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Happy 4th - Name the Most Impressive U.S. History Site(s) You've Seen
In no particular order:
- U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor - Monticello on a fall morning, fog covering the valley below, only about a dozen people there - The Liberty Bell, heavy snow day in Philadelphia, we walked there and had it all to ourselves - American cemetery at Omaha Beach |
For me, it was the Vietnam War Memorial; The Wall. I was in college during the war. My then boyfriend, now DH worried about a deferment. My roommates very good friend was killed. After I graduated, we lived near campus and I remember the national guardsmen ringing the campus after Kent State. That feeling, when you come around the corner, see the statue of three guys, and that black with all the names engraved. It took my breath away.
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Omaha Beach and the cemetery - absolutely.
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As a non-American, the most emotive places I've been to, concerning American history in the States, have certainly been USS Arizona, Oahu and Ground Zero, NYC.
But, much closer to home, about 40-50 miles from where I live, the Sherman tank at Slapton Sands, commemorating the nearly 1000 American servicemen who lost their lives to a German E-boat, while practising for the D-Day Landings - Exercise Tiger I think it was called - is a beautiful place. |
I have to say, having never been to Normandy (it's high high on my list), that it would be the Vietnam Memorial. I too was in college during the war, and I was fervently anti-that war. But that doesn't make the memorial any less breathtaking and thought-provoking.
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Anyplace in the world it has to be Omaha Beach and cemetery...in the lower 48 it would be the Vietnam Memorial and outside the lower 48, Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial.
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Gettysburg, especially walking partway across the fields of Pickett's Charge.
The original "star spangled banner" being restored at the American History Museum in Washington, DC. Lee Ann |
Interesting that the previous replies are mostly related to war. Anyway, mine are:
Mt. Wilson 100 inch telescope. Lincoln Memorial Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk. I chose these because they all gave me that lump in the throat feeling. |
Arizona Memorial
Mt. Vernon Everything in DC Belleau Wood WWI US Cemetary in France |
The World War II memorial in Washington DC, and seeing an old veteran there. Brought tears to my eyes.
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The Lincoln Memorial.
The Little Bighorn battlefield. Vicksburg. Ellis Island. A couple of personal places - 1. Ancestral home 1 (Great...great... etc. Grandfather) - near Portsmouth NH, built around 1670-1680 - http://gardyloo.us/nhhse1.jpg 2. Ancestral home 2 - nearby, built around 1750. http://gardyloo.us/nhhouse2.jpg The family historian (shirt-tail relative) and a museum or two have blankets used by my forefather x 10 or so at Valley Forge, with his name embroidered. |
Ditto Picks...Gettysburg. Especially Little Round Top.
Also Antietam, Harper's Ferry and Manassas. Ford's Theater. Donner Lake when I'm feeling a bit hungry.... |
I guess Ellis Island moved me more than any place else. Standing in the great hall just made me weep thinking about my grandmother and great-grandmother going through there in 1907 and what America meant to the poor, uneducated and persecuted Jews. I wouldn't be here if they hadn't come.
Having said that, any American who has not been to Washington, DC, owes himself a trip here. The Capitol, the memorials, Arlington Cemetery, etc., it's all here. That's why I don't want to live anywhere else. Anytime I go into town, I can immediately raise my eyes and look at the US Capitol. How many of you know, however, that The Capitol's heavy lifting (including the lifting of the "freedom" statue at the top) was all done by African American slaves. US history is full of contradictions--some very embarassing. Come and visit the Nation's Capital and I challenge you NOT to be moved! |
The Vietnam Wall in a torrential downpour
Molokai's Leper Colony The World Trade Center, still smoking over Thanksgiving The 40 steps in Newport, RI where servants would meet to hear news from the old country Plimouth Rock for representing one of the biggest lying tourist trap dissappointments in US history Arlington Cemetary Fenway Park |
Old North Bridge in Concord, MA
USS Arizona |
The Lincoln Memorial - not only for all the obvious reasons - but also because of it's later symbolic associations - including Marion Anderson's concert there after being barred from using the DAR Hall because she was black.
The entire Freedom Trial in Boston The World Trade Center missing (I still think about it every time I'm returning from a meeting in Jersey and remember how it used to dominate the skyline) - and all the sorrow and sacrifices, bravery and tears - associated with that day |
The Charles River Esplanade Hatch Shell hearing the 1812 Overture by the amazing Boston Pops
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Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD
The Mall, Washington, DC Williamsburg, VA "Donner Lake when I'm feeling a bit hungry...." Kal, have you been drinking again? |
My husband would say: Gettysburg
I say: The Freedom Trail, Lexington, and of course Harvard, proving how important education is that it was established in 1636, only 16 years after the Pilgrims landed. |
Insofar as my opinion is worthwhile, I find Gettysburg a bit disappointing. All those memorials all over really do not help you "feel" what happened there. They get in the way.
