189 Best Sights in USA

Spend a serene morning in Lawai Valley, a pastoral corridor that joins verdant hills to the beach where Queen Emma (1836–85) had a home. In 1904, Japanese plantation workers created a miniature version of the famed 88 temples of Shikoku so they could complete a sacred pilgrimage despite being far from home. This is the only replica of this temple route outside Japan and one of the country's oldest Buddhist sites. Ancient Hawaiians built a heiau (temple) in Lawai, and then each group of immigrants that followed––Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and Filipino––built their own places of worship in this area known for its healing waters.

Engulfed by vegetation for decades, this hillside dotted with knee-high shrines was excavated and restored by volunteers, who now offer bimonthly tours. After a welcome of tea and manju (Japanese cookies) and a short presentation, you can borrow a walking staff to wind your way up an orchid-lined path for a silent stroll; be sure to peek into the handmade shrines that house small statues---some are historic, and others were made during the pandemic by Hawaii's most well-known artists. Afterward, visitors may enter the 13th-century-style Hall of Compassion, built without nails under the guidance of Japanese master carpenters.  Reservations are required by phone, text, or email. Arrive 15 minutes early and wear comfortable shoes.

This was a real working ranch with 600 head of cattle owned by actor Leo Carrillo, who played Pancho in the Cisco Kid television series in the 1950s. Before Carrillo bought the spread, known as Rancho de Los Kiotes, in 1937, the rancho was the home of a band of Luiseno Indians. Carrillo's hacienda and other buildings have been restored to reflect the life of the star when he hosted his Hollywood friends for long weekends in the country. Four miles of trails take visitors through colorful native gardens to the cantina, washhouse, pool and cabana, barn, and stable that Carrillo used. After Carrillo's death in 1961, the ranch remained in the family until 1979, when part of the acreage was acquired by the city for a park. You can tour these buildings on weekends when 90-minute guided tours are offered twice daily (10 am and 1 pm).

This 20th-century building is a reconstruction of Franklin's Library Company of Philadelphia, the first public library in the colonies. The American Philosophical Society, one of the country's leading institutions for the study of science, has its library here. The vaults contain such treasures as a copy of the Declaration of Independence handwritten by Thomas Jefferson, William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges, and journals from the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1803–06. The library's collection also includes first editions of Newton's Principia Mathematica, Franklin's Experiments and Observations, and Darwin's On the Origin of Species. The APS also offers a small, rotating exhibit of its rare books and manuscripts in the lobby of its first floor.

The interpretive exhibits at the Little Bighorn Battlefield Visitor Center explain the events that led to and resulted from the battle, as well as the deeper issues regarding the historical conflict between white and Native American culture. Talks by park rangers contain surprises for even the most avid history buff.

The old stone superintendent’s house is now the White Swan Memorial Library, which has one of the most extensive collections of research material on the Battle of the Little Bighorn. You can view the material by appointment only; to coordinate a visit, reach out to museum curator, Sharon Small ( 406/679–5271).

Among those interred at Custer National Cemetery, near the visitor center, are Custer’s second-in-command, Marcus Reno; some of Custer’s Native American scouts; and many soldiers from more modern wars, from World Wars I and II to Korea and Vietnam. Note that you can visit the cemetery without paying the park entrance fee.

For more than 120 years the only memorial to those killed in the battle was the towering obelisk of the 7th Cavalry Monument at the top of Last Stand Hill. Although the hill isn’t particularly high, it affords a good overall view of the battlefield site.

Until the Indian Memorial was unveiled in 2003, the battlefield’s only monument paid tribute to the immediate losers. Although they are meant to honor Native Americans who died on both sides (Custer had a few Crow and Arikara scouts), the three bronze riders of this memorial represent the united forces of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapahoe, who defeated the government troops. The stone opening off to the side forms a “spirit gate” welcoming the dead riders.

Scattered around the battlefield are short, white markers indicating the places where soldiers died. Although the markers may look like graves, the actual bodies are interred elsewhere, including that of Custer, whose remains rest at the military academy at West Point. One marker belongs to Custer’s younger brother, Thomas, one of the most decorated soldiers of the Civil War. Nineteen red markers represent Native American warriors, in part because no one knows exactly where they fell: the Native American survivors buried their dead immediately after the battle in traditional fashion.

