Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Americana
Welcome to Part 3 of our four-part series on Rural Cultural Heritage and Community Resilience.So far, we’ve explored the importance of cultural preservation and the enduring value of rural traditions. In this installment, we turn to the places that anchor those values in everyday life: historic buildings and community landmarks. Across rural North America, communities […]
In an historic, red brick warehouse where old cars once were assembled, the world of rural art now finds a home at the Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art. This new facility brings an old building back to life serving a role in art appreciation and cultural preservation. In 1880, there was a livery stable […]
It is said Art is the expression of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form although interpretive music, dance, and literature all apply, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. I tend to appreciate art in its practical forms–classic Greek and Roman architecture, grand landscapes, and sculptures […]
I treasure the time I lived and worked in Colorado. Fort Collins, remains one of my favorite cities anywhere, with the state capital of Denver close behind it. My grandmother lived with her cousins on the West Slope of Colorado for a time before she married, and I feel I inherited her memories in my […]
Irish immigrants began arriving in America at the very beginning of European colonization in the early 1600s. Having been colonized itself–by the Vikings, by the Normans, by the English–some sailed as colonizers and others to be free of that particular yoke. Some sailed for religion or politics. Far more sailed to find freedom from starvation […]
This year, the United States is celebrating George Washington’s Birthday on Monday 17 February 2025. We refer to it as Presidents’ Day, but officially it is a Federal observation of our first President’s birthday. Many States also observe the Monday Presidents’ Day. Our founding father George Washington was born on 22 February 1732 New Style […]
I saw Alison Krauss & Union Station play in Bozeman, Montana, back in the year 2000. They recorded their LIVE release in 2002, recorded at the beautiful Louisville Palace. I absolutely love Alison Krauss. She grew up around Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, and was probably around the area when I went to the University of Illinois back […]
Meet Me At the Library: A Place to Foster Social Connection and Promote Democracy, by Shamichael Hallman “A community is not a machine,” writes Eric Liu, in his introduction to Shamichael Hallman’s book, Meet Me at the Library (Island Press, 2024). “A community is a garden: a complex adaptive ecosystem in which all kinds of […]
The Pursuit of HappinessRural communities are more than just places to live—they are the heart and soul of cultural traditions, historical narratives, and creative expression. Arts, culture, and history play an essential role in defining what makes a community special, enriching the quality of life for residents while offering unique opportunities for tourism and economic […]
Welcome to 2025, a year of rural resilience and growth! At JCShepard.com, this year’s focus is on exploring actionable ways to foster resilience, sustainability, and vibrancy in rural communities. The site is a bit of a sandbox where we try new things, as we have since coming online back in January 2009. Each month this […]
