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July 4th marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A day worth celebrating! But the history of our great country goes back much further and includes a multitude of cultures and events. And it’s all there for you to discover!
The National Park Service is known for managing the National Parks but they also manage 64 National Historic Parks, 85 National Historic Sites, and 66 National Monuments that primarily protect historic sites. There is probably one near you or along a future travel route.
A few examples:
Aztec Ruins National Monument -unique ancestral Pueblo site located near downtown Aztec, NM
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument - preserves and commemorates the work of the 1963 Birmingham campaign and other Civil Rights Movement events
Fort Matanzas National Monument - preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument - offers a glimpse into the ancient Pliocene past, when the region was home to mastodons, saber-toothed cats and horses
Manzanar National Historic Site - one of ten camps where the US government incarcerated Japanese immigrants ineligible for citizenship and Japanese American citizens during World War II.
Historic Jamestowne – roam the site of a 1607 English colony with a guided tour on your own
Many of these sites are free to visit.
See more: National Park Heritage Travel
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