Top Travel Destinations for US History Buffs

Some people travel to relax, others to let loose and then there are some who travel to learn. These travelers are your history travelers, who love to learn about a place and the unique, appalling or quirky stories from its past. Almost every city or destination in the U.S. offers something for U.S. history buffs, but some cities are just more significant than others in the scheme of America -- and we've compiled them in a list just for you.

Washington D.C. is a U.S. history lover's dream destination. As the center of government, it holds all of our most precious artifacts from the founding of the country from the Declaration of Independence to the Constitution. Plus, it's a hot bed of history museums with exhibits that relate to the U.S. like the Smithsonian, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Postal Museum and even the National Museum of American Jewish Military History.

"The British are coming!" is perhaps one of the most widely-known quotes in American history, so it makes sense that Boston, where Paul Revere said such words, has to be on the list. As one of the oldest cities in the U.S., Boston offers plenty of historical sites like the Paul Revere House, the USS Constitution (the world's oldest naval vessel still afloat), Trinity Church and the Old State House.

San Antonio is over 300 years old and it highlights a section of U.S. history when Spain and Mexico ruled part of the country. Explore this part of American history by visiting the UNESCO heritage site, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park which are a set of historical Spanish missions, the Spanish Governor's Palace and the San Fernando Cathedral. Last but not least, "Remember the Alamo," and visit a site that was decisive in Texas Independence history.

Witchcraft and religious persecution were a huge part of American history, perhaps none more so than Salem, Massachusetts, home of the infamous Salem Witchcraft trials. Explore this dark side of U.S. history in Salem by visiting The Witch House, the Salem Witch Museum and the Salem Witch Trials Memorial. If you tire of witch history, check out the New England Pirate Museum or The House of the Seven Gables a 1668 colonial mansion which inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel of the same name.

New Mexico is overflowing with U.S. history, most of which pre-dates America as a country. Explore Native American history throughout the state at Pecos National Historical Park, Chaco Culture National Historical Park or at one of the many active pueblos (Native American reservations). Learn about Spanish colonial history at El Santuario de Chamayo and at the Palace of Governors or military history at Fort Selden Historic Site, the Fort Sumner Historic Site and at the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. And if weird U.S. history is more your style, then you can't miss a visit to Roswell, New Mexico, site of the supposed 1947 UFO crash.

Charleston is beloved by travelers today for its historic districts, cobblestone streets and how it keeps the style of the Antebellum South alive. In Charleston, you can learn about plantation life and slavery at the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens and the Old Slave Mart Museum, U.S. military history at Fort Sumter National Monument and Patriots Point, and explore America's first museum at the Charleston Museum.

New York City is a fantastic U.S. history destination because it's been the center of multiple historical movements since its founding. The Big Apple played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution, the LGBT rights movement, and music, TV, film and art history. Some of its most notable historic sites are the Federal Hall National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial, Stonewall National Monument, and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

The French had a hand in American history which displays itself perfectly in the cultural and historical sites of New Orleans. See French remnants like the St. Louis Cathedral and the Old Ursuline Convent Museum. Learn how the architecture of most of the buildings in the French Quarter are actually Spanish in design. Discover the history of American jazz at Preservation Hall or at the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park. Additionally, the National WWII Museum is one of the best in the country. Whether you choose to take a historic walking tour or just stay in a historic hotel, New Orleans offers plenty of U.S. history in a charming setting.

The Gold Rush put San Francisco on the map, but that's not the only reason history lovers should visit the city. San Francisco is a gem because it has a diverse set of U.S. history museums you might be surprised to discover like the Mexican Museum, Maritime Museum, the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, the San Francisco Railway Museum and even the Walt Disney Family Museum. If all that wasn't enough, places like Alcatraz and the Palace of Fine Arts all speak to other unique parts of San Francisco and U.S. history.

Philadelphia played a big part in the American Revolution which is why Americans flock to visit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall each year. Independence National Historic Park is comprised of 20 blocks of museums, captivating the heart and attention of any U.S. history buff. Be sure to explore other significant sites in Philadelphia like the Betsy Ross House, Elfreth's Alley, and the Eastern State Penitentiary.

See history come to life in Colonial Williamsburg, a historic district and living history museum that depicts colonial life in Williamsburg, Virginia. It's a fun and unique way for U.S. history fans to experience American history. If you enjoy colonial history, you'll find other notable sites in Williamsburg like the Governor's Palace, the George Wythe House and the Peyton Randolph House.

