What got us into history travel?

Our first cross-country trip. We began in Florida with three generations of the Sheumaker family: Craig’s folks (pulling a fifth-wheel trailer), ourselves and two teenagers (traveling in a rented motorhome). Our oldest child had just graduated from high school, and this trip was a celebration of her achievements. It was to be a new kind of family vacation - with lots of scenic places and historical destinations plus a few modern attractions, but absolutely no theme parks. The result was a family bonding experience as well as a direct encounter with America’s cultural heritage.

One of our favorite days was a visit to historic Agrirama in Tifton, Georgia. This museum of agriculture has four distinct areas: a traditional 1870s farm community, a progressive 1890s farmstead, an industrial sites complex and a rural town. Craig’s folks had both grown up on farms, and Agrirama brought back a flood of memories. They gladly shared their recollections as we watched men and women performing the daily tasks of 19th-century farm life. History came alive for us. And we began to wish for a time when there were no highway traffic jams, no noisy TVs, no crowded shopping malls and no locked doors.

That was the beginning of our history travels. A few years later, frustrated by the lack of a good history-oriented guide, we began to create our own book. Our ultimate goal was to help others enjoy their own “time travels.”

What do others say?

Here's a sampling of what reviewers have said recently about America's Living History-The Early Years that is relevant to families of all ages:

“The photographs may be the incentive to open this book, but the text is every bit as engaging. Presented in a fashion that both children and adults can appreciate and enjoy, the historical background and descriptions of the sites are both inspiring and practical...it’s a great virtual journey in its own right...” Megan Edwards, reviewer, RoadTripAmerica.com

“You could use the book to plan a trip...or you could keep it with you for fascinating side journeys as you head for your intended destination. Coffee-table size, it's written in language that older children would be able to understand and includes readably large text, clear driving directions, and 500 color photographs...If you're a spontaneous traveler, or if you want to educate yourself and your family as you ride along, this book should be in the map flap of your car.” Curled up with a Good Book

“Readers will find the answers to innumerable questions about early American life in this book. Whether readers are interested in a day trip close to home or going cross-country, this is a great resource.” Lacy J. Williams, Armchair Interviews

“As ‘Boomers’ enter retirement years, this book will get plenty of use. It could easily become a permanent fixture in the map case beside the driver’s seat. The book is educational and entertaining. By keeping its focus to the years prior to 1840, it avoids an overload of history for one volume. I suspect there will be more volumes to come!” Vic Campbell, reviewer, BarnesAndNoble.com

“My wife and I have been traveling America’s back roads and visiting its out of the way places for close to fifty years now...Our travels, over the years, would have been much enhanced, much simpler and certainly more informative and enjoyable had the Sheumaker’s book been with us the entire time. I will state, at this time, that through our travels in this country (and several others), we have visited a great many of the places featured in this work. The authors have nailed each site perfectly!” D. Blankenship, reviewer, Amazon.com

“...without a doubt one of the best pictorial guides I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a very long while.” Kristi Ahlers, reviewer, Amazon.com

A time and place for everyone. Adults have a tendency to think that they should do all the trip planning and just let their kids “come along for the ride.” With history travel, we recommend that you try a different strategy. Let each member of your family page through America’s Living History-The Early Years. Talk about the different chapters in history and the destinations that interest them most. Explore our Favorite Photos section on this website for some examples of what you’ll see.)

Our regional descriptions and color-coded maps at the front of the book will help you build a trip around everyone’s interests. Admittedly, you won’t be able to accommodate everyone’s specific choices. But you’ll probably be able to find good alternatives to fit into your itinerary.

When we took our first cross-country journey with the kids, no history-travel book like this existed. So we compiled a long wish-list. Each evening during our trip, Craig posted the next-day possibilities on the motorhome refrigerator. We would all look at the potential destinations, discuss what they offered and voice our preferences. Some things were added and others were eliminated as our interests evolved. This was time-consuming but the best option we had back then.

