Iconic History

“History,” Mark Twain wrote, “doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” A similar cadence might be found among historic markers, memorials, and monuments. Each is different, but they all typically highlight a figure or event in history, helping to give rhyme and reason to our modern times.

A couple of examples are the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, two of the country’s most recognizable historic sites, both located in Washington, D.C. But there are many other notable places that highlight the past. Forts, historic homes, and even presidential libraries help tell the story of a place and its people. Of the latter, and within the context of an entire country, presidential libraries and museums not only pay homage to America’s chief executives, but they also serve as repositories of important documents and other memorabilia. They are reminders of important epochal events.

With so much to choose from, where does a tour planner begin? Luckily, Youth Travel Planner has compiled several notable sites from each region perfect for youth groups—and yes, there are some presidential museums thrown into the mix. All the places listed are where students can learn about the past but also see the intricate interplays of history and modernity through the eyes of those who came before us. As the late author and historian David McCullough writes, “History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”

Midwest

The presidential topic is a good starting point in planning your next youth tour. One of the best places to visit for an immersive experience is the Buckeye State. Often dubbed the “Birthplace of the Presidents” because seven chief executives were born here, Ohio has become a favorite destination for learning about the presidential office. Those born in Ohio include James A. Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant, Warren G. Harding, Benjamin Harrison, Rutherford B. Hayes, William McKinley, and William Howard Taft. Several of them have libraries and museums dedicated to them: Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums; McKinley Presidential Library and Museum; Harding Presidential Library; and Warren G. Harding Presidential Library. But Ohio also has historic homes and other sites related to the chief executives and their wives.

Fort Meigs Historic Site, located in Perrysburg, is tied to ninth U.S. president William Henry Harrison. Although he wasn’t born in Ohio, he used the fort as a “defensive checkpoint” to stop the advances of British soldiers into American territory during the War of 1812. The site today is open to visitors from April through October—but the museum and visitor center are open year-round.

Be sure to take your youth group to the National First Ladies Library & Museum, located in the First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton. The site is dedicated to educating, preserving, and promoting the significant roles of each First Lady. Established as a National Park Site in 2000, this venue has two buildings: The Saxton-McKinley House and the Education Center. Among the many other historical markers in Ohio are the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Memorial Park, Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Indian Rock Petroglyphs, and the National Road & Zane Grey Museum.

Northeast

The aforementioned Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial are places young people will enjoy visiting in Washington, D.C., but the whole district will keep students busy with its array of historic sites. A couple of them, just six blocks away, are Ford’s Theatre, where one of the country’s most beloved presidents was shot by an assassin’s bullet; and the Peterson Boarding House, across the street from the theater, where Abraham Lincoln died. Both are open for tours. At Ford’s Theatre young people can learn about the 16th president, what transpired on the night of the assassination, and milestones of the Civil War. Plays also continue to be performed at the theater.

And speaking of plays, the Folger Shakespeare Library, also in Washington, D.C., brings Shakespeare’s stories to life for students of all ages. Not only does it house the world’s largest collection of the famous playwright’s work, but it also has interactive exhibits, educational programming, and theatrical performances. “Visitors were always top of mind as we planned the Folger Shakespeare Library’s new exhibition spaces—visitors of all ages, stages, cultures, and interest in Shakespeare, but with special attention to our youngest friends,” says Dr. Peggy O’Brien, the library’s director of education. “We invite them, along with their families, to think about Shakespeare ‘then and there’ as well as ‘here and now.’” Its many offerings help visitors to do just that, starting with the Decoder and Discovery Trails that allow them to see the printing press, “set type as it was done in a 1623 print shop, learn about our First Folios, and fold their own folio!”

Another place for planners to put on their itinerary for youth tours is in Pennsylvania. Called the “Birthplace of Freedom” for the significant historical moments that took place here, Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, is where the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Eleven years later, in 1887, delegates to the Constitutional Convention created and signed the U.S. Constitution. The building was originally constructed to function as the Pennsylvania State House, and it once housed all three branches of Pennsylvania’s colonial government.

