As an extension of the national park system of the United States, the Federal Government has been setting aside areas of historical significance for some time now. Many of these locations were pivotal in American History. They include National Battlefields, Native American settlements and many other interesting places.

   In our travels throughout America, Lee and I have visited many of these special places. Here is your virtual tour of a number of these sites.

     In Boston, birthplace of American liberty, the Freedom Trail showcases many Early American locations which were significant prior to and during the Revolutionary War.

Old State House, Boston

 Another “Sons of Liberty” meeting place was Faneuil Hall

Faneuil Hall

 Just north of Boston, the city of Salem is famous for the witch trials of the late 18th century.

Roger Conant Statue, Salem

 Another city which played a pivotal role in the fight for independence from England was Philadelphia, PA, home of the Liberty Bell and the Declaration of Independence.

Independence Hall

  It was here that the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Inside Independence Hall

Also in Pennsylvania is one of the greatest battlefields of the Civil War, Gettysburg.

Gettysburg

  Kittyhawk, North Carolina, is where the Wright Brothers first experimented with flight.

Wright Brothers Memorial

 Further south, in St Augustine, Florida, the US has preserved one of the oldest forts in the country.

Castillo San Marcos, St Augustine

 In the Midwest, Scotts Bluff National Historic Site preserves a spot along the route that settlers used to explore and open the West.

Scotts Bluff

  Texas is the home of The Alamo, an important place in the fight for the independence of Texas from Mexico.

The Alamo

 The desert Southwest features Native American historical sites, such as, Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo

 and Chaco Culture NHS

Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Culture NHS

    There are many others. We noticed quite a few as we traveled through California in 2009. Here are some of them.

El Presidio, Santa Barbara

and

Pacific House, Monterey

 and

Sonoma State Historic Park