United States

The United States holds a wealth of community traditions rooted in Native American, African American and immigrant heritages.

Textile & dress Music & dance Crafts Spirituality & rites Food & cooking

Knowledge in this place

Appalachian quilting

Appalachian quilting

Hand-pieced patchwork quilts made and shared at communal quilting bees across the Appalachian region.

Textile & dress

Delta blues

Delta blues

An African American guitar and vocal tradition born in the Mississippi Delta, marked by slide guitar and call-and-response.

Navajo weaving

Navajo weaving

Navajo (Diné) weavers craft wool rugs and blankets on upright looms with distinctive geometric patterns.

African American gospel singing

African American gospel singing

Sacred choral singing developed in Black churches, blending spirituals, harmony and improvised praise.

Spirituality & rites

Slow-smoked barbecue

Slow-smoked barbecue

Regional pit traditions of slow-smoking meat over wood, distinct in Texas, the Carolinas, Memphis and Kansas City.