America today is under examination by people of other cultures trying to understand what we are as a nation, what we stand for, what principles form the underpinnings of our society. At the same time, Americans ask those same questions about themselves - collectively and as individuals. What does it means to be an American? Who can help us to articulate our ideals in a way that makes sense? Where can we find that clear and compelling voice?

We have him. He is an American classic, a central character in our American literature, landscape and legacy: Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862). Why is he considered one of our greatest American writers? How did the man who went to live in the woods at Walden Pond become an American institution? Why do Americans find Thoreau's philosophy so appealing even if they find it impractical to live out? Why do they feel so strongly about Thoreau's ideas even as he questions their lifestyles? One goal of this project will be to investigate those questions in order to explore what Americans believe about themselves.

Henry Thoreau was one of America's greatest original thinkers. He exemplifies American values that need to be communicated to young people in America and other countries, especially at this time when American culture is too often portrayed in an unfavorable light. Thoreau is an authentic American: individual, unconventional, honest and free. His life was the epitome of independence and he articulated the combination of self-reliance and responsibility that are keys to understanding the development of the unique American character and vision.