Category: American Essence

Piercing Through Alaska’s Wilderness by Train

“Folks, it’s 300 feet straight down to the bottom of Hurricane Gulch,” the Alaska Railroad conductor declares, “and … hold on. I don’t know why we’ve paused. Let me find out.” Passengers glance at each other quizzically, peering out the window to see that, yes, it’s a long, long way down to the bottom of…


Get to Know Delilah, the Woman Behind the Popular Radio Show

Delilah’s warmth emanates from her voice—a voice that is familiar with over 8 million radio listeners who tune in to her popular evening show weekly, making it one of the country’s most-listened-to programs. For several hours each night, Delilah listens as people turn to her about their love problems, requesting a song to reminisce about…


Eddie Rickenbacker: ‘The Great Indestructible’

Eddie Rickenbacker (1890–1973) had a knack for danger and an affinity for new technology. He had, according to him, 135 scrapes with death. His passion for speed, whether in cars or in airplanes, was a prime reason for these close encounters. He was born into poverty to Swiss immigrant parents who were both religious and…


Marine Finds New Mission for Vets: Help Protect the Oceans

Transported to an underwater world, Rudy Reyes finally felt at peace. He was scuba diving in the Cayman Islands, stunned by the sheer beauty that surrounded him. It was a completely different experience from his time as a combat diver for the Marine Corps, part of an elite reconnaissance team that often performed dangerous missions…


Firebrand for Independence: Dr. Joseph Warren

During the First Continental Congress, the delegates universally approved a document read before them which opened with the audacious claim that, “there are certain rights, to which we are entitled, in common with all mankind.” This document went on to list offenses of the British Crown and Parliament, admonishing the American colonies to “withhold all…


American Luxury Car Brand Packard Motors Gets a Revival

From the time Packard Motor Car Company opened its doors in 1899 to the moment when the last Packard rolled off the line in 1958, the brand has been well regarded in the American automotive industry as a symbol of speed, luxury, and quality. With time, the industry changed, and Packard had to shut down…


Fame and Sacrifice: Lieutenant Audie Murphy

The date: January 26, 1945. The place: Riedwihr Woods, Alsace, France. Lt. Audie Murphy was the newly assigned commander of Company B. When the Germans attacked with over 200 soldiers and six tanks, Murphy ordered his men to withdraw into the forest. Nearby sat an American tank destroyer, knocked out of action and blazing with…


The Surprising History of Root Beer—and How to Make It at Home

As summer creeps on and the weather turns hot and sluggish, nothing quenches the thirst quite like root beer. Notes of vanilla and wintergreen combine in one syrupy sweet, fizzy drink that’s delicious served over ice or in a float with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s a distinctly American drink, one you’re not…


The Founding Father’s Guide to Self-Improvement: Ben Franklin’s Daily Planner

Benjamin Franklin’s many achievements as a statesman and scientist grew from his belief in the power of self-improvement. At the age of 20, he began an arduous project of “arriving at moral perfection,” as documented in his autobiography published posthumously in 1791. He was determined to practice 13 virtues that, rotated on a weekly basis,…


Reaching for the Sky: A Bold New Vision for Christian Schools

“We promote student-centric, self-directed learning environments,” says Jack Preus, “moving away from the one-size-fits-all approach in many of our traditional schools.” Below, Jack Preus and Andrew Neumann of Open Sky Education discuss founding a non-profit, nationwide Christian network of microschools, a twist on the old one-room school house, with small classes tailored to students’ needs….