I called in some amazing blogger buddies to create The Best List Ever to Experience Living History Parks in the US and I’m thrilled to offer it up to you here!
Here’s our challenge!!! Make history come alive! SO much more interesting then a collection of artifacts or a book. When you experience living history parks in the US the emphasis is on living…Real people, real stories, real places!
The US hasn’t been around that long in the grand scheme of history but boy do we have some colorful stories to tell! Collected below is an outstanding list of various places throughout the US in all kinds of time periods
READ 11 AMAZING PLACES TO EXPERIENCE AUTHENTIC AMERICAN CULTURE IN THE US
Ready for The Best List Ever to Experience Living History Parks in the US?
In no particular order….
Lincoln’s New Salem Historic Site
There’s a good reason that Illinois’ unofficial nickname is ‘The Land of Lincoln.’ President Abraham Lincoln lived in Illinois from 1830 to 1861. The state capital of Springfield is home to many Lincoln memorials and to his Presidential library. But if you want to get a glimpse of what life was like in Lincoln’s younger years, you should visit Lincoln’s New Salem Historic Site.
The site is a reconstruction of the small village in which Lincoln lived from 1831 to 1836. The town was abandoned in the late 1840s but has now been reconstructed in all its original glory. The Site contains over 20 buildings – houses and businesses – that have been restored orreconstructed based on original plans. The businesses include a blacksmith shop, a carding mill, a doctor’s office, and three stores. Of course, there’s also a tavern thrown in for good measure! Visitors to the Site can learn about life in the 1830s and 1840s by listening to presentations and speeches from historical re-enactors.
In many cases, they’re demonstrating the work done in the businesses, and are doing it the same way it was done in Lincoln’s era. Finally, the Site also has performance venue which hosts plays and shows as well as concerts of music from the era and from later parts of the 19th century. Lincoln’s New Salem Historic Site is a family-friendly place that is fun for people of all ages…especially those curious about American history! New Salem is located approximately 20 miles north-northwest of Springfield, Illinois. From May through October it is open every day from 9AM to 5PM. November through April the Site is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9AM to 4PM. The site is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years’ Day.
~ Jim Jones Travel Stories and Images
Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum, TN
The Chester Inn Historical Site and Museum is housed in the Chester Inn, Jonesborough’s oldest commercial building. The Chester Museum is the newest museum in Tennessee’s oldest town and was added to the Inn in 1989. The museum focuses on the history of the Inn along with the history of downtown Jonesborough. In addition to being able to view the museum and it’s exhibits you can take a historical tour with one of the inn’s historians.
On the walking tour you will learn how Jonesborough came to be and what has happened throughout its history to make what it is today. You will visit the Washington County courthouse and how the State of Franklin was created back in 1784 in an attempt to become the 14th state. You will get to visit many of the historical buildings that are still standing in Jonesborough, that make this a popular destination for travelers around the world.
~ Tricia Snow Born to Be Boomers
Connor Prairie Living History Museum, Fishers, IN
One of the largest living history museums in the Midwest, Conner Prairie, is tucked away in a suburb of Indianapolis. Located in Fishers, it boasts a wide range of engaging and educational areas designed to immerse visitors in the daily lives of the museums “residents.”
Thanks to plenty of land along the White River, Conner Prairie contains four distinct time periods of Indiana history. The first stop is the balloon area, a small but exciting exhibit based upon hot air balloon flight in 1859. Visitors can actually take flight in a tethered hot air balloon.
There is also a Lenape Indian camp circa 1816. In the camp, you’ll discover how the Lenape Indians survived and thrived.
The most established area of the museum is Prairie Town, a living history town set in 1836. This section is created to showcase a full-blown prairie town with homes, businesses and many interpreters going about their day. Every day something a little bit different happens in Prairie Town, be it a cow auction, a birthday party or even a wedding.
The last living history area is the Civil War (set in 1863). This area brings the Civil War in Southern Indiana to life through a variety of multi-media presentations and local war-time activities.
