Staying Fit
.jpg?crop=true&anchor=22,526&q=80&color=ffffffff&u=2xkwh0&w=1999&h=1139 "World-Class Museums at National Parks")
Everyone knows national parks for their grand landscapes and inspiring historic sites. But most people are surprised to learn that the National Park System — a collection of more than 400 sites across the nation — also manages one of the world’s largest museum systems. The system houses more than 100 million objects, artifacts and archives that help tell the story of America’s natural and cultural history. And these collections are largely found in the locations where these objects were made, used, found and collected, enhancing their authenticity.
Here are five noteworthy museums to get you started.
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1. Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, New York
The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is housed inside the restored Main Building of the former immigration complex. Visitors must purchase ferry tickets to get to Ellis Island.
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Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York Harbor, Ellis Island is known as the “Island of Hope,” the place where 12 million immigrants were processed on their daring journeys to the American dream. The main building of the historic complex has been restored and visitors can see the Great Hall, baggage room and dormitories. Here you’ll find interactive displays, curated collections of photographs and heirlooms, and historic records where you can trace your ancestors’ experience here. Admission is free, but you have to purchase ferry tickets (starting at $25) to get to Ellis Island. You can purchase tickets in advance online, which is recommended, or at the Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park. A stop at Liberty Park is also part of the experience.
2. Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, Pennsylvania
The 360-degree Cyclorama painting of Pickett’s Charge draws people to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center in Pennsylvania.
Tim Sloan/Getty Images
This large building complex is an integral part of Gettysburg National Military Park, site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War and inspiration for President Lincoln’s famous address. The 22,000-square-foot museum features artifacts from one of the largest collections of Civil War relics and the stories of many of those who served. The building also includes the visitor center, a theater and the 42-foot-high Cyclorama painting of Pickett’s Charge. Admission to the museum is $14.75; the film, Cyclorama and museum is $20.75 for adults, $19.75 for 65-plus; battlefield car tours for one to six people are $82 for two hours and $117 for three hours, while battlefield bus tours are $40 for adults.
3. Yavapai Geology Museum, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Geology buffs can enjoy panoramic views of the Grand Canyon National Park inside the Yavapai Geology Museum.
National Park Service
Sited on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, the museum’s dramatic location was chosen by a team of geologists for its encompassing canyon views to help visitors understand the park’s nearly 2 billion years of geologic history. Displays at the base of the building’s panoramic windows that look into the canyon teach visitors the names of the park’s distinctive rock layers, and the large topographic relief map is especially popular. The museum is free; admission to the park ranges from $20 to $35 per car or free with a senior annual or lifetime pass.
