Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument [MT]

Description

This site commemorates the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, during which the Lakota and Cheyenne made one of their final military efforts to defend their respective cultures. Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer and 262 other U.S. Army men died on the site, making this the site of the famed "Custer's Last Stand." The grounds include a national cemetery in which the federal dead of the battle are interred. As of the 1990s, the site commemorates the fallen Lakota and Cheyenne as well.

The monument offers an exhibit, a film, guided bus tours led by Native Americans, talks, a self-guided five-mile walking tour, outdoor activities, Junior Ranger activities, and research library access. Research library access is by appointment only. The talks and film are offered Memorial Day through August.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument [FL]

Description

The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument contains the original Castillo de San Marcos, a fortification built by the Spanish to defend their position in America. It is the only remaining 17th-century fort in North America. The star-shaped "bastion system" of the architecture was an adaptation to cannon warfare. The monument presents the story of several groups involved in the fort's history, including the Timucuan, the Seminole, the Apache, Spaniards, African Americans, Englishmen, Frenchmen, Minorcans, and U.S. citizens. Interpreters in period dress discuss life in the fort.

The monument offers a 25-minute introductory film, exhibits, self-guided fortification tours, interpretive talks, re-enactors, weaponry demonstrations, Junior Ranger programs, and a green suitable for picnics. The upper gun deck is not wheelchair accessible. Tour brochures are available in English, Spanish, German, Japanese, French, Italian, Dutch, and Russian. The website offers historical photographs, vocabulary, a map study, and other educational materials.

Bandelier National Monument [NM]

Description

The Bandelier National Monument site contains dwellings and petroglyphs from the Ancestral Pueblo who lived in the area between 1150 and 1550. Spanish colonists inhabited the site beginning circa 1750. The 1.2-mile main trail winds through excavated archaeological sites. Visitor Center exhibits address Ancestral Pueblo life and compare it to the life of the modern Pueblo.

The monument offers a 10-minute introductory film, exhibits, guided walks, demonstrations, summer camps, a traveling trunk, books and videos for loan to educators, educational kits for use on site by fifth grade students, Junior Ranger activities, more than 70 miles of trails, outdoor activities, and a picnic area. Demonstrations occur on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Written guides to the main trail are available in Japanese, German, Spanish, French, Russian, Braille, and large print. Wheelchair accessibility is limited. The website offers lesson plans, animal fact sheets, and PowerPoint presentations.

Pipe Spring National Monument [AZ]

Description

The Pipe Spring National Monument recounts the history of the American West, commemorating the American Indians and Mormon pioneers of Arizona. The grounds consist of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians Visitor Center and Museum, an 1872 Mormon fort, historic buildings, farm animals, an orchard, garden, and ½ mile trail.

Group tours led by park rangers are available for school groups. Ranger talks and demonstrations on Indian crafts and pioneer lifestyles are also available at different times of the year.

Sitka National Historical Park [AK]

Description

The 113-acre Sitka National Historical Park commemorates the 1804 Battle of Sitka, the last major clash between the Tlingit and Russians. The site offers information on Tlingit culture, the Russian legacy within the United States, the battle, and the local environment. Key sights include a visitor's center and the 1843 Russian Bishop's House, one of a handful of remaining Russian colonial structures. Collections consist of more than 154,000 artifacts.

The park offers a 12-minute introductory film, exhibits, period rooms, demonstrations, Junior Ranger activities, beach exploration packs, curriculum-based education programs, and outreach programs. During the summer, ranger-led programs are also offered. The Russian Bishop's House is not wheelchair accessible. Visitors unable to enter the home can view an audiovisual program. The website offers historic photographs, an electronic field trip, a virtual tours of the Russian Bishop's House and totem pole trail, a teacher's guide, a salmon coloring book, interactive wildlife activities, a salmon jigsaw puzzle, and Web Ranger activities.

Fort Larned National Historic Site [KS]

Description

The Fort Larned National Historic Site presents nine restored structures, including barracks, squad room, commissary, food stores, school house, and mess hall. The circa 1859 fort once offered protection to travelers along the Santa Fe Trail and maintained relations with the Plains Indians, as one of several Indian Agencies.

The site offers an introductory slide presentation, exhibits, and a research library. The site is only partially wheelchair accessible. The website offers a lesson plan.

Hot Springs National Park [AR]

Description

The Hot Springs National Park preserves the history surrounding Hot Springs, Arkansas. The area has been a destination for individuals of all classes seeking relaxation and revitalization of health for more than 200 years. Sights include the historic Fordyce Bathhouse, in operation between 1915 and 1962, and the springs themselves.

The park offers a 15-minute introductory film, guided tours, guided tours for students, self-guided tours, traveling trunks, Junior Ranger activities, scenic mountain roads, a 9-minute film depicting the traditional bath routine, the opportunity to take a bath in the hot springs, 26 miles of trails, and picnic sites. The NPS warns that many sites in the area claim to be the Hot Springs National Park but are not. When hiking, visitors are asked to remain on the trails. Group tours require at least two weeks advance notice. Architectural models are available for visually impaired visitors. An American Sign Language interpreter can be on site for tours if requested at the time tour reservations are made. The website offers lesson plans.

Navajo National Monument [AZ]

Description

The Navajo National Monument preserves three Navajo cliff dwellings. The cliff dwellings are open to the public year round, and showcase Navajo life prior to European settlement. The monument is also home to a visitor center and museum of Navajo life.

The monument offers ranger-led tours of the cliff dwellings, guided tours of the museum, and exhibits and presentations in the museum and visitor center. The website offers visitor information and historical information regarding the monument. In order to contact the monument via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Mesa Verde National Park [CO]

Description

The Mesa Verde National Park contains more than 4,000 archaeological sites and cliff dwellings. The area served as home for the Ancestral Pueblo people between 600 and 1300, and now interprets their life and history. Within the park, visitors can find a visitor center, museum, five publicly accessible cliff dwellings, and a kiva site.

The park offers a 25-minute introductory film, exhibits, self-guided tours, guided tours, a 90-minute curriculum-based tour of one of the dwellings, one-hour evening talks, lectures, half-day guided bus tours, Junior Ranger activities, hiking trails, outdoor activities, restaurants, and a cafe. Offerings vary widely by season. Please read the website's "Operating Hours and Seasons" section to verify that your areas of interest will be open to the public at the time you wish to visit. The site wishes to note that all cliff dwelling tours are strenuous. The website offers pre-visit, post-visit, and on site activities.

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park [AL]

Description

The 2,040-acre Horseshoe Bend National Military Park preserves the site of the single battle with the highest cost in Native American lives. The Battle of Horseshoe Bend occurred in 1814 when General Andrew Jackson and his men attacked the Upper Creek Red Sticks, who were outnumbered by more than three to one.

The park offers a 22-minute introductory film, exhibits, Junior Ranger activities, 20-minute musket demonstrations for students, 2-hour guided battlefield tours for students, a three-mile road for auto tours, a 2.8 mile hiking trail, and picnic areas. Reservations are required for field trip groups. The website offers historic films and suggested reading.