As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I find myself—appropriately—on a flight from London to Boston. Yesterday, I passed the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace; today, I’ll be where two lanterns were hung in a church steeple, and the Sons of Liberty rode west with warning 251 years ago.
I remember our bicentennial celebration in 1976. In my Jayenne Elementary School classroom, a poster of Trumbull’s famous painting of our Founding Fathers in their powdered wigs hung on the wall, festooned with red, white, and blue crepe paper ribbons. Later that year, my parents drove my brother and me across the country. I laid eyes on the vastness of the Mississippi River, the Grand Canyon, the Badlands, and the endless wheatfields of Kansas. I visited my first western national park, understood the meaning of “from sea to shining sea,” and began to appreciate how Americans’ perspectives differ, depending on whether you grow up in Wyoming, West Virginia—as I did—or on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Since then, and especially during my 25 years at Tauck, I have learned so much more about our breathtakingly beautiful and stunningly complicated country. I’ve been fortunate to visit dozens of national parks and nearly every state. America’s Canyonlands—our journey through the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park—was my very first Tauck tour. For much of my adult life, I’ve called Boston and Connecticut—the cradle of the Revolution and of Tauck—home. Living abroad and traveling the world, I have encountered far more admiration for Americans and what America represents than many might imagine. As fellow curious travelers, I suspect many of you have had similar experiences.
For a long time, I thought I knew America and its history. Then, in 2010, following the release of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, we began working with Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan and together created Ken Burns American Journeys. It is no exaggeration to say that I have learned more about America from Ken and Dayton over the last fifteen-plus years than I did in all my years of school and travel combined. Through their work, I better understand the many voices embodied in our nation’s motto, E Pluribus Unum. I better understand what they mean when they say our national parks are “the Declaration of Independence applied to the landscape.” And after watching Ken’s extraordinary series The American Revolution last fall, I was reminded, once again, how much there is still to learn.
For more than a century, beginning on the dusty roads of New England, Tauck has sought to bring these American stories to life. It is both our purpose and our passion. Whether through Ken and Dayton’s historical perspectives, a Maine lobsterman’s account of life at sea, or the sacred traditions and difficult histories shared by Navajo storytellers, every journey we create is designed not only to delight, but also—as Ken likes to say—to “rearrange your molecules” a bit. That is, to challenge what you know, or perhaps what you thought you knew, about the United States.
I passionately believe that understanding—and ultimately peace—comes through travel. Not simply by visiting a place, but by listening to its people and hearing their stories. As I write this, my flight is filled with excited, kilt-wearing Scots, headed to Boston to cheer on their team in the World Cup. Around me, I hear conversations about the landmarks they hope to visit, the neighborhoods they want to explore, and yes, the pubs they plan to seek out. Their enthusiasm reminds me that even after 250 years, America remains a place that captures the world’s imagination.
And perhaps that is the most fitting way to celebrate this anniversary: not simply by looking back at our history, but by continuing to share our stories, welcome the curious, and learn from one another. At Tauck, we are honored to play our part in that journey.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Tombaugh
Chief Executive Officer
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