Cultural Heritage

Delve into the rich tapestry of humanity’s cultural heritage, encompassing arts, history, and beyond.

With over 3,800 distinct cultures worldwide, as cataloged by anthropologists and recorded in Price’s Atlas of Ethnographic Societies—a number potentially underestimated—we can only begin to fathom the profound influence of these myriad cultural legacies across the globe.

Cultural heritage, as defined by Wikipedia, comprises the tangible and intangible assets inherited by a society from past generations. Not all remnants of the past qualify as “heritage”; rather, heritage emerges through societal selection.

This expansive term encompasses a vast array of elements, including customs, beliefs, rituals, arts, music, and more, shaping culture and behavior. It extends to practices related to the natural environment, religious and scientific traditions, language, cuisine, and even cyber cultures in the digital realm. Emerging cultures of the present are poised to become the heritage of the future.

Below, discover a diverse array of cultural heritage assets, ranging from the architectural influences of Indigenous communities to the impact on fashion, cuisine, and beyond. These narratives also shed light on historical events, viewed through the lens of contemporary society.

  • woman 983949 1920

    How does a travel writer and photographer keep the spirit of travel alive when COVID-19 has us stuck at home? She uses household items to build outdoor scenes--mountains, lakes, canyons and oceans--to create a photo series called "The Great Indoors". Erin Sullivan of Erin Outdoors took us on a tour around her miniature adventures. She also revealed what her "soul country" is. That is a term we created to describe a country that really speaks to your soul. Sit back, enjoy and please SUBSCRIBE if you like our work. #TheGreatIndoors ****************** Erin Sullivan is a photographer and writer passionate about the outdoors, meaningful travel, and living deliberately. She uses her platform, Erin Outdoors, to show the beauty and complexity of the world we live in, and to encourage genuine connection to the outdoors, culture, people and wildlife.

  • Greek Food Tour

    Travel journalist and Toronto-based Greek food tour operator Jim Bamboulis of Travel Mammal joins World Footprints to share the vibrant culinary scene and rich diversity of Toronto, Canada. Jim tells us that we can experience Greece in Toronto and essentially eat our way around the world in the city. Jim takes us on a special virtual tour of Toronto's Greek town and he tells us about a special opportunity he offers to help us taste a bit of Greece from anywhere. Jim also tells us how Toronto is dealing with the coronavirus and how this pandemic is affecting small business and the travel and tourism industry. *For more info about the food tours/gift bags, please visit TravelMammalTours.com. *For all how-to videos, podcasts and travel videos, YouTube.com/TravelMammal. *For everything marketing/social media related, TravelMammalMarketing.com. ****************** Jim Bamboulis has over 20 years of media production experience in the broadcast, digital and social media [...]

  • Strawpocolyse by Ben Von Wong shows a creative use of plastic pollution found in our oceans

    This interesting video explores the serious problem of ocean plastic pollution and the innovative solutions that are being created. Stay aware of the powerful combination of social responsibility and environmental awareness, which shows how one person's efforts may lead to significant change.

  • Kendol Bacchus shares the Gift of Music from St. Vincent

    Pianist Kendol Bacchus originally from the island of St. Vincent, is currently riding out the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida. He had a concert tour planned when he arrived in the U.S. two months ago and is now hunkering down until he can resume his performances.

  • WF Virtual Travel Elephant Cam

    With travel stalled around the world, those of us with acute wanderlust continue to look for ways to keep the rewards of globetrotting in our lives.

  • Food and pan

    Two businesses in the Northeast Arkansas region are showing others what it means by "great acts of kindness" during the coronavirus pandemic.  The Brickhouse Grill restaurant in Jonesboro has become a downtown community market and convenience store to help people who are affected by the problems the coronavirus has caused. The restaurant took to its Facebook page to say the restaurant was going to open a Brickhouse Bodega, a community market/convenience store, designed to help area residents and those practicing social distancing avoid the larger crowds. According to their Facebook post, the Bodega will be located inside the main restaurant and abide by all store market/convenience store guidelines currently implemented in bigger cities to protect the Northeast Arkansas residents.  The Bodega’s profits will be given to an emergency fund helping the service industry workers of Downtown Jonesboro who are needing it most. These folks will also get a 50 percent [...]

  • lincoln memorial 1746358 1920

    Imagine a bi-partisan dinner with U.S. Senators and Representatives at the Library of Congress with leading contemporary historians and a billionaire patriotic philanthropist.  Then image an evening of enlightened discussions about American history without the presence of media or political jockeying.

  • Warsaw Poland Historic Center

    Careening through the backstreets of Warsaw in a minibus that bumped and jostled us through a former Communist neighborhood, I immediately regretted that extra pierogi I’d had for lunch that now threatened to expel itself.

  • machu picchu

    Six tourists were arrested for allegedly defecating and damaging a sacred temple at the Machu Picchu sanctuary in Peru.   Wilbert Leyva, Cusco regional police chief, said the six tourists, one a French woman, were detained and the public ministry investigating them for the suspected crime against cultural heritage. 

  • Burundi

    "Look, there's a bullet hole here." My husband points out a circular indentation in the wall of his childhood home at the Kigobe Mission Station in Bujumbura, Burundi.

  • Santa with Reindeer preparing for Christmas

    Airbnb offers all kinds of animal experiences for people to try, and now it’s bringing the Christmas spirit with a trip to Santa’s Reindeer Herd.

  • Candy Cane House for Christmas

    For people looking for something really unique to do this Christmas season, Booking.com suggests its edible London booking – the Candy Cane House. The Candy Cane House is located in the Soho neighborhood and is being offered for two guests for two nights. It’s designed for people who love sweets and want a unique vacation getaway location. Guests, upon their arrival, will receive several wreaths they can eat. The whole comes across as the home from Hansel and Gretel, without the evil witch lady, with its sugar-snowy frontage and candy cane windows. Guests will be given a complimentary gift box that includes sparkling wines with holiday treats that can be enjoyed in the Candy Lounge. If guests feel up to it, they can enjoy many of the home’s décor. The home is lined with eatable candy canes and baubles. Its Christmas tree also includes some edible treats. When guests have [...]