Iñupiat Heritage CenterOn the rooftop of the world, the Iñupiat Heritage Center in Barrow, Alaska, tells the story of the Iñupiat people. They have thrived for thousands of years in one of the harshest climates on Earth, hunting the bowhead, or "Agviq." In the 19th century, these lonely seas swarmed with commercial whalemen from New England, who also sought the bowhead for its valuable baleen and blubber.
Mar 15, 2023, 1:40 PM
Photo: "A collection of masks from the Inupiat Heritage Center" - NPS Photo
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical ParkHeadlines screamed "Gold!" The dream of a better life catapulted thousands of people to Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Their journey shaped them, and changed the people they encountered and the north forever. Today, the park remembers the trails, boomtowns, and stories of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Mar 15, 2023, 1:39 PM
Photo: "The historic district in Skagway, Alaska is one of three units of the park in Alaska." - NPS Photo/S. Millard
Denali National Park & PreserveDenali is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America's tallest peak, 20,310' Denali. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands, living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await.
Mar 15, 2023, 1:34 PM
Photo: "A tour bus pauses to view a caribou as it walks on the Denali Park Road" - NPS Photo / Emily Mesner
Poverty Point National MonumentNow a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an engineering marvel, the product of five million hours of labor. Explore the culture of a highly sophisticated people who left behind one of North America’s most important archeological sites.
Mar 14, 2023, 10:18 PM
Photo: "Bird Mound - a grassy green mound." - Bert Everson
Indiana Dunes National ParkLake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails lead through shifting sand dunes, quiet woodlands, sunny prairies and lush wetlands. Known for its striking plant and bird diversity, it's easy to find inspiration throughout the park’s 15,000 acres.
Mar 14, 2023, 10:17 PM
Peace on Lake Michigan - Jeff Manuszak
Manhattan Project National Historical ParkThe Manhattan Project is one of the most transformative events of the 20th century. It ushered in the nuclear age with the development of the world’s first atomic bombs. The building of atomic weapons began in 1942 in three secret communities across the nation. As World War II waned in 1945, the United States dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan—forever changing the world.
Mar 14, 2023, 10:07 PM
The International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge, Tennessee symbolizes peace and reconciliation between the United States and Japan. - NPS/KLEIN
New England National Scenic TrailFrom the Sound to the Summits: the New England Trail covers 215 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic vistas and close-ups of New England’s natural and cultural landscape: traprock ridges, historic village centers, farmlands, unfragmented forests, quiet streams, steep river valleys and waterfalls.
Mar 14, 2023, 5:51 PM
Mount Tom Overlook - Xiomaro
Appomattox Court House National Historical ParkOn April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the end of the nation's largest war. Two important questions about its future were answered. Could the nation survive a civil war intact, and would that nation exist without slavery? The answer to both was yes and a new nation was born.
Mar 14, 2023, 3:37 PM
Aerial view of the village of Appomattox Court House taken in 2014. - Photo by Cameron Davidson (permission for NPS use)
Mesa Verde National ParkFor over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 26 Pueblos and Tribes and offers visitors a spectacular window into the past. This World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park is home to over a thousand species, including several that live nowhere else on earth.
Mar 14, 2023, 3:34 PM
Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde's third largest and best preserved cliff dwelling - NPS Photo
Coltsville National Historical ParkWhen Samuel Colt started his Hartford factory on the banks of the Connecticut River in 1847, it followed years of mismanagement and failure. Soon, demand for Colt's revolver would change his fortunes and the Colt empire was born. Following Colt's untimely death in 1862, his wife, Elizabeth Colt, would lead the company to its legendary status, and influence Hartford for over 40 years.
Mar 14, 2023, 3:34 PM
The Blue Onion Dome was rebuilt after the fire in February of 1864. Today it graces the skyline of Hartford, just as the the Church of the Good Shepherd does, reminding those who see if of the Colts and their legacy. - Nick Caito
Moores Creek National BattlefieldIn the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with cannons and muskets poised to fire. This battle marked the last broadsword charge by Scottish Highlanders and the first significant victory for the Patriots in the American Revolution.
Mar 14, 2023, 3:28 PM
Artillery Demonstration at Moore's Creek. - NPS Photo
Ninety Six National Historic SiteSettlers struggled against the harsh backcountry to survive. Cherokee Indians hunted and fought to keep their land. Two towns and a trading post were formed then abandoned to the elements. And two Revolutionary War battles claimed over 100 lives. Come discover the 18th century history of South Carolina.
Mar 13, 2023, 9:03 PM
A British flag flies over the stockade fort. - NPS Photo
Cuyahoga Valley National ParkThough a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discovery for visitors. The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. Walk or ride the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal.
Mar 12, 2023, 11:07 PM
Visitors watch a lock demonstration at Canal Exploration Center. - NPS Photo / Ted Toth
San Antonio Missions National Historical ParkWelcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. After 10,000 years, the people of South Texas were faced with drought, European diseases, and colonization. In the early 1700s, many Native people of South Texas foreswore their traditional life to become Spanish, accepting a new religion and agrarian lifestyle in hopes of survival.
Mar 12, 2023, 10:58 PM
Catch a tour at Mission San José at 10:00, 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00 daily. - NPS Photo.
Lewis and Clark National Historical ParkExplore the timeless rainforests and majestic coastal vistas. Discover the rich heritage of the native people. Unfold the dramatic stories of America's most famous explorers. The park encompasses sites along the Columbia River and the Pacific Coast. Follow in the footsteps of the explorers and have an adventure in history.
Mar 12, 2023, 10:57 PM
Every summer, rangers accompany dozens of visitors on paddle tours of the Lewis and Clark River. - NPS Photo / Jim Wilson