Places

Take a short hike in Capitol Gorge to see the historic Pioneer Register where early explorers and pioneers carved their names into the cliff wall. It is illegal to deface, vandalize, or add your own name to the Register.

On this self-guided tour of the Exhibit Hall, view interpretive exhibits to learn about natural and cultural resources of the area, including gold and copper miners, bush pilots, explorers, Alaska Natives, volcanoes, glaciers and wildlife.

Historic St. Mary’s City sits along a tributary of the Potomac River in St. Mary’s County, MD and preserves the site of the first European colonization in Maryland through exhibits, walking trails, active archaeological digs, school programs and more. 18751 Hogaboom Ln, St Marys City, MD 20686 240-895-4990

Sitting at the center point of the Oneida Carrying Place this impressive art piece commemorates the story and significance of the location. The Oneida Carry was a portage between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek and the largest portage in the New York waterway system. It is within walking distance of Fort Stanwix National Monument.

Located at Milepost 193.1, the Jeff Busby Overlook stands on the summit of a large hill, and provides a scenic view of the Parkway and the forested areas around it. The overlook features an exhibit that provides information about the natural history of the area, as well as the human history in the area. Towards the northern edge of the parking lot a trailhead can be found for the Little Mountain Trail.

If the Corps of Discovery had not come across this rock formation they might never have made it to the Pacific Ocean. Sacagawea knew that her relatives were nearby after seeing this landmark.

One of the most important travel routes of the mid-continent, the portage was a significant factor in the development of the United States interior. During early European exploration, natural waterways were often the easiest route across the North American landscape. Here canoes and trade goods could easily be carried around barriers or across multiple rivers. Today, visitors to Portage Woods can enjoy walking, hiking, and other outdoor pursuits.

The beach at Salt River Point (also known as Columbus Landing) is recognized as the site where members of Columbus’s second voyage landed on November 14, 1493

Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands preserves, protects, studies, and interprets internationally significant historical and cultural sites that encompass more than 2,000 years and human use of the diverse tropical, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems that comprise the Salt River watershed.

The Island of Kauai's historic Waimea River is famous as the initial landing site of Captain James Cook, the first European explorer to establish western contact with the Hawaiian Islands.