The Alamo- A Place of Texas History

Hours of operation: 9a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10a.m. - 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Also open on Friday and Saturdays until 7 P.M. on the months of June, July and August.

 Ticket admission: free

 People who visit San Antonio, Texas have an opportunity to explore the Alamo and learn about its history and the battle. If you’re a history buff like me you may want to put it on your list of places to visit.

 “This was an incredible experience...it wasn't that the place itself awed me, but it is what it stands for that really moved me. These men gave their lives because they knew that what was going on was wrong. They staked their lives to defend the Republic of Texas.” said Doug M. a user of yelp.com

 “You don't really need an actual tour to go through the Alamo. You can see almost everything by walking in the main building yourself. However, it was really interesting to go and listen to the guide tell the story of the place. It makes the experience much more moving.” said Jenn01salts a user of igougo.com.

 Visitors have different ways to get into the Alamo. According to thealamo.org people prefer to enter into the old church or modern shrine. The church as artifacts that belong to the Alamo Heroes such as Travis B. Williams ring, Davy Crockett’s buckskin, rifle and Bowie knife.

 Next after leaving Shrine people can choose to turn right and go to the Alamo garden. If they turn left, that will lead them to the Wall of History according to thealamo.org. The site states that at if people want to learn more about the Alamo’s 300 year long history they should spend some more time at this exhibit. The Mexican military artifacts are held in the Long Barracks Museum at the Alamo.

 “I'm glad I got to touch this piece of history. I'm 25 and I finally got to visit this historical place. Do I fully understand the significance of this place? Of course not, but I do appreciate its beauty and how it is a symbol of freedom for so many Texans.” said Tiffany a user of yelp.com.

 In 2004 the movie “The Alamo” was remade starring Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton. In 1960 the original starred John Wayne, Richard Widmark.

Independence Hall- The Place Where America Became Independent

Hours of operation: vary by season but this historical site is open 365 days a year.

Ticket admission: walk-up tickets at the Independence Visitor Center on the day of visit are free at 8:30 a.m. but must come early. On busy seasons tickets are gone by 1 p.m. Consider purchasing timed tickets which are $1.50 each

Independence Hall in Philadelphia is an interesting historical place for anyone who wants to learn more about American history. This spot is where George Washington and 55 other congressman wrote the Declaration of Independence  to be free from Britain.

 According to ushistory.org  in that front of the building welcoming visitor’s is a statue of Washington. Before entering the building, visitors will notice a flagstone pavement that honors the moment when Abraham Lincoln raised the flag. It also states that this is the same spot where John F. Kennedy gave one of his speeches.

 Visitphilly.com states that the tour of Independence Hall is lead by National Park rangers. The tour starts in the courtroom where lawyers of divergent sides used the same table and books. In the Assembly Room, visitors will see “rising sun” a chair that George Washington used to sit in. You can also see the original inkstand that he used to sign the Declaration and the original Constitution which are displayed.

 “The guides we had were excellent -their commentaries made you feel that you could almost see the historical figures discussing our constitution and signing it. Don't miss this landmark!” said LovemyAura a user of tripadvisor.com.

 Outside the visitors can also see the Liberty Bell. According to ushistory.org, this bell is a symbol of freedom.   

 There is also a candlelit walking ghost tour in Philadelphia according to visitphilly.com. Visitors are guided through Independent Hall and Washington Square. The tour guide shares haunting tales about the Founding Fathers. The dates for this tour are restricted in certain months and ghosttour.com has the schedule.

 “This was the most relaxing part of our trip. I thought our hostess did a great job of keeping it very interesting. I learned a lot of history and saw a different side of Philadelphia. We would recommend this tour.” said c a user of travel.yahoo.com.

The Beatles Story- A place where the legacy of the Beetles Lives on

Hours of operation: Open 7 days a week every day apart from Dec. 25 and 26, April. 1 - Oct. 31: 9a.m.-7a.m. (last admission 5p.m.), Nov.1- March. 31: 10a.m.- 6p.m

The prices for ticket admissions are listed as British pounds on beatlesstory.com in American currency it is adults- $ 19.97, seniors over 60 and Students- $13.88, child (under 16) -10.75, child under 5- free.

