When people think of national parks, most think treacherous mountain climbing or backpacking for days. That might scare off many, but national parks can be for any skill level or interest. They don’t always have to involve hiking for miles on end and living off granola bars. In fact, the national parks range from only .02 acres to 13.2 million acres. If hiking isn’t your idea of a vacation, the national park service still has a lot of offer you!
The national parks offer a large variety of scenery. Some national parks have rivers, deserts, mountains, geysers and other beautiful nature scenery. However, there are also monuments and memorials that made it on the list of nation parks. These parks might be a good place to start if you are just beginning to visit the parks. These can also be great for history buffs. They offer an insight to American government and history. Most of the parks have a museum on sight. These museums can also provide some history and background on the park.
Some of these memorial parks include popular government monuments and historic battle fields. Many of the memorials are located at the national mall in Washington, D.C.
The Saint Louis Gateway Arch
This monument is known as the Gateway to the Midwest. It is a popular attraction for the whole Midwest. The Arch stands at 630 feet tall and is made of stainless steel. It was completed in 1963 after two and a half years of construction.
Click HERE to visit the Arch's website!
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a massive structure that is carved into the side of Mount Rushmore. It is located in South Dakota and was completed in 1941. The stone carving is approximately 40 feet tall and features the faces of four former United States Presidents. From left to right is George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Click HERE to visit Mount Rushmore's website!
The Washington Monument
Located in Washington D.C, the Washington Monument is an obelisk that was built to commemorate George Washington. At 555 feet, you would reach the top after climbing an astounding 898 steps. Construction started July 4, 1848 and it finally opened on October 9, 1888. The structure is made of granite and weights over 91,000 tons.
Click HERE to visit the Washington Monument's website!
Valley Forge
Valley Forge, located in Pennsylvania is one of the national parks that commemorates an American war. This was the encampment site of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The park is over 3,500 acres and has monuments, meadows, and woodland that “commemorating the sacrifices and perseverance of the Revolutionary War generation and honoring the power of people to pull together and overcome adversity during extraordinary times.”
Click HERE to visit Valley Forge's website!
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace
This national park is known as the original Lincoln memorial. It is located in LaRue County, Kentucky and was where the former U.S president was born and raised for his early years of childhood.
Click HERE to visit the Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace website!
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
This memorial is on a 4-acre national park that is located right next to the National Mall in Washington D.C. It features the Stone Hope which is a 30-foot white granite statue of Martin Luther King Jr., a famous Civil Right activist. This memorial was completed in 2011.
Click HERE to visit the MLK Memorial Website!
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