of Julius Caesar, the famous Roman general. The … Continued