The Early American History Trip - Suggestions?

[rebelstand]

Alrighty, ladies and gents we are looking for some suggestions. Next spring we (2 adults, 2 kids, 2 dogs) are embarking on an east of the Mississippi tour. We are guessing this trip will almost take us a year to complete (late April to early March). Our children's homeschool curriculum will be an Introduction to American History. We are looking for some advice on places to visit and campgrounds. Not all places have to be history related.

The only definite plans include OH in late June, PA in July, and FL in early Nov. We intend to go all the way up to Maine and then all the way down to Florida.

Stops we already have on the agenda -
Washington, DC
Colonial Williamsburg
Walt Disney World
Mammouth Cave

Right now the list is pretty pitiful for a 10 month journey....

[reinergirl]

America's stonehedge Salem NH

Acadia National Park Maine

Polar Caves Rumney NH

Strawberry Banke Museum Portsmouth NH

Plymouth Rock, Plymouth MA

The Newport Mansions Rhode Island

Just a few.... the mansions are not to be missed and Acadia National Park is one of my favorite places.

[jrudd1968]

Savanaha. GA. Loaded with history. some great camp grounds.

[c_lewis77]

I second savannah!
Also look at jekyll island, ga, cumberland island, ga, fort frederica (st simons island, ga). St Augustine, fl, cape canaveral, fl.

[c_lewis77]

Dont forget charleston, sc

[Alumaholic]

Let them walk Pickett's Charge in July.
Just as the Lee's army did.
From the shelter of the treeline at the bottom of the hill,
Up the hill through the cornfield in the July sun,
One mile,
To the stone wall at the top of the hill.

Let them cool off in the shade of tall oak trees at the nearby Little Round Top where Chamberlain's bravery on the left flank saved the Union.

[A W Warn]

Some Early American History suggestions in NC, & all have camping within a reasonable distance, I enjoyed all of these:
Lost Colony historic site and outdoor drama - at Roanoke Island, NC
Tryon Palace - at New Bern, NC
Museums of Natural Science, History, and Art - at Raleigh, NC
Old farms, Folk Music+Folk Art+Visitor Centers, Mineral Museum -Blue Ridge Parkway
Mt. Mitchell highest elevation east of the Mississippi-Blue Ridge Parkway
Old Brunswick Towne/Fort Anderson/Orton Plantation - near Wilmington, NC
Fort Fisher - near Kure Beach, NC
Fort Macon - near Atlantic Beach, NC
Fort Caswell - near Oak Island, NC
Cape Lookout Lighthouse and other lighthouses - along the outer banks area NC
Wright Brothers first flight memorial - Nags Head, NC
Biltmore House - Asheville, NC
Great Smokey Mtn Railroad - Bryson City, NC
Old Salem+Bathabra+Bethania, Winston Salem NC
River Lock system on the Cape Fear River - several locations
Battleship NC - Wilmington, NC
Guilford Battleground - Greensboro, NC


not historic, but educational:
NC Zoo - at Asheboro, NC
Three different NC Aquariums, at Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shore, and Fort Fisher.

Many more check out www.visitnc.com
ps: all state parks in NC are free entry

[MrUKToad]

Ocmulgee National Park, Macon, Georgia. Very early history indeed and free to enter!

[c_lewis77]

If you end up in macon,ga there is a fantastic air force museum there near the base.

...macon is just south of Atlanta. Lots of things to do there...Ga Aquarium, world of coke

[Lothlorian]

I don't know what time during American History you are looking for, but Gettysburg is a good one. They have a very nice campground 10 minutes from the battelfields.


Brian

[noreen&sal]

Philadelphia and not far from The South Jersey shore. Sal.

[Kosm1o]

Jekyll island GA, Charleston SC (Ft Sumpter), St.Augustine FL.

[charliejw]

When passing through Connecticut consider the Submarine base at Groton and for the kids the Aquarium at Mystic. A good history class is the indian casino's. They have museums and are beautiful just to see.

[rebelstand]

WOW! I go to sleep for a measly 8 hours and I have a wonderful page of suggestions. As for what time frame in history, as long as it's interesting who cares about the time frame. Please keep the wonderful suggestions coming. I've still got many weeks to fill.

[Silver Otter]

We'll do better on the next post, but don't miss Mystic Seaport, Old Sturbridge Village, Baltimore for Francis Scott Key, Edgar Allen Poe, and that fabulous aquarium, too.

[Midnightmoon]

You have to take the time to stop here in south western PA. Some places to see include Fort Necessity National Battlefield on rt. 40. and Jumonville Glen, the site of the first shots of the French and Indian War. While you are here, Ohiopyle State Park and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater are a must see. Also plan on a trip out to Fort Ligonier and the Bushy Run Battlefield. If your kids are younger, Idlewild park is just a stones throw from Fort Ligonier. After that, plan to run in to Pittsburgh and check out the Carnegie Science Center and Pittsburgh's Noth Shore, catch a ride on the Gateway Clipper Fleet and hit Kennywood park. An hour or so east is Shanksville PA and the Flight 93 crash site and the Quecreek Mine Rescue site. There plenty of activities to fill quite a few days in the area.