Located in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York is Seneca Falls, a city where U.S. history lovers can learn all about the women's suffragette movement. It hosted the Women's Right Convention of 1848, and today you can learn about it at the Women's Rights National Historic Park, the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House.

If you have time, hop on over to Rochester, New York, to visit the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House to learn about this American Civil RIghts leader and to visit her gravesite and Frederick Douglass' at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Pearl Harbor is a National Historic Landmark in Honolulu that ultimately sent the U.S. into WWII. Today, Pearl Harbor National Museum offers multiple historic sites to learn about the event such as the USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park. While in Honolulu, don't forget to learn about the island's history and the history of native Hawaiians at the Iolani Palace, Manoa Heritage Center, Queen Emma Summer Palace and The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.

Oklahoma City may seem like an odd choice for this list, and while it has plenty of historical significance in terms of pioneer history, Native American history and even the jazz and blues history of the U.S., it's perhaps best remembered for the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Touted as America's first big terrorist attack, the Oklahoma City Bombing changed America definitively in 1995. Today, the memorial and museum tell the story of that fateful day and how the U.S. came together during a time of tragedy.

Atlanta offers more than just great food and fun activities -- it also has a lot of history. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and the National Center for Human RIghts are perhaps two of the most notable historical attractions in Atlanta, but there are plenty of other notable and quirky U.S. history attractions like World of Coca-Cola, Historic Oakland Cemetery, Delta Flight Museum and Atlanta History Center.

Jamestown was the first English settlement in the "New World," making it a wonderful destination for U.S. history lovers. Jamestown Rediscovery will bring you up close and personal with the findings of the archeological digs at the James Fort, while the Jamestown Settlement brings Jamestown to life with live history reenactments and the opportunity to explore the recreations of the ships that brought the settlers to England. Be sure to see the Glasshouse, home of America's first English industrial manufacturing attempt.

Alabama has always been a state of contention in the U.S., especially during the Civil Rights Movement. Those who enjoy U.S. history, should visit the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of the Bloody Sunday beatings and where Martin Luther King Jr. would lead the Selma-to-Montgomery march. The National Voting Rights Museum and Institute and the Brown A.M.E. Church are two other notable Civil Rights historical sites in Selma.

Native Americans called these lands their home long before Europeans arrived and that's best remembered at historical sites like Mesa Verde National Park. This well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan site features phenomenal cliff dwellings that travelers can explore to see how these ancient cultures lived. Visit the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum to see artifacts from the site, learn more about the culture and to watch a film on the park's history.

Chicago has been the site of numerous notable U.S. historical events from the War of 1812 to two World Fairs and even the gangster era of the 1920s. Explore Chicago's history at the Chicago History Museum or dive into scientific history at the Museum of Science and Industry. The DuSable Museum of African American History and the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture focus on the historical impacts of these groups in Chicago and the U.S., while the American Writers Museums remembers the United States' most notable literary figures.

Gettysburg was the site of the most historical battle in the Civil War. Today, it remembers that battle and the war at the Gettysburg National Military Park, the Gettysburg Battlefield, Jennie Wade House, the Gettysburg National Cemetery and the Shriver House Museum.

As far as national monuments go, Mount Rushmore is one of the most significant ones in America. Visit today to take photos and to explore the on-site museum, the Lincoln Borglum Museum, which answers why the monument was built. The Sculptor's Studio offers an opportunity to see where Guzton Borglum, the sculptor, created the masterpiece.

NASA and space exploration is one of the most exciting pieces of American history which is why U.S. history buffs should make their way to Houston, home of the Johnson Space Center. Once you've learned about the Space Race and how the U.S. had a hand in putting men on the moon at NASA, visit the Houston Museum District which has 19 history and art museums worth exploring.

Richmond is not only one of the oldest cities in the U.S., but it was the capital of the Confederacy and played a role in the American Revolution. You'll want to visit the American Civil War Museum to get the perspectives from the North, South, and African Americans and slaves during the Civil War. Take time to explore the Wilton House Museum, which hosted America's Founding Fathers, and the Richmond National Battlefield Park, which connects 13 Civil War battle sites.

Memphis is the best place for U.S. history buffs to learn about American music history. Check out the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame and tour Elvis Presley's home in Graceland. Don't forget to learn about African American and slave history in Memphis with a stop at the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum, the National Civil Rights Museum and the Cotton Museum.

The creation of the American national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner," and U.S. naval history is prominent in Baltimore, Maryland, which is why you should visit the Historic Ships in Baltimore and the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Literary lovers will enjoy Edgar Allan Poe's Grave in Baltimore, while baseball history experts can tour the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum.