Traveling isn’t just a great way to see the world — it’s also a great way to learn about its history and its culture. America may be a young country, but it has already developed a rich history. You can learn all about it by visiting the right places, seeing for yourself where the action happened or learning about past cultures by seeing their creations.

Here are some of the top spots to visit to learn about this great country of ours:

Washington, D.C.
Our nation’s capital is full of this nation’s history. Of course, the prime destination is the White House itself, which you can tour and see the places where dozens of presidents have lived and made important decisions. You have to book the tour ahead of time, so make your reservation before you leave for your trip. The National Mall includes the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, and it is the location of numerous historic protests and movements. Stand there and imagine Martin Luther King Jr. and others speaking to thousands during the Civil Rights movement. Other notable places include The Capitol, The Library of Congress, and The Smithsonian Museum. You could get lost for weeks in the exhibits and books available that show our shared history.

Boston
Boston is the place that many of our nation’s most important movers and shakers lived and took action. The Boston Tea Party took place there as an act of rebellion against Britain, and a lot of important events during the American Revolution happened there. Historic sites in Boston include the first African-American Baptist church, the country’s oldest public park, the nation’s first public botanical garden, numerous monuments, and numerous homes of notable figures.

South Dakota
Learn about Native American history through the variety of cultural and historical sites across the site, and take a stop at Mount Rushmore to see one of the most famous landmarks in the country. The first tribal national park in the Badlands will soon be open, and there you will be able to learn about the buffalo, an important animal in early American history.

New York City
New York City is the perfect combination of the past and the future. It has a rich history, but it is also a center of innovation. Visit the Statue of Liberty and learn about our immigrant history, and tour places like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building to see historic and influential architecture. There are dozens of museums throughout the city that show off its history and that carry some of the most important artwork in the world.

Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the place where the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were signed. You can visit sites like the Liberty Bell, war monuments, and the homes of some of our country’s founders.

Of course, there are many more places to see than can be listed here, but these top spots will help you learn more about what makes our country so great and enhance your appreciation of it.