There are quite a few private campgrounds and a KOA located just off of I-70 at the Madison exit.

Here are some links for you.

Bushy Run Battlefield Welcome Page

Fort Ligonier

Fallingwater | Home

PA*DCNR*-*Ohiopyle State Park

Fort Necessity National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service)

Flight 93 National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)

Monument for Life - Quecreek Mine Rescue Site, Somerset, PA - Nine Miners Rescued!

Idlewild and SoakZone

Kennywood

Carnegie Science Center

Pittsburgh Weddings - Pittsburgh Tours - Pittsburgh Dining on the Gateway Clipper Fleet

North Shore and North Side Neighborhood Information - Pittsburgh PA CVB

[Lily&Me]

Sounds like a great trip and fantastic experience for your children. Lucky, lucky kids to have parents able to undertake something like this.

Monticello and Mt. Vernon would be on my list.

We took grandchildren to this museum in 2010 and they were fascinated by the story of how and why these people came to the U.S.

Menno-Hof - Amish/Mennonite Information Center, Shipshewana IN

They also enjoyed seeing the horses and buggies, and how other people live in our country without electricity, cars, etc.

Always good to expose children to diversity and differences, I feel. Expands their little souls and their compassion for others.

Also Plimoth Plantation

Plimoth Plantation |

If you are going to be on the east coast, north of St. Augustine you will find the Gullah history museum at Penn Center in Beaufort, SC. A beautiful, beautiful area and fascinating, sobering history.

The Penn Center - A link to the past and a bridge to the future located on St. Helena Island, South Carolina.

I would buy a National Park pass before you head out, as it will cover fees for many of the sites you visit. A AAA card will give discounts at many others.

Will be watching for updates!

Maggie

[blacksheep]

Vincennes, IN, is the home of the George Rogers Clark Memorial, site of the westernmost battle of the American Revolution. If you come for Memorial Day weekend you could also take in the Rendezvous which is Revolution period entertainment, food, booths with wares, and mock battles between the American and British forces and their allies. The re-enactors camp out on the grounds of the Memorial in period tents. Great place and time to learn about a monumental battle that secured a huge tact of land north of the Ohio river from the British, namely, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconson, and part of Minnesota. Aside from the impressive GRC Memorial there are several historical buildings in Vincennes including an authentic French fur traders home and Grouseland, the home of William Henry Harrison who was territorial governor and later a US President. The family of Abraham Lincoln crossed the Wabash river at Vincennes as they moved from southern Indiana to Illinois. Lincoln saw his first printing press here and made several visits over times with a local family.

Illinois campaign - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The info contained in this article seems to be quite accurate.

Another famous son is Red Skelton. His home still stands and a museum here honors him.

Godspeed,
Trent

[scarylarry]

Another vote for Gettysburg. Artillery Ridge Campground was nice with battlefields within walking distance & horseback riding tours. The new Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is VERY nice.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Originally Posted by gheuer

We'll do better on the next post, but don't miss Mystic Seaport, Old Sturbridge Village, Baltimore for Francis Scott Key, Edgar Allen Poe, and that fabulous aquarium, too.

Fort Mc Henry, Fort Howard, Fort Armistead, North Point. All points of interest for the War of 1812. All are less than 45 minutes drive from the courtesy parking you have been offered.
Sharpsburg/ Antienem, Gettysburg, Mannassas, Harpers Ferry, the Wilderness and about 10 other Civil War battle sites all less then 2 hours from said courtesy parking.
Smithsonian Institution, White House, Congress, all the Monuments, and let's never forget DuPont Circle less than an hour, often thirty minutes when traffic is right, from said parking.
As ghuer mentioned Edgar Allan Poe was laid to rest here. His house is very cool to see(it is in a not so good part of town, so the adventure adds to the tour). Babe Ruth was from Baltimore. HL Menkin was from here too. All that stuff is like a half hour away.
The Aquarium is well worth the visit. If you have never been, put it on the list. The Science Center is right around the corner of the inner Harbor from the Aquarium. You can take a water taxi between the two and learn about boating. That should cover the science part of the learning.
Don't forget the Arts in that home schoolin'! While taking that water taxi, one it's stops is the Visionary Art Museum. This is probably one of the coolest Museums you will ever visit. It is dedicated to untrained artist. The BMA has got an immense collection Impressionist painting and a very good modern collection. The miniature house collection is my favorite part. The Walter's is an awesome Art Museum also. There are many galleries to see at my alma mater, The Maryland Institute, College of Art. There are many art galleries all over the City.
If you want to educate them about other cultures while on this trip, you can do that here too. This is a true melting pot and everyone is represented in this city.
If you want to see some Airstream people while in Baltimore, Frank' Trailer Works is located in Baltimore, Colonial Airstream is just North and Airstream of Fredricksburg is just South of said parking.
And on a parting note, your axles need replacing. You might be able to have that done while you are here.