Why should you see America’s living history?

If you’re here not simply to enjoy our exceptional natural beauty, you’ll find that a little history travel will add immeasurably to your experience. Whenever we travel to a foreign country, we include stops at numerous historic sites. To know a people, we need to know their cultural heritage - the things that made them who they are today. As the saying goes: through knowledge comes understanding, and through understanding comes respect.

Where should you go in the United States? That depends on your interests. America’s Living History-The Early Years offers 300 premier historical destinations for your consideration. Among them are restored and re-created Native villages, working farms and plantations, “populated” Colonial America settlements, sailing ships and canal boats, fully outfitted fur trading posts, and commercial villages peopled by old-time artisans. Want more? You can see iron furnaces, a legendary gunpowder manufacturer, a fully outfitted textile mill, America’s first gold mine, taverns, pharmacies, historic government buildings and the homes of our early Presidents. And that’s just part of what we showcase in the book. Scattered throughout the U.S., America’s heritage parks and living history museums offer enough to keep curious people exploring for a lifetime.

What do others say?

Here's a sampling of what reviewers have said about America’s Living History-The Early Years that is relevant to foreign tourists and immigrants:

“...a handsome book filled with information for travelers seeking to embrace the history of America’s formative years." Marcia Oxford, Amador Ledger-Dispatch, Jackson, CA

“The Sheumakers have researched their topic extensively and the result is a very valuable learning resource and a book that will undoubtedly enhance your travel experiences, particularly if you are interested in immersing yourself in America’s fascinating living past.” Norm Goldman, Montreal, QC, Canada; Editor, Bookpleasures

“Suzanne and Craig Sheumaker bring a rare kind of passion and love for America and its history to the pages that make this dense and lively volume both an exciting travelogue and a book of colorful history. The idea is to see more of America than the usual tourist sees, to see deeper and to see with eyes informed by the grand progression of past events and the pageantry of a great people and their myriad cultures.” Dennis Littrell, reviewer, Amazon.com

“The organization is superb. It is organized not only by geography, but also by perspective with sections on America’s Native Peoples, European Colonization, Religious & Secular Groups, The Road to Independence, Our New Nation and Opening the West. In addition, a very complete Index compliments the book’s organization.” Carol White, reviewer, Amazon.com

“In a very few years we’ll be touring America with a passion, as have the Sheumakers. This book will be in our van or car. We’ve seen a lot of the places featured in this book but even having ‘been there,’ the site reviews are refreshing and enlightening.” Vic Campbell, reviewer, BarnesAndNoble.com

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Where should I go? What should I do? Deciding which historical destinations to squeeze into a relatively short U.S. trip can be daunting. There are so many choices! When asked what we would recommend, we too have a difficult time. After all, we included 300 premier sites in America’s Living History-The Early Years and had a great time at each and every one of them.

Still, we’re trying to be helpful to you. So we’ve picked six - one from each of our chapters in early U.S. history. They stand out because of their extraordinary features and/or close proximity to other types of visitor attractions. For more selections, based on your travel itinerary, you can simplify things for yourself by using our traveler’s guide. It includes destination photos along with reasons to visit, tourist details and URLs for reliable additional information.

America’s Native Peoples

Mesa Verde National Park, southwestern Colorado - A showcase of Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) culture, this World Heritage Site is one of the most extensive and well preserved archaeological sites in America. It offers excellent examples of almost every stage of Ancestral Puebloan development - the single-family subterranean pithouses of A.D. 500, the mesa-top apartment-style pueblos built between 750 and 1100, and the sprawling cliff cities constructed during the late 1200s.

European Colonization

Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg historical region, Williamsburg vicinity, Virginia, about 2-1/2 hours by car from Washington DC. This region is representative of two chapters in U.S. history: European Colonization and the Road to Independence. Several places are must-sees: Historic Jamestowne, the first successful English colony in America; Jamestown Settlement, an exceptional re-creation of the original village; Colonial Williamsburg, which has more than 500 historical buildings and many living history programs; Yorktown Battlefield, where the British surrendered during America’s fight for independence; and Yorktown Victory Center, a comprehensive look at colonial soldiers of war and their return to civilian life.

Religious & Secular Groups

Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 2-1/2 hours by car from Boston. Situated in the scenic Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, this historic religious settlement was considered the center of Shaker authority in America from 1787 until 1947. Today, it is a 1,200-acre living history museum that offers terrific insight into the Shakers and their contributions to the broader American society. In addition to 20 original buildings, an historic working farm and an heirloom garden, you can enjoy a number of hands-on activities and first-person portrayals of Shakers from the past.

Road to Independence

Boston National Historical Park, Boston, Massachusetts. This city blazed a trail through American history, from colonialism to independence, and it played a pivotal role in the formation of our national ideals about freedom of speech, religion, government and self-determination. Today, many of its historic buildings welcome visitors. Take the 2-1/2 mile red-line walking path through downtown. Markers identify historic stops. Be sure to visit the Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church and USS Constitution (a Navy frigate nicknamed “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812). Special programs include first-person re-enactments.

Our New Nation

Mount Vernon, in northern Virginia or Monticello, in Charlottesville, Virginia. We can’t decide which is better: George Washington’s home and farming operations or Thomas Jefferson’s more elegant estate and gardens. Both provide fascinating perspective about the man behind the presidency, both have very interesting guided and self-guided tours, and both have important related sites nearby. Mount Vernon recently added an exceptional museum and education center. Monticello has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. You’ll need a day for each. They’re only 2-1/2 hours apart; so if you can take the time, see them both.

Opening the West

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul, Minnesota. Strategically positioned at the junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, Fort Snelling was built in the 1820s in a time and place demanding great courage. The fort’s purpose was to protect law-abiding citizens, deny non-Americans commercial use of the rivers and prevent white encroachment on Indian lands ahead of government treaties. Today within the walls of this remarkable restoration, living history travelers can see a vivid picture of the lifestyle of soldiers, officers, domestics, tradesmen, fur traders and Indians who once lived in the region. All of the personnel - from the Commander, to the soldiers, to the laundress - are in character, portraying people and events of the past.