Check out their website before you plan your trip to see what is happening – regardless of the time of year you visit, you’ll get to experience something special. Conner Prairie
~Pam Our Adventure Is Everywhere
Constitution Village, Huntsville, AL
The Alabama Constitution was signed in the vacant cabinet shop in Constitution Village in Huntsville, Alabama. This building and the surrounding complex was re-discovered in the mid ’70s during the construction of a parking garage. That construction stopped, and the site was restored to Alabama Constitution Park. The Alabama Constitution Park complex consists of three museums in one space area: The Early Works Children’s Museum, The Historic Huntsville Depot, and of course The Alabama Constitution Park.
Eight historic buildings were recreated from their original plans at Constitutional Park. These buildings include a law office, print shop, land surveyor’s office, post office, cabinet maker’s shop, and residence. You’ll find antiques and docents dressed in period costumes who eagerly tell you about life in 18th century Alabama, the founding of Huntsville and the signing of the Alabama Constitution. You can even see demonstrations some of the human-powered tools in the fully equipped cabinet shop.
~Jenn and Ed Coleman Coleman Consierge
George Washington’s Mt Vernon Estate, Mt Vernon, VA
Mt Vernon 
Mt Vernon bluffs 
George walked here
This is one my FAVORITE places in the entire US of A! I mean there is so much to see and do in Virginia in general but you cannot have a list of Best Living History Parks in the US and not put George’s home on it!
There is a profound sense of pride and belonging to something beautiful and special when touring the grounds of George Washington’s home. My personal favorite thing to do is the Spy App. You actually get to become George Washington’s agent and go on a spy mission! This adventure takes you through the entire grounds where you really get a solid sense of life in the time period. It brings Living History Parks in the US to a whole new level!
There is so much to discover and do at this estate. Impeccable and deeply personal looks at everything from making whiskey to preserving fish to understanding slavery. And of course, there is the intimate knowledge of how George and Martha defined what it meant to be a President and first Lady.
Also, they have AMAZING macaroni and cheese in the restaurant. Just sayin’
~Jen Tousey, This Family Blog
This Is The Place Heritage Park, UT
Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, This is the Place Heritage Park is an interactive step back in time. You will find workers dressed in pioneer attire willing to teach you all about life in the 1800s in Utah. And there are interactive hands-on activities to do while you are there.
There are different places to visit such as a school house, black smith shop, bank, and mercantile. If you have ever been to Jamestown or Plymouth Plantation (located on the east coast), which have replica buildings from the colonization period, the concept at This is the Place Heritage Park is similar, but based in the 1800s.
When Brigham Young and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints crossed the plains from Illinois in the 1800s, Brigham Young looked out over what is now the Salt Lake Valley, and said, “This is the Place.”
This park is a tribute to the pioneer history of Utah. You could easily spend an entire day here. The hours of operation are from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm daily, year round.
There is so much to see and do such as panning for gold, making crafts, creating Native American Jewelry, playing in the splash pad, and seeing animals in the petting zoo!
~Lisa Planning Away
Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI
Part of a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex, Greenfield Village is a National Historic Landmark in Dearborn, Michigan. There are over 80 acres for you to explore and expand your mind in every direction. From inside the walls of the Henry Ford Museum, you can be right next to JFK’s limousine or even Abraham Lincoln’s chair from the Ford Theater. Or you can choose to walk along the streets of yesterday in Greenfield Village, where you can see into authentic homes and shops with period actors educating on what it was like to live and work in that time period while Model T’s drive down Main Street honking their horns.
You can also experience what it was like to work in Thomas Edison’s lab, see the workshop where the Wright brothers decided that men could fly, or go through any of the four working farms. Besides all of that, you can ride a steam-powered train, horse-drawn carriage, Model T’s and even a vintage carousel. There are also several demonstrations throughout the village where you can watch glassblowers in action, get a first-hand look at how chocolate is made, or even catch a 1860s baseball game.
