Americana

Liberty enlightening the world: the famous New York landmark, illustrated in an 1885 print by Currier and Ives

Americana refers to artifacts, or a collection of artifacts, related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States.^[1][2] Many kinds of material fall within the definition of Americana: paintings, prints and drawings; license plates or entire vehicles, household objects, tools and weapons; flags, plaques and statues, and so on. Patriotism and nostalgia play a defining role in the subject. The things involved need not be old, but need to have the appropriate associations. The term may be used to describe the theme of a museum or collection,^[3][4] or of goods for sale.^[5]

The term is also used loosely, and to a limited extent, to describe studies of American culture - especially studies based in other countries.^[6]

See also

• American Studies
• American Studies in Britain
• Culture of the United States

References