This magnificent arch rises on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri. The nation’s tallest monument is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, honoring Thomas Jefferson’s vision of westward expansion. Mired in controversy in the beginning, this amazing structure is now a national treasure and symbol of the nation’s reach from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
More than just a random display of U.S. Presidents, this imposing monument honors leaders who led America’s founding, expansion, preservation, and unification. Discover the unusual story of how these faces of history ended up on a mountainside in South Dakota’s Black Hills.
From the British surrender in Yorktown to the Civil War to Woman Suffrage and the fight for Civil Rights, one powerful witness to American history played an important role. Discover the reasons why the old cracked bell in Philadelphia is still one of our nation’s most-loved symbols.
In the 1770s before the United States was a nation, most people lived on farms. But Williamsburg in Virginia Colony was a busy town with wide streets, grand public buildings, bustling shops, and a large Market Square. Home to 2,000 people from wealthy gentry and middle class shopkeepers to poor slaves. Find out how Williamsburg today gives us a fascinating window into America’s past.
Being in the present moment, aware of what’s going on right now, helps kids be more focused, more patient, and likely to make better decisions for themselves. Readers will learn basic skils for being self-aware.
Abandoned by her white father, thirteen-year-old Red Dove faces another lean winter with her Lakota family on the Great Plains. Willful and proud, she is presented with a stark choice: leave her people to live in the white world, or stay and watch them starve. Red Dove begins a journey to find her place in the world and discovers that her greatest power comes from within herself.
Thirteen-year-old Hannah Higgins is convinced her summer is ruined when she is forced to travel to Africa and work in a remote village in Kenya with her mom and uncle. Never having been to a developing country, she finds the food challenging and the community filthy. She has to live without electricity or running water. Then she is told she must attend school. Just when she thinks nothing could make this trip any worse, she learns people there are dying of hunger and preventable disease. Hannah becomes frustrated and wants to help, but when poverty threatens the lives of people she loves, all she wants to do is go home.
History recognizes the leadership and voice Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brought to the civil rights movement in 1960s America. A 30-foot tall statue of Dr. King gazes into the future full of hope for all humanity. His words of peace are carved in the walls of the monument as a reminder to all Americans of the power of peaceful protest. Learn all about the first national memorial to an African American.
She was a gift of friendship and peace between France and the United States. “Liberty Enlightening the World” stands now as a symbol of America’s embrace of freedom and democracy. Find out why 4 million visitors each year come to see this majestic statue in New York’s harbor.
A rocky outpost near Baltimore played a bigger role in the history of the United States than anyone imagined it ever would. After America gained its freedom in 1776, the British were determined not to allow the new nation to trade with its enemy France. Discover the unique role Fort McHenry played during the War of 1812.
For millions of people, leaving home and coming to America meant giving up family and all things familiar. For more than sixty years, one site was the first place in America all new immigrants saw. Find out why Ellis Island holds such an important place in America’s history.
One of the most visited places in North America, Grand Canyon National Park is like an open window to Earth’s geologic history. The carving of the canyon’s walls by erosion left a cross-section of the Earth’s crust from millions and millions of years ago. See for yourself how grand and beautiful this gorgeous gorge really is.
As the flagship of the National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park has a special place in the hearts and minds of conservationists. It’s all thanks to the leadership of far-sighted President Ulysses S. Grant and adventurer President Theodore Roosevelt. Today we can enjoy nature as it was in the early days of our nation.
The story of Harriet Tubman and her role in leading slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad is well-known. But did you know that during the Civil War Harriet would often dress in disguise to gain important information to share with the Union Army?
The American colonies had just declared independence from the British.But General George Washington knew things were not going the American’s way. When Gen. Washington needed someone to spy on the British, only one young man volunteered. That man was Nathan Hale, an early American hero.
No one expected Rose Greenhow to be a war hero. But when the American Civil War split the nation apart, this beautiful and popular hostess played an important role in the Confederate South’s most important battle victory.
Some people call him the smartest baseball player of all time. Moe Berg could speak twelve languages —and make up signs on the baseball diamond. How did this major league catcher go on to become an American spy in World War II?
He was popular with his troops. And he was such a good soldier that Benedict Arnold became a major general in the Colonial Army. So how did a Revolutionary hero become known as one of the earliest spies in U.S. history?
Where can you go to see lions, and tigers, and bears? You can go to the zoo! A trip to the zoo can be very exciting. A trip to the zoo is also a great way to learn about animal habitats in faraway places.
Do you like to collect things? Many people do. Some people collect art. Others collect objects from history. Some people collect cars or toys. You can collect just about anything! There are almost as many museums as there are things to collect. Take a trip back in time and learn more about these amazing places.
When you hear the word "playground," what do you think of? Do you picture slides and swings? Do you think of climbing walls and tunnels? Or do you picture pirate ships and space to run? Over the years, playgrounds have changed in many ways. But they have always been a place where children can enjoy themselves and learn important lessons about safety and getting along with others. Discover how playgrounds came to be and how they have changed over the years.
Today's amusement parks are filled with amazing, high-tech rides. Some even take the fun to the water! Amusement parks of the past were exciting places as well. Amusement parks have been around for hundreds of years. Readers discover the history of these fun-filled places!
Millions of years ago there was a dinosaur on Earth called Brachiosaurus. One Brachiosaurus weighed as much as 17 elephants! Can you imagine how big some dinosaurs must have been? In this book, readers explore a world where dinosaurs roam. And learn fascinating facts about dinos along the way.
Have you ever wondered what the coldest place on Earth is like? Antarctica is a large ice-covered continent at the southernmost point on the planet. Readers will explore this icy land and learn about the various types of glaciers and icebergs.
Volcanoes are more than just fiery mountains spewing smoke and ash into the air. In this book readers will get a close-up look when these majestic mountains blow their tops. Readers learn about magma and lava flow, and how volcanoes form.