The village is open all year long, but my favorite time of year to visit is during Christmas with Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village. With so much to do and more, it is no wonder that Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum is the largest indoor-outdoor museum complex in the United States that delights over 1.7 million guests each year.
~Heather RaulersonGirlsTravel
Gettysburg, PA
The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the American Civil War. Pickett’s famously doomed charge was the high water mark of the Confederacy and the rebirth of America. Nearly every weekend from April to October, Civil War buffs and historians camp on the lawn of the Gettysburg Heritage Center near the famous battlefield. They open their camps to allow visitors to see the drills, tactics, and firearms that the two armies used in this epic battle.
The Battle of Gettysburg truly comes alive for three days each July during the annual Gettysburg Civil War Battle Reenactment. Hundreds of re-enactors gather demonstrate the ebb and flow of the battles. This allows onlookers to interact with Civil War generals, privates, and even civilians. Civil War dress, customs, and music are demonstrated and explained and the reenactments are punctuated with live mortar fire demonstrations.
Tickets and complete information are available at the Official Gettysburg Re Enactment Site.
~Matt Wald Ready Jet Roam
Genessee Country Village, NY
The Genesee Country Village and Museum is the largest living history museum in New York! Located about 30 minutes outside of Rochester, the museum boasts 68 historic structures from 11 different counties in New York. This living history museum is divided into three sections, based on time-frame the structures were built. Visitors get to experience what life was like in Western New York during the pioneer days, the Antebellum period, and the turn-of-the-century. Most of the buildings have interpreters or docents inside of them. They portray and explain about what life was like for the former inhabitants. The museum even contains some famous homes. Nathaniel Rochester’s house (founder of Rochester, NY) and George Eastman‘s childhood home (founder of Eastman Kodak) are both located in the village.
In addition to the historic structures, the museum also has a gallery with changing exhibits that showcase historical art, sculptures, and clothing. They also have a nature center on the property. The museum property contains several options for a meal or snack, including a confectionery located within one of the historic buildings. Try the maple cakes; they are delicious! The Genesee Country Village and Museum is open year-round, however days and hours change depending on the season.
~Lauren Where the Wild Kids Wander
The World Museum of Mining, Butte, MT
Ever thought about what it would be like to be an 1800s miner? Well wonder no more. Put your hard hats and cap lamps on as you enter The World Museum of Mining in Butte, Montana. The World Museum of Mining is one of the few museums in the world that is actually located on a mine yard. Above ground you get to experience a re-creation of the old 1890s mining town, Hell Roarin’ Gulch.
Here you will get to walk the streets and visit 50 exhibit buildings, 66 primary exhibits, 15 intact historic structures, and see original machinery used for hard-rock mining. But why stop there? Venture 100 feet underground for a guided tour of the Orphan Girl Mine where you can touch the rocks, see the equipment and feel what it was actually like to be a miner. There is no experience like it!
With the exception of two small lights highlighting the shaft to the water, the only lights underground are your hard hat cap lamps. Prepare to spend an entire day at the Museum. And if you really want to get into character, wear safety shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Mud is likely on the tour. And you are now a miner now after all!!
~Mindy The Traveling Silvas
Pensacola Historic Village
The history of Pensacola is often a mystery for many newcomers to the city. Pensacola has recently rewritten history books as archaeologists claim that the city is the oldest continuously occupied settlement. This settlement, settled by Spanish conquistador Tristan de Luna y Arellano in 1559, beats St. Augustine by nearly 6 years! The “City of Five Flags’ has gained its nickname for the five flags that flew over the city at various times, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Confederate States of America, and the United States. Visitors of the city will be pleased to discover all the crazy fun things to explore such as the Air Museum, Pensacola Lighthouse, Pensacola Downtown, Palafox Pier and other interesting spots.
