Americans have an extraordinary milestone to celebrate this Fourth of July as the United States turns 250 years old. Our nation is an unprecedented experiment in large-scale representative democracy. To demonstrate just how uncertain the United States’ future would be, many of its Founders embraced the term “experiment.” Yet they did so with the hope and conviction that citizens of the new country would rise to the challenge of self-governance.
The Founding Fathers of the United States sign the Declaration of Independence. From the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, (reproduction number, LC-DIG-ppmsca-59417)
Less than four years after the American Revolution ended, the United States’ first governing document, the Articles of Confederation, was proving itself ineffectual. The Founders gathered once again at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to discuss the burgeoning nation’s direction. With George Washington presiding over the convention, representatives met for 116 days to outline what would become the United States Constitution. After the session adjourned, a Philadelphia resident asked a departing Benjamin Franklin what form of government they had chosen to give the United States. Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
The story of our country’s tumultuous first years conveys many themes that have become central to the American story. Courage in the face of adversity. Perseverance in times of uncertainty. Ingenuity to counter seemingly insurmountable odds. An open-minded approach to new ways of thinking. A collaborative willingness to put the public good above any individual. A bold belief in its people’s resilience and spirit to overcome.
These characteristics are likewise ingrained in our American identity. They are found in our uniquely charismatic mentality, our pride in self-determination, and our curiosity and ambition to explore new frontiers. They are also qualities found in the products we create. Americans’ dual creative and pragmatic nature has led us to build much of the modern world. The products we make are fashioned with resolve, originality, and practicality – the American values that make us who we are.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, Mast General Store has selected 250 products that represent the diversity, imagination, and resourcefulness of American craftspeople and manufacturers. We’ll separate this list into a two-part blog series, with this edition focusing on Made in USA foods, fashions, and accessories that might come in handy at your Independence Day weekend get-togethers with friends and family. Part two, which arrives next week, will look at Made in USA products you can use to enjoy the Great American Outdoors from the trail to the backyard with your kids and pets.
While you’ll find each product mentioned here in the Mast Store, this list is by no means comprehensive. Most of these items can be found at Mast Store Online, but be sure to drop by your local Mast Store to peruse our full Made in USA collection. When you visit in person, we hope you’ll also get in the mood for the landmark 250th Independence Day festivities as you enjoy the patriotic décor and merchandise displays. Happy Fourth of July, everyone!
Candy
It’s ideal to have sweets at any party, let’s start this 250th Birthday celebration with American-made candy! There are 11 Made in USA Mast Store Provisioners Candy Bars for your perusal at Mast Store Online. While they don’t ship in summer months due to warm temperatures, you can tantalize your imagination’s taste buds before visiting any Mast Store location to pick up your favorites in person. We recommend a flavorful collaboration like the Vanilla Bulls-Eyes Bar or the Cheerwine Float Milk Chocolate Bar. Traditionalists will also love the scintillating Dark Chocolate Candy Bar.
Chattanooga Bakery, the maker of the world-famous MoonPie, has a proud history of crafting its delicious snacks at home. There are ten varieties of MoonPie in Mast General Store. Choose from the classic Chocolate or bring the Red, White, and Blue to a patriotic July Fourth get-together with a selection of Strawberry, Vanilla, and Blueberry!
Food, Drink, Cooking, & Cleaning
Keep the table stocked at your 250th Independence Day party with savory snacks. Amish Country Popcorn has a wide array of poppable, munchable treats, and, after all, what snack is more American than popcorn! Try Amish Country Popcorn’s 6-Pack Variety set for the best sampling of their offerings. You’ll also find five flavors of their salts and seasonings available at Mast Store Online to make each bite even more unique. To get poppin’ over an open flame, start with a healthy alternative like Amish Country Popcorn’s Coconut Oil, or, for simplicity’s sake, choose their 3-Pack of Microwave Buttery White Popcorn.
If you plan to cook or bake for your guests, Lodge skillets are timeless and trusted cookware. The 12” Spacious Skies USA Cast Iron Skillet Lodge commemorates America’s 250th birthday. Grease it well and add one of Lodge’s cornbread mixes for a truly festive appetizer. Any Fourth of July cookout menu has to include steak, ribs, hamburgers, or hot dogs. The Lodge 20” Cast Iron Reversible Pro Griddle is up to the task of searing, slow-cooking, and sizzling a smorgasbord of meat on any grill. Find these items and a plethora of other all-American Lodge products at Mast Store Online or in your local Mast Store. To top off other snacks and entrees in your spread, Cackalacky Condiment has mouth-watering, tongue-scorching three Made in USA sauces, as well as a coffee option, whether your party is early or extends into a firework-filled night.
An Independence Day brunch is a terrific way to kick off the celebration, too! Rise and shine with (almost) made-from-scratch biscuits using Biscuit Head’s Buttermilk Biscuit Mix, which are more lip-smackingly delicious when they’re topped with one of seven types of Blue Ridge Apiaries honey cultivated just down the road from the Original Mast Store. Also, bring a regional delicacy with patriotic origins to your table with Old Mill of Guildford’s Stone-Ground Yellow Grits and Unbleached White Grits. The original Guilford Mill stood near North Carolina’s Guilford Courthouse, a Revolutionary battlefield about half-an-hour’s drive east from the Winston-Salem Mast Store. There, American General Nathaneal Greene’s troops fought British Lord Cornwallis’s army in a battle of attrition, which proved to be key to the latter’s ultimate defeat at Yorktown and the Patriots winning their nation’s independence.
