Last Updated on August 9, 2020 by Janet Frost
Learning about history, culture and art might bring flashbacks of high school drudgery. However the truth is, we are participating in history and culture everyday of our lives. History, culture and art surround us in our food, fashion, entertainment, and all daily human interactions. Studying diverse histories and cultures helps us move away from ethnocentricity and toward a spirit of open-mindedness and impartiality.
Let’s start with History and some definitions.
My father was a teacher and historian. He loved the stories behind all the dry dates and fact. As I grew up, I learned that travel and history were intricately intertwined.
Every town, region or country proudly preserves its historic sites. If you are willing to do a little digging, you can uncover nuggets of history on a trip across town or across the world. Merriam Webster gives us this definition of History:
…past events as well as the memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of information about these events
Travel with an historical focus can take on limitless options. History can range from ancient peoples to contemporary leaders. It can include battlefields, homesteads, pueblos or gardens. Historical sites look like museums, trails, junkyards or working farms. When we Go! Learn Things about history we discover people, places, vehicles, foods, toys…the list goes on. This list is a perfect segway into Culture…
Go! Learn Things will explore visual art, literature, performing arts, street art, architecture, food and fashion. Because these topics can seem very contemporary, they are not always defined with history and culture. Merriam Webster gives us this definition for Culture:
…the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.
You can see from this definition that “Culture” can be ancient, historical and/or contemporary. It cannot be separated from what we define as heritage. Our heritage, aka History and Culture, defines who we are as humans. It reflects how we interact with each other and our environment. It defines how we have evolved in the past, and the directions we will take in the future.
Where will we Go! to Learn Things about History, Culture and Art?
Without a doubt, investing time and effort into historical and cultural sites will deepen your travel experiences. Where do we find these destinations? Honestly, they are everywhere you look. History, culture and art are the hallmarks of our shared human experiences. We are surrounded by opportunities.
Museums offer a diverse collection of history, culture and art. They can include vast Art Institutes, Presidential Libraries and small intimate local Historical Societies. You choose a topic and there is a museum to tickle your fancy. If you are looking for a way to travel and learn from museums, check out this post for ideas…Travel Themes: Museums
National Parks and Historic Sites
At first glance you would expect National Parks to fall under the Nature category rather than History and Culture. However, the National Park Service maintains a wide variety of historic properties and learning opportunities.
National Park Service
We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.
That is quite an all encompassing mission statement. The National Park Service covers 85 million acres over 418 sites. They include 129 historic parks and sites, 25 battlefields, 60 national parks and 88 national monuments. That involves some serious American history and culture. Check out the posts below for some amazing National Historic Sites.
Highways, Byways and Trails
“We’re on the road again”…
Who doesn’t love a road trip? The National Scenic Byways program is under the auspices of the US Department of Transportation. The