History buffs: What historic place have you visited that really impressed you?

Question

I visited Gettysburg, PA and walked along the battlefields. I could not believe I was actually standing in a place where a war took place. I also, visited George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon, VA. Totally awesome feeling.

I've been trying to get to Mt. Rushmore for ages.

Charleston rocks!

Oh you all named so many placed I want to see and experience!!!!!!

Answer 1

Gettysburg, and everywhere in Washington DC when i was stationed there in the Old Guards. I performed over 1000 funerals at Arlington Cemetery, been to all the Smithsonians, did a show at Mt. Vernon in our colonial uniforms with muskets. I live in Georgia now and have been to several battlefields around Chattanooga also.

Answer 2

Gettysburg, Georgetown, Mt Vernon, the historic sites of the metropolitan Boston area, the historic sites of the city I live in including the plantations, dungeons for pirates, place where the revolutionary war was signed, birthplace of the civil war, the earthquake and fire that destroyed the city plus various hurricanes all photos in the museum, Ft Sumpter, the original settled colony, the slave market, the Citadel, Charleston Southern University

Answer 3

Funny, but the first one I visited still impresses me. That was
the old fort Bridger in Wyoming. I was around 4 years of age,
when my parents stopped there on the way to Okla. to visit
my grandma, and also meet my grandpa who had remarried.
First and last time I saw or spoke to him. He wasn't really
interested, with a big family of kids running around.
I've been stationed at Ft Sill where they also brought Ger-
onimo and have things related to him there in a prison cell or
did eons ago when I was there.
I've also visited many of the old Franciscan missions along
Californias old trail, and have visited the one outside of
Tucson and a couple others in the state. I've been to the little
town of San Juan Batista,on the way to Carmel, California. It the home and hideout of the former thief and
outlaw, Joaquin Murrietta. The town is so well preserved that
you can't help but daydream about how it was in those old
days. People were so short then, they have modern stairways
now to reach the second floor levels, without loosing your
footing.
I've been to the top of the Astor Column in Astoria, Oregon,
which overlooks the entrance of the Columbia River and the
Pacific Ocean. Thinking or how Lewis & Clark must have
enjoyed seeing the end of their expedition come into view.
Seeing the spot where they built their fort and endured a very
nasty winter with fleas and other discomforts. A fire destroyed
the last repoduction, and they've rebuilt another.
I have spent an overnight at the Grand Canyon, and enjoyed
the colors reflected on the rock walls during the day, and I've
been to old Tombstone,Arizona, I think my favorite historical
spot. And have been there several times feeling that it was
like home, arriving that very first time. Alot of me was left there
knowing I'll never return. But we enjoyed our times there at
the Birdcage Saloon (creepy tho) and at the Crystal Palace
where a combo still plays on a Saturday night. I've been to
Ft Apache, before it was mandatory for a pass. And I've been
to an abandoned ghost town in Oregon, called Shaniko. Which was a sheep center at one time. I'd love to have seen
the old towns along the old 49'er highway, that connects alot
of early California gold mining towns. Tho they are commer-
cialized now, the history is still ever present.
I've been to many pioneer museums, and to one of the larges cowboy museums at Gene Autrys' Western Heritage
Museum near LA. Any cowboy living was represented there
in either a donated costume, or something else tangible.
Even the movie cowboys of the 30s' 40's and 50s'. And
things sold with their picture on it, like lunch boxes and things
kids could send for. Our daughter is painted on a mural there
at the south entrance in a wagon looking out. She was young
then and the pose of her shows no makeup and more like a
teenager in age, than she really was in life. She'll always be
there, until they paint her over and the scene she's in. That's
quite a tribute to someone who worked there for Gene's wife.
I wish I still had the snapshot of our daughter sitting on Genes'
lap.It was one only and not a copy to be had. What a sight
that would have made in a gossip magazine at the time. But
he was too nice a man to try to harm, so we never exposed it.

Answer 4

Here in San Antonio, the Alamo and the other missions really get your imagination going, knowing all the famous people who passed through that way. Before 911, Fort Sam Houston, a base in San Antonio had many areas open to the public. One such area called the quadrangle was a stockade where the great Geronimo was held. And then there are the cattle trails, including the Chisholm Trail. There is much history here, all over town.

Answer 5

Normandy beaches in France and the American Cemetary, the Walls of the city of Constinople, walked the 6 KM distance amazed at how intact they are. Napoleon's tomb in the Invalides in France - and Versailles and the Hall of Mirrors, as well as the Conciergerie where Marie Antionette spent her last days in prison. Lets see..The Popes palace in Avignon, France... WestMinister Abby in London, Churchhill's headquarters and quarters in Londin, ..Stonehenge, the Pyramids in Cairo Egypt, Had a beer in an 800 year pub in Dublin Ireland...took a cruise on the Eire Canal and saw Niagra Falls for the first time 4 weeks ago...went to Venice, saw the Bridge of Sighs, the Dodges Palace and the prison. Very cool. Saw Masada in Israel, the West Wall, and part of the relics of the 1967 and 1973 wars in Israel..Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, The Ufuzi in Florence and the Dome...
Still planning to see more.

Answer 6

I've seen a lot of historical places, but the Palace of Versailles blew me away completely. The vast scale of everything, the art work covering every surface (especially the magnificent ceilings !) and the hundreds of acres of perfectly manicured gardens were something that had to be seen to be believed.
It made me very aware of "why the French Revolution happened", considering that almost everyone else in France was starving, as the Royal Court cavorted in this magnificent palace. But, today, it is a wonderful place to wander around, to admire the beauty of it, and to ponder the lives that took place in it.

Answer 7

(18) 9/22/07
The Grand Canyon.
It was so awesome that there are no words that can describe it's beauty or it's magnitude.
Even though we stood on the South rim, admiring it's majestic colors; it was so immense that it felt almost unreal.
I cannot begin to imagine what the first explorers of the new world thought we they first saw the canyon in all it's splendor. It must have been the most breath-taking view they had ever witnessed.

Answer 8

Valley of the Kings in Egypt. I was amazed at how vibrant the colours are in those tombs after 4,000 years.

Bagan (in Myanmar) A huge area with just scattered old stone temples / pagodas where a city once stood. All of the wooden houses have long since gone, just leaving the stone buildings standing in isolation.

Answer 9

The Great Wall, and the Yangtze River. So much history, I stood there and felt the ghosts and heard the voices of those who had built and defended the wall, and saw all the ancient ghostly river boats plying their trade along the Yangtze for thousands and thousand and thousands of years. I heard the echo of all their voices in the wind - and felt them, still there.

I am a real history buff and to stand on such a historic place as the Great Wall of China was overwhelming for me.

Ok another member reminded me of another time I was so moved, the memorial for the SS Arizona in Hawaii. Is it the USS Arizona? It was incredibly moving as well, to think of the men resting there ....

Answer 10

The shell middens along the coast near Damariscotta, Maine. These shell middens are estimated to be over 1,000 years old and are a result of the shellfish eaten on this site by the Native Americans. Pretty cool...