Best Places in the US for History Lovers

History enthusiasts don't have to travel overseas to indulge their passion, there's plenty to discover right in the U.S. The country is home to everything from ancient sites that pre-date the country's birth by centuries as well as important places that have played significant roles in American history over the past several hundred years.

Washington, D.C.
The nation's capital is home to many museums that chronicle U.S. history along with dozens of historical landmarks. It would take years to cover its treasure travel of history, so if you want to experience all of it, you might want to consider buying a home among Arlington real estate just across the Potomac River. Some of the top spots to explore if you only have a limited amount of time include the Smithsonian Museums, particularly the National Museum of American History and National Museum of Natural History, the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, and The Old Stone House, D.C.'s oldest still-standing home dating back to 1765.


Lincoln Memorial

San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is home to The Alamo, one of the most famous historic sites in the country. It's where an epic 13-day siege occurred during the Texas Revolution, and while many of the original buildings are gone, the Long Barrack can still be explored. It holds a museum that details the state's history, while the mission church showcases displays that include battle artefacts like weapons and paintings. There are also exhibits that reveal the fort's role during the war and its past when it was a Native American burial ground and the Mission San Antonio de Valero.

Las Vegas, Nevada
When it comes to vibrant entertainment and modern spectacle, Las Vegas stands out as a unique historical destination in its own right. Amidst the nation's rich historical sites, the dazzling lights of Las Vegas hotels offer a different kind of history—one of entertainment evolution and showmanship. From iconic performances by legendary artists to breathtaking acrobatics and theatrical wonders, the best shows at Las Vegas hotels, as highlighted in this guide https://vegaslens.com/best-shows-at-las-vegas-hotels/, provide a captivating glimpse into the city's contemporary cultural tapestry. While the U.S. is celebrated for its ancient landmarks and storied past, Las Vegas adds a modern twist to the narrative, inviting visitors to witness a different facet of history—one that unfolds on stages that have hosted some of the most unforgettable performances in the world.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
In July 1863, over just three days, 51,000 Confederate and Union soldiers died at Gettysburg. It was the Civil War's bloodiest conflict, so traumatic that President Abraham Lincoln eulogized the fallen Union Troops four months later in his Gettysburg Address. That speech would become America's most famous of all-time. Visitors can visit the national cemetery and tour the battlefield, considered one of the country's most haunted places with reports of the sounds of battle heard and many sightings of "ghost" soldiers. At the museum and visitor center, you'll get a comprehensive preview of it all.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
You can visit two places jam-packed with history on one trip by heading to Philadelphia, just a little over a two-hour drive from Gettysburg. Here you'll witness Benjamin Franklin's influence throughout, including Independence Hall. This is where Franklin and other colonial leaders met and wrote both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Check out the famously cracked Liberty Bell, explore the interactive National Constitution Center, the Benjamin Franklin Museum, and the President’s House. The latter is a recreated version of the one-time home of George Washington and John Adams when Philadelphia was the country's capital. 

Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is considered the birthplace of the American Revolution and is filled with history, including many of America's first, like Boston Commons, the first public park. Along the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail, you'll be able to explore landmarks like the Old North Church and Old South Meeting House and the Old North Church. Afterwards, sit down at the Green Dragon Tavern, where famous characters in history like Paul Revere and John Hancock were regulars. Just 40 miles south in Plymouth, you can view famous Plymouth Rock, hop aboard a replica of the Mayflower, and experience living history at Plymouth Plantation.


Boston Commons

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
For history that dates back centuries, head to southwestern Colorado to visit Mesa Verde National Park, where from 500 AD to 1300 AD, ancestral Puebloans lived as farmers, cultivating corn, beans, and squash. It's home to some 600 ancient cliff dwellings where you can trace their footsteps, including the 150 rooms and 23 kivas in the magnificent Cliff Palace.

*Collaborative post

0 comments