About

From the Revolutionary War to the Cold War, discover the people, places, and stories of the American military experience—both on and off the battlefield. Whether sending letters home or carrying a diary through battle, men and women share their stories. Homes and churches were turned into hospitals. Bridges and farm fields were commandeered in battle. Monuments help us remember. Places like these have their own tale. This is our American military history. The list grows longer every day. Explore these stories and more below.


men in colonial uniforms firing muskets
Battles and Wars

Learn about the many battles and wars commemorated at National Park Service sites.

WWII African American airmen walking down a runway
Military Branches

Explore the history of each branch of US military service: Army, Air Force/Army Air Corps, Coast Guard, Navy and Marines.

3 African American soldiers standing in forest
People

Explore the lives of military leaders and the military heritage of various sectors of our society.

B&W photo of nurse and sailor sitting outside at Yosemite
Past Use of Military Parks

In the modern era, national parks answered the call by providing recreation and training areas for troops.

a black and white of a tent camp during civil war
Prisoners of War

The National Park Service protects both POW camps from early wars and were used as POW camps in later wars.

a corner of a stone fort against a blue sky
Military Infrastructure

Explore Forts, armories and other remnants of military infrastructure protected by the National Park Service.

Showing results 1-10 of 878

    • Type: Place
    • Locations: Chesapeake Bay
    Piney Point Lighthouse and adjacent white brick building with gardens, under a clear blue sky.

    Explore the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, the first built on the Potomac River. Discover captivating exhibits on local maritime history, WWII naval presence, and the iconic lighthouse itself. Climb to the top for breathtaking views of the Potomac and its rich ecosystem. Immerse yourself in the beauty and heritage of the Chesapeake Bay watershed while uncovering the stories that shaped this remarkable area.

  • War In The Pacific National Historical Park

    Assan through the Ages

    • Type: Article
    • Locations: War In The Pacific National Historical Park
    Line drawing of Assan Beach, showing key features and property

    Assan Beach, the 2,500-yard shoreline stretching between Punta Adilok (Adelup Point) and Punta Assan (Asan Point), which the Marines in World War II called a "pair of devil horns," is a poignant symbol of the Guam's complex history, blending indigenous CHamoru traditions, wartime struggle, and ongoing military presence. In many ways, the story of Guam can be read through the story of Assan Beach. Talk a walk through history at Assan Beach.

    • Type: Article

    The Mission Continues volunteered at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in 2018 through a partnership with the National Park Foundation. Members of the Colorado Springs and Denver platoons helped with non native plant eradication and trail maintenance.

  • Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

    The JN-4 Jenny: The Plane that Taught America to Fly

    • Type: Article
    • Locations: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
    Black and white photo of men in military uniforms posing in front of a JN-4 aircraft.

    The Curtiss JN-4 Jenny is synonymous with the “barn storming” era of aviation, and is truly the airplane that taught American pilots of the 1916-1925 era how to fly. This training airplane, designed by a team working for the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company in 1914-1915, was built in the thousands in during World War I to train US servicemen how to fly.

    • Type: Place
    • Locations: California National Historic Trail, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, Oregon National Historic Trail, Pony Express National Historic Trail
    A wood and lime-grout framed building.
    • Type: Place
    • Locations: California National Historic Trail, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, Oregon National Historic Trail, Pony Express National Historic Trail
    The post commissary storehouse at the end of the concrete path from the parking lot.
  • Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

    William Moultrie

    • Type: Person
    • Locations: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
    Portrait of General Moultrie

    William Moultrie's 2nd South Carolina Regiment successfully defended Charleston Harbor from the Royal Navy in the Battle of Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776. This Patriot victory marked the beginning of a meteoric rise for Moultrie as he achieved the rank of general and later served South Carolina as governor.

    • Type: Person
    • Locations: Cowpens National Battlefield, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Yorktown Battlefield Part of Colonial National Historical Park
    Colonel Banastre Tarleton in the green jacket uniform of the British Legion

    Banastre Tarleton, a British army officer, famously commanded the British Legion, a provincial regiment composed of loyalist infantry and dragoons, in the southern theater under Lord Cornwallis during the Revolution. Feared for his ruthlessness by the patriots, his early successes in the field earned him notoriety. Defeated at the Battle of Cowpens by Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan, Tarleton's favor with Cornwallis declined. Tarleton was present at the surrender at Yorktown.

    • Type: Person
    • Locations: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Salem Maritime National Historic Site
    A portrait of Leslie in military uniform

    Alexander Leslie, a British Army officer, served throughout the American Revolution, playing significant roles in battles during the British capture of New York. He later oversaw the British evacuation of Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina in 1782 as the war neared its conclusion.

    • Type: Person
    • Locations: Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Yorktown Battlefield Part of Colonial National Historical Park
    Color full length portrait of Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis in military uniform

    Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis and 2nd Earl Cornwallis, served as a British general during the American Revolution and notably surrendered his army to General Washington's Continental army and the allied French forces at Yorktown, Virginia in October 1781. This surrender effectively ended hostilities between British and American forces and led to peace negotiations, ending the war and recognizing American independence. Cornwallis later governed in India.

Last updated: November 20, 2017