Historic Sites

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius and destruction of Pompeii in 79 C.E. was a horrible disaster. So why are people so enthralled with the ashy remains of the ancient city?

By Ed Grabianowski

While the United States has its share of notorious sites to visit, you'd have to take a trip around the world to hit the most infamous of the bunch. Where are they, and why are they so controversial?

By Joy H. Montgomery

Much of Easter Island's haunting past remains a mystery, though clues have surfaced about the people, their culture and their fateful decline. What's the real story?

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

America’s national historic sites range from miniscule to massive, and simple to spectacular. They commemorate events, people, and places from our nation’s history. Learn more about national historic sites in the United States.

By Eric Peterson

In 1777, General George Washington chose the small village of Springfield as the site of the first United States arsenal to keep weapons and ammunition safe from the British. Learn more about Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

By Eric Peterson

In 1673, Indian guides showed French explorers a short land route that connected the Great Lakes with the Mississippi River System. Learn about the memorial to that discovery, the Chicago Portage National Historic Site, that preserves that vital link

By Eric Peterson

The United States has numerous buildings and other structures that represent the freedom and opportunity expressed in the American dream. Here are a few of those defining monuments.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.