8 of America's Most Patriotic National Parks

America's National Park Service oversees an array of parks, forests, and conservation areas, plus a number of historic sites. Travelers who want to inject a little history into their summertime adventures will find plenty of options in national parks. These sites are all connected to America's past and stand as important relics of the nation's history.

In many national and historic parks, visitors will find physical representations of the narrative of the United States. These range from sites that contain remnants of pre-Colombian societies to the battlefields of the Revolutionary War to the birth of the modern conservation movement. Nature lovers, history buffs, and even those with just a passing curiosity will find themselves enthralled.

Here are eight of America's most patriotic national parks.

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Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)

A group of bison wading in a river in front of the badlands landscape of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota — Layne Kennedy / Getty Images

When it comes to the U.S. conservation movement, few people have been as instrumental and devoted as Theodore Roosevelt. The former president set aside many lands as national parks and monuments and also made it easier for future presidents to establish national parks and conservation areas.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is located in western North Dakota, commemorates the conservationist's efforts to preserve the nation's natural landscapes. Roosevelt first visited the area that is now the national park during his youth, and he returned to hunt and ranch in the region in his pre-presidential years. The park's badlands and abundant wildlife—including bison, deer, wild horses, prairie dogs, turkeys, and eagles—draw a number of outdoor enthusiasts.

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Ellis Island (New York and New Jersey)

aerial view of the historic buildings and green space of Ellis Island, an island surrounded by the Hudson River in Manhattan, New York — Danny Lehman / Getty Images

The Statue of Liberty captures most tourists' imaginations, but the nearby Ellis Island National Monument, which houses the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, is of equal significance. Ellis Island, which has expanded over the years to 27.5 acres, is located in both New York and New Jersey.

The museum tells the story of the millions of immigrants who passed through the island's office on their way to the United States. A three-floor exhibit space is available for both self-guided and ranger-led tours. Aside from its historical significance (many U.S. citizens have ancestors who were first processed for immigration on the island), Ellis is also a great place to see New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline.

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Mount Rushmore (South Dakota)

The faces of four past US Presidents carved on a granite face of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills in Keystone, South Dakota with blue skies and light white clouds above — Darwin Fan / Getty Images

Mount Rushmore is one of the country's most famous monuments. Officially dubbed the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the granite sculpture is an astounding sight because of its size, its detail, and its surroundings. Each year, around 2 million visitors come to take snapshots of the likenesses of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln.

This mammoth sculpture is impressive but equally impressive from a nature-lover's perspective is the landscape of the surrounding area. The Black Hills of South Dakota contain forests and unusual rock formations, and the region is also home to the Badlands, the famously stark land that sits adjacent to the Black Hills.

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Minute Man National Historical Park (Massachusetts)

Minute Man Statue Old North Bridge Minute Man National Historical Park American Revolution Monument Massachusetts First Battle American Revolution April 19, 1775 surrounded by lush, green trees, and green ground cover surrounding the bridge — Bpperry / Getty Images

Minute Man National Historical Park in Massachusetts celebrates the people who were instrumental in beginning the American Revolution. Lexington and Concord, the sites of the first two skirmishes of the war, are included in the park. Sitting about 22 miles outside of Boston, Minute Man is easy to reach and a great place to enjoy the rural side of this historic state.

Ranger-guided tours and programs are available from May through October, and historic re-enactments take place regularly. The five-mile Battle Road Trail connects two battle sites and gives hikers and bikers a taste of the forest landscapes.

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San Antonio Missions (Texas)

Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo in the distance below a blue sky with light, white clouds with green grass and low plants in the foreground — Gabriel Perez / Getty Images

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park sits in the city of San Antonio, Texas, but the park doesn't include the famous Alamo. The four missions—churches built by early Spanish settlers—that are part of the park were built in the late 1600s and early 1700s.

Originally constructed as part of Spain's colonial expansion in the Southwest, they retain the distinct architecture of their era and have been well-preserved over the years. Not only is this a historically significant park, but also it is a great place to hike and bike. A paved eight-mile trail passes through the countryside, and people can follow the trail to each mission.

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Fort McHenry (Maryland)

arial view of pentagonal-shaped Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine surrounded by manicured green lawns and adjacent to the Patapsco River — Greg Pease / Getty Images

The Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is located in Baltimore, Maryland. Perhaps not as easily recognized as Mount Rushmore or the Grand Canyon, McHenry is nonetheless one of the more interesting sites run by the National Park Service.

The fort is best known as the site of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. It was during this battle that poet Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner," which later became the national anthem. The NPS opens the fort daily for self-guided tours, and living-history actors come to McHenry on weekends to enhance the experience. Many special activities take place in the outdoor sections of the fort while the Sea Wall Trail allows visitors to experience the natural aspects of this seaside location.

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Yellowstone National Park (Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming)

Buffalo grazing in a field with a waterway, a forest of evergreens, and mountains in the distance under a blue sky with white clouds at Hayden Valley, Yellowstone, National Park, Wyoming — Manel Vinuesa / Getty Images

It's hard to imagine any type of national park list without including Yellowstone. One of the most popular destinations on the NPS menu, the park is known for its wildlife and amazing natural attractions like the Old Faithful geyser. Yellowstone National Park expands across three states: Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Yellowstone was the forefather of America's other national parks. It draws large crowds during the summer, with roads to some of the geysers and scenic sites getting quite traffic-heavy. However, as with other national parks, step even a few feet off the beaten path, and you'll feel like you have Yellowstone all to yourself.

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Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

Blue sky and white clouds above the majestic North Rim of the Grand Canyon in shades of red, gold, orange, and brown — Stephen Yelverton Photography / Getty Images

Located in Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park allows visitors to see this massive geographic feature up close, and between 5 and 6 million people come to experience the mile-deep gorge annually.

Trails, scenic overlooks, and canyon-side paths offer plenty of snapshot-worthy views, and the Colorado River, which runs through the iconic canyon, is a popular rafting destination. The canyon's more remote North Rim, which is a little more difficult to access than the popular South Rim, offers ambitious tourists a chance to appreciate the canyon away from the larger crowds.