“Philadelphia is the birthplace of the nation and home to what’s considered the nation’s ‘most historic square mile,’ which includes Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, and other significant historic sites in America’s founding,” says Annie Jirapatnakul, global tourism sales and services manager with the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This makes the city a must-include destination that ties back to students’ American history curriculum. Student groups can immerse themselves in the city’s past and present while creating unforgettable memories. And adult groups will also find no shortage of engaging historic tours and experiences in Philadelphia. There really is something for every group in Philadelphia. With so many historic sites, parks, museums and attractions for groups of any size, Philadelphia is well worth an overnight stay.” A tour here provides a thought-provoking experience that dives into humankind’s endless fight for freedom.

Of that freedom, the Harriett Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park in Dorchester, Maryland, is another impactful stop for students. They can learn about Tubman, described as the “best-known conductor” of the railway, and what she did to help enslaved people gain their freedom before the Civil War. This new national historical park preserves the same landscapes that Tubman used to carry herself and others from slavery to new lives of freedom.

Southeast

Head to the Southern States to learn about yet another U.S. president at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas. Exhibits on three floors highlight the life and work of Bill Clinton before, during, and after his presidential tenure. It is an impressive collection of documents and memorabilia. Here, youth can visit a replica of the Cabinet Room, see a presidential limousine, and sit in an exact replica of the Oval Office as it appeared in the White House during the Clinton administration. They can even have their picture taken behind the Resolute Desk.

In the neighboring state of Missouri, visit the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum in Independence, where many student resources are available to help guests in their academic research projects. For those who would eventually like to return for further study, it houses a large library of books, papers, and other historical materials available to people “in a place suitable for exhibit and research.” An interesting tidbit about the Harry S. Truman Library is that, according to its website, it was the first such library “created under the provisions of the 1955 Presidential Libraries Act.”

Have your group explore more than presidents in the Southeast. And be forewarned—you might very well be called a hound dog if you don’t put Graceland on your itinerary. The former home of Elvis Presley—aka the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”—is in Memphis, Tennessee, and there is much more than the mansion where Elvis and his family lived; it is the heart of the Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex. Through exhibits, students can learn about Elvis’ career, his influence on the music industry, and even view some of the cars and motorcycles he owned and the clothes he wore on stage. Young people who are familiar with today’s celebrity stars, such as Taylor Swift, might find it enlightening to see the home of a music legend who, decades later, is still impacting the industry and his millions of fans.

West

President Richard Nixon left an indelible stain on American history known as the Watergate Scandal. Although he was the only president in U.S. history to have resigned from office, historians in more recent years have viewed President Nixon in a more favorable light for his economic proposals and foreign policy initiatives. Youth groups can learn about the 37th president at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California. Here, students can learn about Nixon’s legacy, both good and bad, including his rise to the presidency, his downfall after Watergate, his charitable work after resigning from the White House, and much more.

Another presidential library in the Golden State is the Ronald Reagan Library & Museum in Simi Valley. Located on a hill that overlooks this pleasant community in Southern California, this library and museum offers some attractions other presidential sites do not—such as the Air Force One Pavilion that features transportation exhibits. Students will be excited to tour President Reagan’s Air Force One, see inside a Marine One helicopter, and view Reagan’s 1984 parade limousine. Also on display at this site that overlooks the rolling green-brown hills of this Southern California community is a portion of the historic Berlin Wall, serving as a poignant reminder of a turbulent time in world history.

Don’t forget The Alamo. Or more accurately, “Remember The Alamo!” by visiting the historic site in Texas. If you’re wondering what there is to see here besides the walled barrack and courtyard, don’t fret. For starters, there is still the Alamo Church, dubbed a “Shrine to Liberty” because of its role in the now-historic Battle of the Alamo in 1836. The battle was part of the Texas Revolution and stretched from Feb. 23 to March 6 near San Antonio. The confrontation didn’t go as the Texans had hoped. All those who defended the fort died in the battle. Today, the site offers guided tours of the grounds that offer the perfect opportunity for a moving history lesson. On-site at The Alamo is an education center, visitor center, museum, and the Alamo Plaza with a cenotaph—a monument dedicated to commemorating people who died at the location. There is also a gift shop for those wishing to take a little something of The Alamo home with them following their visit to the iconic location.

By Andrew Weeks

Main Image: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C.; Credit: Folger Shakespeare Library/Lloyd Wolf