Alabama's churches number in their thousands, but this one is significant for its Civil Rights history. Here, at the zenith of the Civil Rights movement in the mid-1950s, activists gathered to organise the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The late Martin Luther King Jr also served as a pastor here from 1954-1960. The Victorian-era building is handsome too, with its lancet windows, baked-orange brickwork and neat white tower. 

Though Sitka, then New Archangel, was once the capital of Russian America, few vestiges of this period remain. Russia had Alaska in its grasp for more than a century, and this faded-yellow building is a rare, surviving fragment of this era. The structure was finished in 1842 and was a hub for the Russian Orthodox Church. After being abandoned in 1969, the building fell into disrepair, but is now under the protection of the National Park Service and open to visitors. The ground floor is filled with exhibits and you can take free guided tours of the upper level.

This elegant Greek Revival-style building is proudly touted as the "oldest standing state capitol building west of the Mississippi River". The construction of Arkansas' original state capitol building began back in 1833, and over the years it's worn many hats: it's served as the HQ for the Arkansas State Police and a medical school, and now it's stuffed with exhibits telling stories of the state. Learn about Arkansas' important political figures and the impact of the Civil War on a self-guided or group tour.

America might be a young country, but humans have inhabited the land here for many thousands of years – and this cliff-hewn castle is a fine example of that. It was built and inhabited by the Indigenous Sinagua people from AD 1100 and it's still remarkably intact. It comprises 20 rooms and the park has ranger-led tours that shed more light on the structure and its surrounds. 

The reputation of Alcatraz, nicknamed 'the Rock', precedes it. Infamous criminals such as Al Capone were banished to this rugged island, which was the site of a formidable penitentiary from 1934 to 1963. It's been written into culture too: high-profile escapes in the 1960s inspired the 1970s Clint Eastwood movie Escape from Alcatraz. Today visitors can take a ferry across the bay and see the place for themselves on a self-guided audio tour that explores the cell houses.

Another example of the architectural ingenuity of America's Indigenous peoples, the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings were built by Ancestral Puebloan peoples from around the late 1190s. Incredibly, more than 4,000 structures are preserved across the park, but the glittering jewel is the Cliff Palace (pictured). Built from mortar, sandstone and wooden beams, the sprawling site would have been home to around 100 residents and you can see it from the Cliff Palace Overlook, off the Cliff Palace Loop Road. 

If the walls of Connecticut's oldest house could talk, they'd surely have a lot to say: constructed from local granite, the house was erected from 1639, by a group of settling English Puritans. It served both as a private home for colonists and also a defensive building given the tumultuousness of the period. Now, the house is a museum that looks at this era with an unflinching gaze and highlights ongoing societal injustices today. 

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The John Dickinson Plantation is another place committed to giving a holistic view of a period in history. The Early Georgian-style mansion was built from 1739-40 and is named for John Dickinson, known as the 'Penman of the Revolution' for his contributions as one of America's Founding Fathers. Despite his calls for freedom, Dickinson was a slaveholder, and visitors will learn about the lives of the enslaved people who lived here on tours of the site. 

Touted as the oldest city in the continental USA, St Augustine holds plenty of treasures – but none more impressive than Castillo de San Marcos, known as the oldest masonry fort in the States. It was built by the Spanish from 1672 and was intended to defend the Atlantic trade route, surviving multiple British attacks. Today you can explore the site for yourself with a wander through the exhibit-filled fortress and see extras such as historic weapon demonstrations.

This Queen Anne-style house might look humble, but it's the birthplace of one of the most important figures in modern history. Martin Luther King Jr was born in the home in 1929 and lived here with his family for 12 years. After his assassination in 1968, the property was restored and now functions as a house museum. You can tour the jumble of rooms on the popular Birth Home Tours – come early as tour spaces are limited and operate on a first-come first-served basis.

This sumptuous palace is the only official royal residence in the USA, built from 1879 to 1882, and serving as the home of the Hawaiian monarchy. Their story is a tumultuous one: Queen Liliuokalani, who took to the throne in 1891, was actually overthrown and arrested after she attempted to bolster the power of the royal family. She was the Hawaiian Kingdom's last sovereign monarch. Now guided or independent tours whisk visitors through the state rooms and the royals' private quarters.

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One of the most recognised names in American history, former president Ulysses S. Grant famously led Union forces to victory as he served as the commanding officer in the Civil War's later years. This elegant Italianate house, constructed in 1860, was presented to Grant by revering citizens upon his return to Galena after the conflict. You can now learn about Grant's life from within its walls on a guided tour – the rooms have been restored to how it would have looked in 1868.

