Story perspectives

USA250: Uncovering 250 Years of America's Economic Evolution

2/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Wall Street Journal launched a yearlong series, USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy, to examine America's first 250 years.
Emma Tucker, editor of The Wall Street Journal, introduces the project and highlights the interplay between technology and entertainment.
The series spotlights ten moments in entertainment hardware, focusing on the phonograph and the player piano, and notes a shift from communal music to consumption in the early 1900s.

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Story summary

The Wall Street Journal launched a yearlong series, USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy, to examine America's first 250 years.
Emma Tucker, editor of The Wall Street Journal, introduces the project and highlights the interplay between technology and entertainment.
The series spotlights ten moments in entertainment hardware, focusing on the phonograph and the player piano, and notes a shift from communal music to consumption in the early 1900s.