The rich history of America, from before the time of Columbus through the present day, is told as never before, enhanced by hundreds of representative artworks. From the earliest Native Americans through the explorers and first settlers, the fight for independence, the expansion west, the war between the states and those on foreign soil--right up to our most recent past--each era and key event of our nation's history unfolds in clear prose, documented by significant paintings, sculptures, photographs, and works of architecture.Some 300 lavishly reproduced works of art light the journey through America's past. Each chapter features a detailed recounting of the events of an era, including informative sidebars on key figures and developments--plus a gallery of artwork that illuminates the period. Artists represented include Ansel Adams, George Bellows, Thomas Eakins, Edward Hopper, Jasper Johns, Philip Johnson, Franz Kline, Georgia O'Keeffe, Gilbert Stuart, and Andrew Wyeth. Informative text and detailed captions place art and life side by side for a fully realized history like no other, and an expert introduction frames the work and places it in world context.