15 American Landmarks You Shouldn’t Miss:
America has a great history. That’s why it’s very important to visit some of the most relevant landmarks in our country, whether we’re talking about the national park or the city-center memorial.
This is the best way to help American history come to life and learn everything we need to know about the founding principles and legacy of America.
So, starting from black-owned plantations where the Declaration of Independence was signed, all these landmarks are a must-see.
What other better way to appreciate America’s beauty and ability to resist, while also reconciling its past and honoring those who fought for our freedom? Here are some of the most important landmarks:
Harriet Tubman National Historic Park
The Harriet Tubman National Historic Park is located in Auburn, New York. It’s a great place to learn more about the amazing woman who stood behind the Underground Railroad, that successfully rescued and emancipated so many enslaved Black people.
She also had a lesser-known role in helping the Union Army rescue as many enslaved people during the Civil War as possible.
The site also has a group of insightful historical landmarks, such as The Harriet Tubman Visitor Center, the Tubman Home for the Aged, but also the Harriet Tubman Residence, and the Thompson Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
Brooklyn Bridge
While it’s not that easy for a landmark to become “iconic”, especially in New York City, it seems that the Brooklyn Bridge has certainly succeeded in doing so, as it has become the most renowned one in the city.
Designed by Prussian immigrant John A. Roebling, the all-time famous bridge has Gothic double arches, crisscrossed steel cables, and lots of room for cyclists and pedestrians alike.
The bridge was believed to have been the world’s largest suspension bridge after its completion in 1883. It connects Brooklyn to Manhattan, which was seen as two separate cities for 15 more years after 1883), and it still serves as a picture-perfect way to get from one direction to another.
Colonial Williamsburg
The living history museum has some of the most interesting insights into what was like during Colonial America, in the 18th century. From learning more about all the historic trades that started America’s commerce, to admiring the premiere collection of all American folk art pieces.
Besides all this, it’s worth mentioning that one of the “founding fathers” was here, so every single minute on this site is worth your while. Besides, there are a couple of amazing hotels and dining options that you simply cannot miss.
Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle is seen as one of the most fabulous homes in American history, and you’ll immediately understand why. The historic estate has 250,000 acres of gardens, pools, and impeccable residences.
The campsite-turned-into-a-castle has over 25,000 artifacts from all over the globe, such as an Italian Renaissance sculpture, but also a Tiffany & Co.’s 1889 Orchid Vase.
Jackson Square
Jackson Square is one of the most relevant historic landmarks in New Orleans. It’s at the heart of the French Quarter. It was designed back in 1721 by the French architect Louis Pilié, and it was meant to resemble Paris’s Place des Vosges.
The beautiful locale has served as a site for many battles and executions, but also weddings and entertainment. Nowadays, it’s a space for local artists to share their art and talent.
Independence Hall
The City of Brotherly Love is where many historic landmarks can be found, with the Independence Hall being the most prominent. The famous colonial structure was the spot where the famous Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, but also where the United States Constitution was written and signed in 1787.
For a brief time, it also housed all three branches of Pennsylvania’s state government.
Yosemite National Park
The moment you arrive there, you get in contact with the visual storytelling of California’s history. There are 1,200 square miles of ancient giant sequoias, that formed a mining land that drew people in droves to California back in the 19th century.
Whether you want to climb El Capitan or visit the well-known Nevada Falls, seeing this spectacular landmark is worth more than just a couple of hours of your time.
National Civil Rights Museum
The National Civil Rights Museum can be found in Memphis’s Lorraine Motel, the place where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.
Visitors can easily learn about Black history, from African enslaved people brought to the U.S. in the 17th century, to the Black Power Movement and all the relevant civil rights milestones that happened in between.
Taos Pueblo
Taos Pueblo was first made as a Native American community almost 1,000 years ago, and over 150 people still live there up to this day.
These residences are a wonderful tribute to the Native American people’s amazing tradition, resourcefulness, and sacred relationship with nature. Visitors can have a glimpse into early American life, way before European ships landed and occupy the lands.
Whitney Plantation
Whitney Plantation isn’t just a white-columned antebellum home, but it’s also the only plantation in Louisiana that had an extensive focus on the lives and legacies of those who were enslaved on its property.
It is also a Black-owned plantation, with a unique, detailed perspective on what was like to live as an enslaved person in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Gettysburg National Park
Gettysburg National Military Park stands as an honoring site for a truly important turning point in our nation’s Civil War, probably its bloodiest battle, and also the inspiration behind Lincoln’s eponymous address.
Whether you’re more a fan of living history demonstrations or you simply want to walk on the historic halls where Gettysburg Address was completed, the park is loaded with history.
Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
The historic site honors the very first Black institution for higher education, which opened, physically AND socially, to the formerly enslaved peoples back in 1881.
The area honors Booker T. Washington’s commitment to the rich Black history and education in America, but also George Washington Carver’s legacy at the institute.
Here, he made all of his incredible agricultural strides, especially when it comes to developing thousands of products from African staple foods, such as peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans.
Harvard University
Harvard is the first institute of higher education in America, and it’s still one of the most prestigious ones in the whole world. It has an astounding Visitors Center that was established in 1962, where now students can provide the Official Historic Tour of Harvard, starting with the moment it was founded by John Harvard back in 1636.
Besides that, it’s a great excuse to visit the beautiful New England town of Cambridge, MA.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
If you’re lucky enough to make it to the Hawaiian island of Oahu, you HAVE TO visit Harbor National Memorial. The memorial still preserves, interprets, and commemorates America’s involvement in WWII, starting with the fateful event that occurred here on December 7, 1941, that started everything.
One World Observatory and National September 11 Memorial & Museum
This place honors all the innocent lives that were lost during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Then, many of the brave men and women who tried to rescue those innocent people also lost their lives in the process.
It’s a beautiful memorial and museum, and the next generation of World Trade Center stands as a symbol of the resiliency this country has proved so many times.
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