Here's Where You Can Visit America's Oldest Places

You don't have to be a history buff to appreciate things that have survived the test of time.

And while the United States is relatively young compared to other countries around the world, it's home to some centuries-old cities, villages and towns, including some that have only gotten more famous with time.

Here are the oldest places in the U.S. that you can still travel to in 2024.

The oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the U.S., St. Augustine was established by Spanish explorers in 1565, more than 210 years before the country came to be. Nearly five centuries later, visitors can explore the Old City's rich history at renowned attractions like the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and charming St. George Street.

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas when it was established in the Colony of Virginia in May 1607. Today it's a beloved tourist attraction where visitors from around the world flock to learn about those early settlers and what life was like more than four centuries ago.

New Mexico's capital city was founded in 1610 but human settlement here dates back to the first millennium. In addition to enthralling history, Santa Fe is renowned for its spectacular arts scene, offering visitors the opportunity to step back in time at a variety of museums and galleries.

Originally established as Point Comfort in the early 17th century, present day Hampton celebrates is 414th birthday this year. One of the destination's many can't-miss historic landmarks includes the St. John's Episcopal Church, which is the oldest English-speaking parish in continuous existence in the U.S.

Like Hampton, Newport News is a part of the Hampton Roads region. It's also an independent city that can trace its roots back to the early 1600s. Nowadays, visitors can explore some of the city's history in places like the Lee Hall Mansion and the Newsome House Museum & Cultural Center.

New York's capital city is also the state's oldest city having been settled as far back as 1614 when Dutch traders developed Fort Nassau along the Hudson River. It would receive its current name 50 years later after the English assumed control. Three hundred and sixty years later, visitors to Albany can take a peek back into the city's past at an array of world-class museums and historic sites.

Often referred to as the Sixth Borough as it sits just across from New York City, Jersey City was inhabited by a collection of Native American tribes known as the Lenape before Dutch traders established a settlement around 1617. However, it would take more than two centuries for the city to become incorporated.

Situated between Boston and Cape Cod, America's Hometown is where New England was established in the early 17th century following the arrival of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Four centuries later, Plymouth is a history buff's dream, offering a plethora of fascinating sites and attractions, including Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II and the Plimoth Patuxet Museums.

Located southeast of Quincy in the Boston metro area, Weymouth was established by those in support of the Plymouth Colony only two years after Plymouth was born.

Given its proximity to Plymouth and Boston, which was settled and established shortly after in 1630, Weymouth is an ideal stop on a historic tour of the region.

What we now know as New York City was first settled 400 years ago in 1624. What began as New Amsterdam was renamed New York City in the late 1660s and is currently the 12th-oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental U.S.

As of 2024, the city's importance and appeal is undeniable. Much as it was centuries ago when those early explorers from Europe first mapped it.