12 American Revolution Sites (1770-1790)

After 200 years of growth, tensions mount between the Colonies and the Old World. From the “Shot Heard Round the World” to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, experience the sights of the American Revolution:

20. Minute Man National Historical Park – Lexington, Massachusetts – This park commemorates the opening battle of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. Sites in the park include Concord’s North Bridge – home of the “shot heard round the world,” the five mile Battle Road Trail between Lexington and Concord, and The Wayside-home of authors Amos Bronson Alcott, Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Margaret Sidney.

21. Moore’s Creek National Battlefield – Currie, North Carolina – The site of a battle on February 27, 1776 that ended British rule in the colony of North Carolina. The park features camping, an indoor/outdoor hall, an annual anniversary celebration, and November candlelight tours.

22. Independence National Historical Park – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Both the US Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were adopted in Independence Hall, the centerpiece of Independence National Historical Park. The park is also home to the Liberty Bell Center, Washington Square, the Declaration House, and much more. No tour through US history is complete without a stop at the Independence National Historical Park!

23. Boston Historical National Park and The Freedom Trail – Boston, Massachusetts – The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile trail through Boston that takes you on a journey through 16 locations and events central to the American Revolution. Sites on the trail include the Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House, the Bunker Hill Monument, the Paul Revere House, and 12 other official sites. In addition to the official sites, there are other historic sites right off the trail.

24. Saratoga National Historical Park – Stillwater, New York – The site of the Battle of Saratoga, the first significant American military victory of the Revolutionary War. In 1777, American forces met, defeated, and forced the surrender of a major British army. The park offers a 20 minute film, a fiber-optic light map, timeline, and artifact display. There is also a self guided tour of the four square mile battlefield.

25. Valley Forge National Historical Park – Valley Forge, Pennsylvania – Valley Forge was a military camp 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia where the American Continental Army spent the winter of 1777-1778. More than two thousand five hundred soldiers died from starvation, disease, and exposure by the end of February 1778. The winter at Valley Forge inspired in the American soldiers a strong will to triumph over any obstacle to bring independence to the US. George Washington acknowledged that the perseverance gained by the soldiers at Valley Forge was what made the Continental Army bind together and win the war.

26. George Rogers Clark National Historical Park – Vincennes, Indiana – On February 25, 1779, the garrison of Fort Sackville surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark, assuring US claims to the frontier, and area nearly as large as the original 13 states. The park contains a memorial, a 30 minute movie, and exhibits within the building onsite.

27. Morristown National Historical Park – Morristown, New Jersey – This park contains three sites important during the Revolutionary War. Jockey Hollow, Fort Nonsense, and The Ford Mansion – site of the “hard winter” of 1779-1780. The site features Washington’s Headquarters Museum, the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center, and many trails.

28. Kings Mountain National Military Park – Kings Mountain, South Carolina – The battle of Kings Mountain, fought on October 7, 1780, was an important American victory. The park preserves this memory through walking trails, monuments, and a visitor’s center. The Military Park is also bordered by Kings Mountain State Park, which has camping sites, riding trails, and a living history farm.

29. Cowpens National Battlefield – Chesnee, South Carolina – The battlefield is the site of a decisive Revolutionary War victory over the British on January 17, 1781. The site features a museum, a walking tour of the battlefield, and a reconstructed log cabin.

30. Guilford Courthouse National Military Park – Greensboro, North Carolina – On March 15, 1781, the largest and most hotly contested battle of the Revolution’s southern campaign was fought. The British won the battle, but suffered such casualties that the battle led to the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. There are a variety of options for experiencing the park, including an auto tour, biking, walking the 2.5 mile battlefield trails, and there are 28 monuments scattered through the park.

31. Yorktown, Virginia – Most well know as the site of the siege and surrender of General Cornwallis to General Washington during the American Revolution in 1781, Yorktown is a part of the Historic Triangle along with Williamsburg and Jamestown. Yorktown also served as a major supply port to both the North and the South during the Civil War. The town was one of the original eight shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1682. Your family can visit the Yorktown Battlefield while in the area.

After 8 years of conflict, a new, independent nation is born. Like any new child, this nation experiences growing pains and expansion. Travel from St. Louis to the Alamo as our young nation grows up:

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