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It would be impossible, or at least pointless, to profile the 50 states of the United States of America without delving into history. The story of how each state came into being forms a narrative of epic proportions, intertwined with the stories of every other state like a web spanning the continent from the Florida Keys to the San Juan Islands of Washington, and beyond to the Bering Strait of Alaska and across the Pacific Ocean to Honolulu.  From the first colonists seeking religious freedom, to the Revolutionaries fighting for independence from tyranny, the abolitionists striving to end slavery, and the pioneers searching for opportunity and open land, the last 400 years have witnessed the creation of a nation so diverse it resembles a giant jigsaw puzzle assembled from every corner of the world. In completing this picture, we cannot overlook the vital roles played by Native Americans, as well as the Spanish, French, British, Mexicans, Dutch, Russians, and Hawaiians, all of whom claimed parts of this vast land at different points in history.

And what a picture it is! America contains nearly every geographical feature imaginable—and quite a few beyond imagination as well. Vast forests, towering mountains, active volcanoes, plunging canyons, immense lakes, and mighty rivers shape the landscape. Deserts, prairies, grasslands, wetlands, marshes, beaches, cliffs, and coastal swamps stretch across the continent in astonishing variety. Added to this are the remarkable wildlife that inhabit these regions, the hurricanes, tornadoes, and hailstorms that batter them, the relentless sunshine that scorches them, and the railroads and highways that connect them. “Awesome” is perhaps the only word that truly captures it all.

Yet the American story has been shaped not only by landscapes, but by people, individuals who discovered, led, created, inspired, and entertained. Every state has produced its famous sons and daughters: people of worldwide renown whose courage, inventions, artistry, leadership, or even crimes helped shape the United States into the nation it is today.

The United States of America is a vast country, made up of the 48 contiguous states, often called the Lower 48, along with Alaska and Hawaii. How, why, and when these states became part of the Union, the land of freedom that George Washington fought to establish, is a fascinating story. It would take all the trees in New England to produce enough paper to tell that story in full, so start packing! It’s time to hit the road and discover the United States of America.