Famous Battlefields You Should Tour This Veterans Day

Memorial Day honors those who died in military service, while Veterans Day celebrates all who served, living or deceased during war or peacetime; veterans are honored with parades, speeches and wreath-laying ceremonies – as well as visits to famous battlefields.

On November 11, we honor American veterans of all wars, with the most notable ceremony held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C.

Lovers of military history can tour battlefields across the globe, each telling a unique story, though many can be visited here within the U.S., providing a deeper understanding of history and the events that shaped the United States’ conflicts.

These are some of the most well-known and famous battlefields, which can be visited on Veterans Day or at any other time:

Normandy, France

The site of the pivotal D-day landings on June 6, 1944, Normandy, in northern France represented the beginning of the Allied liberation of Western Europe during World War II. German forces fiercely defended the Normandy beaches, most notably at Omaha Beach, where U.S. troops faced heavy casualties and almost 4,000 Allied soldiers died on D-Day.

Normandy remains one of the most famous battlefields remembered on Veterans Day.

Today, visitors can find monuments and signs around the beaches where the battle raged along with several cemeteries offering a silent but strong testimony with their countless rows of tombstones, including the infamous Normandy American Cemetery.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Often considered the turning point of the Civil War, the three-day battle of Gettysburg from July 1-3, 1863, was one of the largest and bloodiest of the Secession War with more than 50,000 killed, injured, captured or missing.

To embrace its place in history, the city of Gettysburg preserved the battlefield as the Gettysburg National Military Park that attracts millions of visitors every year as a symbol of sacrifice, remembrance and the enduring struggle for equality. The park spans over 6,000 acres and includes more than 1,300 monuments, markers and memorials along with exhibits at the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center. 

Fort Sumter, Charleston, South Carolina

The first shots of the Civil War were fired at this historic sea fort in Charleston Harbor on April 12, 1861. As a result, Fort Sumter became a symbol of Union resistance and Confederate defiance.

Today, the bastion is part of the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historic Park, managed by the National Park Service. Visitors can explore the ruins, museum exhibits and even take boat tours from Charleston to the island.

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

The historic lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu is renowned for the surprise attack by the Japanese military on December 7, 1941, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt called “a date which will live in infamy.”

The site is preserved as the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, managed by the National Park Service. Key visit features include the USS Arizona Memorial which stands over the sunken battleship, honoring the crew members who died in the attack and the USS Missouri, the site of the Japanese surrender in 1945.

Yorktown, Virginia

The Battle of Yorktown in October 1781 was the American Revolution’s final battle, leading to the signing of the Treaty of Paris two years later. The three-week battle ended in British surrender, ultimately paving the way for American independence.

The battlefield has been preserved as part of the Colonial National Historical Park which includes Jamestown and parts of the Colonial Parkway. Visitors can explore Surrender Field, Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center and the Historic Yorktown village with its 18^th century buildings and museums.

Antietam, Maryland

Though the Battle of Antietam was considered a Union victory, it remains the bloodiest single day in American military history with over 22,000 casualties. Following the battle, President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862.

Considered one of the most picturesque, pristine and well-preserved Civil War battlefields, Antietam is a must-see for veterans and Civil War buffs. The area is preserved as Antietam National Battlefield and managed by the National Park Service where visitors can explore key sites like Bloody Lane, Burnside’s Bridge and Dunker Church.

Manassas, Virginia

The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the Battle of Manassas, was the first major land battle of the Civil War and the place where General Thomas J. Jackson earned the nickname “Stonewall” for his steadfast defense.

Located in Prince William County, Virginia, the Manassas National Battlefield Park spans over 5,000 acres, largely unchanged throughout the years with monuments offering a vivid sense of what soldiers experienced during the battles. Henry Hill Visitor Center offers an engaging film, exhibits and ranger-led programs that explore the battles and their historic significance.

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg sat atop high bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, making it a vital Confederate stronghold. Showcasing the brilliant strategy of General Ulysses S. Grant, the battle here was a decisive Union victory during the Civil War that split the Confederacy in two, isolating Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas from the rest of the South and cutting off Confederate supply lines.

The historic site, preserved as Vicksburg National Historic Park, features over 1,300 monuments and markers, the national cemetery, the restored USS Cairo, an ironclad gunboat that sunk during the campaign and walking and driving tours that trace battle sites and siege lines.

Chancellorsville, Virginia

Fought between April 30 to May 6, 1863, the Battle of Chancellorsville is often called Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory during the Civil War. Despite the loss of Stonewall Jackson here, the battle demonstrated Lee’s bold strategy in the face of a larger enemy. The victory emboldened Lee to launch his second invasion of the North which led to the Battle of Gettysburg two months later.

The battlefield is part of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park which includes preserved sites, walking trails and interpretive exhibits.

Appomattox Court House, Virginia

After months of siege at Petersburg and Richmond, General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was exhausted and outnumbered. On April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, marking the final chapter of the American Civil War and the start of the nation’s healing.

The site of the surrender was Appomattox Court House. Visitors can tour the McLean House, where the formal surrender documents were signed and the property that was restored to its original appearance along with the Appomattox Court House and over 1,700 acres of historical exhibits, walking trails and reenactments.

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

This combined national military park spanning the border of Georgia and Tennessee commemorates two pivotal battles that include Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The oldest and one of the largest Civil War battlefields in the U.S. was established as the nation’s first national military park in 1890.

The park covers over 9,500 acres and includes sites in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee, along with over 600 monuments, a visitor center and Lookout Mountain offering spectacular panoramic views and interpretive trails.

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.

Contact My Journey Begins Travel to plan one or more trips to famous battlefields on Veterans Day or any other time.