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Located just off of 3-Trails Crossing Memorial Highway in the heart of the historic 3-Trails Corridor, Trailside Center provides resources for trail and civil war aficionados, historians, and the Kansas City community. Few visitors realize that the communities that established in this area in the early 1830s were situated at the western edge of the United States until Kansas Territory was established in 1854.

The St. Francis Hotel has lived many lives: first as a place of business operated by early settlers Zachary and Jenny Fletcher, then as private residence and restaurant of the Switzer family. The original two-story limestone structure was built in 1881 and was a successful hotel in Nicodemus. The Switzer family bought the building in 1921 and built several additions while they lived there.

During the Japanese occupation of Guam, CHamoru were forced to build defenses on the beach, including the pillboxes and bunkers that can still be seen today, in preparation for the American invasion. That invasion came on July 21, 1944, W Day for Guam. While a simultaneous attack took place five miles south at Hågat, the Third Marine Division landed on the 2,500-yard Assan Beach, marking the start of the Battle of Guam.

In the fall of 1861 after the Battle of Port Royal, the US military came ashore around Beaufort and found thousands of now formerly enslaved people in control of the region. The military had no real plan yet for what to do with these people or even their legal status. Newly freed Black South Carolinians were active participants. They demanded access to programs to support labor reforms, land redistribution, quality education, and military service.

Immediately adjacent the visitor parking area are restrooms and an orientation shelter with exhibits and picnic tables. These exhibits set the stage for an exploration of the fort. Just to the east of the shelter is the paved trail to the fort.

The Philip A. Hart Visitor Center houses brochures, books, park passes, and all the sound advice you'll need to plan your visit. The visitor center has displays of Sleeping Bear Dune's natural history, fauna and flora, geology, history, and stories about people of the park.

On December 7, 1941, Oklahoma's port (left) side was hit by eight torpedoes at the very start of the attack. In less than twelve minutes, she rolled over until her masts touched the bottom, trapping hundreds of men inside and under the water. Four hundred twenty-nine crew members died. Of those trapped inside, only 32 could be rescued.

World War II brought several changes to what and how we eat. French, Italian, and Chinese food soon became popular in America beyond immigrant neighborhoods. Other changes were spurred by foods included in military rations and food produced using technologies developed during the war.

A replica of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's longboat rowed between flagships in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. Mid-May through mid-October the longboat is located next to the visitor center just off the parking lot.

At night, birds use the stars to find their way. But bright lights from buildings can confuse them. That's why national parks are so important - they're like bird hotels! They give birds safe places to rest and eat, especially after flying across the ocean.

The X-10 Graphite Reactor was the world’s first plutonium-production reactor. Operating from 1943 to 1963, it became a National Historic Landmark in 1965. Located on the secure grounds of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the reactor is not currently accessible to the public.

New Bethel Baptist Church is one of only a few pre-Manhattan Project structures remaining from Scarboro community. The church’s congregation was founded in 1851 but this structure was built in 1924. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Located on the secure Oak Ridge National Laboratory grounds, the church is not currently accessible to the public.

The Commander in Chief's guard huts are reconstructed log structures representing the quarters where soldiers of General George Washington's guard lived during the Valley Forge encampment.

Boston merchant and abolitionist Edmund Jackson served on the 1850 Boston Vigilance Committee.

Discover the St Clement’s Island Museum where Maryland's founding story comes to life. Explore exhibits that highlight the rich history of the Piscataway People and early settlers. Stand on the historic island where the first English settlers landed in 1634, accessible by water taxi. Experience the beauty of the Potomac River and immerse yourself in the culture that shaped the Chesapeake Bay. Don’t miss the chance to learn and explore this unique site in St. Mary’s County.

Learn about the decade-long effort to build a Memorial House to honor George Washington at his birthplace.

Step aboard Pride II, a reproduction Baltimore Clipper, and sail into the Chesapeake’s maritime past. Explore its history from privateering in the War of 1812 to life on the Bay today. Tour the deck or set sail for a hands-on adventure! As part of the NPS Chesapeake Gateways, Pride II offers a unique way to experience the Bay’s seafaring heritage.