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.

  • ghost town

    The Lone Star State contains some unique Halloween traditions. Filled with ghost towns, haunted hotels, and spooky lore, Texas has summoned attention for its intense connection to the paranormal.

  • A single building in the desert ghost town of Kolmanskop Namibia

    During the early years of the 20th century, the small town of Kolmanskop, which originally was just a train station, became the richest town in Namibia during a diamond boom. However, after mining over 1 ton of diamonds during World War I alone, the resources soon became depleted, and the mining stopped. What is left of this significant historical landmark today is a ghost town of incredible beauty.

  • Thailand Golden Triangle

    The Golden Triangle region of Northern Thailand sits at the intersection of three Southeast Asian countries along the Mekong and Ruak Rivers: Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. A visit to this area is an incredible way to learn about the culture, history, and traditional arts of the region, which have been created over centuries by talented artisans and craftsmen.

  • Hasidic Community in Brooklyn | Jerusalem Hasidic Jewish men at Western Wall | Jerusalem Western Wall | African boys at Jerusalem Western Wall The Western Wall | Jerusalem

    From the heart of Brooklyn to the depths of the Amazon, two cultures stand as guardians of tradition. Join World Footprints as we journey into Brooklyn’s Hasidic neighborhoods with guide Frieda Vizel, and deep into Ecuador’s rainforest with Latin Trails’ Marcel Perkins to meet the Huaorani people—communities preserving their heritage against the tides of modern life. 🌍✨

  • Simas 05 scaled

    From long, uncomfortable trips to challenging accommodations, humanitarian travel isn’t typically glamorous. Massachusetts-based social documentary photographer and Capture Humanity founder Matilde Simas recently traveled to Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Uganda to explore the ways that children are exploited due to war.

  • Edgar Allen Poe

    Wondering who is the Godfather of horror stories? Edgar Allan Poe leads the pack. Poe revolutionized the genre in the 1840s with his first-person narrative stories like “The Black Cat,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and “The Tell Tale Heart." He was one of the first to use psychological horror. Visiting the Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia provides a good understanding of who Poe was and how he wrote such masterpieces.

  • mapuche house

    The regions of Biobío and Araucanía, which lie somewhere in the middle of the 2,653 miles that stretch from Chile’s top to bottom, are nevertheless known as “the south.”

  • Traveling with a Private Chef

    Have you ever dreamed of bringing a personal chef on vacation with you? Someone who could prepare elegant, flavorful meals for you to enjoy without ever leaving your beach house? I had that experience while vacationing with a family friend who is a retired personal chef. Not only did I enjoy an array of delicacies and pick up a lot of cooking tips. I also learned a great deal about slow travel and the importance of being willing to try new things.

  • Montana landscape

    We’re not crossing the Atlantic—this time “Glasgow” sits on Montana’s sweeping Hi-Line, a ribbon of highway and rail towns running just south of the Canadian border. In this episode, World Footprints journeys along U.S. Highway 2 from Havre to Malta and Glasgow, tracing the stories carved into Montana’s vast prairie. This is Big Sky country at its most authentic: where dinosaur bones emerge from badlands, ancient buffalo jumps overlook the Milk River, and locals still wave at passing Amtrak trains. Along the way, we venture south to Fort Peck—home to one of the most ambitious New Deal engineering feats in America—and Fort Benton, a steamboat-era trading post often called the “Birthplace of Montana.” These stops reveal how geology, Indigenous heritage, railroads, and Roosevelt-era infrastructure together shaped a frontier that’s still evolving. Through conversations, on-the-ground exploration, and a few surprises in between, this episode peels back the layers of Montana’s cultural [...]

  • Borneo's Rainforest

    Known for its incredibly biodiverse rainforests, Borneo, the world's third-largest island, offers a walk on the wild side. Borneo also boasts the distinction of being the only island in the world controlled by three countries: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. I took a deep dive into Malaysian Borneo's jungle by experiencing three wildly different and rustic lodgings. An exceptional family runs the lodges. The inspiring family also makes a difference by protecting this part of Malaysia’s most precious resource: nature.

  • CBS Daytime Soap stars join hands in this graphic to show how they are making a difference.

    Discover the inspiring lives of CBS daytime stars in this exclusive podcast. Don Diamont, Heather Tom, and Eric Braeden share career highlights, humanitarian missions, and life-changing travel experiences that shaped their passion and purpose.

  • The State of Franklin jonesborough historic courthouse on site of original one

    Did you know we once had a state named Franklin? I learned the fascinating story in Washington County, Tennessee. Beyond the lost state, the site has a fascinating history from before the Revolution to the Civil War.