United States adds 13 names to National Historic Landmarks
2013-03-12
United States travel is certainly not lacking when it comes to historic landmarks. There are numerous destinations throughout the country that are replete with historic intrigue, and several more recently got added to the list. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recently designated 13 new spots as National Historic Landmarks, and there are a few you should make a point to visit during your travels.
"These national historic landmark designations span more than two centuries of our country's history, from 17th century architecture to a Civil War battlefield to a 19th century-Kentucky whiskey distillery that continued to operate through the Prohibition era," Salazar said in a press release. "Today's designations include significant sites that help tell the story of America and the contributions that all people from all walks of life have made as we strive for a more perfect union."
Among those added to the register is the Camden Amphitheatre and Public Library in the small coastal town of Camden, Maine. This unique venue is one of the most striking examples of landscape design during the 20th century, and designers certainly selected a good place for it given that Camden, and the Maine coast in particular, is home to some of the most beautiful scenery you're likely to find.
Further to the west, you'll find another addition to the list of historic landmarks - Chicago's Second Presbyterian Church. Much like the Camden Amphitheatre, the church stands as one of the best examples of the architecture that dominated the turn of the century. The stunning building was designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw and its interior houses a variety of beautiful murals, paintings and sculptures.
Sometimes the historic importance has more to do with what happened at a particular spot than its artistic significance, and that is the case at Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, New York. Since it was formed more than 85 years ago, this famous artists' community has welcomed thousands of creative geniuses, ranging from Langston Hughes to Sylvia Plath to Aaron Copland.
Not all the sites are located on the mainland, either, with Old San Juan Historic District in Puerto Rico standing out among the rest. This region of Puerto Rico hearkens back to the earliest days of the island as a Spanish settlement and holds a place as one of the oldest cities in the United States and its territories.
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