After Custer’s defeat, two of his officers held their ground against the Native American forces at Reno-Benteen Battlefield. The seven companies lost only 53 men during the two-day siege; more soldiers might have shared Custer’s fate had not the advance of several thousand fresh troops caused the Native Americans to break camp and flee the region.

It took Mormon settlers 27 years to build the tabernacle, which they completed in 1891. Today's tabernacle is a venue for concerts and lectures. You can also tour the building or search for information about your family history at the genealogical research facility.

Long Wharf starts east of Atlantic Avenue, and it serves as the launching point for many of the city's water tours, sails, and whale-watch cruises. At its far end, it's also a departure point for Boston Duck Tours, Old Town Trolley, and CityView Trolley Tours. Halfway down the wharf, you can have dinner at Chart House seafood restaurant, but note that the historic building it houses was once John Hancock's counting house. The New England Aquarium sits next door, at Central Wharf.

Built in 1931, the 2,200-seat Los Angeles Theatre opened with the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's classic City Lights. Full of glorious French baroque–inspired details, the six-story lobby is awe-inspiring with its dramatic staircase, enormous fountain, grandiose chandeliers, and ornate gold detailing. You can occasionally witness the old Hollywood glamour by catching a special movie screening.

It's easy to feel confused, but the LBJ State Park & Historic Site and the LBJ National Historical Park, both of which honor President Lyndon Baines Johnson, are technically separate entities that operate in conjunction with each other. Here you'll find the World War I–era Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, historic cabins and trails, and the adjacent LBJ Ranch, which includes the family cemetery, where the 36th president is buried, and the Texas White House, the home where LBJ and his wife, Lady Bird, lived before and after his presidency and often returned to during his time as the nation's leader. A self-guided tour of the ranch begins at the visitor center, and afterward you can hike the many park trails, fish the Pedernales River, picnic, and even take a dip in the pool during the summer.

Beautiful Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is home to the oldest public garden in the country, a sprawling estate created by the labor of enslaved people. In 1679, the property along the Ashley River was gifted to Thomas Drayton and his bride, Ann Fox, by her father. In the 1840s, a descendant of the couple began planting an extensive garden on the grounds, a little because his doctor prescribed fresh air to combat his tuberculosis and a little for his bride. Since then, that garden has evolved into a romantic green space overflowing with azaleas, camellias, cypresses, oaks, and more. It's just as rich in history. Prominent African American historian Joseph McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project curated the site's tour—From Slavery to Freedom—of the five remaining cabins on the property. To explore further afield, take the tram-train tour or traverse the more than 500 acres of trails by foot or bike (bring your own). Don't miss the Audubon Swamp Garden and its network of boardwalks and bridges, the petting zoo, or the boxwood maze.

About 10 minutes south of the city, this collection of log cabins was the summer home of John Sevier, Tennessee's first governor. Tours of the property are offered, as well as craft demonstrations. Hiking trails meander along the adjacent creek, which includes the namesake spring.

On the Atlantic side of the Cape is the site of the first transatlantic wireless station erected on the U.S. mainland. It was from here on January 18, 1903, that Italian radio and wireless-telegraphy pioneer Guglielmo Marconi sent the first American wireless message to Europe: "most cordial greetings and good wishes" from President Theodore Roosevelt to King Edward VII of England. There's a lookout deck that offers a vantage point of both the Atlantic and Cape Cod Bay. Off the parking lot, a 1½-mile trail and boardwalk lead through the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, one of the most beautiful trails on the seashore; free maps and guides are available at the trailhead. Marconi Beach, south of the Marconi Station on Marconi Beach Road, is one of the National Seashore's lovely ocean beaches.

This seaworthy replica of the 1620 Mayflower was built in England through research and a bit of guesswork, then sailed across the Atlantic in 1957. As you explore the interior and exterior of the ship, which was extensively refurbished in time for Plymouth's 400th anniversary in 2020, sailors in modern dress answer your questions about both the reproduction and the original ship, while costumed guides provide a 17th-century perspective. This attraction is part of the Plimoth Patuxet Museums system. Plymouth Rock is also nearby.

