Whether you are on self quarantine, government ordered lockdown, or you just want to travel without spending a dime, we’ve put together the definitive travel itinerary to virtually travel through American History without leaving your living room.
Also, it makes Homeschool American History a breeze…
AND you can dress up in epic outfits and no one stares at you funny!!
Get great costumes for all your time traveling needs HERE
AND all your coffee needs to time travel properly HERE
MOST Virtual Tours do not require an ocular device but it they do, this one is about $7 so very affordable and worth the effort for the enhanced experience.
Ready to discover American History through these amazing time traveling Virtual Tours? Excellent! Here we go!!!
500 Nations Before European Contact
Before the Europeans arrived, we were a culturally diverse nation. Over 500 Nations! Where as each individual tribe and museum does not currently have VR experiences set up or virtual travel, use these links to virtually travel through Native American History.
Native America: The National Museum of the American Indian put together this virtual tour of Creation’s Journey and All Roads are Good
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture online exhibits
Many of the places listed in Places in the US where you can Experience Native American Culture have online exhibits so worth clicking on a few of those as well! Remember, at this point the entire continent was Indian Country so there are dozens and dozens of different cultures to explore and learn about.
1600’s America
The beginning of what we have become as a nation. Virtually travel through American History during a time when people weren’t thinking about history, just how to stay warm and stay alive.
Jamestown, Virgina: the oldest settlement in America Here you can check out the site and the current archaeological dig.
Plimouth Plantation, Massachusetts hosts virtual tours showcasing both pilgrim experience and Wampanoag experience. Love that because History is made up of more than one point of view!
Plymouth, Massachusetts perfect for celebrating the 400 year anniversary of the Mayflower’s arrival. Choose this virtual tour or here’s one just of Plymouth Rock itself
Salem, Massachusetts: Old Salem is a notable part of early American History and you can learn about America’s witchy chapter Here. You can explore the House of the Seven Gables and the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne Here I found this pretty great film as well.
1700’s America
Virtually travel through American History to my favorite time in history! When women wore fabulous dresses and had great hair and men deeply bowed when they encountered these elegant creatures and also had amazing hair! Incidentally those dresses kept a safe distance from each other and the protocols such as hat tipping, curtsying, or bowing left one feeling acknowledged and respected without putting the other party in potential danger of contagions.
Colonial Williamsburg: The quintessential place to experience Colonial America, there are three choices for virtual tours.
BE George Washington: in this interactive theater. It takes you all over Colonial America to pivotal moments and you (as George) get to make decisions. It’s like choose your own adventure except with real people and events and it is AWESOME! I may or may not have played this in full colonial outfit in front of my computer complete with really bad early American colonial accent. Don’t judge.
General Colonial America: We travel to a couple different colonial villages to make various Colonial Crafts
Mount Vernon, Virgina: Explore the building and the grounds of the home of POTUS 1, George Washington
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The city of brotherly love was pretty pivotal to our nation’s history in this time period. Discover 24 Virtual Tours that take you through Independence Hall, Betsy Ross’s House, African American Museum of Philadelphia, the National Museum of Jewish History and so much more!
American Revolution: Courtesy of the American Revolution Museum, choose this Virtual Field Trip that includes lesson plans or straight up 360 virtual tour
1800’s America
The 1800’s were a VERY busy time with a lot of different frontiers going on. Virtually travel through American History across the nation from sea to shining sea. And again, we had fabulous dresses that kept safe social distancing standards… hey, can we bring these styles back please? I think we were really on to something…
California Missions: Late 1700’s into early 1800’s the California Missions were established. These virtual tours take you back in time to show you terrain as it looked then.
The White House: Built in the early 1800’s, this tour is available in partnership with Google
Civil War: visit any and all of the Civil War Battlefields thanks to The American Battlefield Trust.
Ford’s Theatre: virtual tour of where President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination took place
The US Capitol Building: A trip to The Rooms where it Happens! And no lines to get in! (are you singing now?)
Daughters of the American Revolution: Museum featuring Period Rooms and other Virtual Tours
1900’s America
Hard to believe this is history now isn’t it? Virtually travel through American History to the not so distant past. Still a lot of lessons and experiences worth the effort to time travel.
World War I: Tour the conditions of a WWI soldier in the trenches
Great Depression 1929-1939: Exhibits and lives of the Roosevelts at the FDR Library from the Great Depression to the New Deal and even into World War II
Civil Rights Museum 1954-1968: a virtual tour of the Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy in Memphis Tennessee
President Jimmy Carter 1977-1981: Virtual tour of his boyhood farm
Ronald Reagan 1981-1989:Virtual tour of the Presidential Library
Final Notes
There is nothing like experiencing history first hand. Involving all the senses makes the lessons more profound and less forgettable.
as Ronald Reagan said…
That said, whether it’s budget constraints, self quarantine, government ordered lockdown or, you just don’t feel like leaving your cozy home, the technology of today makes it easier then ever to travel through time and get close to first hand experiences of culture and history.
