American history is all around us, in museums, parks, libraries, gallieries, concerts, monuments and installations. And today, history has even inspired an engaging Broadway musical, "Hamilton," set to rap music. Its story draws on Ron Chernow's excellent Hamilton biography in its presentation of a fascinating historical figure.

The muscal gives teachers of American history new ways to reference a popuular figure. This novel presentation of Hamilton's life can inspire students to venture off beaten paths in serch of history's many meanings.