25 Cities for US History Buffs

It's hard to beat St. Augustine in the history department as this Florida city is the oldest in the United States. Founded by Spanish explorers, St. Augustine's charming cobblestoned Historic Quarter never gets old. And you might not age at all if you visit the town's fabled Fountain of Youth.

While it might only be the second oldest city in the USA, Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the country. The arresting adobe architecture will take you back in time, but the real magic lies inside historic places like San Miguel Mission-considered to be America's oldest church-and the city's myriad of museums.

Philadelphia is the place where American independence was declared, and today you'll find its streets still soaked with history. Visit the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall or the Museum of the American Revolution and snack on an authentic Philly pretzel at Reading Terminal Market-established 1893.

Founded as a French fort but made world-famous by Henry Ford, many momentous events have happened in Detroit. Tour the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant to see where the Model T was born, make a pilgrimage to Hitsville USA at the Motown Museum and explore Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

Annapolis is home to the country's oldest state capital house (in continual use) as well as historic 18th Century streets that used to be the haunt of figures like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. You'll also be fascinated by a visit to the United States Naval Academy.

From the precise spot where the Civil War began to grand antebellum mansions, South Carolina's oldest city is a history buff's delight. Take a boat to Fort Sumter to learn about the War Between the States, ride a horse-drawn carriage under a canopy of palmetto trees and tour Charleston's historic churches.

While many think of the Big Apple as the ultimate modern city, New York is full of history. Ellis Island is the natural place to start as it is the precise place where millions began their quest for the American Dream. Walk down Wall Street, stop at the Statue of Liberty and scale the Empire State Building-arguably the nation's most iconic skyscraper.

New Orleans was founded by the French, controlled by the Spanish and heavily influenced by African slaves. This unique heritage can be seen in its architecture, tasted in its cuisine and heard through its jazz music. History aficionados will also be enthralled by the National World War II Museum.

The capital of the country since 1790, DC is crawling with stories. For starters, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is home to over three million objects that trace the progress of the nation. Of course, no visit here would be complete without a trip to the White House or Capital, where you can gain an insight into the good, bad and ugly of American politics.

A mecca for blues musicians, you can literally hear history in Memphis. Listen to modern day masters on Beale Street, see Sun Records-the first label to record Elvis-all before going to Graceland. Then make a stop at the National Civil Rights Museum to learn about struggles of yesterday and today.

While Hawaii may be the youngest state, its history is rich. To gain an insight into native Hawaiian culture, visit Pu'u o Mahuka-Honolulu's most sacred religious site-and 'Iolani Palace, the former residence of the Hawaiian royal family. And for more recent history: Pearl Harbor might just be the most historic spot of the entire 20th Century.

American independence may have been formally pronounced in Philadelphia but it was born in Boston. Walk the Freedom Trail to take in over a dozen sites including the setting of the Boston Massacre, the Bunker Hill Monument and Granary Burying Ground-the final resting place of Paul Revere and John Hancock.

The oldest city in Georgia, Savannah is a Spanish moss-draped dream for history lovers. From Civil War forts to the fabulous Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the past comes alive. (Sometimes even the deceased do as Savannah is considered by many to be America's most haunted city.)

The West is still wild in Dodge City. In its heydey, this town was home to a rough crowd of cattle-driving cowboys and lawmen. Today, you can learn all about them at the Boot Hill Museum.

Alabama's oldest city, Mobile is a melting pot of the past. It claims to be the home of America's oldest Mardi Gras celebrations, and you can learn all about that at the Mobile Carnival Museum. The coastal city is also is home to several historic districts full of grand architecture and a riveting African-American Heritage Trail.

San Francisco is more associated with cutting-edge technology and forward-thinking these days, but it still makes for a great place to look back. Make a pilgrimage to Mission Dolores-the oldest building in town-to see where the city was founded before taking a tour of the Cable Car Museum. Then hang in Haight-Ashbury & The Castro-districts that shifted the direction of the world countercultures.

While it may be a relatively young city, Las Vegas still has a scintillating story to tell. Downtown Las Vegas offers a glimpse into the gangsters and glitter of yesteryear while the Neon Museum shows off the buzzing vintage signs that came to symbolize the city.

Kansas City flourished due to its proximity to three major trails heading West, and much of this pioneering spirit can still be seen today. Take a walk through Westport to see the city's oldest building-a former trail outfitter store-and then visit the National World War I Museum.

While the Great Fire of 1871 wiped out much of Chicago, history buffs will still find plenty of impressive sights. The gorgeous Old Water Tower survived the blaze and offers a glimpse into the past while a stroll along the Magnificent Mile presents many 20th century architectural gems like the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower.

History enthusiasts will love the Atlanta History Center, where visitors can learn about the city at each stage of its development. Atlanta is also the home of Martin Luther King Jr. and his birth home offers an insight into the life of one of the country's most monumental figures.

Tombstone was the site of the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Stand in the spot where Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday went toe-to-toe with a band of outlaws and then repair to the Bird Cage Theater, a former haunt of rowdies that still has over 100 bullet holes in its walls.

Montgomery was the setting of two massive events in U.S. history: It was the place where Jefferson Davis took the oath to become the first and only president of the Confederacy and also where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat at the back of a bus on that fateful day in 1955.

The closest you can get to time travel, Williamsburg offers a genuine glimpse of the past. The Colonial Williamsburg attraction is the nation's most beloved living history museum, and it features meticulously re-created 18th Century streets teeming with tradesman, shops and taverns that will both educate and entertain.

While it's not all about the Alamo in San Antonio, this legendary structure should still be the first stop for history buffs. Once you've learned all about the battle that helped fuel Texan independence, tour the other four UNESCO listed Spanish missions in the city or see the only remaining Spanish aqueduct in the United States.

Denver is one of America's greatest modern-day successes, but the past is alive here too. Have a look at Larimer Square-the city's oldest block-before touring historic Union Station. And don't leave town without going to the Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum to learn all about the Wild West's greatest showman.