Explore the Diverse Culture in America

Meet People Creating the Diverse Culture of America

The United States is a big place, with plenty of avenues to explore the different examples of culture in America. Explore the best experiences in American culture and learn more about this vast region. How do you narrow down the areas with the American cultural experiences that are up your alley? You let People Are Culture help you! Here’s our bird’s-eye view of some of the locales that have particularly compelling traditions that are uniquely their own. Check out our big picture summary of U.S. destinations rich with American culture; then peruse our ever-growing collection of in-depth articles and interviews with recommendations of places to go and people to meet! Explore American attractions through BCD’s recommended American culture series.

New England Culture

New England, in the northeastern corner of the U.S., is made up of six states, the first of which was settled in 1620 by refugees from England seeking religious freedom. The region in many ways physically resembles the part of the world for which it was named, with its quaint fishing villages and stretches of wilderness. But New England has a character all its own, which is multi-faceted and often contradictory; among some common traits are ingenuity, self-sufficiency, individualism and a strong sense of community. These attributes are reflected in its landmarks, traditions and people, from Motif # 1 in Rockport, MA, the most-photographed building in the U.S.; to the summer Illumination Night festival in Oak Bluffs, on Martha's Vineyard, MA, with its tiny Victorian gingerbread houses and roots in religious revival meetings; the autumn beauty of the cranberry bogs in southeastern MA as they ripen for harvest; and the lifestyles of lobstermen and artists who live side-by-side in Deer Isle, Maine.

Martha’s Vineyard Gingerbread Houses in Oak Bluffs

Curious about Martha’s Vineyard gingerbread houses? Read on for the intriguing history of these 315 colorful Victorian cottages!

Maine Restaurant Chef Devin Finigan on Culinary Philosophy

Maine restaurant Chef Devin Finigan dishes on her culinary philosophy and Deer Isle’s creative community of fishermen, farmers and artisans.

Penobscot Marine Museum Curator Brings Maine History to Life

Our interview with the curator of the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport Maine reveals the enthralling life of maritime Maine historically and today.

Motif Number 1: Rockport’s Heart and Soul

Here’s the story behind Motif Number 1, America’s most-painted building, a red shack located at the end of Bradley Wharf in Rockport.

Meet a Maine Lobsterman, a Conversation with Captain Julie Eaton

Lobster fishing in Maine is the state’s favorite maritime hobby. Learn from Julie Eaton, a lobster boat captain from Deer Isle.

Cranberry Bogs in Massachusetts Yield A Colorful and Delicious Tradition!

Cranberry bogs in Massachusetts are beautiful to behold in the fall, and the zesty fruit has a fascinating history. Read on to learn more!

Maine Sculptor Peter Beerits on the Power of Ideas & Transformation

Deer Isle, Maine sculptor Peter Beerits embodies the power of art as a catalyst to be true to ourselves, transform the past.

Clark Art Institute Transforms Troubled Kids with Art

The Clark Art Institute offers a program for troubled youth that presents studying art as an alternative to punishment.

Southern Culture

On the southern coast of the U.S., the city of New Orleans straddles the Mississippi River 100 miles from its mouth. Founded by the French in 1718 as a trading port, in the 1760s France ceded Nawlins to Spain, who owned it for 40 years, trading heavily with Cuba and Mexico, and adopting the Spanish racial rules that allowed for a class of free people of color. After being re-sold to the French in 1803, New Orleans then became a part of the U.S. twenty years later as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The city's cultural legacy can be experienced today in its rich musical offerings of blues, jazz, gospel, Cajun and Zydeco. The long-standing Mardi Gras Carnival dates to the very beginning of the city's history and its founder French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can still get a taste of its zesty flavor by visiting Mardi Gras World, the studio of the Kern family, who have been creating lavish floats for the annual parade since the 1930s. The Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame, located in New Orlean's Treme neighborhood, preserves and celebrates the history and the authentic indigenous culture of all individuals who masquerade as Mardi Gras Indians. The origins of the Mardi Gras Indians are murky, but many trace it to when escaped slaves found asylum with Louisiana tribes.

Mardi Gras Indian Culture of New Orleans | With Cherice Harrison Nelson

Mardi Gras Indian culture & traditions are revealed by Cherice Harrison-Nelson, co-founder of the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame, New Orleans.

Monticello Plantation, a Relaxing Retreat at Thomas Jefferson’s “Temple”

Monticello Plantation was Thomas Jefferson’s botanical sanctuary. Learn about the charms and history of this UNESCO site in Virginia.

Skyline Drive in Virginia, a Trip Through History and Blue Ridge Mountains

Thinking of a trip on gorgeous Skyline Drive in Virginia? Learn the history of this national treasure from a local ranger!

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans a Fertile Ground for Life Lessons

Take a tour of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in the Garden District with local Sarah, who offers a primer on unique New Orleans’ traditions.

Irma Thomas, Soul Queen of New Orleans, Shares Wisdom

In this intimate and revealing interview, Irma Thomas, known as the “Soul Queen of New Orleans”, shares meaningful experiences & life lessons.

Southwest Culture

Santa Fe, the capital of the state of New Mexico in the southwest, was founded in 1610 by Spanish colonists who were creating a "New Spain"; it had previously been occupied for several thousand years by the Tanoan indigenous people. New Mexico became a part of the U.S. in 1848 with a peace treaty that ended the Mexican-American War. In the early 20th century, Santa Fe began to attract archaeologists, artists and other creatives; in 2005, it was designated as a UNESCO Creative City in Design, Crafts and Folk Art. Santa Fe has a particularly vibrant fiber arts tradition, which can be accessed from "sheep to shawl" by a trail that connects visitors with alpaca ranchers, herbal dye-producers, community spinning mills, artisan studios and weaving co-ops.

Folk Artisans from Around the World Celebrated at Annual Santa Fe Market

Folk artisans from around the world share their culture at the annual International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe. Go behind the scenes with this inside look!

Valles Caldera in New Mexico, a National Preserve and Place of Intrigue

Valles Caldera in New Mexico is a beautiful national preserve and place of intrigue. Writer Tom Ribes shares its history and seasons.

Traditions of Oklahoma’s Native American Culture: An Interview with Curator Dr. Dan Swan

Native American culture is rich with symbolism & mysticism. Dr. Daniel Swan has spent four decades immersed in Oklahoma’s Native American Culture.

New Mexico Fiber Arts Trail

The Fiber Arts Trail is a gathering of New Mexico’s rural cultural tourism advocates, & is home to Victory Ranch - known for its 300 Alpacas.

Guide To Best Things To Do in Big Sur

Located between San Simeon and Carmel, Big Sur is a magnificently beautiful and scenic stretch of the Pacific Coast in central California.

Q & A with Bonnie J Gisel, Curator of LeConte Memorial Lodge in Yosemite National Park

Are you a nature lover? Then you’ll find a kindred spirit in Bonnie Gisel, curator of the LeConte Memorial Lodge in Yosemite National Park.

Salvation Mountain, Leonard Knight’s Monumental Labor of Love

Welcome to Salvation Mountain, where we met Leonard Knight, a Vermont native who moved to California to spread his love of Jesus through art.

Strictly speaking, culture in America covers two entire continents and make up most of what is considered the Western Hemisphere. On this page, we offer a summary of People Are Culture's content about the United States; we have separate pages for Canada, Mexico and parts of Central and South America.