Visiting History Preserving American Heritage

Newsroom

Winter 2005
This is an archived article. Facts and links are current as of publication date.

Visiting Preserving American Hertiage-graphic

Two hundred and thirty years of courage, dedication, and sacrifice come to life through the stories, buildings and artifacts on current and former military properties throughout the country. The "Preserving American Heritage" campaign invites visitors to rediscover and explore sites, museums, tours and reenactments highlighting the nation's military history.
The Preserving American Heritage information series includes a Military Heritage Guidebook that highlights historic military properties; regional guide maps to military heritage sites; A Guidebook to Historic Sites of American Indians and the U.S. Military; and Built on Strong Foundations: Constructing Our Nation's Military Heritage, an illustrated history of military construction. These products, and bookmarks featuring Department of Defense national historic landmarks, can be found on DENIX.

Presidio of San Francisco *San Francisco, California* Contact: National Park Service Presidio Visitor Center, (415) 561-4323 Experience: Hiking, biking trails and guided tours. More than 450 historic buildings at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as nature areas. Fort Point and Fort Winfield Scott are nearby. Interest: Served three nations: Spain, Mexico, and the United States. The land was reserved for military use by the United States in 1850. Served as a refuge for San Franciscans after the 1906 earthquake. Headquarters for Nike Missile Defense in the 1950s. Covers 1500 acres.
Fort Sill *Lawton, Oklahoma* Contact: Fort Sill Museum, (580) 442-5123 Experience: Fort Sill National Historic Landmark District and Museum, collections of artillery and artifacts related to the history of Fort Sill, including American Indians and the field artillery. Interest: In use by the Army since 1869. Burial place of Native American leaders, including Geronimo, and home to the 10th Cavalry, black troops popularly called "Buffalo Soldiers."
U.S. Military Academy at West Point *West Point, New York* Contact: Visitors Center and Museum, (845) 938-2638 Experience: Museum has four floors of exhibits, and the Visitors Center offers guided bus tours. Interest: Established in 1802 to train Army officers. Buildings in cantonment were designed in the Gothic Revival style. Beautifully situated on the Hudson River.
Fort Monroe *Hampton, Virginia* Contact: Casemate Museum, (757) 788-3391 Experience: Museum depicts the history of Fort Monroe and the peninsula. Interest: Excellent example of coastal fortification. Army-occupied since 1819. Following the Civil War, Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, served part of his imprisonment at the installation.
Even in an era of increased security, most attractions on active installations are open to U.S. citizens with valid identification. For more information, see the Preserving American Heritage guides.

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