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.

  • Bogota Columbia

    Travel with us to the summit of Monserrate above Bogota, Colombia.  The mountain is part of the Andes and is a focal point in center of Colombia's capital city.  It rises to 3,152 metres (10,341 ft) above sea level. At the top of Monserrate sits a 17th century church that houses a shrine devoted to "El Señor Caído" (Fallen Lord).  Monserrate is a pilgrimage destination as well as a tourist attraction and the top offers spectacular views of Bogota below.

  • london Kensington Palace

    As the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria and the current home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children, Kensington Palace is a place of fascinating insight into the British Royal Family.

  • marthas vineyard house

    Experience a slice of American history as two journalists share their perspectives on Martha’s Vineyard and parts of the American south. Author, Bijan Bayne,has been a summer resident of Martha’s Vineyard since childhood.  He says that while most people may know about Martha’s Vineyard because of the Obama family and the movie Jaws, the Vineyard has a rich history within the African American community.   Bijan tells us that the island is much more than a playground for the rich and famous and his stories will shatter some stereotypical notions many hold about Martha’s Vineyard. Travel writer Kathleen Walls loves sharing the historical stories she discovers during her travels.  Her storytelling is truthful and authentic and she isn’t afraid to share stories about dark episodes in American history like the Trail of Tears or slavery.  Kathleen says that often times certain parts of American’s history is overlooked because of shame and [...]

  • Bermuda Flag flying on Bermuda Day celebration.

    Every May, the entire island of Bermuda comes alive to celebrate Bermuda Day, a cherished national holiday that was formerly known as Empire Day. Originally marking the birthday of Queen Victoria across all British colonies, the day has since evolved to celebrate Bermuda’s national identity and heritage as the colonies gained independence.

  • Street food in Japan

    For many countries, street food is a must, but should a person who buys their food on the street be able to walk the streets while eating it? This is a question officials in Japan are trying to answer, especially for the tourist hot spots such as Kamakura in the Kanagawa prefecture.

  • coventry

    Coventry doesn’t feature much on most people’s travel bucket lists. It’s a city that is known predominantly for being razed to the ground during the Second World War and then rebuilt in questionable design.

  • shiloh Mississippi monument

    Located within the Shiloh National Military Park, the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center tells the story of the railroads that crossed in Corinth and led to two Civil War battles for control that were some of the bloodiest ever fought.

  • City map of Vancouver, Canada.

    Vancouver you're on fire!!! On June 13, 1886, the newly incorporated city of Vancouver, British Columbia nearly burned to the ground. Officials attempted to clear brush with a controlled fire between Main and Cambie streets. However, during the controlled burn a strong wind arose off the Pacific Ocean and it fanned the flames out of control. That almost almost burned the entire city to the ground.

  • scuba diver watching school of gray fish . Jacques Cousteau underwater

    Born on June 11, 1910, in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, Gironde, Jacques Cousteau was a French naval officer who became one of the world's greatest explorers, ecologists, filmmakers and scientists. His passion was the oceans of the world and the sea life in them, and he co-developed the modern SCUBA tank and regulator, making underwater exploration accessible to scientists and the masses alike. Jacques Cousteau liked to call himself an "oceanographic technician". He was, in reality, a sophisticated showman, teacher, and lover of nature. His work permitted many people to explore the resources of the oceans.

  • D-Day on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. Photo shows relics and a graveyard from the war.

    On this day in history, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches in Normandy, France marking a critical turning point in World War II.  Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.”

  • Big Ben in London.

    Big Ben, the tower clock in St. Stephen's Tower that looks out over the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London began keeping time on May 31, 1859. Designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, the clock was completed in 1854. Five years later, the tower was finished. The name "Big Ben" is of uncertain origin. The clock is highly accurate and regulated by a stack of coins balancing and weighting the clock pendulum.

  • Laos Oma woman

    Max Mara, a multi-billion dollar Italian fashion label, has been blasted on social media for stealing the traditional clothing designs of the Oma, a tiny ethnic minority in Southeast Asia.