One of the most visited attractions is Pensacola’s Historic Village. The Historic Pensacola Village features twenty seven properties that belong to the Pensacola National Register Historic District. These properties that can be visited are former city halls, factories, and houses owned by generations of families. Self-guided tours are available in many of the properties. Some of the properties can only be accessed by one of the many informative guided tours. Two tours are available daily for about 1.5 hours.
~Eric Williams Family Adventures
Riley’s Farm, Oak Glen,CA
Another family favorite! Did you think all Living History Parks in the US were on the East Coast? Surprise! In the wee burg of Oak Glen California, you can relive various moments of the American Revolution. They also set up experiences for the Gold Rush, Civil War and more for tours and groups but we are huge fans of how well they do the American Revolution.
Rilys Farm is unique and special in that its family owned an operated so everything they do, from dinner at the Hawkshead tavern to taking care of orchards for U Pick experiences, to dinner theater, to overnights… it’s all done with precision and passion that only a family could bring to it.
~Jen This Family Blog
Colonial Williamsburg, VA
The quintessential experience of all the Living History Parks in the US!! Makes sense that it is in Virginia, where things really began…
Colonial Williamsburg is one of the best places to experience living history. The experience is one of our favorite travel memories, and we have discussed returning and experiencing other seasons such as fall and Christmas. We happened to visit in early summer after school was out, and we enjoyed nice temperatures and low crowds.
The best part about visiting Colonial Williamsburg is strolling around and encountering living history reenactors who are generally busy going about their daily lives. You may stumble upon someone working in a garden or soldiers firing muskets. My daughter even took part in an archeological dig organized just for kids! Everyone we encountered was eager to engage with us and share their stories. We even had dinner in a tavern and learned about the typical diets of the colonists. If you love history and you want your family to have an immersive experience, you can’t do better than a trip to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.
~Stacey Love, Laughter, and Luggage
More noteworthy living history parks in the US include:
Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS
Old Sturbrigde Village, Sturbridge, MA
Calico Ghost Town, CA
Cherokee Heritage Center, OK
El Rancho De las Golondrinas, Santa Fe, NM
Mystic Seasport, CT
OK Corral, Tombstone AZ
Old World Eagle, WI
Plymouth Plantation, Plymouth MA
Stone Mountain Historic Square, Stone Mountain GA
Shoal Creek Living History Museum, Kansas City, MO
The aim of this article is to be THE go to resource for any and all living history parks in the US. We want you pin it and come back to it often as we WILL update it. History is ever evolving therefore the best list ever of Living History Parks in the US should too! If you know of one we missed, shoot us an email or comment below. Happy to add!
Do you dig American History like we do? Want ridiculous fun ways to experience it? Join the fam! In addition, you’ll get exclusive discounts and freebies JUST because you are a member of This Family and we’re cool like that!
PIN IT FOR LATER
I am happy to see Plimoth Plantation and Sturbridge Village, two of my favorites. These are such great places to visit.
My kind of resource!! Happy to see Greenfield Village on the list!! That’s from the hometown we moved from!! I grew up going there, and it’s why I fell in love with visiting historic places!
What an interesting post! It’s so funny to me the historical age difference between places in the western United States and the eastern United States. I love it!
Its SUPER interesting isn’t it? I just love all the different stories and experiences.
Oh, I absolutely love Colonial Williamsburg!!! It’s one of my favorite places to visit, but you certainly gave me a few other destinations to add to my travel bucket list.
Excellent!!!! That is indeed the goal!
Even though my career was teaching high school math, my undergrad degree was in History! This is a great article and I’m pinning for later since I want to visit quite a few of these places.
Fantastic! I hope you find the blog useful and fun!
We loved Williamsburg! This is a great list of living history parks in the US. I need to visit more!
They are so much fun!
I love this! As a homeschool family we also try to add in history into our travels!
awesome. Can’t tell you how often I have thought about pulling my wee one out just to travel and do trips like this all the time
I’m all about history so love this collaboration post…learned about a few new ones that I am adding to my list of places to experience.
