American History Magazine
The history of the United States is a fascinating subject, enjoyed by scholars and the general public alike. To really get to grips with the detail, one of the best ways is to subscribe to an American history magazine. There are various publications, some covering history in general and others focusing on specific topics.
The American Heritage Magazine is a monthly publication, aimed at a general readership. It was first issued in 1954, beginning as a hardcover and then moving to softcover. In 2007, publishing was taken over by Edwin S.Grosvenor, the great-grandson of Alexander Graham Bell.
This long-standing periodical has regular features, which have proved very popular over the years. They include readers’ letters, current events and exhibitions in history museums, the latest news from historic sites, and how history is being presented in television and movies. The magazine covering American history keeps up to date with modern means of communication and has its own web site, details of which are available in the magazine. There are also features on the politics and social issues of today, as shown in a historic perspective and readers can find out about what historic American cities have to offer in the way of eating places, attractions and accommodation.
The publication expanded its interests in the 1960s and became the sponsor of board games with a military theme. The list of contributors to the American Heritage Magazine is impressive and includes authors of respected books on the history of the nation. Some of these writers are also well known in the field of television. Historian Stephen Ambrose is mostly known for his World War II book, Band of Brothers, which was adapted for the popular TV series. Geoffrey Ward is another contributor, best known for co-writing the television mini-series, The Civil War.
One of the most significant periods in the nation’s history is, of course, the Civil War. This subject is explored in the America’s Civil War, a bi-monthly history magazine for America, which began in 1988. There are features on the campaigns and battles from the point of view of everyone from Generals to the rank and file soldier. Essays discuss how the war is seen by today’s generation.
Regular features in the magazine include Eyewitness to War (first hand accounts of the events), Personality (articles on individual soldiers), Men and Material (weapons, uniforms, horses and food), Commands (articles on individual units), and Preservation (how battle sites are being preserved).
The Civil War magazine has a sister publication, titled Civil War Times. Issued first in 1962, it is a bi-monthly, which concentrates on aspects of battle tactics and the conditions surrounding the war. Regular features include Turning Points (landmark events in the war), Gallery (an article sent in by a reader about a Civil War ancestor), In Their Footsteps (battle scene guides), and My War (first hand recollections from soldiers).