A large white building with a cross and bell on the roof above the front door.

A site along the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail

Butterfield Overland

In 1857, businessman and transportation entrepreneur John Butterfield was awarded a contract to establish an overland mail route between the eastern United States and growing populations in the Far West. What became known as the Butterfield Overland

A white canvas wagon sits in front of a large rock buttress with mountains in the distance.

Wagon at Register Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve

California

Follow in the footsteps of over 250,000 emigrants who traveled to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840s and 1850s: the greatest mass migration in American history. The California National Historic Trail is over 5,000 miles

The Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse with a row of pink blooming cherry trees in front

The blooming cherry trees in Kiener Plaza provide a wonderful foreground for the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse in spring.

Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred S

Bronze status of young George Washington Carver atop a large boulder, on the Carver trail.

"Boy Carver Statue," sculpted by Robert Amendola in 1960.

George Washington Carver

The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for education to becoming a renowned agricultural scie

The Truman home near sunset.

Although Harry Truman was a 20th century president, his home was from the Victorian era.

Harry S Truman

President Harry S Truman took America from its traditional isolationism into the age of international involvement. Despite his power, he never forgot where he came from. Today, visitors can experience the surroundings Truman knew as a young man of mo

Small waterfall with brown rocks and green moss

Giant springs is a site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Site located in Great Falls, Montana

Lewis & Clark

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail winds nearly 4,900 miles through the homelands of more than 60 Tribal nations. It follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvani

A wagon swale is cut deep into limestone rock with trees in background.

The Guernsey Ruts in Wyoming feature deeply eroded rock from wagon traffic.

Oregon

Imagine yourself an emigrant headed for Oregon: would promises of lush farmlands and a new beginning lure you to leave home and walk for weeks? More than 2,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen along the Oregon National Historic Trail

Sunset picture with high vantage point overlooking river with fall colors and sun setting in distanc

Ozark National Scenic Riverways has some spectacular scenery.

Ozark

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system. The Current and Jacks Fork rivers are two of the finest floating rivers found anywhere. Spring-fed, cold and clear: they are a delight to canoe, swim, boat, or

A rider in a red vest on a horse in a grassy patch surrounded by sagebrush with clouds in the sky.

A National Pony Express Association rider poses at Simpson Springs in Utah.

Pony Express

It is hard to believe that young men once rode horses to carry mail from Missouri to California in the unprecedented time of only 10 days. This relay system along the Pony Express National Historic Trail in eight states was the most direct and practi

Warm light from the setting sun gives an orange glow to a rock bluff overlooking a grassland.

Visit Cimarron National Grassland to experience the Santa Fe Trail.

Santa Fe

You can almost hear the whoops and cries of "All's set!" as trail hands hitched their oxen to freight wagons carrying cargo between western Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Follow the Santa Fe National Historic Trail through five states and you'll

Frame house made of wood with U.S. and French flags flying on front porch.

Bauvais-Amoureux House

Ste. Geneviève

Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the Big Field). After the flood of 1785, the town reloc

large white house, green lawn, two trees in front

The museum tells the story of Major Ridge, the influential Ridge family including prominent son John Ridge, Cherokee history, and the Trail of Tears, as well as subsequent history of the home and region.

Trail Of Tears

Remember and commemorate the survival of the Cherokee people, forcefully removed from their homelands in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee to live in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. They traveled by foot, horse, wagon, or steamboat in 1838-1839.

View of house with fence. Autumn colored leaves on trees

White Haven is picturesque in all seasons, but in the fall the trees are especially beautiful.

Ulysses S Grant

Ulysses S. Grant is known as the victorious Civil War general who saved the Union and the 18th President of the United States. He first met Julia Dent, his future wife, at her family home, named White Haven. From 1854 to 1859 the Dents, Grants and an

Men in reproduction uniforms talk around a campfire

Living history volunteers act out a scene during the annual Moonlight Tours event

Wilson's Creek

Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and the site of the death of Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focused national attentio