Kirkus Review
A journey in search of the nation's history. In his debut book, Glass, director emeritus of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, offers a personal and eclectic guide to 50 sites, chosen from over 100 more, that represent significant moments in America's past. Organized chronologically, each recommendation includes an informative essay, website addresses, and suggestions of places to visit in the same area. Many sites are likely to be familiar: Jefferson's Monticello, Boston's Freedom Trail, the Liberty Bell, the Alamo, and Yellowstone National Park, for example. Some represent dark episodese.g., Little Rock Central High School and the Minidoka Japanese internment camp. Even for well-known destinations, Glass reveals intriguing tidbits: for almost a decade, he reminds readers, Texas was an independent nation; its annexation by the U.S. incited the Mexican War in 1846. During Jefferson's lifetime, "as many as 600 African slaves lived at Monticello" and on Jefferson's additional landholdings, with boys ages 10 to 16 engaged in making nails for sale to other plantations. Some recommendations celebrate famous individuals, including Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, Jonas Salk, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Henry Ford. George Vanderbilt II, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, erected Biltmore House in North Carolina. With 250 rooms covering nearly 4 acres, it is "America's largest private dwelling." Besides the house, Vanderbilt established a huge dairy, a textile production industry, and a planned community of shops, houses, a school, an infirmary, a train station, and a church. One of the more unusual destinations is a state historic site near Collinsville, Illinois, where visitors may climb Monks Mound, a structure more than 10 stories high, covering more than 14 acres. From 1050 to 1200, the area was the site of Cahokia, "the largest city north of Mexico," with a population larger than London's at the time. By 1400, for unknown reasons, the thriving city had disappeared. An enlightening trip with an expert guide. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Choice Review
This is a book about the "power of place" and "places that matter." The stories of significance compiled in this easy-to-read, pleasurable volume feature historical American sites in 41 states, fueling one's imagination and the recollection of places that leave unforgettable memories. A sampling of national parks on this anniversary of their centennial, presidential libraries, homes of cultural heroes, museums, and buildings and landmarks that stand out for prayer, science, discovery, innovation, development, and commercial success are represented with descriptions and reasons to visit. What has been preserved of these architectural and historical sites is instrumental in understanding the geographic, social, cultural, economic, and political fabric of this vast country. Connecting people, places, and events leads to understanding the significance of a venue--the who, what, where, and when of its cultivation and why examining the wonders of America is still critical. Travelers can use this informative guidebook of some anticipated sites--and some surprises--in considering where to visit while perhaps remaining curious about what sites had to be left out to keep the list to a modest 50. This wonderful introduction to public history comes with an invitation to explore. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. --Julia M. Gelfand, University of California, Irvine
Library Journal Review
Glass (director emeritus, Smithsonian's National Museum of American History) selected 50 U.S. destinations that are significant to this nation's past. Writing a few pages for each location, the author explains the historical and cultural context. Many spots are familiar, such as Boston's Freedom Trail and Washington, DC's National Mall. Others are less well known, such as Minnesota's Southdale Mall, -Delaware's New Castle Court House, and Idaho's Minidoka Camp, where Japanese -Americans were imprisoned during World War II. Some chapters identify more general areas, such as the Virginia Peninsula, while others discuss specific sites, such as Arizona's Mission San Xavier del Bac. Topics encompass a variety of time periods, from the ancient Cahokia Mounds in Illinois to technology museums in Silicon Valley, CA. Geographically, 41 states around the country are included, and an index by state is provided. Websites for the selected locales and nearby attractions are listed but no specific travel details are given. -VERDICT This book will whet the appetite of history buffs interested in possible destinations, or anybody who would like to learn American history through the places where it happened.-Janet Clapp, N. Clarendon, VT © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
