South of America culture goes far beyond great barbecue and music. Savannah, Georgia boasts the nation’s largest National Historic District which contains 22 squares, beautiful parks, and breathtaking antebellum homes – not forgetting their legendary BBQ!
Gettysburg National Military Park provides visitors with an educational tour of America’s bloodiest battle. Learn all about it on Seminary Ridge and Little Round Top; for something spooky take one of their ghost tours available.
Gettysburg
Gettysburg National Military Park marks one of the pivotal battles in American History, taking place over 3 days in July 1863 across 11,000 acres in Gettysburg itself. Union and Confederate troops clashed fiercely for supremacy during this three-day contest that defined American History forever.
On November 19th President Abraham Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg for the dedication ceremony of Soldiers’ National Cemetery and gave his now infamous Gettysburg Address speech.
Gettysburg has many historic structures associated with tourism, including museums, taverns and other tourist-serving structures – museums are especially notable in this regard – museums offer exhibits or admission fees while some attractions do not charge admission like some museums do. Gettysburg can also be an economical destination: many top attractions do not charge admission. However, some museums do have entrance fees.
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry holds an immense amount of historical significance for Americans; its significance stems from John Brown’s 1859 raid on a federal armoury located then in Virginia but now in West Virginia. Brown’s goal was to incite slave uprising across Maryland and Virginia and instead inflamed tensions leading up to Civil War.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park covers the lower section, situated on a flood plain between Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, while its more elevated residential district has earned separate recognition as a Historic District. Both feature recreations with authentic settings as well as events alongside typical small-town businesses.
Paths wind through 19th-century buildings, while a Civil War museum stands on display. Upper town also draws many visitors with Harpers Ferry Town Foundation offering walking tours.
Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon stands as a tribute to George Washington, American Revolutionary War general and first President of the United States. This sprawling estate includes his mansion, gardens, tombs, distillery and farm – and attracts over one million visitors each year.
Visit Mount Vernon and tour the home of America’s first president, George Washington, as well as visit his tomb and learn about 20 other Washington family members. It is run by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association who bought and restored it prior to opening it up for public tours in 1860.
At Antietam National Battlefield Park, see where 23,000 soldiers perished during an 11-hour battle, before traveling across the state to Fort Sumter for where the Civil War officially started.
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter stands as the site of America’s Civil War’s inaugural battle, held at Charleston Harbor’s entrance. Built between 1797 and 1804 as Castle Pinckney and rebuilt following the War of 1812, its visitor education center highlights disagreements between North and South that ultimately caused conflict; nearby exhibits can also provide more insight.
Fort Sumter is part of the National Historic Landmark District that encompasses both Forts Sumter and Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island, offering tours by an authorized concessioner that may also include harbor cruise or sunset harbor tours. As this fort marks where America’s bloodiest war began, visiting Charleston should include visiting this must-see attraction.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
South Carolina, once known for its vibrant capital of the South, now hosts the birthplace, final resting place and prominent work sites of one of America’s greatest civil rights leaders – Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park encompasses his birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church where he worshipped, his final resting site as well as The King Center – an evolving memorial dedicated to him and other pioneers who contributed towards making America free.
Start your visit off right by touring his birth home at 501 Auburn Avenue where he lived for the first twelve years of his life. Next stop should be Ebenezer Baptist Church where he offered moving sermons and speeches that left audiences marveling at his oratorical prowess – take your seat on one of its worn pews to enjoy this remarkable orator’s oratory greatness and then visit The Courage to Lead exhibit in the park visitor center for additional insight!