Another important presidential building, this one is dedicated to 23rd president Benjamin Harrison, who's remembered for opening immigration station Ellis Island and for his time as a colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War. The building alone is worth your attention: Harrison lived in this 1875 Italianate Victorian home through the second half of the 19th century and died here in 1901. Today it's packed full of the family's furniture, curios and artworks, and exhibits tell the story of his life. 

West Branch residents are very proud indeed of their most famous resident: 31st president Herbert Hoover, who was born here in 1874. The preserved two-room birthplace cottage speaks to Hoover's humble beginnings – he was orphaned young and left West Branch with no view to return. Eventually, though, he came to pay homage to his early family home, and in the 1930s the property was restored. Now it's preserved as part of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site with its walking trails and informative visitor centre. 

The simplicity of this white-washed building belies its significance in Kansas history. The oldest wood-frame building in Kansas, it was built during the Bleeding Kansas years, when proslavery and anti-slavery groups clashed over territories. In this very building, the proslavery constitution was drafted, and protests from a sizeable anti-slavery delegation took place. Several curios and furniture items from the period remain in the building today and informative displays retell the history.

Described by the site as "one of America's most fascinating First Ladies", Mary Todd lived in this attractive red-brick house as a girl. She was from a well-to-do family with a father who was a politician and a businessman in the cotton industry, and the house is beautifully preserved. Now you can take a self-guided tour (docents are on hand to answer any questions) and learn about Mary Todd's life (from her girlhood to the White House). 

Presiding over New Orleans' buzzing Jackson Square, St Louis Cathedral is an icon of the city, even earning itself a mention in Tennessee Williams' classic A Streetcar Named Desire, which was set in the Big Easy. It dates to the 18th century, though large portions of it were destroyed in a fire and most of the current landmark is from the 1850s. You can peek inside for yourself and sometimes a docent will be on hand to give you a guided tour if you ask. 

Probably one of the most famous defensive buildings in America, star-shaped Fort McHenry was finished in 1803 and played a pivotal role in the War of 1812. During the Battle of Baltimore (in 1814), American forces repelled and defeated invading British troops. Purportedly the dramatic victory inspired Francis Scott Key to write America's national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. You can take a self-guided tour of the fort, which has historic exhibits inside.

A popular stop along Boston's Freedom Trail, a route that joins the city's most significant historical attractions, Faneuil Hall has stood proud in downtown Boston since 1742. It started life as a meeting hall and marketplace, with figures including Founding Father Samuel Adams giving history-changing speeches here. Today it's a popular shopping stop, packed with vendors from local makers to nationally known brands. 

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It's the intricate architecture that really puts this Portland mansion on the historical map. It's dubbed one of the 'most important historic homes of the 19th century anywhere in the nation' for its Italian villa-style exterior and its sumptuous interiors, designed by Gustave Herter – it's the only one of his creations left intact. Guided tours take just under an hour and lead guests through a series of opulent rooms with period paintings, stained glass and detailed moulding work. 

Lording it over car-free Mackinac Island, the Grand Hotel has history in spades. It dates right back to 1887, when its doors swung open for well-heeled holidaymakers looking for a summer escape. Over the centuries, it's played host to famous figures including Mark Twain, who lectured here in 1895, and been a location for movies like Somewhere In Time, a 1980 romantic fantasy starring Christopher Reeve. Today it's as grand as ever, and it still boasts what's tipped as the longest front porch in the world.

The fort is just a small fragment of the story at this historic site, which holds some 10,000 years of human history. Among other tribes, the Dakota and the Ojibwe called this their home many millennia ago, while construction on the fort began in 1819 and was completed in 1825. Recruits were trained here throughout the Civil War, and the 3rd United States Infantry was garrisoned at Snell during the Spanish-American War too. The Plank Museum and Visitor Center is a great place to kick off your discoveries. 

This simple house is the childhood home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, who'd go on to become the famous Mark Twain, author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The building itself was constructed in the mid-1800s and almost faced the wrecking ball in the early 20th century. Thankfully, though, it was saved and today it contains many of Mark Twain's personal possessions, from clothing to his typewriter and pipe.

Bannack State Park safeguards the site where a large amount of gold was first struck in Montana and it's home to more than 50 preserved and restored buildings that evoke the town's 19th-century heyday. The most impressive of all is Hotel Meade, which began life as a courthouse in 1875. Legend has it it's haunted by the ghost of Dorothy Dunn, a teenager who tragically drowned nearby in 1916.

