Historian McCullough and 'Americans in Paris'

Historian David McCullough
Historian David McCullough poses for a picture at the History Makers Gala at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on November 14, 2007 in New York City.
Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for New York Historical Society

In America in the 19th century, "not all pioneers went west." That's the conclusion of Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough in his new book, "The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris."

It tells the stories of a couple of generations of bright American lights -- people like Emerson, Twain, and Samuel Morse -- American pioneers who went abroad to Paris, and came back to the U.S. to put their stamps on American culture and learning -- and not just in the arts.

We can trace the telegraph, modern obstetrics and innovations in dentistry to time spent in Paris by Americans in the mid-19th century. He spoke with MPR's Tom Crann.

David McCullough will appear in Wayzata Tuesday at 7 p.m. to talk about his new book.