America has a rich history dating back thousands of years and has seen small settlements come and go, especially since the Spanish and English colonized the country. However, these 18 small towns have stood the test of time, and today, they are tourist destinations celebrated for their unique histories.
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine on the Atlantic Coast was founded in 1565 by the first governor of Florida, the Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. The City of St. Augustine explains that it’s “the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the United States.” It’s home to continental America’s oldest masonry fort, the Castillo de San Marcos.
Galena, Illinois
Galena is a remarkably well-preserved town in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. Over 85% of its buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Thousands of tourists visit the historic city annually to see the home of Ulysses S. Grant, America’s 18th president.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry in West Virginia played an important role in the Civil War as the northernmost point of Confederate-controlled territory. It’s famous for John Brown’s raid, an unsuccessful attempt to initiate a slave rebellion in the southern states. Although it was largely destroyed during the Civil War, it’s a popular tourist destination today.
Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee, in southeastern Arizona, was a booming copper, gold, and silver mine town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it’s a popular tourist destination with well-preserved Victorian and Art Deco buildings and a haven for artists and retirees.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea in California’s Monterey County is famous for its charming, fairy-tale cottages and natural scenery. The Spanish founded it in 1797, and it served as the California mission system’s headquarters until the Mexican Secularization Act of 1833. It was later abandoned after the U.S. Conquest of California in 1848 but became a summer colony after 1902 and is now a popular tourist destination.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Mackinac Island is famous for its well-preserved Victorian buildings, like the Queen Anne-style Grand Hotel, but it’s best known for its lack of cars. Visit the USA explains that “‘horseless carriages’ – that is, motorized vehicles – were banned in 1898.” Tourists exploring the unique island can bike, take a horse-and-carriage ride, or walk.
Solvang, California
Solvang is a slice of Denmark in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Often called “the Danish Capital of America,” it was initially founded by the Spanish in 1804 before Danish Americans began expanding it in 1911. Since 1947, Solvang has been known for its Danish-themed architecture, traditional bakeries and windmills, and annual Danish Days festivals.
Woodstock, Vermont
Woodstock was chartered by New Hampshire’s governor, Benning Wentworth, in 1761 and first settled in 1768. It rapidly developed after the end of the Revolutionary War and grew prosperous during the Industrial Revolution. Today, it’s a popular tourist destination for its picturesque central square, the Green, and its Greek Revival, Georgian, and Federal-style houses.
Taos, New Mexico
Taos in north-central New Mexico is home to the ancient Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of America’s oldest continuously inhabited communities. Visit Taos explains that Taos Native Americans have lived in the multistory adobe buildings “for over 1,000 years.”
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is a Bavarian-styled village that was incorporated in 1906. It sits in the Cascade Mountains in central Washington State and is a four-season tourist destination with hiking and skiing options and festivals throughout the year.
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches, a small city in the Pelican State, was founded in 1714 and is the oldest remaining settlement from the Louisiana Purchase. It’s famous for its mile-long French colonial area of downtown, a National Historic District, and lies along Cane River Lake.
Williamsburg, Virginia
English settlers founded Williamsburg in 1632, and it became Virginia’s political, cultural, and social center. The Library of Congress explains, “Colonial Williamsburg is the world’s largest living-history museum, boasting more than 600 buildings (88 of them original 18th-Century).”
Bath, Maine
In Sagadahoc County, Maine, Bath is known as the “City of Ships” for its rich shipbuilding history. It was incorporated as a town in 1781 and is renowned for its historic downtown with Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate architecture. The Maine Maritime Museum details its shipbuilding past.
Sitka, Alaska
Sitka, in southeast Alaska, lies in the Alexander Archipelago and was under Russian rule from 1799 to 1867. It’s home to St. Michael’s Cathedral, a National Historic Landmark and the earliest Orthodox cathedral in the New World.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs is a small city in the Ozark Mountains, renowned for its beautifully preserved Victorian buildings. It was a popular tourist destination for Victorians who believed its natural springs had healing properties, and it was listed as a National Historic Place in 1970.
Deadwood, South Dakota
Britannica explains that Deadwood “was founded during the 1876 gold rush when about 25,000 miners swarmed the surrounding hills.” It soon gained a reputation as a lawless outpost of frontier violence and attracted Old West figures, including Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp, and Wild Bill Hickok. Today, visitors can explore its historic Main Street with preserved Old West buildings and attend its craft beer festival.
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is South Carolina’s third-oldest city and sits on the Winyah Bay at the confluence of four rivers. It’s famous for its streets lined with antebellum homes, 60 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Dahlonega, Georgia
Dahlonega, in northern Georgia, was the site of America’s first major gold rush in 1829. Today, it’s home to the Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site in the old Lumpkin County Courthouse, a historic public square. It’s considered “the heart of the North Georgia Wine Country.”
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