National Historic Sites & Parks – Legends of America: A Laid-Back Look
Okay, history buffs and adventure seekers, let’s talk about some seriously cool places in the USA – National Historic Sites and National Historical Parks. These aren’t just dusty old museums; they’re spots where real history happened, preserved for us to explore and connect with the past.
What’s the Deal? Sites vs. Parks
So, what’s the difference between a National Historic Site and a National Historical Park? Think of it this way:
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National Historic Site: Usually focuses on one specific thing – like a house where a famous person lived, or the location of a pivotal event. It’s a concentrated dose of history.
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National Historical Park: This is the broader category. It might include several historic buildings, landscapes, and even natural features all tied together by a historical theme. It’s more of an immersive experience.
The cool thing is, most of these places are owned and taken care of by the federal government, meaning they’re well-maintained and accessible to the public.
(Image of Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site)
Caption: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site. Ever heard of it? It’s a slice of transportation history.
The Numbers Game
As of 2024, we’re talking about 63 National Historic Parks and 85 National Historic Sites. That’s a whole lot of history to explore! The National Park Service (NPS) is the main caretaker, but some sites are looked after by local groups or even private owners. These "affiliated areas" can still get help from the NPS when they need it. There’s even one – the Grey Towers National Historic Site in Pennsylvania – that’s managed by the U.S. Forest Service! Talk about a team effort.
The National Register of Historic Places
Here’s another layer to the story. Back in 1966, the government created the National Register of Historic Places. This is a big list of historically significant places, and every National Historic Park and Site automatically got added. But get this – there are about 90,000 places on the Register! Most of them aren’t run by the Park Service. The cream of the crop, about 2,500 of them, get the special title of "National Historic Landmark."
(Image of Andersonville Prison)
Caption: Andersonville Prison in Georgia, a somber reminder of a difficult chapter in American history.
From Scenery to History: How the Park Service Evolved
When the National Park Service was first created in 1916, it was all about preserving beautiful landscapes like Yellowstone and Yosemite. But historians soon started saying, "Hey, what about the places where important stuff happened?"
So, in 1930, Congress created the Colonial National Monument to protect Jamestown and Yorktown in Virginia. This was one of the first historical areas and later was renamed a National Historical Park in 1936. Then, in 1933, Morristown National Historical Park in New Jersey, where the Continental Army chilled during the winter of 1779-1780, became the biggest historical area in the system. This was a big deal, because it meant the Park Service could start hiring historians and creating programs to interpret the past.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt then reorganized the agency later in 1933, also to oversee memorials and military parks with historic significance, which seriously broadened the National Park Service’s mandate.
(Image of the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia)
Caption: The Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia, a glimpse into colonial life.
More Than Just Pretty Views
The National Park Service is known for its stunning natural parks, but more than half the places they manage are all about American history. And the best part? Many of these spots combine natural beauty with historical significance, making them super popular with visitors.
(Image of old buildings at Fort Davis, Texas)
Caption: Old buildings at Fort Davis, Texas. Imagine life on the frontier!
(Image of engines meeting at Golden Spike National Historical Park)
Caption: Engines meet, Golden Spike, Promitory Summit, Utah. Where the East and West finally met.
(Image of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico)
Caption: Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Mysteries of an ancient civilization.
(Image of Fort Union, North Dakota Rendezvous Camp)
Caption: Fort Union, North Dakota Rendezvous Camp. A taste of the fur trade era.
(Image of Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Pennsylvania)
Caption: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Pennsylvania. A marvel of early engineering.
A Few Places to Get You Started
Ready to hit the road? Here’s a taste of the incredible sites and parks waiting to be explored:
- Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park (Kentucky): Where it all began for Honest Abe.
- Adams National Historical Park (Massachusetts): The story of the Adams family, from revolution to the White House.
- Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (Pennsylvania): A crazy feat of engineering from the 1800s.
- Amache National Historic Site (Colorado): A sobering look at Japanese-American internment during World War II.
- Andersonville National Historic Site (Georgia): A Civil War prison with a tragic past.
- Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (Virginia): Where the Civil War effectively ended.
- Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site (Colorado): A trading post that connected cultures on the Santa Fe Trail.
- Boston National Historical Park (Massachusetts): Revolution comes alive here.
- Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park (Kansas): The beginning of the end of school segregation.
- Cane River Creole National Historical Park (Louisiana): Unique blend of cultures.
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park (New Mexico): The mysteries of the ancient Pueblo people.
- Colonial National Historical Park (Virginia): Jamestown, Yorktown, and more!
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia): A gateway through the mountains.
- Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (Ohio): Birthplace of flight.
- Eisenhower National Historic Site (Pennsylvania): Ike’s farm and a window into his life.
- Fort Bowie National Historic Site (Arizona): A key post in the Apache Wars.
- Fort Davis National Historic Site (Texas): A well-preserved frontier fort.
- Fort Laramie National Historic Site (Wyoming): A major stop on the Oregon Trail.
- Fort Smith National Historic Site (Arkansas): "Hangin’ Judge" Parker’s stomping grounds.
- Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (North Dakota): Where the fur trade thrived.
- Golden Spike National Historical Park (Utah): Where the transcontinental railroad was completed.
- Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (West Virginia): John Brown’s raid and a beautiful location.
- Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site (Arizona): Still an active trading post!
- Independence National Historical Park (Pennsylvania): Where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
- Kalaupapa National Historical Park (Hawaii): A poignant story of isolation and resilience.
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (Alaska & Washington): Gold fever!
- Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site (Arkansas): A pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
- Manzanar National Historic Site (California): Another Japanese-American internment camp.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (Georgia): The life and legacy of a civil rights icon.
- Minute Man National Historical Park (Massachusetts): Where the American Revolution began.
- Morristown National Historical Park (New Jersey): Winter encampment of the Continental Army.
- Nicodemus National Historic Site (Kansas): An African American pioneer town.
- Pecos National Historical Park (New Mexico): Ancient ruins and Spanish colonial history.
- Pullman National Historical Park (Illinois): A planned industrial town with a complex history.
- San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (Texas): Beautiful Spanish missions.
- Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (Colorado): A tragic event in Native American history.
- Saratoga National Historical Park (New York): A turning point in the Revolutionary War.
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (Alabama): Honoring the pioneering African American pilots of World War II.
- Valley Forge National Historical Park (Pennsylvania): Where Washington’s army endured a brutal winter.
- Washita Battlefield National Historic Site (Oklahoma): A controversial battle in the Indian Wars.
- Whitman Mission National Historic Site (Washington): A story of cultural clash and tragedy.
Ready to Explore?
This is just a tiny glimpse of the amazing National Historic Sites and Parks across the country. Each one has its own unique story to tell. So, get out there, explore, and connect with the history that shaped America!
Compiled by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated July 2024.