Happy Birthday America!!! (10 Great National Parks to Visit on the 4th of July)

Fireworks over the National Mall.
Image courtesy nps.gov

Happy Birthday America!!!

Today, our great country turns 238 years old! And what better way to celebrate than to explore a "revolutionary" national park! :)

Sites all over the National Park System will celebrate our nation's birthday with fun and educational activities. From historic weapons demonstrations and ranger-led programs to spectacular and breathtaking fireworks displays, there are a ton of ways you can spend Fourth of July in our national parks.

With a little help from our friends over at the National Park Foundation, I've compiled a list of national parks that will help you get that Fourth of July/Independence Day spirit!

And trust me: you really get into the spirit! I spent one Fourth of July several years ago in Philadelphia and Independence National Park . . .  it was amazing! Great historical programs, museums, exhibits and sites, awesome concerts (that year a la John Williams and Elton John) and the breathtaking night-time fireworks spectacular. . .  Spending a Fourth at a national park site closely related to our nation’s independence is a memorable experience that everyone should do at least once.  So go ahead, get out there and be a part of history; there’s only so much you can experience in front of the TV. :)

Now, if only I was in the New England area. . . .  *sigh* Guess I’ll have to settle for TV watching again this year. . . But in the meantime. . .

Explore on, Junior Rangers! :)

What will you do for the Fourth of July? Share with us in the comments below! :)

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10 Great National Parks to Visit on the 4th of July

(Alphabetized List)

Various sights at Colonial National Historical Park.
Banner courtesy nps.gov

1. Colonial National Historical Park (Virginia) - This site comprises Historic Jamestown (the first permanent English settlement in North America) and Yorktown Battlefield (the site of the last major battle of the Revolutionary War in 1781). 

Major Points of Interest: Jamestown - Join Jamestown's famous 17th century residents portrayed by interpreters as they conduct living history tours at various points throughout the site. Yorktown Battlefield - Moore House and Surrender Field, both key places of the British surrender.

Junior Ranger Program? Yes, Jamestown and Yorktown. Booklets can be purchased at their respective bookstores.

No Independence Day Events Scheduled.

Fort McHenry. Image courtesy nps.gov

2. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (Maryland) - Visit this star-shaped Fort which was valiantly defended during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 and the birthplace of our national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner," written by Francis Scott Key.

Major Point of Interest: Fort McHenry. Tour the fort, barracks and related structures. 

Junior Ranger Program? Yes.

Independence Day Events:

FORT! FLAG! FIRE!  Baltimore's Star-Spangled Summer! (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.) - Living History Programs with flag talks, weapons demonstrations, fife and drum concerts and more!

The Glorious Fourth. . .An Old-Fashioned Fourth of July! (12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.) - Enjoy fife and drum music, cannon firings, musket salute for 18 states, period dancing and games, and a public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Independence Hall.
Image courtesy nps.gov

3. Independence National Historical Park (Pennsylvania) - Spanning over 55 acres on 20 city blocks in the city of Philadelphia's historic district, this NPS site, known as the "birthplace of America," preserves and interprets a number of our country's most important resources associated with the founding of the United States of America.

Major Point of Interest: This site is home to Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was debated and signed in July 1776.

Junior Ranger Program? Yes.

Independence Day Events

A Celebration of Freedom Ceremony (10 a.m. - 11 a.m.) - music, Declaration of Independence readings, and more.

Independence Day Parade (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

Let Freedom Ring Ceremony (1 p.m. - 2 p.m.) - History program with "pomp and circumstance"

The Committee of Five (2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.) - ranger-led gallery tour about the men selected to draft the Declaration of Independence

Twilight Tour (6 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.) - Tour the park on a walking tour with the Friends of Independence

George Rogers Clark Memorial
Image courtesy nps.gov

4. George Rogers Clark National Historical Park (Indiana) - This site memorializes Fort Sackville and Lt. Col George Roger Clark's victory over the British on February 25, 1779. This victory assured the US' claims to the frontier.

Major Point of Interest: The George Rogers Clark Memorial

Junior Ranger Program? Yes.

No Independence Day Events Scheduled.

Hartwell Tavern. Image courtesy nps.gov

5. Minute Man National Historical Park (Massachusetts) - Visit where it all began and see the site where the first shots of the war rang out at Lexington and Concord in April 1775.