Awesome! I’m glad you found it useful! Yes… I really like collaborating with others. Its fun!
I’m planning on taking my kiddos to Washington DC this Spring so I am bookmarking this incredible list!
Awesome! There are several within driving distance! Be sure to check out the blog post on things to do in VA and I have one coming up soon for DC as well!
What a fun collaboration to do with other bloggers. That’s real neat. I’m totally saving this post for future reference. Excellent article
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!
What a great post! I currently live in D.C., so have checked out Mt. Vernon and loved it. I haven’t been to Williamsburg or Gettysburg yet, but they are on my list since they are close by. As a history nerd, I love historical towns like these.
Awesome awesome!!! There are so many near you. Be sure to look at my Virginia blog posts… there are several
How fun! We love living history museums! I know there’s one near Tampa, FL called Cracker Country and one in Old Salem near Winston-Salem, NC. I’ve even been to one in Romania, but that was ages ago, when they were still a communist country. 🙂
oh wow!!! tons of history there!
Great info! I’ve been to some, still more to go!
there are always more adventures to be had!
Great roundup of places to visit. I love learning through these types of hands on historical sites.
ME TOO!!!!
Awesome compilation! Thanks for the inspiration. I’m thinking ‘Living History Road Trip’!
Wouldn’t that be amazing? I think about it all the time..
This is a phenomenal list! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you! I think a pretty great group had some pretty great thoughts!
So many wonderful parks! I’ve only been to This is the Place Heritage Park. I would love to visit all of the others, though! It’s so fun to see what life was like back in the day.
YES! Do it! So many adventures!!
We homeschool and we are always looking for awesome places for field trips! I’ll be saving this list. It’s great! Thank you!
Oh I’m so glad! Also consider subscribing to our email… this blog will have all your American History subject covered 😉
WOW.. What a list!! When hubby retires we want to travel around and visit a lot of historical places as we both really get into that. Funny how in school I didn’t care to learn about any of that, and now I can’t get enough.
I actually wrote all these down as it’s a huge list and hubby will love it.
Fantastic! I hope you will consider subscribing to our email as we do a lot of this type of post. I think most people had that experience in school because history was a bit of an afterthought, certainly dry.
What a great history list. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed!
We’ve gone to Old Sturbridge Village for a battle reenactment and it was marvelous. I can’t wait to take my kids to Colonial Williamsburg.
We enjoy history parks too!!! We also like finding a good macaroni and cheese. 🙂
my people…
This is such a great list! I’ve visited some, but not all of them. I’ll definitely be pinning this for future trips!
So many experiences packed into one blog. Great info to have.
History was my favorite subject and I continue to love all things historical! Thanks for sharing!
What a great compilation of places to visit! I grew up going to square dances with my homeschool group at Riley’s Farm in Oak Glen. Such great memories!
Oh we ADORE Rileys Farm!! In fact, going up in a week to get our pumpkins and do Sleepy Hollow! Can’t wait!
Aw this brought back memories! I went on a week long trip to Colonial Williamsburg in sixth grade from California, and it was such a wonderful way to learn history!
Awesome! It really is the best way to learn and there are so many fun memories made this way!
Ooh, I like historic places and buildings and stories. We have seen the living history portrayals at Colonial Williamsburg and even gotten to participate. That was an interesting experience.
I’m so glad you’ve done that! Hopefully you find lots more inspiration here!
I’ve always loved history and grew up in Virginia where reenactments we’re part of most field trips. I’d love to take my kids to some of these!
Please do! Virginia has some extraordinary places to visit! Hope you earmark the page to return for lots of ideas!
What a great collaboration Jen! There’s soo much history and I learned a lot from your post. What a great source of information and perfect for family road trip adventures. Every single place is just as awe-inspiring as the other. Hard to choose! I want to visit Lincoln’s New Salem Historic Site first since I’m a big fan of him 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed! It really is amazing the variety of hands on experiences there are out there. I’m so grateful we have so many impassioned people willing to keep it all alive!
