Culture & History in the USA

Learn about more than 220 unique, living tribes of Alaska Native people at museums, festivals and heritage centers throughout the Great Land. In Anchorage, visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center – the state’s largest cultural institution – to explore exhibits, programs and an immersive outdoor village featuring authentic dwellings of the Iñupiat, St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Athabascan, Eyak, Haida, Tsimshian, Tlingit, Unangax̂, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq, Yup’ik and Cup’ik peoples.

For an unforgettable cultural experience in California, head for San Francisco’s Chinatown. It’s the oldest and largest Chinatown in North America. Stroll the shop-lined streets and indulge in authentic Chinese cuisine. Did you know the fortune cookie was created in San Francisco? Tour the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory to see the treats made by hand. Don’t miss the Asian Art Museum in nearby Civic Center – its galleries feature thousands of Asian artworks on rotation.

Discover history in the making in southwest South Dakota. In the majestic Black Hills and Badlands region, see the Crazy Horse Memorial taking shape on Thunderhead Mountain. The working depiction of Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota leader, is the largest mountain carving in the world. Learn about the project and Native Nations at the on-site Indian Museum of North America and Native American Educational & Cultural Center. Dive deeper into South Dakota at destinations including Mount Rushmore and historic Deadwood.

Embark on an epic adventure through the USA’s heartland: Cruise to natural wonders and iconic roadside attractions on historic Route 66. Established 1926 as U.S. Highway 66, the original roadway stretched over 3,800 kilometers through Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Much of the route is accessible today, with nostalgic sights around every turn. From motels to muffler men and eclectic art installations, there’s no shortage of gems to discover on your drive.

Oklahoma has the USA's largest Native American population, with 39 First American Nations headquartered here. In Oklahoma City, the First Americans Museum (FAM) honors these communities through immersive exhibits, interpretive experiences and events. The museum grounds include the 21st Century Mound Builders exhibition, including the FAM Mound cosmological clock. Other Oklahoma sites include the Chickasaw Cultural Center, Choctaw Cultural Center and Standing Bear Park, Museum & Education Center.

Marvel at Midwest scenery as you follow Frank Lloyd Wright trails in Illinois and Wisconsin. Learn about the USA’s most famous architect and see his Prairie-style buildings. Visit the Frederick C. Robie House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Chicago, Illinois, before moving on to nearby Oak Park. Its Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District includes nearly 30 Wright designs. Wisconsin’s trail features nine Wright buildings in as many charming counties. Tour Taliesin, Wright’s sprawling estate, and enjoy farm-to-table fare at the on-site café.

Visit cultural landmarks on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. Spanning 15 states, the trail connects schools, churches, museums and other sites where social justice history was made in the 1950s and 60s. Explore significant places such as the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama; the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historical Park in Atlanta, Georgia; and the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site in Little Rock, Arkansas, to uncover stories of activism and change.

Trace the early days of the USA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the nation’s first UNESCO World Heritage City. Tour Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed, then visit the Liberty Bell Center to see the famed symbol of freedom. Free attractions abound in the surrounding historic district, including the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and Fireman’s Hall Museum.

This iconic area of Washington D.C. features more than 100 monuments and memorials, all free to explore. Wander pedestrian-friendly paths to gaze into the still waters of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, be inspired by the messages of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial and learn stories from the women’s suffrage movement at the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument. Enjoy free access to Smithsonian institutions including the Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Musuem.

An alluring mix of old and new awaits in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The city’s 500-year history is on full display in Old San Juan. Stroll the cobblestone streets amid architecture from the 16th and 17th centuries and take the Paseo de la Princesa around the original city walls. The walls are part of the San Juan National Historic Site along with local landmarks Castillo San Felipe del Morro (“El Morro”), Castillo San Cristóbal, Fuerte San Juan de la Cruz ("El Cañuelo") and the San Juan Gate.