Tag Great Big Story

10 min read

Image: organ sitting inside of a massive cave

The World’s Largest Musical Instrument is Hiding Inside This Cave

Explore the mesmerizing fusion of music and nature beneath the hills of Virginia, where the Great Stalacpipe Organ transforms the Earth into an enchanting musical marvel.

Image: girl jumping rope double dutch style

How the Jump Rope Became an Elite Sport and a Symbol of Community

Double dutch may be one of the most underrated sports out there. These young athletes combine football star levels of footwork with the flexibility of gymnasts and the speed of sprinters. Better yet, they are a part of a community built to give them the support and love they need. Now this is inspiring!

Image: A girl smelling a rose with deep satisfaction

Walk Through the City You Didn’t Know You Were Smelling Everyday!

Perfume has influenced our lives for more than 4000 years! But did you know many of the perfumes we know best today have their origins in the fields and flowers of one city in France? Let's travel to this city behind some of the most iconic smells in history to learn how perfume has shaped our cultures.

How Cecilia Chiang Changed Food in America

If you’ve ever enjoyed Chinese food in the United States, like potstickers and Peking duck, then we’d like to introduce you to Cecilia Chiang. She's the "Julia Child" of Chinese cuisine, and the story of how she changed the way Americans eat is as remarkable as her influence!

Image: A person playing a cello as part of the Street Symphony program.

Bringing the Symphony to the Street

We have all felt the connective and uplifting power of a great musical performance. But what if you couldn't access to those moments that most feed your soul? Thanks to the work of a remarkable organization, the residents of LA facing homelessness and incarceration, these moments are no longer lost.

5 min read

Image: An older and and a younger hand reach out to touch a red rose

How a High School in a Nursing Home is Changing Lives

What if we saw this new wave of people reaching retirement as a new generation of mentors? Connecting youth and older adults has remarkable benefits for everyone! Here's how one program is helping lead the way for what's possible.

Image: Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols, whose work on the show grew to a diversity campaign within NASA

Boldly Going Where No Black Woman Had Gone Before: How Star Trek Changed NASA

Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura) changed far more than the television game. As one of the only black women on the small screen at the time and with words of encouragement from Martin Luther King Jr., this champion for diversity changed not only the history of science fiction, but the history of space exploration. Her work became undeniable proof that if you can see it, you can be it.

5 min read

Image: A senior couple standing in a field of yellow flowers, smiling at the camera.

This 81 Year Old Learned to Code to Create an App for Seniors

You're never too old to learn or try something new. Not ever. If you need proof, take a look at 81 year-old Masako Wakamiya, who after never touching a computer until she was 58, coded an entire app to help seniors in her community stay connected and live more fulfilling lives.

5 min read

Settlers of Catan: How One Family’s Game Night Sparked the Fun of Millions

There is still a precious time when we can come together over life's simple pleasures: game night. And here's a story of wonder with Settlers of Catan, a worldwide classic. This game didn't come from a big corporation or fancy focus group—no, its origins are far closer to home.

5 min read

Image: Two people competing in a lawn mower race

Ready, Set, Mow! Why Lawn Mowers May Be the New Race Cars

Missing a piece of the puzzle to reach your dreams? Don't sweat! With a little creativity and a dash of spunk, you can make those dreams happen. Check out this 12 hour long lawn mower race for proof!

5 min read

Embracing the Spice of Life: Why Grow the World’s Hottest Pepper?

Can following our passions lead to a world-wide phenomenon? When Smokin' Ed Currie invented the Carolina Reaper, he was driven by curiosity and creativity, inspired by one question: how hot can a pepper get?

5 min read

Image: People on boats going down a canal in Giethoorn

How This Little Town Survives without Roads or Cars

What if you never had to hear the sound of cars outside of your window again? For the residents of this Netherlandish town, that's reality: most of Giethoorn isn't accessible by four wheels, but rather by canal boat! Here's a lovely look at a world without roads.

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