Glad to see NY (outside of NYC) represented and it is so close to me! Great information.
oh… so many cool historical things in New York beyond the obvious of NYC… (singing Hamilton New York….) I hope you find lots of interesting places to visit here.
We are putting some of these on our list of places to visit. Thank you for sharing.
Fantastic! I hope you enjoy the other lists and articles on the blog as well…I’ll keep you busy for a looooooong time 😉
This is such a great source for whenever we are trying to get the scoop on the history in the area! I will bookmark it for future refrence!
Thank you! That is indeed what it is all about!
This looks like a very fun and interesting time thank you for sharing.
This homeschool mama says, “THANKS for the great list!” I love bringing history alive and your post will certainly make it easy!
This is wonderful list of Living History Parks. We have been to Jamestown in Virginia and we loved how all narration and drama take us into history. An especially good way of learning history for children.
Love this! I definitely want to try the Spy App in Mt Vernon and go on a secret mission! My kids would be ALL about that. I remember going to Gettysburg as a kid and I certainly hope I can get out there with my kids before they get too much older. You mention that they start in April… Maybe we can get there prior to summer on year… Thanks for this write up!
What a wonderful resource for those looking for historical parks! Our Strawberry Banke park that is somewhat local to us is an amazing spot as well. Thanks for sharing this list.
Your family looks like they really enjoy the vacations.
we do! it’s more like a way of life really 🙂
This post is an awesome resource! Great idea putting this together.
Thank you! It takes a village.. or in this case, a nation of bloggers 😉
There is almost something everywhere to visit! I love this list of ideas!
THAT is the idea!! Whoo Hoo! My hope is to collect 50 entries minimum..one for each state…
My husband is a history teacher and will love to read this – thank you for sharing!
AWESOME! I hope he will consider subscribing as we have ALL KINDS of fun stuff for him… he’ll like the colonial craft series 🙂
I never even thought about looking up living history parks. How fun
This is a great list. Thanks for putting it together!
Thank you!!!! Hope you find it fun and useful!
This looks like it was an amazing adventure! Nothing like seeing history come to life to make you appreciate it. Great post!
Indeed! SO many adventures!!
I love this post! I’m a total history nerd and will now have to put this list on my bucket list (which is getting really, really long!). How great that you get to share all your travel together as a family too!
Oh Ellen, welcome to the family! You are SO in the right place… girl subscribe if you haven’t yet. I send a lot of exclusive content too.
So excited to be apart of this post! Such a great resource to all these amazing places!
And I am excited to have you as a part of it too!!! I love showcasing bloggers I like and admire!
I now have more to add to my list of places to visit. Thank you for all the suggestions.
My pleasure! Stay tuned… we have lots more!
Great collaboration of historical places to visit! I, personally, have always wanted to visit Gettysburg!
ME TOO! It’s on my list but I have to be emotionally ready for that one.
Taking family trips are always amazing and when you add going to a historical location makes it an amazing learning experience! Thank you for this great list, it looks like the kids had an amazing learning experience and vacation!!
So much fun! You know how we roll 😉
There are so many different places to visit that have a lot of fun history behind it.
That’s the idea… so many different stories and time periods. A lot to see and experience.
What a great list! I love history and think its such an important part of life 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
We think so too. A lot of life lessons, culture to be shared, places to understand… all good things.
Absolutely love reading about all the adventures. What a great opportunity to take children back into time! I know these memories will last a life time and the added benefit is that the history books come to life! I wish I had read this before we went to Utah. What a great find. And so fun to become a miner in Montana…who doesn’t want to pretend they have found priceless treasures!
I think the mining adventure is outstanding! The only thing I know along this line is at the Chicago History Museum. I think these are the experiences and lessons that really shape character and the kids remember and share.