Great American Virtues

This is what Americans are made of

This Is What Americans Are Made Of

For 250 years, a nation has been shaped by courage, sacrifice, faith, and character—now carried forward through its people

Forged Over 250 Years

America was not built in a moment. She was forged. Through sacrifice. Through conviction. Through families who chose faith, duty, and responsibility when it cost something. What remains after two and a half centuries is not just a nation— It is a set of virtues,tested in fire, and carried forward by her people.

The Lives That Defined a Nation

The National Garden of American Heroes preserves the lives of those who embodied these virtues. Not perfect men and women—but faithful ones. Their stories are not distant history. They are the foundation of who we are.

These are not distant figures— they are the beginning of your story.

The Story Is Still Being Told

We are capturing the voices of descendants— families who carry these stories in their names, their homes, and their memories. These are not actors. These are not scripts. These are living connections to the men and women who built America. Each conversation is recorded, preserved, and prepared for archival contribution— ensuring these stories are not lost, but carried into the next 250 years.

Are you a descendant of an American hero or legacy family? Share your story. Help shape the national record

Your Family Is American History

History is not something you visit. It is something you belong to. Your family carries threads of this story— service, sacrifice, faith, building, perseverance. When you trace your lineage, you are not just discovering names—

You are discovering responsibility.

Find Your Place in the Story

With tools like Relative Finder, you can uncover connections to the very people who shaped this nation. Founders. Patriots. Pioneers. Builders. What you discover may change how your family sees itself—and what it chooses to carry forward.

The Book of American Virtues

The virtues that built this nation are not theories— they are lived. The Book of American Virtues gathers the lives, stories, and principles that have shaped America across generations. It is not just a book— it is a guide for families who want to build something that lasts.

Add Your Family to the Record

The 250 heroes are our foundation—but they are not the end. Nominate a hero your family believes exemplifies one of the American virtues. From local legends to national figures— the courage you want your children to emulate belongs here. Approved submissions are recognized in future commemorative editions. Place your family name alongside a hero, a virtue, and this moment in our nation’s story

Carry What Was Built

These virtues were not given lightly. They were earned. Now they are yours to carry— in your home, your family, and your name.

The 13 American Virtues

Forged in the lives of 250 heroes. Carried forward by families.

1. HONOR

To live in a way worthy of remembrance

2. COURAGE

To stand firm when fear would be easier

3. GRIT

To endure what others would abandon

4. PERSEVERANCE

To press forward when the path is long

5. INGENUITY

To build, solve, and create what does not yet exist

6.HARD WORK

To labor with purpose, discipline, and consistency

7. THRIFT

To steward resources with wisdom and restraint

8. FAITH IN THE ALMIGHTY

To trust God as the source of freedom and direction

9. REVERENCE

To honor what is sacred—in God, life, and truth

10. CHARITY

To serve others with compassion and sacrifice

11. SACRIFICE

To give up something now for something greater later

12. LOYALTY

To trust God as the source of freedom and direction

13. DEVOTION

To commit fully to what matters most

These are not ideals to admire—they are virtues to live.

Choose One. Start There