Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Americana
Implementing arts-driven community and economic development to improve the places we live and love. Seasonal arts and culture ideas can be powerful drivers of economic growth in communities large and small, creating jobs, boosting tourism, and fostering local engagement. For community planners and economic developers, these initiatives act as valuable “cultural anchors,” stabilizing local economies […]
As the clock chimed eleven times, on the 11th of November, in the year of our Lord 1918, the Allied nations and Germany set into effect an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, effectively ending the First World War. A year later, the President of the United Stated proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration […]
Planners like to plan, and economic developers like to develop, but at the end of the day it’s about what we do to implement the plan that gets things done. Becky McCray and Deb Brown are practical people from small towns who are not planners—they are do-ers. Their mission is to help people get things […]
Agritainment—a fusion of agriculture and entertainment—has quickly become a popular approach to enliven both rural and urban-edge environments. Attractions like corn mazes, pumpkin patches, u-pick fields, apple orchards, and even craft wineries, breweries, and distilleries offer families, friends, and tourists a refreshing escape from the urban routine. Here’s why urban planners should embrace this trend […]
Wednesday 26 October 1881, is said to have been a chilly day at Tombstone, at an elevation of 4,500 feet in Arizona Territory. By this time, the mining town had a population of over 3,000 residents and hosted 110 saloons, 14 gambling halls, and untold houses of ill-repute. Deputy US Marshal Virgil Earp, his brothers […]
Ten Years ago, I followed the journey of my 3rd great-grandfather Orrin Brown (1836-1909) as documented in his Civil War diary and passed down through the generations of the Pugh and Brown family. He mustered into the service on 3 October 1864. In case you missed it, here is where I began. As best we […]
At their public hearing on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the City of Burwell, Nebraska, City Council adopted the new Burwell, Nebraska, Comprehensive Plan, as well as a new Zoning Ordinance, Official Zoning Map, and Subdivision Regulations, as recommended by the Planning Commission. The Burwell City Council also voted to accept the Burwell Strategic Plan and […]
Rural America has long been associated with vast landscapes and agricultural heritage, but today, these communities face a new set of challenges. Population decline, economic struggles, and the lure of urban life have left many rural areas searching for ways to sustain themselves. In the midst of these challenges, however, a new story is unfolding—one […]
Fort Hartsuff was established in the North Loup Valley of the Nebraska Sandhills in 1874, and was active until 1881. The fort was named for Maj. Gen. George I. Hartsuff, who died in 1874 from wounds received in the Civil War. The town of Calamus was platted in September 1874, near the Fort, on the […]
Discover how Rural America is evolving by balancing tradition and modernization. Explore the impact of technology, infrastructure, and cultural preservation on small towns across the U.S.