Small buildings clustered on piers along the downtown waterfront are what remains of the nation’s last herring smokehouse, which operated here from the 1890s until 1991. Restoration is ongoing, but you can take a guided tour of the skinning and packing sheds, which have exhibits about the smoking operation and the sardine canning industry that once thrived along the Down East coast; your guide might be someone who worked here years ago and is helping preserve this legacy. On the National Register of Historic Places, the smokehouse is part of Lubec Landmarks and there are photos and a video about the industry. Next door, the organization's seasonal Mulholland Market Gallery, in a yellow 1860s shop front with bright green trim, has art exhibits and sells works by area artisans.

Down a path from the Chapel of the Transfiguration, the ferry on display here is not the original, but it's an accurate re-creation of the double-pontoon craft built in 1894 by Bill Menor, the first homesteader to settle on the west bank of the Snake River. That was how people crossed the Snake River before bridges were installed. Although the replica ferry is no longer in operation, it's fun to see. In the cluster of turn-of-the-20th-century buildings, there are displays on historical transportation methods. Pick up a pamphlet for a self-guided tour.

The Million Dollar Theater opened in 1918 as part of Sid Grauman's famed chain of movie theaters. This Spanish baroque–style venue had the special feature of having its own organ. Film stars such as Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, and a young Judy Garland frequently made appearances. In the '40s, the venue swung with jazz and big band performers including Billie Holiday. The theater is open for special events and is worth a stop if you're walking past to inspect the lavish exterior with entertainment figures carved into the molding.

In the late 19th century this was a state-of-the-art gristmill, with two large grist stones powered by a store-bought turbine rather than a hand-built wheel. From mid-March to just after Thanksgiving, you can watch the miller make cornmeal and even buy a pound of it.

The ninth of the 21 California missions, Mission San Buenaventura was established in 1782, and the current church was rebuilt and rededicated in 1809. A self-guided tour takes you through a small museum, a quiet courtyard, and a chapel with 250-year-old paintings.

Established in 1771 as the fourth of 21 missions founded in California, this massive adobe complex was dedicated by Father Junípero Serra to St. Gabriel. Within the next 50 years, San Gabriel Arcángel became the wealthiest of all California missions. In 1833 the Mexican government confiscated the mission, allowing it to decline. The U.S. government returned the mission to the church in 1855, but by this time the Franciscans had departed. In 1908 the Claretian Missionaries took charge and poured much care into preserving the rich history, albeit without a focus on the indigenous people who built the mission. A devastating arson fire in 2020 has resulted in a grand reopening with newly reimagined museum exhibitions centering the thousands of Native Americans who built and were baptized on the site. The cemetery here, the first in L.A. County, is said to contain approximately 6,000 Gabrieleños. Tranquil grounds are lushly planted and filled with remnants of what life was like two centuries ago. Public mass is held at the mission Sunday morning at 7 and 10, but check ahead as times are subject to change. If you're lucky, you'll hear the six bells that ring out during special services—a truly arresting experience. You can take a self-guided tour of the grounds here by purchasing a map in the gift shop.

Sun-dappled Mission Plaza fronts the fifth mission established in 1772 by Franciscan friars. A small museum exhibits artifacts of the Chumash Indians and early Spanish settlers. Guided tours are offered Wednesday–Sunday at 1:15 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. 

The Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin rivers come together to form the mighty Missouri River within Missouri Headwaters State Park, a National Historic Landmark. At 2,340 miles, the Missouri is the country's longest river. Lewis and Clark named the three forks after Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin, Secretary of State James Madison, and President Thomas Jefferson. The park has historical exhibits, interpretive signs, picnic sites, hiking trails, and camping.

Dating from as early as AD 480, this parallelogram-shaped structure is a stunning example of a luakiniheiau, used for ritualized human sacrifice to the Hawaiian war god Ku. The isolated National Historic Landmark within Kohala Historical Sites State Monument is so impressive in size and atmosphere that it's guaranteed to give you what locals call "chicken skin" (goose bumps). The place feels haunted, and even more so if you are the only visitor and the skies are dark and foreboding. Visit with utmost care and respect. Nearby is Kapakai Royal Housing Complex, the birthplace of Kamehameha the Great. Although it is now under the care of the National Park Service, family descendants still watch over the site.  Don't drive out here if it's been raining; even with a four-wheel drive, you could easily get stuck.