Although it’s known to have a British flair, tea makes an excellent morning drink. Asheville Tea Company puts a luxurious twist on its home-grown American blends. Using locally grown herbs, they craft ten varieties of delightful teas for your brewing pleasure available at Mast Store Online. Pour any of these teas into a Mast Store favorite Handwarmer Mug by Clay in Motion, and your Fourth of July is guaranteed to be off to a cozy start.
Of course, good hosts know that all of these and other tasty treats along with their accompanying garnishes must be prepped and party-ready for guests. Check out the Mast Store’s 15” x 12” Cutting Board and 8” x 6” Bar Board for quality craftsmanship that adds functional elegance to any kitchen. These are made cut and designed by the Mast Store’s very own woodworking team. (They also build a Wooden Footstool, which will definitely come in handy for kicking up your feet and sitting back to enjoy leftovers once the party is over!) When the guests have said their goodbyes and cleanup chores await, consider having a set of Country Cotton’s plush Made in USA Old-Fashioned Dishcloths and Old-Fashioned Dish Towels on hand to tackle a mountain of dishes in the sink. To tidy up those pesky party spills, use Charlie’s Soap All Natural Kitchen & Bath Household Cleaner or, for even peskier mustard stains on your t-shirt or sundress, treat it with Charlie’s Soap Pre-Spray Stain Remover, throw it in the wash with their Natural Laundry Powder, and toss it in the dryer with one of Mixologie’s Boujee Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets so that it comes out stain-free, naturally-fresh, and all-American clean.
Fashion, Accessories, & Apothecary
Speaking of staying fresh, everyone wants to look and feel their best at any social gathering. While you relax and let your summer glow shine, there are many ways besides a suntan to radiate confidence at an Independence Day party.
Let’s begin with jewelry, which always makes a dazzling impression. The Mast Store features a number of Made in USA pieces, including Stuart Nye’s Backward Loop Large Gold-Filled Earrings or Backward Loop Twist Medium Silver Earrings, SoulKu’s Soul Full of Light Necklace, and Salisbury Pewter’s Flower of the Month and Nouveau Flower of the Month bracelets, both of which are best-selling Mast Store gifts.
Men have options to accessorize their look and shine, too. Colonel Littleton is renowned for its rustic, handcrafted leather work. Their Braided Leather Bracelet makes a subtle, simple statement as an accent piece. A wallet is another expression of a man’s style, and Colonel Littleton’s No. 4 Billfold is a classic and elegant choice. Colonel Littleton also allows anyone to express themselves stylishly in their own words with the No. 9 Journal, or you could opt to accessorize your writing by sending a personal message to a friend on Made in USA stationery like Earth Sky + Water, LLC’s naturalist notecard series, which includes six designs available at Mast Store Online.
Belts can be purely functional, add a pop of fun to your wardrobe, or both! If a tactical belt suits your needs for outdoor adventures like rock climbing or hiking, try Bison Designs Last Chance Light Duty Belt made of flexible, comfortable nylon or Mast General Store’s sturdy leather Tactical Belt. On more fashion-forward occasions, go with Duck Head’s Leather Belt or Mast General Store’s textured Pebble Belt. Up the ante by pairing your belt with a matching bag like the Duck Head Waxed Canvas Laptop Bag. It’s a combo that will announce your arrival in style back at the office after the holiday comes to an end.
A large part of enhancing your summer glow is caring for your skin. As much as we all enjoy the sun, it can also leave us dehydrated and cause damage to sensitive areas. Start with one of your softest and most exposed features – your lips! The hydrating Island Coconut Lip Care Duo by Poppy & Pout gives your lips much-needed moisture during summer. Find it along with seven more individual Poppy & Pout lip balms at Mast Store Online.
Bag Balm also offers one-ounce and eight-ounce old-fashioned tins that have helped heal hands exposed to outdoor elements for more than 100 years. Keep all of your skin healthy, hydrated, and radiant with Bag Balm’s Moisturizing Lotion with Shea Butter.
Finally, summer is the season of heightened sensations, so don’t neglect your sense of smell. Whether crisp and clean or floral and decadent, a delightful fragrance is undeniably exhilarating to you and those in your company. Mixologie features five fragrances of on-the-go, easy-to-apply rollerball perfumes and colognes that capture the essence of summer, while Fulton & Roark features three fragrances of solid colognes inspired by the American outdoors. Stash any of these portable scents in a classic Waxed Canvas Dopp Kit by Duck Head and feel – and smell – fresh wherever the season takes you.
That concludes part one of our 250 Made in USA Products for the United States’ 250th Birthday blog. We hope you’ll put our suggestions to use as you plan your Fourth of July parties this weekend! Stay tuned for part two next week as we look at Made in USA products that you can use to enjoy the Great American Outdoors. Even when the Fourth of July parties end, America’s best natural offering – our expansive frontier – awaits you. Have a happy and safe 250th Independence Day, everyone!