50 great American places : essential historic sites across the U.S

The National Mall (Washington, D.C.) -- The Mounds and the Arch (IL/MO) -- Mesa Verde (CO) -- The Palace of the Governors (NM) -- Witch Trials (MA) -- Boundary Line (DE) -- Forks of the Ohio (PA) -- Freedom Trail (MA) -- The Liberty Bell (PA) -- Virginia Peninsula (VA) -- Monticello (VA) -- The Presidio at the Golden Gate (CA) -- White Dove of the Desert (AZ) -- Slater Mill (RI) -- Village Green (OH) -- Two Utopias (IN) -- Railroad University of the United States (MD) -- The Alamo (TX) -- Declaration of Sentiments (NY) -- Temple Square (UT) -- Fort Sumter (SC) -- New Birth of Freedom (PA) -- Schoolhouse and Fieldhouse (KS) -- First National Park (WY) -- Nook Farm Neighbors: Stowe and Twain (CT) -- Willa Cather's Great Prairie (NE) -- Indian Wars (MT/SD) -- The Bridge and the Statue (NY) -- Edison's Laboratory (NJ) -- World's Columbian Exposition (IL) -- Biltmore House (NC) -- Taliesin (WI) -- First Flight (NC) -- Grand Central Terminal (NY) -- Birthplace of Jazz (LA) -- Legendary Hollywood: Warner Bros. Studio (CA) -- Ford Rouge (MI) -- Will Rogers Highway (OK) -- The Mother Church of Country Music (TN) -- Hoover Dam (NV) -- Pearl Harbor (HI) -- Minidoka Camp (ID) -- Manhattan Project (WA) -- Sweet Auburn (GA) -- Central High School (AK) -- Salk Institute (CA) -- Saturn V Rocket (AL) -- Magic Kingdoms (FL) -- Silicon Valley (CA) -- Malls of America (MN).;"A one-of-a-kind guide to fifty of the most important cultural and historic sites in the United States guaranteed to fascinate, educate, and entertainselected and described by the former director of the Smithsonians National Museum of American History. From Massachusetts to Florida to Washington to California, 50 Great American Places takes you on a journey through our nations history. Sharing the inside stories of sites as old as Mesa Verde (Colorado) and Cahokia (Illinois) and as recent as Silicon Valley (California) and the Mall of America (Minnesota), each essay provides the historical context for places that represent fundamental American themes: the compelling story of democracy and self-government; the dramatic impact of military conflict; the powerful role of innovation and enterprise; the inspiring achievements of diverse cultural traditions; and the defining influence of the land and its resources. Expert historian Brent D. Glass explores these themes by connecting places, people, and events and reveals a national narrative that is often surprising, sometimes tragic, and always engagingcomplete with photographs, websites for more information, and suggestions for other places nearby worth visiting. Sites you would expect to read aboutin Boston, New York, and Washington, DCare here, as well as plenty of surprises, such as the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe, or Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, or the Village Green in Hudson, Ohio; less obvious places that, together with the more well-known destinations, collectively tell the story of America. For families who want to take a trip that is both educational and entertaining, for history enthusiasts, or anyone curious about our countrys greatest places, this book is the perfect guide."--Publisher's description. The National Mall (Washington, DC) Cahokia Mounds/Gateway Arch (IL/MO) Mesa Verde (CO) Palace of the Governors (NM) Salem Witch Trial Memorial (MA) New Castle Courthouse (DE) Forks of the Ohio (PA) Freedom Trail (MA) Liberty Bell (PA) Virginia Peninsula (VA) Monticello (VA) The Presidio (CA) Mission San Xavier del Bac (AR) Slater Mill (RI) Hudson Village Green (OH) New Harmony (IN) Mt. Clare Shops (MD) The Alamo (TX) Seneca Falls (NY) Temple Square (UT) Ft. Sumter (SC) Gettysburg (PA) Kansas Education School House and Field House (KN) Yellowstone Park (WY) Nook Farm/Stowe Center/Twain House (CT) Willa Cather and the Prairie (NE) Little Big Horn/Wounded Knee Memorial (MT/SD) The Bridge, the Statue and Ground Zero (NY) Edison's Laboratory (NJ) World Columbian Exposition (IL) Biltmore House (NC) Taliesin (WI) Kitty Hawk (NC) Grand Central Terminal (NY) Birthplace of Jazz (LA) Warner Bros. Studio (CA) Ford River Rouge (MI) Route 66/Will Rogers Memorial (OK) Ryman Auditorium (TN) Hoover Dam (NV) Pearl Harbor (HI) Minidoka Camp (ID) Hanford B Reactor (WA) Ebenezer Baptist Church (GA) Central High School (AK) Salk Institute (CA) Saturn V (AL) Epcot/Celebration (FL) Silicon Valley garages (CA) Mall of America (MN).