Liverpool England may be widely known for its soccer team. It is also the place where a museum dedicated to a British band called the Beatles. The Beatles consisted of four members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

 “Definitely worth going, especially if you're a younger fan who wants to learn more!” said Bex987 a user of tripadvisor.com

 According to the beatlesstory.com the museum explores the story of the band from the very beginning when Paul McCartney met John Lennon to when the band broke-up. The site also states that the museum has an auto tour which is narrated by Julia who is John Lennon’s sister. This auto is offered in eight different languages some of them are English, Spanish, German, Polish, and French.

 "This was a highlight in our 4 week whirlwind tour of England. The setup with the audio allows you to journey through the '60s with the Fab Four at your own pace.” said suziob a user of tripadvisor.com

 The museum has several attractions. One of them the museum website states is the John Lennon Monument called Peace and Harmony. Another one of the museums attractions is Fab4D which is an animated film that takes visitors on a trip into the group’s music.   

 The museum also has special exhibits such hidden gallery of the group that a photographer found in his attic after 50 year states the museums website. On display are also the groups U.S memorabilia such as bubblegum wrapper and a lunchbox set.

 Here is a YouTube video of the museum

Gettysburg- The Historical Place of the Civil War

Gettysburg Pennsylvania offers visitors to learn about the historical site in a more interesting and fun ways with a variety of different tours such as historical walking tours, battlefield driving tours, bus tours, and ghost tours. The battle of Gettysburg is the most important battle of the Civil War which went on for three days, and it started as a conflict but ended involving 160,000 Americans.

 On historical walking tours guides dressed in costumes lead visitors through historic Gettysburg. During this walk they share stories about the civilians or remarkable events that took part in the famous battle.

 “This was an amazing tour. Our guide Joanne Lewis knows all the facts and information necessary to make your trip memorable! Positively a must for the avid civil war buff, or the novice.” said coocoomaroo a user of tripadivsor.com.

According to Gettysburg.com visitors who are interested in learning what actually happened on the battlefield of Gettysburg can take a battlefield driving or bus tours. On the driving tours you can explore the battlefield in your own car while listening to a cassette or CD which can be rented and purchased at Farnsworth House book store. You can ride on a Double Decker bus and watch reenactments of the conflict.

“This was the best way to see the battlefield, when you first get to Gettysburg. You get a great overall feel for the place. The tour guides were exceptional so full of information, and stories, kept you wanting more.” said travelinmomma1963 a user of tripadivsor.com.

 There are also ghost tours of buildings along Steinwehr Avenue that are still haunted. You can become a real ghost hunter using tools such as electronic ghost finders and other equipment that are provided on the tour according to Gettysburg.com. Hours of operation is 7:45 PM & 9:00 PM. Ticket admissions are Adults $7.00 Children seven and under free and Special rates for groups (10 or more).

 “This was a great walking tour of Gettysburg for a great price! My tour was almost two hours and very informative. I love hearing the tales of the buildings and its spirits! Highly recommended!” said Chrissy N. a user of yelp.com.

   Gettysburg.com lists other attractions visitors can see in Gettysburg such as:

• General Lee’s headquarters
• Jennie Wade House Museum(a civilian who was killed during the war)
• Soldiers National Museum
•      Hall of Presidents
• American Civil War Wax Museum.

Pearl Harbor- A Historical Place of World War II

Hours of operation: 7:30 am - 5 pm daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.

 Ticket admission for A Day at Pearl Harbor tour: Adult- $99.99 Child- S89.99

 Visiting Honolulu Hawaii on the island of Oahu you can explore Pearl Harbor and go on a tour called a Day at Pearl Harbor with include historical sites such as the USS Arizona, the USS Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum. It departs at 6:15 a.m. and returns at 3:45p.m.

 “The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center hosts approximately 1.5 million visitors a year.” said Carolyn Knoll who is a tour guide for the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

 According to to-hawaii.com, visitors must watch a short film before taking the shuttle to the Arizona Memorial. This memorial built on top of the USS Arizona which was bombed on December 7, 1941 by Japan killing 1,177 soldiers honoring their names on a shrine.

 “Quite a sobering experience to reflect upon as you read their names and gaze down to their sunken tomb.” said Gordon C. a user of tripadvisor.com.

 Knoll states that there are many artifacts that visitors can see such as:

• the USS Arizona's bell
• uniforms that were used by some of the military personnel
• letters to families
• a Japanese torpedo
• the Opana radar station radio
• testimony videos

Visiting the USS Missouri you take a guided tour of the battleship where the Japanese signed a document to end the war on September 2, 1945 according to adventureinhawaii.com. Here visitors get to see how sailors lived on the battleship as well as the copy of the document that was signed.