The trick is to be flexible. Invariably, someone will say early in the trip “I don’t want to do that” and later develop a fascination for the subject. On one of our trips, for example, Grandma voiced a lack of interest in the Spanish missions of Texas. Having been there ourselves, we insisted that she should see at least one in San Antonio. Reluctantly she conceded. Her surprise and delight at what she saw spurred us to explore another mission that same day. You just never know...

Is Mom interested in religious movements? She can choose from dozens of fascinating historic sites, from Amana to Zoar. Feature stories in the book, along with colorful photographs, showcase the premier destinations. Even for family members who are not religious, these unique communities are delightful to visit. Most include informative guided tours as well as interpretive programs about unusual and interesting lifestyles.

Does Grandpa want to see how early Americans made a living? He will find working farms and plantations to choose from, plus iron furnaces, a gunpowder manufacturer, a textile mill, taverns, America’s first gold mine, pharmacies, fur trading posts, commercial villages and more.

Is your son passionate about military matters? Let him explore sections in the book related to the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812. Here he will find 40 of the most noteworthy military destinations - restored or reconstructed forts, historic buildings, battlegrounds and encampment sites that played a pivotal role in America’s fight for independence.

Does Grandma want to see Presidential homes? Good choice. We recommend that every American visit at least George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the John Adams and John Quincy Adams homes, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Madison’s Montpelier, James Monroe’s Ash Lawn-Highland and Andrew Jackson’s The Hermitage. These homes are important not because they are extraordinarily beautiful - some are; some are not. What is significant is the insight each provides about the men who led America through its most defining years.

Is your daughter intrigued by the peacefulness of farm life? She’ll find numerous pastoral destinations, spanning all time periods and in all regions of the country. They include luxurious estates and humble abodes, heritage livestock and heirloom gardens, and costumed interpreters doing the old-time farm chores. Many have hands-on activities for visitors.

Look further back in time:
Is Dad curious about America’s Native Peoples? He can pick the ancient remains of early dwellings, tantalizing rock carvings, restored and reconstructed Indian villages, Native resources (free-roaming bison, pronghorn antelope and a tall grass prairie) plus monumental earthworks, including one that has a footprint larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

And what about the first European settlers? You'll discover something for everyone at sites whose origins date back to the early 1600s - Jamestown Settlement, Plimoth Plantation, Williamsburg, St. Mary’s City and others. Several have full-scale replicas of the sailing ships that brought colonists to the New World. All re-create village life so realistically that your whole family may feel transported back in time to Colonial America.

Are you exploring your country’s remarkable history?

• For travel planing ideas see History travel helps children find meaning in today’s world and Need a vacation that is out-of-the-ordinary?

• History travelers want more than “a good time” while traveling. They seek an informed visitor experience and choose travel adventures, especially road trips, over pure relaxation when vacation time roles around.

• While scenic spots and modern attractions are important, the history traveler’s itinerary in the U.S. includes historic landmarks and living history museums, charming historic towns and districts, and the myriad of heritage routes, corridors and trails located nationwide.

• If you are interested in reading about our own experience with family travel, see Personal Perpective. We came to appreciate history through travel and were amazed by how much remains that is vibrant and real today.

Or are you discovering your cultural heritage?

• For travel planing ideas see Wish you could see how your ancestors lived?

• History travel can be a very personal experience for Americans. When you journey through our nation’s past, you do more than see important places. You also learn about the people and events that molded your own family traditions, lifestyle and attitudes - directly or indirectly.

• Heritage sites provide real-world classrooms where both children and adults come face-to-face with their roots. Their interpretive programs enable you to witness first-hand how your ancestors lived, worked and met the challenges of everyday life. In the end, you will also see both America’s past and your own family history through very different eyes.

• According to The Historic/Cultural Traveler study sponsored by the Travel Industry Association and Smithsonian Magazine, 118 million adults in the U.S. - 81% of those who took a trip of 50 miles or more - were cultural heritage tourists in 2002. While many of the people could not rightly be called “history travelers,” their numbers show a widespread appreciation for America’s heritage.