House of USA Cottage

The House of USA Cottage was established in 1935 when the second California Pacific International Exposition was held in Balboa Park.  The USA Cottage is one of the original 15 cottages representing 15 original HPR House Members:  China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latin America, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Sweden,Yugoslavia and the USA.

On Saturdays and Sundays, the USA cottage opens from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, offering piano playing and a sing-along to music lovers except while the lawn program is in progress on the stage. The cottage has rich displays of historical facts, American life/culture, U.S. presidents, admission of 50 states, Old Oregon Trail/American West, inventions/inventors, and more.  The displays are to gain knowledge about, including but not limited to, the founding of the USA, U.S. Constitution, skills on the U.S. Civics, subcultures and history of the 50 states.  Among all displays, the most popular display by and large is the map of the USA.  English language applications are also provided in the form of games and quizzes to children for prize(s).

Lawn Program

The annual lawn program is always held on the Fourth of July or the nearest Sunday to the holiday.  The entertainment for this program consists, but not limited to, American traditional folk, country, rock-n-roll, jazz music, patriotic songs, and reading of poems by American authors.  The program is held on the HPR International Cottages Stage.

Any costumes worn as Uncle Sam colonial men or women, American Revolutionary War soldiers, the west frontier’s cowboys or cowgirls and/or any American historic figures amuse and entertain the audience.

Ethnic Food Festival

This event is typically held in May.  House of USA features typical American foods or invented by Americans chosen from one or more of the U.S. 50 states.  The House also features music, folk dances, and/or entertainment of all American genres.

International Christmas Festival (ICF)

Also known as December Nights are normally held on the first Friday and Saturday in the month of December.  House of USA features American traditional foods either in a separate booth or cottage, spirits in the Spirit Garden, and/or entertainment on the stage.

Foods served

For the Lawn Program, the Ethnic Food Festival, and the International Christmas Festival (ICF)/December Nights, the House of USA features delectable American cuisine(s) chosen from one or more of the U.S. 50 states.

Social Events

Federal holidays such as Memorial Day, Constitution Day, and Veterans Day are celebrated and observed by the House of USA.  Fourth of July, Flag Day, and Constitution Day are celebrated in partnership with the San Diego Chapter of the Sons of American Revolution.  Although Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, the House of USA celebrates and observes the day.  Additionally, the House of USA uses the Family Fun Day, near Halloween, to bring families and friends together to celebrate the autumn and American traditions.

Through children’s participation of all CULTURAL and SPECIAL EVENT programs of the House of USA, we always strives to bring learning opportunities to all visiting children and the public at large.  This goal is accomplished through displays, presentations, educational materials handouts, guest speakers, entertainments, games and prizes.

Additionally, children’s ages between 9 and 18 are encouraged to join as the House of USA Queen and Princesses to represent the House as responsible members; to cultivate a close relationship between the young people and adult members of the House of USA and the HPR Member Houses; to learn, promote, and represent culture, customs, background, tradition and history of the USA.

For more information about the House of USA and IMPORTANT DATES, visit House of USA website for details:  www.HouseOfUSA.org

Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
- The World Factbook

Land Area: 9,826,630 sq km                               
Population:  301,139,947 (July 2007 est.)
Capital City:Washington, DC                                        
Language:  English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii
Religion:  Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)
Form of Government: Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Economy:The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $43,500. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets.
Export: agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2003)

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Source and for updated information, visit: The World Factbook -  United States