There are countless historical places worth seeing that are both fascinating and educational, here are just a few to add to your travel itinerary!
Fort Ticonderoga was the site where General George Washington delivered his farewell address after winning the Battle of Saratoga, and offers tours that provide insight into American history.
1. Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty is one of the world’s most iconic sites and an inspirational symbol of hope and freedom, making a visit here essential for any trip to New York City.
Discover Lady Liberty’s incredible history through an engaging museum experience, which recreates Frederic Auguste Bartholdi’s workshop and her original torch. Additionally, The Inspiration Gallery allows visitors to add their photo to Becoming Liberty collage and view artifacts brought over from home countries by immigrants.
The Ellis Island Immigration Museum provides an intimate view into American history as related to immigrants’ experiences.
2. Museum of the American Revolution
Philadelphia-based museum seeks to capture the full story of America’s Revolutionary War through artifacts, immersive experiences and other exhibits that reveal how its events remain relevant today.
George Washington’s War Tent – an impressive, hand-sewn replica of Valley Forge field headquarters – is sure to draw visitors’ attention, yet the museum also demonstrates how promises of liberty, equality and self-government were often broken along the way. Unlike many historical sites which glorify war but fail to present an honest account of what really transpired during America’s Revolution.
3. Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the oldest living history museum in America. Its purpose is to teach visitors about colonial America and show how a great republic was founded.
The park features 88 historic buildings from both original and restored models that form part of its Historic Area, in addition to touring an octagonal Powder Magazine and museum exhibits depicting lives impacted by revolutionary events.
The park features a variety of hotels, cottages and taverns available for booking during their stay. In Merchants Square you can shop, while visiting both Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art and DeWitt Wallace Decorative Art museums can also be explored.
4. Petra
Petra, founded in the 3rd century BC, boasts exquisite tombs and palaces featuring intricately carved tombs and palaces that date back centuries ago. Builders chiseled intricate designs directly into its red rock face cliffs for maximum effect; at least four to five days should be sufficient time for exploration of all that Petra offers.
Nabateans established this cultural hub as a convenient stop on trade routes between Asia, Africa, and Europe. Once Rome took control, its success only increased – you can still witness Roman influences through monuments such as Colonnaded Street.
5. Terracotta Army in Xi’an
Visit Xi’an without visiting the Terracotta Army is considered an oversight. This astounding collection of fired-clay soldiers, horses and chariots was constructed as an ancient Chinese tomb protector: Qin Shi Huang’s Tomb was located nearby.
Life-sized figures range in height depending on their rank, with generals standing tallest. Pit 1 features infantry and archers while Pit 2 displays mobile forces such as cavalry and war chariots.
City buses run regularly to the museum from Xi’an and official tour guides can be found at ticket windows; lucky visitors might even catch Yang Zhi Fa, the farmer who discovered its existence back in 1974, signing books in its store!
6. Nan Madol
Nan Madol showcases humanity’s early seafarers. Its builders were among the Austronesian people, who invented ocean vessels and settled Micronesia as part of what is known as Austronesian Expansion.
Nan Madol consists of 92 artificial islands and islets connected by canals that house remains of palaces, temples, tombs built by Micronesians’ ancestors.
Ruins at Nan Madol stand as testament to the advanced engineering techniques employed by its builders, with black basalt “logs” comprising its walls weighing up to 50 tons each.
7. Palmyra
Palmyra was an ancient oasis that came into prominence as a caravan city between Europe and the Middle East, becoming known for trade of spices, silks, and gold from Europe to Arabia along the shortest path between them. According to medieval Arab sources as well as 17th-century Western travelers it exuded wealth.
Temples constructed of local pale gold limestone displayed a mixture of Greek, Roman, and Aramaean styles. A monumental axis of 1100 meters of primary colonnaded streets connected the major public monuments such as Baalhamin Temple and Diocletian’s Camp.
