16 Places Where U.S. History Comes Alive
The United States has an intense historical background; some landmarks tell tales of soldiers standing up against the world and sacrificing their lives, while other destinations reveal secrets about the States. Here are some of these fantastic destinations:
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
A private foundation, Colonial Williamsburg is the world’s largest living history museum. Spanning 301 acres featuring historic sites, two art museums, and even taverns, Colonial Williamsburg preserves the site where General George Washington assembled the Continental Army in 1781, eventually winning American independence. Tourists visiting the site can learn about the general’s painstaking efforts and interact with the local community.
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Massachusetts
This living history museum complex explores 17th-century life through the replication of the settlement made by the English Pilgrims. The site also explores the life and hardships of the native Wampanoag people with various interactive landmarks. It frequently hosts guided tours and trips and even has a hands-on approach to the site, so tourists can touch, see, and even taste the culture.
Conner Prairie, Indiana
Head to Fishers, Indiana, and you’ll find Indiana’s first Smithsonian-affiliated museum, dedicated to preserving the home of William Conner, America’s foremost politician, entrepreneur, and trader. Conner Prairie’s outdoor exhibits aren’t the only attraction for tourists; visitors can learn about the site and participate in onsite festivals, like the recent Solar Eclipse 2024 festival, where hundreds gathered to marvel at the majestic event.
Mystic Seaport, Connecticut
Mystic Seaport, a gorgeous maritime museum, invites visitors to explore America’s seafaring past. It is the largest naval museum in the U.S. and boasts four National Historic Landmark vessels, among many others. One of these includes Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship. Naturally, the museum is a delight for maritime lovers, but history buffs and other visitors also love exploring its interiors and learning about the oceans and America’s journeys.
Greenfield Village, Michigan
This calm site is home to an open-air history museum founded by Henry Ford and boasts several decades of artifacts and collections. Greenfield Village takes tourists through the vast and exciting phases of American life; visitors can learn about American history through exhibits, marvel at race cars, check out microprocessors, and walk through the entire American innovation in a few minutes.
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico
A short mile from the modern Taos city lies Taos Pueblo, an ancient North American Indian settlement belonging to the Native American Puebloan tribe. Taos Pueblo offers guided tours through the settlement so tourists can explore religious sites like kivas, check out the defensive walls, explore the ruins of Cornfield Taos, and get an insight into the lives of the Taos-speaking Native American tribe. It also holds cultural events that give you a deeper look into the settlement.
Fort Laramie, Wyoming
Despite looking like a dainty old town, Fort Laramie isn’t just a regular pitstop. The destination was once a private fur trading fort and has since evolved into the largest military post in the area. Tourists visiting the area can still glimpse its history as a significant military outpost on the Oregon Trail. Fort Laramie regularly holds guided tours detailing military excursions and trading posts and is open for tourists to self-explore.
Cahokia Mounds, Illinois
A centuries-old ancient pre-Columbian Native American civilization settled across the Mississippi River, Cahokia Mounds is the area’s largest and most complex archeological site. Cahokia Mounds is best known for the Monks Mound, the largest earthworks in North America. Tourists can also take guided tours to learn about Cahokia human sacrifices or visit the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society.
Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania
If you’d like to explore American history and the Civil War, visit Gettysburg National Military Park. Here, a reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg gives you a closer look at the Civil War’s bloodiest battles, complete with erected figures and extensive battlefields. Tourists can take guided tours to learn more about the site and the historic 1863 battle or simply tour the landmark themselves.
Saratoga National Historical Park, New York
Located in Stillwater in New York, Saratoga National Historical Park preserves the site of the Battles of Saratoga, which marked the first military victory in the American War of Independence in 1777. Aside from open-air exhibits detailing the military battle, the site also has gorgeous walking trails, so it’s perfect for history buffs and naturalists. Saratoga Lake is also close to where tourists hope to explore.
Deadwood, South Dakota
Are you curious about the Wicked Wild West? Head to Deadwood, the peaceful South Dakota city famous for its gold rush and Wild West legends. The town retains its 19th-century charms, reminiscent of its old buildings and gorgeous city center. Still, tourists usually flock to its numerous historical sites to learn more about its intriguing run-ins with gamblers and participate in outdoor activities. Tourists can even check out a massive gold nugget exhibited at the Adams Museum.
Living History Farms, Iowa
This unique open-air museum stretches about 500 acres in Urbandale, Iowa, and tells how locals transformed basic Midwest prairies into the world’s most productive farmlands. Tourists here feel like they’ve taken a step into the past; horse-drawn carriages run the course of the crops, allowing them to learn about its fertile history from up close. Aside from giving visitors a glimpse into 300-year-old agricultural history, the open-air museum also invites visitors to learn about their farming methods.
Fort Snelling, Minnesota
Once an exceptional military fortification, Fort Snelling overlooks the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers and is a visual tale of the relationship between the U.S. military and Native American tribes. It is also home to a fur trading post, which is now open for tourists to explore. Tourists in Fort Snelling can hike up to the historic fort or take guided tours.
The National WWII Museum, Louisiana
Formerly known as the National D-Day Museum, The National WWII Museum is a military museum located a short walk from the French Quarter in New Orleans. The museum is lined with artifacts from the Second World War, including aircraft that took flight against the enemies. The museum is also dedicated to various exhibits and is home to the Solomon Victory Theater, the U.S. Freedom Center, the Boeing Center, and the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion.
Fort Vancouver, Washington
Named after Captain George Vancouver, Fort Vancouver was once a fur trading post and now lies as an open-air fortification and museum for tourists. Here, tourists can learn about the business operations that spanned from Russian Alaska to Mexican California and even the Pacific Ocean from the Rockies. Tourists can also learn about the time when the fort was a training ground for armed officers entering the Civil War.
Pioneer Town, California
Pioneertown, California, is a unique and historic place nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains. Originally built in the 1940s as a movie set for Western films, it has since transformed into a charming, albeit small, living community that attracts visitors with its Old West feel. Visitors can stroll along Mane Street to admire the Wild West-style buildings, some of which still serve as sets for movies and photoshoots.
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Emese Maczko is a travel blogger behind Eco Lodges Anywhere. Having explored several destinations around Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a keen understanding of diverse cultures and an appreciation for the beauty of each destination she visits. She advocates for sustainable travel and ecotourism.