Chicago’s first national park site honors the 1894 Pullman strike and subsequent national boycott of Pullman train cars. Workers in the town fought for better wages and living conditions, and their strike led to the formation of the first African American labor union and a strengthening among the growing labor movement in America.

In November 2020, the “friendly confines” of Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916, was officially designated a national historic landmark. The site of many legendary events, innovations, and traditions in baseball history, including the first refreshment booths behind the stands and the broadcast of home games via radio and television. Wrigley’s ivy-covered, brick outfield wall is a not-to-be-missed stop when visiting the city.

A few hours from Chicago, in Illinois’ capital city Springfield, lies Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Abraham Lincoln’s home for 17 years before his election as president in 1860, the house has been restored to its 1860s appearance and is nestled in a walkable neighborhood steeped in history. Take a guided tour, attend a living history demonstration, or walk the neighborhood. Nearby, find Lincoln’s Presidential Library and Museum, Lincoln’s tomb, and the Old State Capitol building.

Winding through 1,200 miles in the heart of Wisconsin, Ice Age National Scenic Trail highlights some of the most remarkable natural areas in the state, shaped by an immense flow of glacial ice more than 12,000 years ago. Explore the area’s hilltops, prairies, forests, and everything in between. Perfect for a hiking excursion in the spring and summer, or a cross-country skiing or snowshoeing trek in the winter, the trail also offers various biking, camping, and fishing opportunities.

About 50 miles outside of Chicago on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes National Park offers rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers, and peaceful forests perfect for a break from the bustling city. In the summer, enjoy a picnic along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan or bike along the park’s trails. In the winter months, break out your snowshoes or go cross-country skis to explore the Glenwood or Tolleston Dunes Trails.

A few hours from the city in Harpers Ferry, Iowa, discover the preserved American Indian mounds in one of the most picturesque sections of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The 200+ mounds here are considered sacred by many, including the monument’s 20 culturally associated tribes. Catch a ranger talk or guided tour during the summer months and stroll along the site’s many paths and trails.

A few hours west of Chicago, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site commemorate the life story of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States. Tour the site’s historic structures, including the Birthplace Cottage, where Hoover was born in 1874, the Blacksmith Shop where Hoover’s father earned a reputation as a good-natured, fair, and industrious businessman, and the Iowa Schoolhouse which also served as the town’s first Quaker meetinghouse.

Southwest of Chicago in St. Louis, Missouri, Gateway Arch National Park’s iconic arch stretches into the sky, the nation’s tallest monument and a commemoration of the spirit of western pioneers. Formerly known as Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the stainless-steel arch was designed by Eero Saarinen. Take a tram to the top of the arch and explore the Old Courthouse, now a museum charting the history of St. Louis, where the first two trials of the Dred Scott case were held.

Also in St. Louis, just across the state line from Illinois, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site honors the Civil War general who became the 18th U.S. President. A quiet family man who worked as a farmer in St. Louis, Grant and his wife, Julia Dent, met at her family home. Today, the home commemorates their lives against the turbulent backdrop of the 19th century. Take a guided tour and be sure to check out the park museum, housed in a historic horse stable designed by Grant himself.

A few hours east of Chicago, explore River Raisin National Battlefield Park in southeast Michigan. The 1813 Battle at River Raisin was one of conflicting nations: Tecumseh envisioned an Indian Confederacy while the British desired power over the Great Lakes and the fur trade, the area’s French habitants wanted to be undisturbed and the Americans fought for land. Follow the park’s paved heritage trail by foot or bicycle, or make the park a stop along the 1812 Michigan Driving Tour.