Humanity has created some remarkable historical sites and marvels over time. From lounging on idyllic beaches to touring Mayan pyramids, there’s something here for everyone here.
Washington DC is home to numerous monuments representing the United States and a great way to learn its history and government. Other popular historic destinations include Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Plymouth Massachusetts and Holocaust Memorial Museum.
1. Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore stands as a national icon and one of America’s most popular monuments, featuring monumental 60-foot profiles of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln – representing patriotism, history and controversy all at once.
Doane Robinson had the idea for carving faces of historical heroes into South Dakota’s Black Hills in the 1920s. Working together with sculptor Gutzon Borglum, they decided to carve faces like those of Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jefferson into giant granite pinnacles in South Dakota’s Black Hills.
This monument took 14 years and involved both dynamite blasting and jackhammering for its completion. Borglum originally intended to carve all four heads down to their waists before his death in 1941; only Washington’s coat collar and Lincoln’s ear, shoulder, and fourth knuckle had been finished before Borglum passed on.
2. Jamestown
Jamestown was established by England on May 14, 1607 near Williamsburg and later named for James I of England, providing them a permanent presence in North America while also giving birth to our nation’s government and providing its main economic pillar – tobacco.
The site on the banks of the James River was chosen because it met several criteria set forth by Virginia Company–who provided funding for colonists–for selecting locations: it was surrounded by water, far inland and not inhabited by Native Americans. But soon enough, these 104 original colonists would discover it wasn’t an easy life there!
Discover the rich history of America’s first permanent English colony by visiting Historic Jamestowne, a world-class living history museum. Here, replicas of three ships that arrived at Jamestown in 1607 can be boarded, along with lifelike recreations of fort and Powhatan village re-creations.
3. Pompeii
Pompeii provides visitors with a glimpse into Roman life. Visitors walk its streets, see its houses and appreciate its frescoes while discovering secrets in its ruins. A recent exhibit provided audiences with a firsthand account of Pompeii’s last hours through its 3D theater installation perched atop of a villa; its fact-based visual interpretation helped viewers comprehend its final moments visually.
Pompeii was an active urban center until Mount Vesuvius’ eruption and its subsequent burial by volcanic ash in 79 CE. Today, its remains provide an exceptional look into daily life in Roman towns; drawing 2.5 million tourists each year as an iconic tourist destination with gridbed streets, temples, villas with exquisite artworks that inspired European revival of Classical culture.
4. Colonial Williamsburg
Williamsburg offers exquisitely preserved historical buildings and houses, professionally-curated museums, live reenactments, authentic 17th-century taverns, and an abundance of historical information. Williamsburg seeks to recreate mid-18th century America before its Revolution and is an experience not to be missed for history buffs or families alike.
Colonial Williamsburg began being restored in the 1920s thanks to Reverend William Archer Goodwin and industrialist John D. Rockefeller Jr. It features authentic or rebuilt 18th-century buildings such as Governor’s Palace, Public Gaol and Raleigh Tavern – as well as guided tours, ghost walks and witch trials – which all fund educational programs and preservation efforts. There are also colonial-style bed and breakfasts in Williamsburg offering accommodations.
5. Independence Hall
Independence Hall is one of the United States’s most iconic historical structures and home of both debates on and adoptions of both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors curious about American history must pay a visit to Independence Hall.
Independence Hall in Philadelphia first served as the State House for Pennsylvania Assembly (or Legislature) when constructed in 1732, before becoming used for meeting purposes by US Supreme Court from 1791-1800.
Visitors to Philadelphia can tour the room where the Declaration and Constitution were drafted as well as three other spaces that may be open depending on staffing, including Congress Hall and Old City Hall. Touring these spots provides visitors with an amazing opportunity to witness events from history unfold before them firsthand.
