America may only be a baby relative to many other parts of the world. However that certainly does mean the country lacks an interesting history. Here are some cities in the United States with a rich cultural heritage:
New York City, New York
Originally settled by the Dutch in 1625, New York was
conquered by the British in 1664. New York has since played an important role
in American history. An important strategic point for the early colonists, the
city was the gateway to upper New York and the Hudson Valley. Since the
American Revolution, New York has become the financial capital of the world and
a major center of academia, fashion and culture The Big Apple
was also the traditional arrival point for millions of
immigrants. You can now visit Ellis Island and learn about the waves of
immigration that made the United States the superpower it remains to
the present day.
Boston, Massachusetts
Founded in 1631 by British Puritans, Boston is one of
the oldest cities in America. It has played a vital role in many facets of
American history -Â as the birthplace of Harvard, the American Revolution,
aspects of the modern pubic school system and the burial site for many Founding
Fathers. Of note as well, Boston is the birthplace to artists such as The
Cars Aerosmith and shockingly Boston. A When in the city walk
the 2.5 mile Freedom Trail for superb historic sites.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
As the first capital of the United States, the
City of Brotherly Love has a lot of history on tap Philadelphia is the
home of Benjamin Franklin, the Continental Congress (all of them), the signing
of the Declaration of Independence and of course, the drafting of the American
Constitution. Throughout Philadelphia, you can learn about the founding of America,
the history of the original Quaker colony, see homes dating back to the 17th
century and get a tour by “Benjamin Franklin” himself. It’s a window into 18th
century and revolutionary America that is only rivaled by Boston.
Jamestown, Virginia
Founded in 1607, Jamestown was the first English colony
in the New World. The Virginia outpost almost folded due to conflict among
early settlers before the discipline of John Smith and the
cultivation of tobacco got the colony back in order. Jamestown subsequently became
the major center of trade in Virginia. Today, historic Jamestown provides a
window into 17th century America.
Charleston is a major port city in the American South.
It played a key role in the Civil War (the first shots were fired here at Fort
Sumter) and is a time capsule of the Old South The juxtaposition of white
aristocratic wealth and excess against the haunting backdrop of
slavery makes Charleston a fascinating place to visit Much
of the old plantation architecture has been wonderfully preserved and a
visit to the city is a great way to further understanding of pre-Civil
War America.
Savannah, Georgia
One of few to be spared from the ravages of the Civil
War, legend has it that General Sherman declared the city of Savannah too
beautiful to be destroyed. Tree-lined streets front iconic southern architecture.
Iron gates shield plantation-style homes once owned by the upper
crust of southern aristocracy From mere observation one can still imagine conversations
in the parlor about the future of the Union All in all, Savannah
is a wonderful step back in time and notably, a great place to sample
honest-to-goodness soul food.
St. Augustine is the oldest settled city in the United
States. Founded in 1565 by the Spanish, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles named this
site after discovering it on August 28th, the feast day of Augustine of
Hippo. The city confines contain numerous reminders of Spanish rule the
most notable of which is a classic fortification. The main base
of defense in Florida for the Kingdom of Spain at the time, Fort
Matanzas National Monument is now under the domain of the National
Park Service.
Though not the first capital of America, this city has a
wealth of history as the political powerbase of the country. The result of
negotiations between the first colonists (each state wanted it somewhere else),
the city was sacked and burned during the War of 1812. Rebuilt to completion today
the capital draws millions of tourists every year to iconic
monuments, memorials and the Smithsonian Museum complex As the home
of Congress and the White House, A no other city can provide as much
insight into the United States as Washington D.C.
