Presidents’ Day may be over, but there’s no need to mourn. The USA is all about keeping it red, white and blue to bring in those greens (read: tourist $$$.) So, we’ve picked the best five attractions to prolong your Presidents’ Day fun a little longer.
Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL
The Hall of Presidents is basically like the robotic version of Madam Tussauds, in that it has all of the presidents as figurines, but they move and talk and interact in a way that they are programmed to. No blank wax stares; these boys are all moving metal and they’ve been around for what feels like forever.
The Presidents House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation in Philadelphia, PA
The President’s House explores the paradox of slavery and freedom at the nation’s first executive mansion in Philadelphia. Here, Presidents George Washington and John Adams lived during their terms and where nine enslaved people served the first president. This open-air Independence National Historical Park site, located just steps from the Liberty Bell Center, provides visitors with different perspectives of this complex and powerful story through Porcelite panels and illustrated glass providing brief history of the site, timelines and dramatic video vignettes.
The Truman Little White House in Key West, FL
The Truman Little White House is a historic building located in Key West, that served as the winter White House for President Harry S. Truman from 1946 to 1952. Today, the Little White House has been preserved as a museum, featuring a collection of Truman’s personal belongings and memorabilia, including photographs, letters, and other items from his time at the Little White House. Visitors can tour the president’s private quarters, as well as the public spaces where he conducted official business. The museum also includes exhibits on the history of the building and its various uses over the years, as well as the role it played in the Korean War.
Washington Crossing Historic Park near New Hope, PA
Washington Crossing Historic Park is a 500-acre state park in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, right outside New Hope, that commemorates George Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolution. The park features numerous historical buildings and monuments, including an 18th-century farmhouse that served as Washington’s headquarters during the crossing, and a replica of the Durham boats used by Washington’s troops to cross the river. Visitors can also explore the park’s natural beauty, with hiking and biking trails that wind through wooded areas and along the banks of the Delaware River.
The Hermitage in Nashville, TN
The Hermitage is a historic plantation and museum located in Nashville, Tennessee, that was once the home of President Andrew Jackson. Built in 1804, the plantation served as Jackson’s residence for much of his life, and is now open to the public for tours and educational exhibits. Visitors to the Hermitage can explore the plantation’s restored mansion, which features period furnishings and decor, as well as numerous outbuildings, including a church and a slave cabin. The Hermitage also includes expansive gardens and grounds, which showcase the region’s natural beauty and offer a tranquil escape from the honky tonks of downtown Nashville.