“I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Big Mo. Well worth the time to visit this ship. The guide was very informative throughout the tour.” said GrayHairedGranny53 a user of tripadvisor.com.

Next is the Pacific Aviation Museum where you can see what kind of planes soldiers flew in World War II.  Pacificaviationmuseum.org shows the planes that they have on exhibit. The tour consists of military tour guides leading visitors around the museum while they share interesting stories about the war.

“They play 1940's music which adds to the atmosphere. You can't fail to be interested and moved by the Pearl Harbor museums.” said PMTK11 a user of tripadvisor.com.

 You can also see what it like being a pilot in World War by defending the skies above Guadalcanal by trying the museum’s flight simulators. Pearl Harbor is a place of remembering and learning.

The USS Arizona before it was bomebed by Japan on Dec 7th 1941

The USS Arizona Memorial

  

Graceland- Where Elvis Presley’s Legacy Lives on

People who visit Graceland in Memphis Tennessee get an all access pass in Elvis Presley’s life. Some of his most famous songs are Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, and All Shook Up. Graceland’s hours of operation go by what month people plan to visit, and the prices of admission go by different ways to tour Graceland.

 “I really enjoyed taking the mansion tour at Graceland. It’s worth the time and money!” said jmik66 a user of tripadvisor.com.

 According to elvis.com, visitors walk through the mansion while listening to a listening to individual audio of Elvis and his daughter Lisa Marie being their guides. You get to see rooms such as the living room, music room, parents’ room and the jungle room. After the tour of the mansion, you can also see Elvis’ trophy building that holds his platinum and gold records. At the end of the mansion tour you can see Elvis’ and his family’s final resting spot.

 “I already knew lots of facts about The King but found this tour fascinating and informative.” said hobbitette a user of tripadvior.com.    

 Visitors who pay for the Platinum tour have the opportunity to see Elvis’ personal cars and planes according to elvis.com. The car museum has a drive-in movie theater, so Elvis fans can enjoy watching his movies while on their visit. This tour also offers exhibits of the King’s groundbreaking news stories, and an exhibit of the clothes he wore.

 “It’s $35 for a tour of Graceland. Visit into both of his planes, fashion exhibition is well worth the money and would recommend this to any person who is not yet a fan as you will be by the end of it.” said Stephalaylee a user of tripadvisor.com.

 There are two other exhibits that are free according to elvis.com. One is Elvis Lives: The King and Pop Culture Exhibit which is interactive allows you to see how the King of Rock n’ Roll inspired pop culture today. The other one is '68 Special Exhibit where you get a look into a television event with videos, photos and shows artifacts from the special.

 Here is the link to the tour of Graceland part 1 of 7 videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhCc8MtxHns

Susan B. Anthony House- The Woman Who Made a Difference in Voting

Hours of operation: Tuesday through Sunday 11:00a.m.-5p.m. Closed on Monday and holidays.

Ticket admissions: $10.00 per adult, $8.00 per senior citizen 62 & over, $5.00 per student, $5.00 per child (12 & under).

 When you visit Susan B. Anthony’s house you will not only see firsthand how she lived but also learn what she went through to make a difference. Susan B. Anthony was close friends with Elizabeth Cady Stanton who became her partner in the fight for women's rights.

 “We currently traveled to Susan B. Anthony's House with our Cadet Girl Scout troop. The girls range from 11 to 13 years old. I expected a full day of eyes rolling and heavy sighs. I was pleasantly surprised to say the girls loved the tour so much they would go back in an instant.” said pilzsap a user of tripadivsor.com.

 “What I liked most was that everyone gets a personal tour. You don't just show up and walk through. You have to wait for the docent to come get you and then show your party around.” said Elisa M. a user of yelp.com

 According to susanbanthonyhouse.org the house is three stories. On the first floor is the parlor it was the spot were Anthony got arrested because she voted in the 1872 election, and the back of the parlor was used to work on campaigns as well as plan a strategy. The second floor consists of Anthony’s and her sister's bedrooms and a study. The room on the third floor was used by Anthony as her workspace.

 “I am so grateful for this woman's efforts and I really enjoyed this museum. There were quite a few artifacts that I found fascinating. The tour was very good; they gave you enough information and were knowledgeable about our questions.” said FunnOne a user of tripadvisor.com.

 If visitors do not have the ability to climb stairs the website states that the museum will offer   interpretations. If you’re planning to see this beautiful historic house, the museum needs to know about this complication ahead of time.

