10 Moving Monuments and Historic Sites in the US

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York are iconic symbols of freedom and democracy in the United States. Part of the National Park Service, the statue is located on Liberty Island and is considered part of the same historic site as Ellis Island. All visitors must arrive on the islands via park-approved cruise boats.

Ellis Island was the first stop in New York Harbour for millions of immigrants. Today, you can listen to historic accounts and learn all about immigration at the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. At the Statue of Liberty, you can climb up the statue’s pedestal or, if you reserve a spot, ascend even to the top of the crown.

The National Mall is located across the heart of the nation’s capital in Washington, DC. The entire site is actually 14 separate monuments spread across 1,000 acres and honours iconic people and events in the nation’s history. Popular sites include the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

As a visitor to the Mall, you can also honour veterans who fought in wars from WWI and WWII, and pay homage at the solemn, black stone monument of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Two sites dedicated to honouring people include the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The long, grassy Mall area is also near the White House and the US Capitol and is always bursting with visitors.

The 9/11 Memorial is in the footprint of the 2 original World Trade Centre towers in New York City and serves as a tribute to the lives lost in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and in an earlier attack in 1993. The focal points of the site are the 2 reflecting pool waterfalls in 2 recesses, representing the lost North and South towers. The waterfalls have an immense drop, 50 feet in total, and provide a soothing backdrop.

The site also features the carved names of all 2977 people lost in New York, Washington DC, and Shanksville, PA. Tours are available for the site and you can also learn more at the on-site museum.

The Alamo, located in San Antonio, Texas, is a historic mission where a small group once fought against overwhelming odds to defend themselves during the Texas Revolution in 1836. A group of fewer than 200 defenders held off a Mexican siege of thousands of fighters for 13 days before ultimately losing the battle. Even though Texas lost the battle, the Alamo became a symbol of resistance.

Originally an 18th Century Franciscan Mission, the building is today a living history site. You can go on guided tours to learn about the battle and history of the site. Admission to the church is free, but reservations are always required to preserve the historic space from the impact of too many visitors.

Philadelphia is the birthplace of the country and a visit to the city would be incomplete without a stop at Independence National Park. The area is recognised as a UNESCO world heritage site. You can get an up-close look at symbols of freedom and democracy, such as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

The foundational laws of the country – the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution – were both debated and signed in Independence Hall. Today, you can visit the room where it all happened, but entry is by tour only. Nearby, the Liberty Bell is free and open to the public – no tickets are required. There’s also a Ben Franklin Museum close by, which does have entrance fees.

The Pearl Harbour National Memorial is one of the most visited memorials in the country. Located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, 1.7 million people a year visit the site commemorating the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941. The surprise attack killed 1177 crew members aboard the USS Arizona and caused the ship to sink.

Thousands come each day to the memorial to experience the shared history of the defining moment that thrust the United States into WWII. You can take boat tours to the USS Arizona Memorial, which is built over the sunken remains of the ship. You can also visit the museum and choose from a variety of audio tours telling the storey of that fateful day.

Gettysburg National Military Park is a historic site commemorating the iconic Civil War battlefield. Located in the small town of Gettysburg, PA, you can visit the fields where this pivotal battle was fought in 1863. You’ll discover the rolling hills provide a stunning backdrop to the hallowed ground that is the final resting place for thousands of soldiers who died on the frontlines.

Historians believe the Battle of Gettysburg to be the turning point in the Civil War. It was the largest battle of the war and effectively stopped General Robert E. Lee from advancing North. Gettysburg National Military Park is also the site where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park is in Atlanta and takes you to the childhood home of the civil rights leader. The park commemorates his life and legacy. As a visitor, you can visit MLK’s birthplace and final resting place at the memorial park and hear his voice in the church where he once preached.

While visiting the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, be sure to check out the International World Peace Rose Gardens, planted to embody the leader’s belief of attaining peace through nonviolent methods. You can also visit the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where MLK was a pastor, which was also the place he was baptized, ordained, and eulogized.

The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail is a different kind of memorial because it actually spans across 9 states. The site tells the stories of the government’s forced displacement of Native American tribes, particularly the Cherokee. Those wanting to follow the journey can visit sacred sites along the trail that stretches from Georgia to Oklahoma.

The trail is a total of 5,043 miles, so planning is essential. You may want to check out a few sites, or you can do the entire trail. The Cherokee people were removed from Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee and forced to live in what was called “Indian Territory,” today’s Oklahoma. The National Park Service has an interactive map to help plan your journey.

One of the most solemn places you can visit is the final resting place for military veterans near the nation’s capital. Arlington National Cemetery is in Virginia and is the location of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as President John F. Kennedy’s gravesite. The cemetery is sprawling, covering 639 acres. You can opt to walk the grounds or take an interpretive bus tour.

The cemetery is the final resting place of 400,000 service members and their families. It is an active cemetery and has funeral services on site daily. The historic site has an app that you can download called ANC Explorer, which will help you to navigate this special place of remembrance.