Historical Places for Kids, my minivan parked outside a waffle house in virginia because we just survived gettysburg and i need coffee and wifi to process the fact that my 5 year old asked “why did they fight so much” and i ugly cried in front of 20 strangers
i’ve dragged my three kids to every major historical site in america and let me tell you – it’s equal parts magical and “why did i think this was a good idea”
here are my top 10 picks for places that will actually teach your kids something (and the dumb things i did at each one so you can avoid my mistakes)
1. Plymouth Rock & Plimoth Patuxet (Massachusetts)
teaches: pilgrims, native americans, thanksgiving truth my disaster: told my kids “don’t touch the rock” then turned around to find my toddler sitting on it like a throne. security guard was not amused
2. Independence Hall Historical Places for Kids (Philadelphia)
teaches: declaration of independence, constitution my disaster: tried to “recreate” the signing scene for instagram. knocked over a chair. got asked to leave the room
3. Gettysburg Battlefield (Pennsylvania)
teaches: civil war, lincoln’s address my disaster: wore crocs. stepped in horse poop. cried on little round top while my kids asked “why are you so dramatic mom”
4. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park (Atlanta)
teaches: civil rights movement, equality my disaster: got so emotional at his birth home my mascara ran into my waffle house hashbrowns. kids thought i was crying because i didn’t like the food
5. The Alamo Historical Places for Kids (San Antonio)
teaches: texas revolution, davy crockett my disaster: asked “where’s the basement” out loud. entire gift shop went silent. texas grandma pulled me aside for a 10 minute lecture
6. Pearl Harbor Memorial (Hawaii)
teaches: wwii,
pearl harbor attack my disaster: wore my “aloha from the other side” shirt.
realized too late. wanted to jump in the harbor and never come up
7. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
teaches: ancestral puebloans,
cliff dwellings my disaster: tried to “be an archaeologist.” fell off the trail.
ranger had to rescue me while my kids laughed
8. Mount Rushmore (South Dakota)
teaches: presidents,
american history my disaster: tried the “secret” selfie trail. got stuck.
ranger had to rappel down to get me. kids thought it was the best part
9. Ellis Island (New York)
teaches: immigration,
american dream my disaster: found my great grandma’s name on the wall.
sobbed so hard security thought i was having a medical emergency
10. Colonial Williamsburg Historical Places for Kids (Virginia)
teaches: colonial life,
revolutionary war my disaster: rented colonial costumes. my toddler pooped in his breeches.
had to waddle back to the car like that
bonus disasters that still haunt me
- salem witch museum: asked where the dunking stool was. got lectured for 20 minutes
- little bighorn: wore a cowboy hat. native guide gently explained why that was problematic
- kennedy space center: pressed the “do not press” button. set off fake countdown. entire tour evacuated
the only 3 rules i finally figured out
- wear real shoes (crocs are the devil’s invention on battlefields)
- pack snacks but hide them (nothing says “tourist” like eating a granola bar in a sacred site)
- let them ask questions (even the dumb ones like “did george washington have a smartphone”)
these places aren’t just instagram backdrops – they’re where america happened. your kids will remember the stories way more than any textbook.
which historical site did you completely mom-fail at?? drop your disasters below so i feel less alone in my chaos 😭
ps: if you’re planning a trip, check out NPS.gov for free junior ranger programs – my kids earned badges and felt like actual explorers. game changer.
