The history of American transportation and invention is told at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan. Car culture is at the forefront of this museum; the Driving America exhibit is a must-see, with the first car built by Henry Ford and the history of the American automobile.
Other fascinating artifacts at this museum include steam engines, Rosa Parks’ Bus, Model T Fords, JFK’s limo and other presidential vehicles.
Grand Canyon
If you’re looking for the most breathtaking views of America while you learn a thing or two about this country, look no further than the Grand Canyon. The history of this Arizona wonder is largely in the visitors center on the South Rim. 🗻
For thousands of years, the area has been continuously inhabited by Native Americans, who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon a holy site, and made pilgrimages to it. The first European known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was García López de Cárdenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540.
The site of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
The site of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., will teach you about the impact of that singular, violent act as well as the rest of Lincoln’s presidency.
A museum at the theatre features a number of artifacts, including the weapons assassin John Wilkes Booth used to murder our 16th president. The theatre itself is also a stunning, historical venue, and live shows take place there regularly.
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Gettysburg National Military Park in the town of Gettysburg
Gettysburg National Military Park in the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is brimming with approximately 1,328 monuments, markers and memorials relating to the American Civil War.
Gettysburg was just a small town until the summer of 1863, when it became the scene of one of the biggest and bloodiest battles in the American Civil War, as General Robert E. Lee and his Confederate Army and General George Meade’s Union Army of the Potomac clashed in the area around the town.
Visitors can follow the route of Battle of Gettysburg, from Seminary Ridge and Culp’s Hill to Cemetery Ridge and Devils Den as well as visiting David Wills’ house, a museum about the town.
The site is managed by the National Park Service and the battlefield itself is free of charge and open year round. The museum has a small entrance fee attached, and has limited opening hours over the winter months – it’s worth double checking them before you visit.
If you love live music, you will love Nashville
If you love live music, you will love Nashville. Sure, it has a reputation for being the country music capital of the USA, but country is far from the only genre you’ll find around the city.
Hit up the Honky Tonks on Broadway for the typical Nashville experience, but you can also check out its evolving fine-dining scene at restaurants like Santo, which does modern Mediterranean fare in contemporary environs.
Nashville, Tennessee. Music City. We’re a city on the rise, and we’ve got big dreams for the future. And you know what they say in Nashville, you only live once.
While Oklahoma has plenty of historic and natural experiences
While Oklahoma has plenty of historic and natural experiences suitable for a weekend, if you are up for a little more adventure and seeking out the unusual sites of the state then head to Arcadia.
The town of Arcadia is located in the center of the state and along Route 66 near Oklahoma City. One of the top things to seek out in Arcadia during your weekend is the Instagram-worthy architectural marvel of the Round Barn. Standing here since 1898, the circular barn is the only one of its kind in the United States.
Drive around the backroads of Arcadia to explore Oklahoma’s countryside. Bring a cooler for the produce you can buy fresh from farm markets, or spend the afternoon picking organic berries at Crestview Farms. This is a fun weekend for couples and families.
Alcatraz Island was the site of a notoriously harsh prison
Alcatraz Island was the site of a notoriously harsh prison based off the coast of San Francisco, California, this isolated position earning it the name of “The Rock”. However, prior to becoming a prison, Alcatraz Island had a long history as a military base.
Alcatraz Island is today managed by the National Parks Service and offers tours of the old prison. An eerie yet fascinating journey into the workings of this famous site, visitors to Alcatraz Island can make use of audio guides which chronicle its history (45 minutes). The visit usually lasts 2-3 hours.
Alcatraz Island is a great place to visit, so make sure that when you are in San Fransisco you see this place.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art, called “The Met” is the largest and most comprehensive art museum in New York City and one of the foremost in the world. The museum was incorporated in 1870 and opened two years later. The complex of buildings at its present location in Central Park opened in 1880.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art may not be NYC’s oldest museum, but it is certainly the largest among Gotham’s art institutions.
The Met no longer offers pay-what-wish admission to anyone who isn’t a New York State resident, but even so, a stroll through the museum’s multitude of treasures is one of the greatest pleasures of being in New York.
Govenors Ball is an exciting and infectious mix of rock
Niagara Falls is one of the natural wonders of North America
Niagara Falls is one of the natural wonders of North America, drawing millions of visitors each year. Located along the border of Canada and the United States, there are actually three waterfalls within the park – Bridal Veil Falls, American Falls, and Horseshoe Falls. Horseshoe Falls is the widest and tallest, dropping 167 feet from a 2,700-foot-wide ledge.
For the best panoramic view of all three falls, go up the observation tower, or take the famed Hornblower boat tour into the basin of Horseshoe Falls.
In addition to park information and tour tickets, the visitor center has a gift shop, several dining options, and a theater that shows a 40-minute film about the history and legend of the falls.
Niagara Falls is a beautiful place to visit during the summer, but it’s even more spectacular during the winter when the ice freezes and creates a new wonder of nature. The perfect place for a road trip.