Historical sites across the country provide visitors with an engaging glimpse of past times. Perhaps one of the best-known historical destinations is Pisa’s Leaning Tower, with its mysterious tilt baffling engineers for decades.
There are also several UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Pompeii, which has been preserved beneath layers of rock and ash; others, like Seneca Falls in New York have both historical value as well as pop cultural relevance.
Mount Rushmore
South Dakota’s Black Hills attract millions of visitors each year who come to view the iconic mountain carving of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln – which serves as an incredible reminder that this land was once sacred indigenous territory before it was used for American expansionist purposes. The memorial also stands as an unforgettable testament of how it all started with sacred indigenous practices being exploited for American expansionist ambitions.
Historian Doane Robinson had the idea for Mount Rushmore in 1923 in hopes that it would boost tourism in the region. To find an appropriate site, he recruited sculptor Gutzon Borglum; together they selected 5,725-foot Mount Rushmore featuring smooth granite that only erodes about one inch every 10,000 years and which faces southeast so as to receive sunlight throughout most of the day.
Borglum had originally intended to include members of Lewis and Clark Expedition and women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony; however, due to funding limitations these plans were discontinued.
Ford’s Theatre
Ford’s Theatre is one of America’s most visited historic sites, commemorating President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth. This site includes both the Petersen House where Lincoln died as well as its name-giver Theatre itself. Restored to match its appearance from 1865 by National Park Service, its appearance approximates what John Wilkes Booth would have witnessed that fateful day in April.
This site showcases exhibits related to Lincoln, his assassination and any potential conspirators involved. Furthermore, there is a working theatre, world-class museum and learning center at this site which aim to extend his legacy through theatre, history and education.
Visitors to the Petersen House can explore its site on one of several tours, such as Sensory-Friendly or audio-described options. Visitors may also engage with Civil War Washington character’s audio tour or visit Petersen House where doctors found Lincoln after being shot.
Women’s Rights National Historical Park
Upstate New York is filled with sites commemorating social justice, including the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls and Waterloo. This historical park chronicles the first Women’s Rights Convention held in 1848 at Wesleyan Chapel with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and other attendees as witnesses – telling an important tale about equality.
Visitor center displays include the Declaration of Sentiments inscribed under a waterfall and an engaging sculpture depicting those who attended the Convention. There are also displays to highlight connections between abolitionist and women’s rights movements such as Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” Visit this park during March for Women’s History Month or July for Convention Days to experience it all first-hand!
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia served as a political center prior to and during the American Revolution. Now a living museum, this attraction includes original 18th century structures alongside reconstructions portrayed by interpreters dressed in period clothes who offer daily glimpses into colonial life.
Historic area features government sites and homes as well as millinery shops, silversmiths and bakeries. One of the area’s most memorable attractions, Colonial Courthouse stands out with its well-balanced Georgian design; here, in July of 1776, was when America declared independence.
Visit George Wythe House to gain insight into Enlightenment-inspired revolutionary thought, or meet Nation Builders and conduct archaeological research at Custis Square or First Baptist Church sites.
Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown Settlement in Virginia’s James City County marks the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America. This living history museum boasts a 1610s fort reconstructed from its original plan, as well as a display depicting a Powhatan Indian village.
Gallery exhibits explore the culture and impact of Powhatan Indians and English settlers who came together in 1600s Virginia, as well as how this period affected American history. Interactive displays and short films are also provided.
Outdoor recreations of 1607 include a fort, and the three ships Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery that brought colonists from England. At its centre stands Pocahontas who had her life saved when captured by Native Americans raiding party.