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Ever heard of Arbor Day? It's a day where folks gather to plant trees and the idea was dreamt up right here back in 1872. This was the home of Julius Sterling Morton, who was Secretary of Agriculture in the 1890s and who established Arbor Day. Now the impressive historic mansion, with its columned portico and striking green shutters, is a family-friendly tourist attraction with forest trails and a terraced garden, plus lodgings and restaurants.

If you're after a taste of the Old West, then this hotel with more than a century of history delivers. It was built right back in 1907 and, at the time, the lofty structure was the tallest in the state. Over the years, it's played host to presidents, including president Franklin D. Roosevelt, and it's purportedly now home to a ghost or two. The Lady in Red, the spirit of a woman murdered by her ex-lover, is thought to be among the spectral residents. 

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Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park protects the summer escape of one of America's finest sculptors: Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He began retreating here in the 1880s and continued to work at the property right up until his death in 1907. A highlight is the Little Studio, where Saint-Gaudens set to work on many early models and sketches – it's open for art-loving visitors seasonally. 

New Jersey's historic treasures are often overlooked, but it's well worth making a trip to this museum in Trenton, just a few hours away from New York City. The Old Barracks building was constructed back in 1758, to house soldiers during the French and Indian War. It was then also used throughout the Revolutionary War by both the British and Americans. Today it's filled with exhibits covering everything from the history of the structure itself to tales of a local anti-suffrage movement. 

There are fascinating vestiges of Indigenous cultures all over the United States, but Taos Pueblo is a place of living history. The site is often labelled as the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America, with people having lived in sun-baked adobe buildings, built by the Anasazi, for more than 1,000 years. Indigenous peoples still live here today and it's possible to visit – you can take tours with residents and buy crafts made by local people.

Few train stations in the world are more famous than the Beaux Arts-style Grand Central Terminal, which opened back in 1913, welcoming more than 150,000 visitors on its first day. Soon, swish hotels began to pop up in the neighbourhood and, over the decades, the terminal became a landmark and an architectural icon. A highlight is the four-faced opal glass clock – a classic meeting place – or the celestial frescoes on the main concourse's ceiling. Today there are plenty of food and drink options too, so you can fill up as you get a taste of transport history. 

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Of all America's stately homes, this might be the finest. It's a sprawling Gilded Age mansion that was built for George Vanderbilt in 1889 and it's tipped as the largest residential home in the country. The place is a treasure trove for architecture and art lovers, with 65 impressive fireplaces, fine paintings and period details from frescoes to carved wood. It's now possible to stay on the Biltmore estate and various tours bring the house to life.

This site preserves the Fort Union Trading Post, considered the "most important fur trade post on the Upper Missouri River". Here, between 1828 and 1867, Indigenous tribes, including the Assiniboine, traded animal furs for a variety of other goods, and now it's been partially reconstructed. Set aside two hours to explore the fort on a self-guided walking tour and learn about 19th-century life here. 

Widely considered one of the world's greatest inventors, Thomas Edison was born and grew up in this 1841 house – he was the brains behind the phonograph and contributed to the development of the lightbulb. Now it's a shrine to the late visionary, filled with his early inventions and family relics. Take a guided tour to learn more about Edison's life and legacy. 

This pre-war plantation home – the only one of its kind still standing in the state – is part of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. It was owned by George Michael Murrell, a business owner married to a wealthy Cherokee woman. During the Trail of Tears in the 1830s, the Cherokee peoples were exiled from their homeland – Murrell, his wife and her wider family moved to Park Hill in Oklahoma and he built this Greek Revival-style house. It's possible to tour the property which is host to living history interpreters. 

Portland's federal Pioneer Courthouse has stood on its namesake square since the mid-19th century. It's built in a delicate Italianate style with a copper-clad cupola and it's dubbed the Pacific Northwest's most important government building from the 1800s. Notable trials here include those related to the Oregon land fraud scandal, which involved the illegal obtainment of land grants in the state. Displays inside tell the story of the courthouse and its landmark trials, and you can look out across the city from within the cupola.

Few buildings have a more important place in American history than Philadelphia's Independence Hall. It's the site where the Declaration of Independence, the document that released the States from British rule, was debated and signed in 1776, as well as the US Constitution in 1787. It's now part of Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park, along with the Liberty Bell Center and the Merchants' Exchange Building, and guided tours explore the building.