 Here is a YouTube video of the Susan B. Anthony House. Enjoy!

  

The Fountain of Youth- A Trip through The History of Florida

Hours of operation: open daily from 9:00a.m-5:00a.m

Ticket Admission: Adult - $10.00, Seniors (over 60) - $9.00, Child (6-12) - $6.00, Child (under 6) – free.

Special groups: Adults -- 10 or more, $7.50 each (plus 2 travel agents or 2 tour guides for free), Seniors - 10 or more, $6.50 each (plus 2 travel agents or 2 tour guides for free), Grades K - 6 - $5.00 each,Grades 7-12 - $6.00 each, (2) Teachers per 30 Students -free

The Fountain of Youth is an archaeological park in St. Augustine Florida where visitors take a sip of the legendary water and learn more about the beginning of Florida’s history having fun. This fountain is known for keeping whoever drinks from it young. In 1513 Ponce De Leon claimed the land for the Spanish King.

“I thought this was going to be really "cheesy, but the whole experience was quite good. The park is interesting, quite enjoyable to walk around and spend an hour or two.” said aussieinmo a user of tripadvisor.com 

Fountianofyouthflorida.com  describes all the exhibits that the park has. Some of the exhibits include:
·         The Discovery this exhibit is a globe that glows and it illustrates the directions of the Spanish exploration during the new world.
·          The Planetarium- this allows visitors to learn how explorer’s found their way home while traveling on the ocean.
·         Archaeology Exhibit- Archaeologists found buried artifacts on this land.
·         Spanish Cannons- The park gives a demonstration showing how the Spanish protected themselves.

Not only will you appreciate the history of Florida. You will also enjoy the atmosphere around you. A user of tripadvisor.com shares her experience in the park.

“We walked to the fountain of youth and found the walk itself gorgeous. The tree lined streets and moss really made for some beautiful pictures.” said Kelly128.

If you don’t want to explore the park on your own the tour guides would be more than happy to show you around. This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss because they are very knowledgeable about the historical site.

“My husband and I came here and we really enjoyed it. The staff were very friendly and informative.” said Danny416 a user of tripadvisor.com

In school I learned about Ponce De Leon and the history of Florida, but when I visited this historical site I learned a lot more than I did in the classroom. This is why I think people should take more time to go to places like this.

The Flagler Museum- A Beautiful Mansion in West Palm Beach

Hours of operation: Sundays 12:00p.m-5p.m.Tuesdays 10:00a.m.-5p.m.

Ticket Admissions: Members- Free, Adults (18+) -$18, Youth (13-17) with an adult-$10, Child (6-12) with an Adult-$3, Child (under 6)-Free, reserved groups of 20 or more $14.00 per person.

 The Whitehall Mansion a beautiful historic site that residence in West Palm Beach can explore but for the residents outside this state it’s worth the trip. Henry Flagler built this mansion as a wedding present for his wife. Flagler’s granddaughter bought the property from a company who used it as a hotel and reopened is as a museum in 1960.

 “It's unique; there is nothing quite like it in Florida. It's a National Historic Landmark that is also accredited by the American Association of Museums.” said David Carson the Public Affairs Director.

 This is a perfect place to learn about Flagler life. The tour guides of the museum share detailed facts about him such his passion for business to personal family stories so this isn’t a house tour about how the rooms in the house are designed. The tour takes about takes about two hours according to Carson. Users of tripadvisor.com share their experience.

 “The Flagler Museum is worth the visit. It is an amazing museum. You can enjoy a home with all the comfort ahead of their time. Our guide did an excellent job telling us stories about Mr. Flagler and his family.” said 400tulips

 “My husband and I visited the Henry Flagler Museum because we are fascinated by Flagler's accomplishments. Just like Flagler, the place is amazing!” said Beachlife51

 The museum is successful in grabbing people’s interest. According to Carson that average visitor that the museum has is about 100,000 per year.

 Flaglermuseum.us describes the importance of the rooms in the museum. Some of these rooms include the library which Flagler used to welcome his guests into is home and talk to business associates. The music room is where Flagler entertained his company by having a organist for each season. Flagler used the dining room to host meeting with important people that had to do with financial and legal matters.
   

I remember as a kid visiting the museum and taking a picture with my older sister in Flagler’s private train car which you don’t want to miss this on your visit. What I like about historical places like the Flagler Museum is that when you see the sites and hear the stories everything comes to life.