10457 Best Sights in USA

You may walk along peaceful woodland trails lined with native flora and fauna at this National Historic Landmark and important archaeological site. The fort dates to at least the early 1600s and is largely intact. At the visitor center a volunteer can explain exhibits about the Native American Corchaug tribe, who built the fort, and the early colonial settlers. Family and children's events are held here regularly.

Not far from the Camino Real Center, Fort Craig National Historic Site was established after the New Mexico Territory became part of the United States to prevent raids by the Apache and Navajo peoples and to secure the trade routes within the region. The growth of Socorro and what is now Truth or Consequences can be traced to the protection the fort provided between 1854 and the mid-1880s, when it was decommissioned. Battles west of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War were relatively rare, but in 1862 the Confederate army crossed the Rio Grande and headed to Valverde, north of Fort Craig, with the goal of cutting off the fort from the Union military headquarters in Santa Fe. Confederate forces first were sent into retreat but later won a few battles and made the Union forces withdraw. The rebels later occupied Santa Fe for a few months. Today, signs describe the various buildings and solitary life at the outpost, where only a couple of masonry walls and numerous foundations remain. Historic markers are very informative, however, and a well-maintained gravel trail winds among the ruins. The roads to Fort Craig, which is about 35 miles south of Socorro, can become hard to pass during rainy weather. During the closest weekend to significant dates of February 21 and 22, historical reenactors re-create the Civil War Battle of Valverde and even "capture" the nearby city of Socorro in a grand finale.

The 1856-vintage Fort Dalles Surgeon's Quarters ranks among the state's oldest history museums. The first visitors came through the doors in 1905. On display in authentic hand-hewn log buildings, originally part of a military base, are the personal effects of some of the region's settlers and a collection of early automobiles. The entrance fee gains you admission to the Swedish log-style Anderson Homestead museum across the street, which also displays pioneer artifacts.

This redbrick Civil War fort never saw a lick of action during the war. Today it serves as a museum, operated by the Key West Art & Historical Society, with exhibits about the 19th and 20th centuries, including relics from the USS Maine, cigar factory and shipwrecking displays, and a collection of Stanley Papio's "junk art" sculptures and Cuban folk artist Mario Sanchez's chiseled and painted wooden carvings of historic Key West street scenes. You can climb to the top of the citadel tower.

Built in 1867 to protect travelers headed west, the army post here is preserved today as the Fort Fetterman State Historic Site. Although the fort was never very large and had difficulty keeping its soldiers from deserting, its location on the fringes of the Great Sioux Indian Reservation made it an important outpost of civilization on the Western frontier. After white settlers overran the Black Hills and the government did away with the reservation, soldiers from here helped end armed Plains Indian resistance—and thus put an end to the fort's usefulness. Two buildings, the ordnance warehouse and officers' quarters, survived decades of abandonment and today house interpretive exhibits and artifacts related to the area's history and the fort's role in settling the West. The remains of other fort buildings can still be seen, as can the ruins of Fetterman City, which died out when Douglas was founded several miles to the south.

Take in sweeping views of Whidbey Island's magnificent bluffs and Port Townsend's Victorian skyline from what is now a 1,451-acre marine park perched at the northern tip of Marrowstone Island. This fort, along with Fort Worden in Port Townsend and Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, was constructed in 1897 as part of an "Iron Triangle" of defense for Puget Sound. Surrounded by Puget Sound on three sides, the site served as a military training center through the world wars, and still has old gun emplacements overlooking its rocky, log- and driftwood-strewn beaches. Features include a large campground, a military museum, 3½ miles of coastline, and 5 miles of hiking and biking trails; tours of the historic facilities are offered in summer. Island inlets are great for paddling around; you can book a tour or rent equipment through Olympic Kayak Tours ( 360/453–7135  www.olympickayaktours.com).

Built by English troops in the mid-1730s, Fort Frederica was constructed to protect the southern flank of the new Georgia colony against a Spanish invasion from Florida. At its peak in the 1740s, it was the most elaborate British fortification in North America. Around the fort today are the foundations of homes and shops and the partial ruins of the tabby barracks and magazine. Start your visit at the National Park Service Visitors Center, which has a film and displays.

Along the Potomac River stands the only remaining stone fort from the French and Indian War. Built in 1756 and named after Frederick Calvert, the sixth Lord of Baltimore, Fort Frederick's stone walls protected Maryland's frontier settlers. Today, a visitor center displays artifacts from the French and Indian War and several times a year, staff and volunteers dressed in 18th-century period clothing give visitors a taste of life in the Colonial era. The park also offers hiking trails, skiing, boating, and canoeing.

One of Colorado's first military posts, Fort Garland was established in 1858 to protect settlers. It lies in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The mountains were named for the "Blood of Christ" because of their ruddy color, especially at dawn. The legendary Kit Carson commanded the outfit, and some of the original adobe structures are still standing. The Fort Garland Museum features a re-creation of the commandant's quarters and period military displays. The museum is 16 miles north of San Luis via Route 159 and 24 miles east of Alamosa via U.S. 160.