Virtual Tours are a great way to explore a place or time you might not have done otherwise.
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I love this. I am going to have my kids look at these as part of their e-learning.
AWESOME!!!! I have more virtual travel and tons of American History (virtually and hands on) coming out so stay tuned!
I love all of the virtual tour posts that are out there now. This one is great too!
All these virtual travel options are (to virtually travel) really fun! Almost overwhelming but in the very best of ways. Especially for American History geeks… virtually traveling through time is awesome!
What a great post! Thank you so much for putting these all together! This will come in handy in our homeschooling.
Stay tuned! Lots more virtual travel and American History (virtually and hands on early America) home schooling coming your way!
The best way to learn history is hands on for sure! The history i remember most is the history I learned in museums and visiting historical sites.
I agree! I hope this gives some new and interesting ways for folks! But some of these virtual options like actually being George Washington and running early America…(virtually) that is great American History learning. We never had these kinds of virtual options growing up.
Great links. I love the dresses..built in social distancing! Our fashion may change perhaps?
I endorse this 100% Plus they look good on EVERYBODY!!! Not just virtually… lol
The fashions of American History fascinate me… They were so flattering and functional up until recent generations. What happened America? LOL
I think my soul was from the Victorian Era, love hats and gloves
well, it’s coming back into fashion lol Thanks for joining on the virtual travel through American History! Hope you are inspired! Virtually and in person.
This is such a fun idea! My husband is a huge history buff and loves technology so this would be great for “adult homeschooling” as well! Thanks for sharing!
Fantastic! It’s true. Virtual travel isn’t just for kids and I find more adults are interested in American History too. Good news!!! And I have more virtual travelson the way! whoo hoo!!
We might see ourselves in those dresses soon if social distancing is here to stay (no to COVID staying though). I am binge watching old movies, including “Back to the Future” again. Always fascinated by what life was like in the past. Great to know another option to learn history. Thanks for sharing!
YES! I absolutely endorse this fashion back in style! Yes, it is always interesting to look at that…personally I am still waiting for my car that folds up into a briefcase like the Jetsons.
Did you enjoy taking a virtual travel through American History? Virtually seeing America makes you think about a lot of that, doesn’t it?
So many great links here. I shared your post on my Facebook page as I think these are great links and ideas for parents to use with their kiddos while doing homeschooling.
Perfecto! That is EXACTLY what this is for! Thank you for taking a trip and traveling virtually through American History with the family! Virtual school is the God send for home schooL!
I’m all about history so will be revisiting this post often and clicking on the links to learn more. Awesome post…thanks for compiling all these incredible links!
Thank you for taking the time to virtually travel through American history with the family! I know you are a fan of American History…We really should collaborate on a travel story…
I’m loving the virtual travel options available.
The virtual travel options are pretty great right? I’m so happy to see some fun stuff come out in American History. (Virtual travel being one of the only ways we can travel through American History at the moment).
Let’s bring the big twirly dresses back! Perfect!
YES LISA!!! I agree! Thanks for traveling virtually with us through American History. (In virtual travel you can wear whatever you want) 😉
Virtual Tours have been awesome. So much to see.
Isn’t it the truth?? I’ve been loving it! Virtual travel has ben great but traveling virtually trough time has been my favorite! Getting to actually BE George Washington in pivotal moments of American History has been a ton of fun!
What a great resource! It’s so cool that we can visit so many places virtually. I love history, and I’m glad it’s becoming even more accessible!
Me toooooooooooo! especially when it comes to American History! I love the virtual opportunities to time travel and experience our history virtually!
I love all of the history. Virtual travel is unfortunately it for right now 🙁
For travel yes virtual travel is it at the moment but lots of hands on learning and virtual can be a great way to time travel! Have you seen our ‘making’ history section? It’s not virtual, it’s fun American History come alive!
My direct ancestors lived in Massachusetts
well hey, maybe were related? virtual travel through American history can be a lot of fun! I hope you enjoy!
Glad to see social distancing was a thing years ago too – who knew the dresses were more than just stylish! I’ve been looking for fun virtual experiences to keep everyone entertained, thanks for sharing this one!
You know they were a lot more canny then we give them credit for…. in outfits, in hair, all kinds of things! I hope you enjoyed the virtual travel through American history!!