Major Point of Interest: This site is home to Hartwell Tavern, a landmark in the community where news and issues of the day were shared and discussed by travelers to and from Boston.

Junior Ranger Program? Yes.

Independence Day Events

Declaring Independence (1 p.m.) - A reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Wick House at Morriston NHP
Image courtesy nps.gov

6. Morristown National Historical Park (New Jersey) - This site served as General Washington's encampment of the Continental Army during the winter of 1779, where they survived the coldest winter on record.

Major Point of Interest: This site is home to Wick House, an authentic 18th century structure used as a headquarters by Maj. Gen. St Clair during the Jockey Hollow Encampment. 

Junior Ranger Program? Yes.

Independence Day Events

Reading of the Declaration of Independence (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.) - Enjoy a host of activities throughout the day including: musical entertainment, picnicking, the proclamation of the 350th anniversary of New Jersey, Reading of the Declaration of Independence, bell-tolling, musket firing, free tours of the Presbyterian Church and graveyard and a ribbon-cutting/tour of Fort Nonsense.

National Mall Fireworks. Image Courtesy nps.gov

7. National Mall (Washington, D.C.) - Some of the best fireworks and musical performances are held here at this annual celebration of independence. This year continues the bicentennial commemoration of the War of 1812 and marks the 200th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner. 

Major Points of Interest: Everything! From the Lincoln Memorial to the newest memorial dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., you'll find something that will deepen your appreciation of our nation’s history and this important civic space which is home to some of the most iconic monuments and memorials in the US.

Junior Ranger Program? Yes, including a new program, March on Washington.

Independence Day Events

Parade (11:45 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

US Navy Band Concert (5 p.m - 9:30 p.m.)

A Capitol Fourth Concert (8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.)

Fireworks! (9:10 p.m. - 9:27 p.m.)

Star Fort at Ninety Six NHS.
Image Courtesy nps.gov

8. Ninety Six National Historic Site (South Carolina) - This site commemorates the first Revolutionary War battle south of New England (Nov 19-21, 1775) and the longest field siege of the Revolution, lasting 28 days (May-June 1781). This site played an important role in a series of events which led to the defeat and surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781. 

Major Point of Interest: This site features a one-mile paved historic interpretive trail with wayside signs, reconstructed siege works and Stockade Fort, the original 1781 Star Fort, and the town site of old Nintey Six, historic roads and more.  

Junior Ranger Program? Yes.

No Independence Day Events Scheduled.

Saratoga NHP. Image courtesy nps.gov

9. Saratoga National Historical Park (New York)- At this site, in the autumn of 1777, American forces met and defeated a major force of the British army and forced them to surrender. The Battle of Saratoga was one of the most important victories over the British and as the turning point in the war, it renewed patriots' hopes for independence and secured critical foreign recognition and support.

Major Point of Interest: This site is home to Victory Woods, a 22-acre parcel of land which marks the final encampment site of the British army prior to its surrender to American forces on October 17, 1777.

Junior Ranger Program? Yes.

Independence Day Events

Naturalization Ceremony (1o a.m.) - Celebrate as 20 immigrants become naturalized citizens of the United States! Enjoy period music, weapons demonstrations, and toast along with 13 toasts to Independence and the "new" United States with free lemonade.

Declaration of Independence Reading (2 p.m.) - Toast along with the 13 toasts to Independence and the "new" United States with free lemonade.

The Face of the Statue of Liberty.
Image Courtesy nps.gov

10. Statue of Liberty National Monument (New York) - Dedicated on October 28, 1886, this gift of friendship from France to the United States is recognized around the world as the universal symbol of freedom and democracy.

Major Point of Interest: What else? The Statue of Liberty! Enjoy the grounds or a ranger-led tour. Or if you're lucky enough have obtained advance reservations, visit the Museum, the Pedestal and the Crown and conquer the 377 steps to the top and to the rewarding vistas from one of the Crown's 24 windows. 

Junior Ranger Program? Yes (NOTE: You must download and print your own copy to bring to the park; there are no booklets available due to Hurricane Sandy which destroyed all their available copies.)

No Independence Day Events Scheduled.