The NPS preserves a variety of places commemorating America's multi-faceted history. The NPS preserves cultural resources, such as buildings, landscapes, archeological sites, and museum collections. They serve as tangible evidence of our collective past. Find a Park to find more of all Americans' stories
El Morro National Monument, New Mexico: Imagine the comfort and refreshment of finding water after days of dusty travel. A reliable waterhole hidden at the base of a sandstone bluff made El Morro (the headland) a popular campsite for hundreds of years
Cabrillo National Monument, California: Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail/National Trails Intermountain Region: The history of the United States traditionally has been told from east to west. The designation of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro as a National Historic Trail in 2000 recognizes another path, a bi-national trail, three-quarters of which winds through the central highlands of Mexico
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, Texas: On May 8, 1846, United States and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park preserves the site of this notable battle and provides an understanding of the causes, events, and consequences of the U.S.-Mexican War.