For a battlefield that was left as is (and I wish they'd remove all the memorials at Gettysburg but it ain't gonna happen), try an Antietim/Sharpsburg. It looks like they cleaned up the bodies and just walked away. You can take photos of the battlefield taken by Matthew Brady and match them with specific locations. Now, that's a battlefield memorial! |
smetz beat me to it. Colonial Williamsburg. When you are walking down the street on a early fall morning with the smell of smoke in the air, the sound of hooves on the street, and the costumed interpretors walking around with their baskets you are transported back into the 18th century.
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Independence Hall, Philadelphia PA-to me that is where it all started.
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Colonial Williamsburg has almost nothing original beyond foundations. It is a reconstruction. It is very interesting, but certainly not what I would call among the most impressive historical sites in the US.
Of course we can all differ about this. |
American Cemetery Omaha Beach
Gettysburg, Antietam, Shiloh Vietnam, Korean and WWII Memorials The Capitol Lincoln Memorial Arlington Cemetery Independence Hall Marine Recruit Graduation for 18-year old grandson Jan 09 God Bless America! |
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Fort McHenry
WW2 Memorial Vietnam Memorial |
My daughter and I happened to be near the mall the day they were to dedicate the Korea War Memorial -- anyone was permitted in to hear the dedication and the speeches (by, among others, then-President Clinton). Many vets there of all wars, and it was quite a sight.
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The buildings on that list for Colonial Williamsburg are all rebuilt in their original locations (or what they think are the original locations). Even your list (designed to "prove" your point, I suppose, says that. The attraction basically is due to the reconstructions. Very little is original. The list of original buildings in your link means that there were original buildings there and NOT that the buildings on those locations are the original buildings.
Rockefeller foundation money rebuilt Colonial Williamsburg but almost nothing is original. Got it? Your list in your link says "Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area comprises 301 acres that include 88 original 18th century and early 19th-century structures and hundreds of houses, ops and public outbuildings that HAVE BEEN RECONSTRUCTED on their original foundations. The following is a list of those original structures." [Capital letters added for emphasis]. So the link you posted to prove your point about original structures actually proves my point, not yours. Again Colonial Williamsburg is almost entirely a reconstruction. As with many historical reconstructions, while interesting, it is not necessarily 100% historically accurate because many details have to be inferred. They have done a nice job there but it is certainly not a shrine in the sense of other historical sites mentioned on this thread. I am not saying it is not interesting, but I just don't class it with Independence Hall, Gettysburg, the monuments in DC, the Arizona Memorial. I view CW as more of a historical attraction than a historical site. By the way, I have visited CW over a dozen times because both of my children went to William & Mary and know it well. |
Hmmmm......... How about June 17, 1775 - the Battle of Breed's Hill (aka, Battle of Bunker Hill)? Now, that's really where it all started.
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Where it all started is a matter of debate, right?
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The Freedom Trail, especially the cemeteries (Boston).
San Antonio Missions Historical Park. Capitol Building (DC) National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (Dayton) Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown) |
have you ever climbed to the top of the bunker hill monument? the climb is fine, but the climb down will rip your calves apart!
staying at the orignal bugsy Flamingo in all it's tacky glory would be a memorable historical site |
gyppielou, my thighs and calves are still sore 2 days later!!! I climbed it on July 3rd, and trust me, I am never climbing those 294 steps again! (Not to mention there were about 20+ people up on the top, which only has space for 12 people really...)
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Have you ever climbed to the top of the Capitol dome? I can tell you it is the most difficult tour to arrange in DC and I did it a few months ago. You go above the painting at the top of the dome! You have to get a Congressman or Senator to take you up. I have a neighbor who is a Congressman. He used my house for his family for inauguration (I was with a tour group). I refused any monetary payment but asked him for the walk up as "payment". Just great!
Only 7 people can go up at once with the Congressman or Senator. I did take a bunch of friends who also have tour guide licenses in DC. |
I forgot to add: It's over 300 steps to the top of the Capitol dome, but you stop a lot to see things. Really not a bad climb. It is arranging it that is the problem.
By the way you can no longer climb to the top of the Washington Monument because too many people had to be "rescued" inside. Talk about steps: 897 steps! |
texasjo beat me to it: Parris Island (Oct 1997)
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>>Donner Lake when I'm feeling a bit hungry....<<
:-0 :-D I haven't been up that way in years. Lee Ann |
In Italy: WWII cemetary in Nettuno
In US: the Trail of Tears park, what a contrast between the peacefulness of the park, and the dreadful Cherokee river crossing in winter! |
Gettysburg
USS Arizona |
Come on up...I'll bring the Lawry's, fava beans and a fine Chianti!
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