Must-Visit Historic Sites Across the US This Summer

Jun 25, 2025

You don’t have to go overseas to take a deep dive into history! Today on the blog, we’re covering some of the top notch must-see historic attractions right here in the US. Visiting historical places allows us to connect with the past, gain a deeper appreciation for the present, and exercise empathy to build a better, brighter future for all. Historic sites provide us with a more tangible connection to our predecessors, much more than the pages of any book can do. There’s something so powerful about standing in the site of a historic battle, walking through the halls of a historic building, or getting an up-close and in-depth look at historic artifacts. That intense personal connection bridges the gap between history as a concept and instead brings us into the lived experience. This summer, consider driving your new car from Classic Toyota of Waukegan to check out these incredible must-visit historic sites across the US.

Learn about the roots of Black History on “The Underground Railroad”, including stops at points along the East Coast and Midwest such as the William Ingersoll Bowditch House in Massachusetts, Abyssinian Meetinghouse in Maine, Austin F. Williams Carriagehouse and House in Connecticut, Bethel AME Church in Indiana, Milton Community House in Wisconsin, Owen Lovejoy House in Illinois, John Brown Museum in Kansas and more.

Take an East Coast Road Trip to the battlefields and battle grounds of The American Revolution like the Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site in New York, Brandywine Battlefield Park in Pennsylvania, Bunker Hill Monument in Massachusetts, Yorktown Battlefield in Virginia, Charleston-Fort Moultrie in South Carolina, and more.

Historic Ellis island sits between the waters of New York and New Jersey, and was once the busiest immigrant inspection port and processing center in the entire US. Now, the island includes both a memorial park and three-floor museum chronicling the immigrant experience at Ellis Island, and general immigration history of the US. There’s a self-guided or park-ranger led tour option, depending which you’d prefer. Ticket access also includes a visit to The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island via ferry.

The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area works in partnership with the Lincoln Home National HIstoric Site to preserve a unique collection of American History artifacts, sites, and legacy in Central Illinois chronicling the life and times of former President Abraham Lincoln. 10 Historic sites including the Lincoln Log Cabin State HIstoric Site, Historic Nauvoo, McLean County Museum of History and more are included along the way.

The port city of New Orleans along the Mississippi River has no shortage of excitement, entertainment, and exploring available for visitors! You’ll find the city’s steeped in a rich and lush history and cultural melting pot. The museums are abundant as is the music and cultural connections through art, food, parades, and haunted histories. Hop on a riverboat tour or swamp tour and learn about the historic settlements, plantations, and wildlife in the area. Of course, you’ll want to squeak in a trip to the vibrant French Quarter area, especially Jackson Square, home of the St. Louis Cathedral. The city is know for its fusion of African, Caribbean, and even French European influence. Even the eateries here are chock full of history and indelible in the local culture, with Creole and Southern food creating a symphony of blended flavors from different cultures and regions.

Mount Rushmore Historic National Park and Monument are located in South Dakota. This mountainside memorial sculpture offers trails through the Black Hills. Visitors can view the monument from multiple vantage points and overlooks, including the Presidential Trail hike. In the evenings, there is a nightly event where the monument is commemorated and illuminated for onlookers. Learn about the sculpting process of the monument through a stop at the visitor’s center or join a ranger-led tour to learn more.

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. Carved out of the rock by the rushing Colorado River over millions of years, this immense canyon boasts multi-colored rock cliffs and plateaus, dozens of hiking trails, horseback riding tours into the gorge, and its own railway system. Prime time for visits are at sunrise and sunset, for unmatched views of the red rock landscape.

The Aztec Ruins National Monument in New Mexico is a preserved ancestral grounds and Chacoan Structures of the Pueblo people. You’ll have the chance to view the largest ancestral Pueblo community in the Animas River Valley, built as far back as 1100AD! Though it was mistakenly attributed to the Aztecs, the Chacoan Culture and Ancestral Pueblo people are attributed to its creation. Explore the rest of Chaco Canyon and western bank of the Animas River while you’re there! You’ll get to explore 13 major ruins and hundreds of smaller ones.

Yosemite National Park in California features 1,200 miles brimming with natural wonder and impressive wildlife. This park is a nature enthusiast’s dream, filled with cascading waterfalls (including one of the largest in the world), glistening granite cliffs, giant sequoia tree groves, lush meadows filled with grasses and wildflowers, and crystal clear lakes and streams. More than 400 types of wildlife reside here including the Sierra Nevada Red Fox, Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep, mountain lions, black bear, coyote, mule deer, pika, and more.