It was here (legend has it), on the Groton side of the Thames River, that the infamous traitor Benedict Arnold stood watching the important port of New London (a supply center for the Continental Army and friendly port for Connecticut privateers) burn in 1781 during the Revolutionary War. Whether Arnold actually stood there is open to question; but the American defenders of Ft. Griswold were massacred by Arnold's British troops during the Battle of Groton Heights—and New London did burn according to his orders. The 134-foot-high Groton Monument, which you can climb for a sweeping view of the river and New London, is a memorial to the fallen. The adjacent Monument House Museum has historic displays; the Ebenezer Avery House, on the grounds and recently restored, is where the wounded were sheltered in 1781.

Some of Auburn's most famous residents are buried at Fort Hill, an outstanding example of the parklike burial grounds resulting from the rural-cemetery movement of the early 1800s. Rising over a middle-class residential and commercial neighborhood near downtown, Fort Hill is a great place for a quiet walk under giant trees and for views of the city. Among those buried here are William H. Seward, who served in the cabinets of two U.S. presidents; Harriet Tubman, who liberated hundreds of slaves; and Captain Myles Keogh, who fought (and died) alongside General George Custer at Little Big Horn.

Three miles from the fort's main gate are the Fort Huachuca military museums. The late-19th-century bachelor officers' quarters and the annex across the street provide a record of military life on the frontier and the Buffalo Soldiers regiments, most of whom were based here. More often than not, you'll be sharing space with new cadets learning about the history of this far-flung outpost. Motion sensors activate odd little sound bites in the multimedia experience. Another half block south, the U.S. Army Intelligence Museum focuses on American intelligence operations from the Apache Scouts through Desert Storm. Code machines, codebooks, decoding devices, and other intelligence-gathering equipment are on display. You need a driver's license or other photo identification to get on base. International visitors need to call at least three weeks in advance to arrange for a military escort.

If you need to relax after a long day of playing in the water, this remote beach is it, and getting here is half the fun. Situated at the terminus of Fort Island Trail, the same road where you'll find the Plantation on Crystal River, the beach is a 9-mile drive through wetlands with sweeping views along the way (though the Crystal River nuclear plant looms to the north). The beach itself is raw and subdued, with few frills, though there are picnic shelters, barbecues, and a fishing pier. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; sunset.

Next to the Penobscot Narrows Bridge is Fort Knox, Maine's largest historic fort. It was built of granite on the west bank of the Penobscot River between 1844 and 1869 when, despite a treaty with Britain settling boundary disputes, invasion was still a concern—after all, the British controlled this region during both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The fort never saw any real action, but it was used for troop training and as a garrison during the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. Ghost hunters have reported a range of paranormal activities here. Visitors are welcome to explore the many rooms and passageways. Guided tours are given between 11 and 3 when volunteers are available.

Originally a depot for the shipment of supplies to the Pacific during World War II, the fort was converted into a cultural center in 1977 and is now home to the vegetarian restaurant Greens and shops, galleries, and performance spaces.

The Museo Italo Americano ( Bldg. C  415/673–2200  museoitaloamericano.org  Closed Mon.) is a small gallery that hosts one exhibit at a time, worth a glance if you're already at Fort Mason.

You can find this Civil War--era fort overlooking the Ogeechee River just south of Savannah in the quiet, quaint town of Richmond Hill. Among the best examples of a restored Confederate fortification, this stronghold includes a museum, signal tower, and mortar battery, among others. Campsites and cottages are available for overnight stays, and you can rent a canoe or a kayak for a tranquil time on the water.

Given the clear line of sight down to the Piscataqua River from here, it's easy to understand why this has been considered a strategic location since the 1600s. The fort was named for Major Andrew McClary—an Irish immigrant whose family settled in New Hampshire prior to the Revolution and who was reportedly the highest-ranking officer and the last Continental Army soldier killed at Battle of Bunker Hill—and although it never saw a major conflict, it was manned and developed during several of them, including the War of 1812 and the Civil War. The remaining fortifications showcase the history of American military architecture and include the Magazine Building (circa 1808) and the iconic Blockhouse (1846), a large, hexagonal structure set atop an imposing granite-block foundation. Wandering the grounds or along a short trail here is, given the original purpose of the site, an ironically peaceful way to pass an afternoon.

