Cultural Heritage
Montgomery was the spark that lit the fuse on the long-simmering fight by African Americans for their civil rights. It began a movement that is still ongoing today.
In the town of Plains, Georgia, President Jimmy Carter was affectionally referred to as “Mr. Jimmy.” Everybody in the tiny town was related to or knew him personally. Never before has a president devoted so much of himself to his hometown both before and after his presidency.
Mexico is comprised of 31 states. One of them, Oaxaca, is known for its indigenous culture and its enormous impact on Mexican cuisine and culture. Quintana Roo, another state on the Yucatán Peninsula, boasts a 206-acre Caribbean-seaside resort, the jungle-surrounded Grand Velas Riviera Maya, which celebrates all of Mexico’s charms with the luxury-VIP vibe turned all the way up.
This episode was recorded on location in Pulaski, Tennessee. Miss Sims shares stories of resilience and transformation, turning her advocacy into a lasting legacy. The Resurrection of Valor statue is a symbol of strength, unity, and courage, reshaping how this town—and the nation—remembers its history.
In this powerful episode of World Footprints, Tonya and Ian Fitzpatrick take listeners on a deeply personal and historic journey to Pulaski, Tennessee—a town known as the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan but now undergoing a transformation. Their guest, Miss Vivian Leigh Battle Sims (96), an educator, artist, and community leader, has dedicated her life to uplifting the stories of marginalized voices, including the unsung Black Union soldiers who fought bravely during the Civil War.
The husband and wife duo behind this Tennessee-based distillery are redefining whiskey, community, and the legacy of Uncle Nearest one sip at a time.
The Creative Alliance in Baltimore is hosting the powerful traveling exhibit “I’ve Endured: Women in Old-Time Music” from January 3 to March 1, 2025. This exhibit, originally presented at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, shines a spotlight on the pioneering women who shaped old-time music—a genre deeply rooted in Appalachian traditions and American history.
...if you find your way east of Phoenix and approach the small town of Apache Junction, the city lights melt away and the mountains rise to meet you. As cacti replace streetlights and horses replace sports cars, you might wonder if you’ve stepped back into the Wild West.
Across the USA, residents look forward to the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve. As the countdown ensues, a Waterford crystal ball drops from its perch in New York's Times Square to the delights of millions of onlookers in the street and millions more watching on television. The spectacular ball is a geodesic sphere covered with 2,688 crystal triangles and measuring 12 feet in diameter. It weighs 11,875 pounds and has more than 32,000 LED lights. Known worldwide, this beloved tradition dates back to 1907. Around the world, New Year's Eve traditions vary, and some provide interesting entertainment.
From 1854 onward, a yearly market shall be held in Røros, commencing the second to last Tuesday in the month of February and lasting until the following Friday,” declared the King of Norway. When the king speaks, Norwegians listen, and in February 1854, Rørosmartnan was born.
With the holidays approaching, I’m sure all of us already have our holiday dinner menu planned. Today, let’s go on a virtual journey to learn about traditional holiday dishes from around the world.
The surprising southern town of Aiken, South Carolina’s intriguing history includes Native American culture, defining Civil War battles, and a railroad, once considered the world’s longest, that arrived here from coastal Charleston in 1833. After the Civil War, Aiken became a magnet for wealthy northerners. Among them were the Whitneys and Vanderbilts—who were keen on equestrian sports. They called Aiken the “Original Winter Colony.” Southerners flocked here, too, as monied folks from the coast fled malarial areas seeking a wellness retreat. In the name of charm, they all left their mark here.
