Millions of people visit the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument each year in Washington, D.C. but, did you know there are dozens of other presidential sites of interest located across the United States?
February is filled with historical, presidential events and if you’re a history buff, it’s the perfect time to consider incorporating a presidential site of interest to your next road trip.
Find a Site
NPS.gov offers a comprehensive list of famous presidential sites for every president.
In Quincy, Massachusets, you can visit two presidential birthplaces at one site, called the Adams National Historic Park. This 13 acre site features the birthplaces of John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams.
Tour Lindenwald, the beautiful estate of Martin Van Buren in Kinderhook, N.Y. Van Buren acquired the home and 137 acres in 1839, and it’s now a National Historic Site.
The 25th president is laid to rest in Canton, Ohio, along with his immediate family. The William McKinley Tomb is a domed mausoleum made of pink granite with colored marble in a cross pattern to form the floor. It sits on a hill with views of Canton.
See how a president grew up at the Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home in Augusta, Ga. President Wilson spent 13 of his boyhood years at this National Historic Landmark.
In Key West, Fla., you can visit the Harry S. Truman Little White House, a former naval officer residence that the president used as his winter White House. In fact, six presidents have used the house – which is on the National Register of Historic Places – as a retreat or meeting location.
Explore the website to look for sites near you or close by your next vacation route. Visit AARP’s Member Advantages page next time you travel for discounts on rental cars, tours, vacations, flights, trains, dining, entertainment and more.
State by State
If you’re looking for a site close to home, there are options nearby. In fact, Lonely Planet has rounded up something presidential to do in each of the 50 states.
Of course, not all states can claim a presidential birthplace. While the United States has had 43 presidents, only 20 states hold the honor of presidential birthplaces. Virginia is the birthplace of eight presidents, followed by Ohio with seven. Explore this map from The Washington Post to learn more.
OurWhiteHouse.org also offers a state by state listing of presidential birthplaces, homes and libraries.
Resources:
American Presidents: Life Portraits – AmericanPresidents.org