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US, but it punches above its weight when it comes to historic buildings – Newport is especially well-known for Gilded Age mansions including The Breakers. Providence's Lippitt House, former home of textile business heir Henry Lippitt, is one of the state's finest preserved homes – a highlight is the super-plush dining room with its paintings in gilded frames, chandelier and decorative furnishings. Tour the house for a deep-dive into the Victorian-era architecture and design. 

Described as a "living witness", Drayton Hall is one of the oldest and best preserved plantation homes in the USA. The Palladian-style property was constructed by John Drayton, a wealthy plantation magnate, who bought the land in 1738 and, remarkably, it's never been restored. That means the house is a fascinating snapshot of time, with winding wood staircases, intricate moulding and decorative fireplaces just as they were back in the day. Guided tours explore the house and grounds and tell important stories about the enslaved people who lived here.

You'll get a glimpse of 19th-century life at this historic home in Deadwood. The Queen Anne-style house was built in 1892 and belonged to W.E Adams, a prominent local businessman and the city's mayor – he's also known for opening the Adams Museum, dedicated to Deadwood history, in 1930. Dive into Victorian-era architecture with a wander through the property, with its oak detailing and stained glass – city dignitaries were known to gather in the Adams dining room to discuss important matters.

Nashville has a whole lot of history beyond its well-known musical heritage. The Federal-style mansion belonging to seventh president Andrew Jackson is preserved for posterity as a house museum, decked out in period furniture, with interpreters on hand to unravel a complex history. Jackson was a proponent of slavery and In Their Footsteps: Life of the Hermitage Enslaved Tours are a poignant look at the experiences of the enslaved people who lived here. 

At this storied 18th-century mission and fortress, visitors will learn about the Texas Revolution and the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, which saw the Texans (including infamous revolutionaries Davy Crockett, William Travis and James Bowie) clash with the Mexicans. There are living history reenactments, plus exhibits retelling the story of the conflict.

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You can't miss the mighty Salt Lake Temple, a sacred building for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that dominates Salt Lake City's Temple Square. It's an impressive sight, soaring to 210 feet (64m), with lofty towers and pointed spires, and it took over four decades to build, with ground breaking in the 1850s. There are typically free tours of the temple grounds – note that the temple is currently closed for renovations. 

The Old First Church was once the centre of life in Bennington in southwest Vermont. The original Meeting House for the congregation was built in the 1760s, though the present church structure dates to 1805 – that makes it the oldest Protestant church in Vermont. Famous Vermont poet Robert Frost even spoke at the church's rededication in 1937 and he's buried in the adjacent cemetery. Visitors are welcomed to the church seasonally. 

History buffs shouldn't miss a pilgrimage to Mount Vernon, the home of America's first president, George Washington. The 18th-century mansion broods beside the Potomac River and guided tours reveal its portrait-filled interior, with highlights including Washington's own private study. Also on display is the Bastille key – given to Washington by Marquis de Lafayette, it's a symbol of the French Revolution. 

The modern-day Seattle skyline is instantly recognisable, not least because of the futuristic Space Needle, but this storied skyscraper has been piercing the clouds over the Emerald City since 1914. When it opened, it was among the tallest buildings in the United States, soaring to more than 460 feet (140m). It's got some bootlegging history too – rumour has it that rum runner Roy Olmstead had a remote broadcasting studio at this tower, from which he and his wife would send out secret messages. Now it serves as an observatory, with a cool Prohibition-themed cocktail bar. 

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America has a chilling store of abandoned prisons, and the West Virginia Penitentiary is among the most imposing and fascinating. It's a brooding, Gothic-style building, and a prison operated here from the 1870s – it gained a reputation for its hellish conditions and for unruly prisoners who rioted and attempted to escape. Now the abandoned jail is open for public tours and ghost hunts. 

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Hexagonal Milton House is significant as a historic stop on the Underground Railroad, a network of safe houses and routes that aided enslaved people who were attempting to reach free states. Inside, the property is festooned with period furniture, as well as poignant murals that depict enslaved people working in fields and travelling to freedom. Guided tours shed light on the history of Milton itself, and the wider context of the Underground Railroad. 

One of the most formidable jails in the USA, Laramie's Wyoming Territorial Prison opened in 1872 and was known for its stark conditions, including hard labour forced upon the inmates. It was short lived, though, closing in 1903, and becoming a research centre for the University of Wyoming. In the 1990s, the prison was preserved as the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, meaning visitors can get a glimpse into the abandoned facility, with its stripped-back cells and historical exhibitions.