Colonization and settlement are important themes in the history of the United States and many national and state parks throughout the country commemorate and preserve sites and stories related to this history. These sites often include museums, exhibits, and educational programs that provide visitors with an understanding of the history and significance of the colonization and settlement of the regions they are located in.
Some examples of national and state parks that highlight colonization and settlement include:
- Jamestown Settlement in Virginia, which preserves the site of the first permanent English colony in America, established in 1607.
- Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts, which preserves the site of the Plymouth Colony, established in 1620 by the Pilgrims.
- Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia, which preserves the sites of the Jamestown, Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg, which was the capital of the colony of Virginia from 1699 to 1780.
- Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York City, which preserves the iconic statue that was a symbol of freedom and opportunity for immigrants arriving to the United States.
- Sault Ste Marie in Michigan, which preserves the site of the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States, established by French fur traders in 1668.
- Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Arizona, which preserves the ruins of an ancient Hohokam village that was occupied from around AD 1100 to 1450.
These are just a few examples, but there are many other national and state parks throughout the United States that highlight colonization and settlement. These sites provide an important opportunity to understand the history of the colonization and settlement of the United States, the struggles and the contributions of the early settlers, and how it shaped the nation as it is today.