This 3-acre downtown historic site dating to 1785 includes President Andrew Johnson's birthplace and the Mordecai family's Greek revival plantation home. Moses Mordecai, a well-respected lawyer, married two granddaughters (in succession) of Joel Lane, the "Father of Raleigh." Mordecai's descendants lived in the house until 1964. Exhibits acknowledge the struggle of the enslaved people who once toiled here. There are guided tours hourly from 10 to 3.

The historical figure's name is pronounced MOR-de-key. Using a long "i" will mark you as a newcomer immediately.

Settled by homesteaders between 1896 and 1907, this area received its name because many of them were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons. The remaining barns, homes, and outbuildings are representative of early homesteading in the West. You can wander around, hike the row, and take photographs. The century-old T.A. Moulton Barn is said to be the most-photographed barn in the state.

Mt. Independence is one of the nation's most revered Revolutionary War sites, sharing the efforts to defend New England, New York, and the battle for American liberty. This key defensive position gained its name between 1776 and 1777, when the barely dried ink of the Declaration of Independence was read to United States soldiers assembled on the rugged peninsula east of Lake Champlain. Annual events include guided nature and history hikes on the site’s 6 miles of hiking trails; historical lectures; archaeological investigations; a "Soldiers Atop the Mount" living history weekend; and a yearly reading of the Declaration of Independence.

As April 19, 1775, dragged on, British forces met fierce resistance in Concord. Dazed and demoralized after the battle at Concord's Old North Bridge, the British backtracked and regrouped at this 1695 tavern 1 mile east of Lexington Common, while the Munroe family hid in nearby woods. The troops then retreated through what is now the town of Arlington. After a bloody battle there, they returned to Boston.

Completed in 1741, this National Historic Landmark on Washington Square was the center of political activity in Colonial Newport. The Declaration of Independence was read from its steps on July 20, 1776, and British troops later used this structure as a barracks during their occupation of Newport. In 1781, George Washington met here with the French general Rochambeau, cementing an alliance that led to the American victory at Yorktown. Colony House served as Rhode Island's primary statehouse until 1901, when the new capitol building opened in Providence. The Newport Historical Society manages the Colony House and offers guided tours, including a children's tour.

In 1876, Swedish baker Charles Lundberg built this charming building just south of the Texas Capitol and operated it as a bakery for 60 years. Rescued from demolition after years of neglect, the bakery is now a registered National Historic Landmark owned by the city and remains a beautiful mainstay of Congress Avenue. The Old Bakery & Emporium no longer serves baked goods, but it's still a welcoming space that houses historical collections from Austin's pioneer days. It also features a unique gift shop and an art gallery showcasing handmade artisanal crafts created by citizens aged 50 and over. Every June, they host a Midsummer Festival to honor Swedish American heritage in Texas.

Independence Hall is flanked by Congress Hall to the west and Old City Hall to the east: three distinctive Federal-style buildings erected to house the city's growing government. But when Philadelphia became the nation's capital in 1790, the just-completed city hall was lent to the federal government. It housed the U.S. Supreme Court from 1791 to 1800; John Jay was the Chief Justice. Later, the boxlike building with a peaked roof and cupola was used as the city hall. Today an exhibit presents information about the early days of the federal judiciary.

Southern Nevada's oldest historic site was built by Mormons in 1855 to give refuge to travelers along the Salt Lake–Los Angeles trail, many of whom were bound for the California goldfields. Left to Native Americans after the gold rush, the adobe fort was later revitalized by a miner and his partners. In 1895 it was turned into a resort, and the city's first swimming pool was constructed by damming Las Vegas Creek. Today the restored fort contains more than half the original bricks. Antiques and artifacts help to re-create a turn-of-the-20th-century Mormon living room.

Built in 1816 as a gristmill for the San Gabriel Mission, the mill is the state's oldest commercial building and one of the last remaining examples in Southern California of Spanish Mission architecture. The thick adobe walls and textured ceiling rafters give the interior a sense of quiet strength. Outside, a chipped section of the mill's exterior reveals the layers of brick, ground seashell paste, and ox blood used to hold the structure together. The surrounding gardens, an accredited arboretum, are reason enough to visit, with a flower-decked arbor and old sycamores and oaks. In summer, the Capitol Ensemble performs in the garden.