Tag Tara

IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Jensperspectiveblog 2 Comments

Irish-American Heritage Month during March in the United States, Americans recognize the numerous contributions of Irish-Americans to the U.S. throughout the years. From the founding fathers to innovative transportation, arts and culture, Irish immigrants for generations left deep roots in the American landscape.

Criss-crossing the country, Irish-American Heritage holds rich traditions and an unmistakable can-do spirit. Their infectious character and indomitable personalities have brought us 22 presidents including Ulysses S. Grant, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Regan, and Barack Obama to name a few.  From inventor and businessman, Henry Ford to journalist Nellie Bly, author F. Scott Fitzgerald and dancer Gene Kelly, their endless talents fill many roles.

IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH HISTORY

Since 1991, presidents of both political parties have designated March as Irish-American Heritage Month with a goal to honor the contribution that Irish immigrants and their descendants have played in the formation of the United States. President Donald Trump declared the Month of March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 2017.  Visit www.whitehouse.gov to view the proclamation in its entirety.

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE #IrishAmericanHeritageMonth

Share stories and Irish-American heritage throughout March. Read about the Irish in America or watch a documentary. We’ve provided a few suggestions below. Explore the archives of your local museum and heritage center to learn their traditions and culture. Discover their language and family bonds. How did they impact the country and what traditions did they bring with them or leave behind?

Out of Ireland: The Story of Irish Emigration to America by Kerby A Miller and Paul Wagner

Out of Ireland: The Story of Irish Emigration to America by Kerby A Miller and Paul Wagner #IrishAmericanHeritage

The Irish Americans: A History by Jay P. Dolan

The Irish Americans: A History by Jay P. Dolan#IrishAmericanHeritage

The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys by Doris Kearns Goodwin

The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys by Doris Kearns Goodwin#IrishAmericanHeritage

The Irish in America: Long Journey Home

The Irish in America: Long Journey Home#IrishAmericanHeritage

Celebrate the enduring contributions of the Irish-American and use #IrishAmericanHeritage to share on social media.

HISTORIC BRIDGE AWARENESS MONTH

Jensperspectiveblog 3 Comments

Throughout November, Historic Bridge Awareness Month explores the spans and arches that carry goods and people across the country.  Whether the trusses are only a memory or stand proudly still against the horizon, Historic Bridge Awareness Month recognizes their place in the building of a nation.

We are nostalgic where bridges are concerned. They played an iconic role in building the United States. From carrying supplies West to the impressive towering trusses carrying locomotives across wide gorges, bridges took dreamers to unimaginable destinations. Through miracles of engineering, humans built solid pillars of stone and arching steel structures. But they didn’t stop there. Thanks to the development of steel cable, bridges seem to float across open spans of water carrying the weight of small cities. And yet, we still explore the colorful wooden covered bridges that dot the country.

We’ve transformed some of our precious steel bridges from vehicle to pedestrian traffic for preservation purposes. Nostalgia has a way of making us look back while we’re looking forward. Historic bridges provide a record for a community of the people who have gone before them. Preserving them is not just a sense of nostalgia, but a means of restoring an engineered structure to purposeful use.

HISTORY

HistoricBridges.org unofficially declared November Historic Bridge Awareness Month in 2006 to reflect on the loss of historic bridges and to encourage preservation of historic bridges.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Visit a famous bridge or learn the history of your favorite crossing. Around the country, there are thousands of lost bridges. Many have been replaced over time. Curious about the bridges in your community? Visit your local historical society to find out more, or go bridge hunting on your own. It can be quite the adventure!  Use#HistoricBridgeAwarenessMonth to post on social media.

Bridges: A History of the World's Most Spectacular Spans #HistoricBridgeAwarenessMonth
Bridges: A History of the World’s Most Spectacular Spans
Across the Brooklyn Bridge #HistoricBridgeAwarenessMonth
Across the Brooklyn Bridge
Historic Photos of the Golden Gate Bridge Historic Bridge Awareness Month
Historic Photos of the Golden Gate Bridge
Tower Bridge: The History and Legacy of London’s Most Iconic Bridge #HistoricBridgeAwarenessMonth
Tower Bridge: The History and Legacy of London’s Most Iconic Bridge