250 Places To Visit To Celebrate America
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
Journey around the nation with this interactive map, divided by region or category, and discover American history in a way you’ve never seen before
“America is a land of wonders,” wrote Alexis de Tocqueville nearly 200 years ago. For ten months, beginning in May 1831, the French aristocrat explored the nation, touring the cities of Boston, New York and Philadelphia before traveling as far into the frontier as Michigan and as far south as New Orleans. He met with powerful leaders, including Andrew Jackson and Sam Houston, but also everyday citizens, more than 200 Americans in all. Upon his return to France, he recounted his travels in his classic two-volume Democracy in America, which became a sensation in Europe and the United States. De Tocqueville wrote with such incisive clarity about American politics and society that his words are still studied generations later.
In thinking about the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, Smithsonian magazine looked to de Tocqueville for inspiration. The “wonders” he observed, from the mighty Mississippi River to the New England towns he praised as the birthplace of American liberty, represent integral elements of our national character. They are part of what makes the United States worth celebrating, worth arguing about and worth defending. They represent our national project and our best selves.
We had the idea to identify 250 sites across the country, each a wonder in its own way, and nearly two years ago, we began brainstorming. Our criteria were straightforward: Does this site capture something about the United States or its people worth celebrating?
In building out the map, we also strove to ensure that the “wonders” we identified were as geographically diverse as possible. Though the events of the Revolution occurred largely within the bounds of the original 13 colonies, this anniversary represents a chance where all Americans, wherever they live, can commemorate together.
Behind the Scenes: How the map came together
Brainstorming began in February 2024 with suggestions from Smithsonian editorial staff
More than 500 sites were initially considered for inclusion
Additional feedback came from museum staff and contributing editors
Map text written by magazine editors Megan Gambino, Ellen Wexler and Brian Wolly
We divided the list into ten categories, 25 sites in each, and hope that all Americans see themselves, their interests and their perspectives represented on the map.
In “Witness to History,” we ventured to sites of momentous events, from Philadelphia’s Independence Hall to the Greensboro lunch counter to NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston. For “Natural World,” we explored America’s uniquely great outdoors, arching our necks to glimpse the top of California’s great sequoias and squatting along the Platte River in Nebraska to witness the astonishing sight of migrating sandhill cranes. In what may have been the trickiest category to narrow down, we took to the road for “Oddball Americana,” identifying quirky attractions like the International Cryptozoology Museum in Maine and Connecticut’s must-visit Pez Visitor Center.
We sated our appetite in the “Food” category with stops at the first Sonic drive-in in Stillwater, Oklahoma; at the birthplace of the Buffalo wing in, surprisingly enough, Buffalo; and at Pequod’s Pizza for some classic Chicago deep dish. Our brains went into overdrive in “Science and Ingenuity,” considering legendary landmarks of America’s innovative spirit like Walden Pond and the Erie Canal. We located our inner cultural omnivore through “Sounds of America,” “On the Screen” and “Architecture and Arts” at sites that marked revolutionary moments in music history (Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry), in television and film (Iowa’s Field of Dreams) and in the arts (Pennsylvania’s Fallingwater).
In “Museums and Historic Homes,” we sought destinations that recognize inspiring figures such as Harriet Tubman, Ronald Reagan and César Chavez, and in “Culture and Community,” we recognize places of convergence, whether religious, such as Newport, Rhode Island’s 18th century Touro Synagogue; or athletic, as in the Williamsport, Pennsylvania, home of the Little League World Series; or in ethnic heritage, such as Miami’s Little Havana, plus much more.
Not all the places on the map inspire purely positive feelings. Some are even mournful, or lean on the bitter side of bittersweet, such as Pearl Harbor. But each of these particular sites, we believe, presents a space for admiring the American fortitude exhibited there.
Every state in the union is represented with at least two spots. Puerto Rico has a spot as well. This means that evidently worthy sites, such as Boston’s Old North Church, where lanterns were hung for Paul Revere’s Ride, or San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, weren’t included, as well as others such as Ground Zero in Manhattan, Antietam in Maryland, the Manzanar internment camp in California or Wounded Knee in South Dakota, whose historical significance is beyond dispute.
We included just one Smithsonian museum—though, of course, we encourage readers to visit them all!
Enjoy browsing through this map of wonders. How many have you been to? De Toqueville, I’m sure, would be astounded by each and every one of them, that is, if he ever tore himself away from Café Du Monde’s beignets.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/250-places-to-celebrate-america