The Faces of America: 50 States, 50 Stories That Bring the Country to Life
What ties together a Black cowboy in Oklahoma, a crabber on Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, a Waffle House archivist in Georgia, and a queer party promoter in New York? On the surface, almost nothing. But each one represents the human heartbeat of their home state. We travel to Maryland for blue crab, we remember those long, electric nights in New York—but it's the people who turn a destination into a memory. As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, these individuals embody the living, breathing history of the place we call home.
Sure, we could have listed the country's most iconic experiences: sunrise over the Great Smoky Mountains, dancing until dawn on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans. But postcards show landmarks, not the faces behind them. So we set out to find the one person behind a defining attraction in every state—the person who gives that state its soul.
Some are preserving history, like Barry McNealy at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Alabama. Others are reshaping narratives, like Kevin Cook—also known as drag queen Poison Waters—an LGBTQ+ historian bringing marginalized stories to light in Oregon. And who can resist Gritty, the Philadelphia Flyers' mascot and unlikely city hero, or an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas, that most unapologetically American destination?
And what could be more American than welcoming new people into our midst? That openness is embodied by Judge Douglas L. Micko, who has presided over hundreds of naturalization ceremonies at the Minnesota State Fair—a place also famous for butter sculptures and food on sticks.
Together, these 50 individuals reflect the diversity that defines this country and remains one of its greatest assets. At a complicated time in our history, we hope this collection serves as a reminder of the optimism within us all. We hope it introduces you to lesser-known adventures and dream-worthy experiences in your own backyard. But most of all, we hope that the next time you travel across America, you'll feel inspired to look behind the scenes—and say hello to the people who make your favorite journeys unforgettable.