The channel between Chesapeake Bay and Hampton Roads is the "mouth" of Hampton Roads. On the north side of this passage is Hampton's Fort Monroe, built in stages between 1819 and 1834. The largest stone fort in the country, it's also the only one still in operation to be enclosed by a moat; it was named a National Monument in 2011. Robert E. Lee and Edgar Allan Poe served here in the antebellum years, and it remained a Union stronghold in Confederate territory throughout the Civil War. After the war, Confederate president Jefferson Davis was imprisoned for a time in one of the fort's casemates (a chamber in the wall); his cell and adjacent casemates now house the Casemate Museum. Exhibits of weapons, uniforms, models, drawings, and extensive Civil War relics retell the fort's history, depict coastal artillery activities, and describe the military lifestyle through the Civil War years and the 20th century

Scene of a 1777 Revolutionary War battle for the Hudson River, this fort (well, its foundation at least) is still visible on the 14½-acre site, which is on a cliff with stunning Hudson River views. The museum holds artifacts, weapons, a 15 minute film, and large-scale models reenacting the historic battle. To get to the site from New York City, take the Palisades Parkway north to Route 9W north and proceed just over ½ mile. The parking area is on the right.

Star shaped and rumored to be haunted, this early-1800s fort on the picturesque western tip of Pleasure Island is where Union admiral David Farragut shouted, "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" The fort was built to guard the entrance to Mobile Bay. Farragut yelled his famous lines in 1864, after Confederate torpedoes sank the ironclad USS Tecumseh in the Battle of Mobile Bay. The rest of Farragut's fleet pushed its way to the bay, forcing the Confederates' surrender. The on-site museum tells the story, and actors in period dress reenact events that occurred inside the fort.

This 4,058-acre state park has a 17-acre lake with sandy beach, 14 miles of hiking trails, and 27 miles of mountain-biking trails. The gem of the park is a mysterious wall of rock, 855 feet long, thought to have been built by Native Americans around AD 500. Walk-in tent and premium tent/RV sites ($20–$37) as well as two- and three-bedroom cottages ($200–$230) are available. The park also offers a unique primitive site for camping with horses.

The history of this Civil War–era fort is told through videos in the visitor center and panels along outdoor pathways. Veterans events take place throughout the year, and there’s a gift shop and great views of the Nashville skyline. Revitalization plans for the park include adding 1½ to 2 miles of trails and additional interpretations to highlight African-American history from the Civil War to the civil rights era. Sheep are sometimes used for natural landscaping, watched over by a so-called livestock guardian dog. Be advised: you may also come across a deer on the grounds.

This restored Hudson's Bay Trading Post—a British outpost on the Nisqually Delta in the 1830s—was moved to Point Defiance in 1935. The compound has a trading post, granary, blacksmith's shop, bakery, and officers' quarters, as well as extensive gardens. Docents dress in 1850s attire and demonstrate pioneer skills like weaving and loading a rifle. Queen Victoria's birthday in May is a big event, and eerie candlelight tours are offered several days in October.

Scenic beauty, biodiversity, and miles of trails make this former U.S. Army training grounds a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The 7,200-acre park, which stretches east over the hills between Monterey and Salinas, is also protected habitat for 35 species of rare and endangered plants and animals. There are 86 miles of single-track, dirt, and paved trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The main trailheads are the Creekside, off Creekside Terrace near Portola Road, and Badger Hills, off Highway 68 in Salinas. Maps are available at the various trail-access points and on the park’s website. Dogs are permitted on trails, but should be leashed when other people are nearby.

Major John Owen established Fort Owen as a trading post in 1850. The property also served as the headquarters of the Flathead Agency until 1860. It's worth a half hour to visit the museum to see the restored barracks, artifacts, and some of the fort's original furnishings.

An active fort during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, this site sits at the head of Machias Bay, where a naval battle was waged in 1775. Climb atop the grass-covered earthworks to take in the expansive water views. A panel display details the successive forts built here and relates the dramatic story of patriots—mostly armed with farm implements like pitchforks and axes—who captured a British tender in the bay. A stone marker honors the site as a "birthplace" of the U.S. Navy.

The 18,000-square-foot Fort Peck Interpretive Center features interpretive displays recounting the history and significance of the dam's construction, and the wildlife of the lower river and Missouri River Breaks. You'll find one of the most striking life-size dinosaur displays in the West, a reproduction of Peck's Rex, a Tyrannosaurus rex unearthed near Fort Peck, as well as other local dinosaur discoveries. The center also features the largest aquariums in Montana, filled with the native and introduced fish species of Fort Peck Reservoir and the Missouri River. Guided tours of the dam and its power plants are available April through October.

The drive from Makoshika State Park to Fort Peck will take you along the Hi-Line, otherwise known as U.S. 2. Drive Route 200 to Circle, then north on Route 13, one of Montana's designated Scenic Backcountry Byways, or drive north through the wide, fertile Yellowstone River valley on Route 16 to Sidney, then Culbertson, where you'll catch U.S. 2. Either way, you'll travel through the Fort Peck Reservation. Like most of eastern Montana, much of the land here is beautifully austere; at nearly 2 million acres, the reservation is home to only 9,400 tribal members. Nevertheless, the reservation does have a bustling industrial center, a community college, and an interesting tribal cultural center and museum in Poplar.