American Heritage: Historic Sites, Museums and Battlefields across the US

The Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum preserves and exhibits the diverse and exciting history of the City of Vallejo and the former U.S. Naval Shipyard at Mare Island.

This Iowa-class battleship was launched in late 1943 and went on to serve in multiple conflicts after World War II.

This naval destroyer was one of two ships involved in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident of August 1964, which led to an escalation of the Vietnam War.

Launched in 1954, the USS Nautilus was the first nuclear-powered submarine ever constructed.

Residing today just outside of Hawaii's Pearl Harbor, this Iowa-class battleship was the site of the 1945 surrender of the Japanese army, officially ending World War II.

This minesweeper ship traversed the waters off the coast of Vietnam in the latter half of the 1960s searching for explosives that could threaten American boats.

This decomissioned World War II aircraft carrier entertains and educates visitors with flight simulators, a jet fighter gallery, and a Mega Theatre that features various movies on flight.

With its participation in both World War II and the Apollo 11 manned moon mission, the aircraft carrier HORNET provides insight into the history of some of the most significant events of the 20th century.

This naval museum is dedicated to the USS Constitution, the oldest warship still in commission.

Nicknamed "Old Ironsides," the oldest warship still in commission first launched in 1797.

This Civil War-era vessel now serves as a museum to its history in the heart of Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

This barbel-class submarine set a world record in 1961 for traveling the farthest distance completely submerged underwater.

The Memorial commemorates the site where World War II began for the United States and is the final resting place for many of the battleship's 1,177 crew members who lost their lives.

In addition to touring the decks of the ship, visitors can go below in a World War II submarine, view cockpits of combat aircraft, and explore a plane like those flown by the Tuskegee Airmen.

This extremely rare example of an American World War II Fletcher class destroyer is permanently docked across the street from the Old State Capitol on the Mississippi River.

Without the Supply Corps, the U.S. Navy would come grinding to a halt. This museum recognizes and pays tribute to this necessary branch of the nation's military forces.

The only submarine museum operated by the U.S. Navy is the home of the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered vessel.

This comprehensive museum details the Navy's role in conflicts from the Revolutionary War through the 20th century.

The U.S. Naval Academy's campus features this museum, which chronicles American naval history since the Academy was founded.

The ship has functioned as both a military and civilian vessel and its service record includes WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

This Rhode Island museum explores the history of the Seabees, the construction division of the U.S. Navy.

The last "Fast Patrol Boat" of the Vietnam War is now undergoing restoration and open for guided tours.

As the hostilities of WWII came to a close, this small, fast, heavily armed naval vessel was built and put in service.

This Vietnam War-era river warfare vessel aided in training programs in Cambodia and Thailand.

This museum chronicles an extensive collection of vessels and artifacts to help illuminate the history of naval warfare, especially during the 20th century.

The history of naval warfare receives extensive treatment at the museum, which focuses in particular on the Naval War College.

The museum is dedicated to the science of the undersea and features an exhibit about submarines in the Pacific during WWII.

The museum pays homage to and investigates the history of the oldest shipyard in the United States.

Some of the most technologically advanced airplanes to ever fly off an aircraft carrier reside in this naval aviation museum.

This landing craft infantry vessel earned a battle star for its service in the Pacific theatre of WWII.

Visitors can explore the science, history and art of boats and boat building at the museum.

The museum features four historic ships, including the USS Torsk submarine, which fought near the Japanese coast during World War II.

With special emphasis on the boot camp experience, the museum documents the Navy way of life.

The museum boasts an array of exhibits on the maritime heritage of the area, including displays on the menhaden fishing industry, the oyster industry, lighthouse lenses, model ships of the USS Ohio, and more.

During World War II 563 Destroyer Escorts battled Nazi U-Boats on the North Atlantic protecting convoys of men and material.  Today, only one of these ships remains afloat in the United States: the USS Slater.

Located on the hangar deck of the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point, the museum details the eight eras of Medal of Honor history.

The men and women of the Seabees, the construction arm of the U.S. Navy, find tribute in this museum on Naval Base Ventura County.

USS Little Rock, USS The Sullivans, and USS Croaker are among the historic ships on display at the naval park.

Exhibits, displays, artifacts, and on-ship restoration projects illuminate the maritime and naval history of the U.S., with special emphasis on the Northwest.

This preserved vessel serves as North Carolina’s World War II memorial and is also a museum interpreting the history of all ships named North Carolina.