A Message to All American Girls

Many of you know that the Inns of Aurora was the visionary idea of Pleasant Rowland, inspired by her love of this tiny historic village where she went to Wells College more than fifty years ago. Her careful restoration of Aurora's magnificent Federal and Victorian buildings -- which now form our family of historic hotels -- are only part of her work to bring history alive.

Before she undertook the restoration of Aurora NY, Pleasant founded and led American Girl, a company dedicated to teaching history through books and dolls that told the stories of girls living at different times in America's past. This week, on the occasion of the company's thirtieth anniversary, she posted the following message to all American girls reminding them of the timeless values that are as important today as they have always been.

Those of us who know Pleasant well can attest to the fact that she is the quintessential American girl who inspires all of us at the Inns of Aurora "to be the best that we can be" — the very words she used to inspire a generation of American girls.

— Sue Edinger - Chief Operating Officer, Inns of Aurora

To: All American Girls

From: Pleasant Rowland, Founder of American Girl

Thirty years ago I created American Girl to inspire you with stories about girls who lived long ago, girls whose lives in different times represented the values that were so beautifully captured in the American Girl books and in these lyrics from the American Girls Anthem:

I can be brave. I can be true.
I will do the best that I can do.
I can dream. I can dare.
I can keep on trying if I really care.
If I reach out, I can belong.
Lend a helping hand so strong.

When I’m alone or something’s going wrong
I’ll do what’s right. I can be true.
I will keep going and I’ll carry through.
I’ll hang on to my dreams,
Flying high and free.

And I will be the best that I can be.
Yes, I will be the best that I can be.

Please hang onto your dreams, keep on being the best that you can be, and some day one of you will be president. Of this, I am sure.

— Pleasant