Ground Zero, Mount Vernon, and the Top 5 Political Landmarks in the United States
When someone visits America from abroad or a young student is trying to visit key landmarks around the country, there are several notable places that they should go in order to gain the purest understanding of our collective ideals. Trying to avoid some of the more obvious (Smithsonian, Grand Canyon, Empire State Building, etc.), there are four locations that every American and foreign traveler should visit in order to gain a better understanding of the complex American spirit.
While not normally viewed as a political landmark, this location provides a unique view of what America stood for when it split ties from Britain. One of the more subtle things that people can witness is the paradox of freedom that existed in the country. While the colonists were shouting for their freedom and their rights, they were enslaving an entire race of people. While Washington attempted to redeem his sin by freeing his slaves, the quarters and working conditions are well preserved for visitors to compare the life of political elites to a life of a slave.
4) Savannah, GA (River Street)
The city of Savannah captures the essence of the end of the Civil war. In 1865, Savannah was one of the few cities spared in Sherman’s famous (or infamous) March to the Sea. The march introduced the formal development of total war, and resulted in over $1 million of damages to the states economy. Today, the city is the image diversity, filled with history of the state and the war that led millions to freedom. A historical tour of Savannah will provide the tourist with an understanding of the pre-Civil War economy of the South and the reconstruction that followed the Civil War. Any trip to Savannah isn’t complete without visiting historic River Street. A sort of Bourbon Street on the east coast, it is one of the few places in America without open container laws. The area also features many of the local historical sights, as it was the main shipping hub of the region during the pre-Civil War era south. So, grab a brew and visit this historic city.
3) Bodie, CA
2) The Minuteman Missile National Historical Site
