15 Best Destinations to Experience American History

The first permanent English settlement was founded at Jamestown in 1607. Today, historic Jamestowne displays thousands of ongoing discoveries from its archaeological site.

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Feel the opulence experienced by the king's representative in England's oldest American colony at the Governor's Palace. You can also visit Raleigh Tavern and see a collection of muskets at The Magazine.

Home to the oldest public museum in the US, Plymouth is home to many artifacts and Pilgrim burial plots. You can also experience a complete recreation of a 17th-century Pilgrim village at Plimoth Plantation.

See the Old South Meeting House where The Boston tea party was held in this port city in 1773. Then, proceed to the Old North Church, Paul Revere's house, and the Bunker Hill Monument.

Visit Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. See the Liberty Bell, National Museum of American Jewish, and Eastern State Penitentiary.

Charming Elm Street is home to trendy retail, restaurants, and the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. Four black students held a sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter here in 1960.

Our nation's capital offers a look at history in the making, as well as the history of African-Americans, Native Americans, Jewish Americans, the US Navy, spies, and air & space.

This strategic point in the Civil War is home to the USS Cairo, the Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg National Cemetery, and the Old Courthouse Museum.

The final battle of the war of 1812 was fought here in the home of jazz and Mardi Gras. This city is filled with things to explore, such as historic homes, cemeteries, and the National WW II Museum.

The long trip down a dirt road to the Chaco Culture National Historical Park is worth the drive. The stone ruins of this major urban center of the Pueblo people (850 - 1250) are impressive to say the least. 

In 1848, gold was discovered here at Sutter's Mill. This lead to the gold rush of 1849 and the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.

Explore the hills and valleys of this area that's home to many technological advances. The Computer History Museum, NASA’s Ames Research Center, and The Tech Museum of Innovation are just a few places you can start your learning journey. 

While Vegas is better known for its casinos and stage shows, it is also home to the National Atomic Testing Museum. If you want to explore the history of nuclear testing, this is the place for you! 

Tour the battleship Missouri at the US naval base on this lagoon harbor located on the island of O'ahu. Its attack in 1941 led to US involvement in WW II, so it's a must-see for any history buff. 

In the midst of a bustling financial district, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum features two recessed pools in the footprint of the World Trade Center and an underground display.