The Ten Most Historic Cities in the United States

1. St. Augustine, Florida. Founded by the Spanish in 1565 St. Augustine is the oldest European-founded city in the United States (continuously inhabited) and its historical charm clearly highlights this proud fact. Entire streets are lined by buildings constructed in the 17^th and 18^th century and the large Spanish forts of Castillo de San Marcos, in the city, and Fort Matanzas, a few miles down the coast, are reminders of the importance of this city on the northern frontier of Spanish America. The city also claims to have the oldest house in the United States, now a much-publicized private museum run by the St. Augustine Historical Society and open to the public. These claims are always debatable but the house is worth the visit for those interested in history. The house, also known as the Gonzalez-Alvarez House, dates to 1723 which clearly would not make it the oldest unless you add the qualifier of an original, European-built structure. But the Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts has a more solid claim to this title, dating to 1637. Still, the houses of Acoma and Taos Pueblo in New Mexico outdate all by a couple hundred years atleast.

2. Santa Fe, New Mexico. It took a few tries to get this city permanently established in 1608 by the Spaniards but the good location was no secret to the Pueblo Indians who had occupied the area from 1050 to 1150. The historical integrity of the city is noticed immediately as all the buildings, including the Walmarts are built to code in the unique hacienda-adobe style. Many of the buildings you see are original, especially in the downtown area, or at least built over the foundations of originals. San Miguel Chapel, constructed in 1610, is reputed to be the oldest church structure in the United States. The Governors Palace is another outstanding historical feature of the city and is easily located in the historic downtown area.

3. Boston, Massachusetts. Boston traces its beginnings to 1630 when Puritan colonists from England. Its long pedigree, at least by American standards, carries over into the city’s historic buildings and neighborhoods. Old cemeteries, such as the Old Granary and Copps Hill Burial Grounds, are seen from busy sidewalks and beautiful colonial architecture is dwarfed by modern skyscrapers, such as the Old State House which dates to 1713 and is considered the oldest public building in the city. The best way to experience Boston’s history is to follow the Freedom Trail which is free and well marked along the city’s sidewalks. The Trail starts near the State House, another architectural marvel designed by Charles Bulfinch in 1798, and winds its way through the North End and across the Charles River to the Bunker Hill Battlefield monument. Along the way you will also notice the King's Chapel, built between 1749 and 1754 by Peter Harrison. This stone building has a long history, first established in 1688, the current structure was built over the older wooden building.

4. Annapolis, Maryland. Annapolis has the oldest original state capitol building still in use by a legislature. Referred to locally as the state house it dates to 1772 and it has the largest wooden dome construction without nails. Ok, how many wooden domes are there in the nation let alone nails used or not. That’s just for starters. Founded in 1649 by Puritan exiles the city is the home to the U.S. Naval Academy which was founded in 1845. While the buildings don’t predate its establishment they are an interesting collection of grand works, and tours of the Naval Academy are given to the public. Perhaps more interesting are the distinguished graduate sailors and marines that the Academy has graduated. The city has no less than 29 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places many of them finely preserved homes that are built in Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival styles. The Colonial Annapolis Historic District is a showpiece and contains 120 18^th century buildings. The location close to both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore make it very accessible if not a little crowded with tourists at times.

5. New Castle, Delaware. Just south of Wilmington is the unexpected town of New Castle. New Castle dates to 1651, when it was founded as an outpost of the Dutch West India Company under Peter Stuyvesant. It’s even older if you factor in its previous settlement as a Native American village. It’s still a small town but the old assortment of architecture is astounding for a city (town) of its size. The cobblestone streets around the town green at once a reminder of medieval England. Start at the Old New Castle Courthouse on Delaware Street, which served as the old colonial capitol and first state capitol of Delaware. Dating from the late 18^th century the spire on this building was used as the center for measuring the 12 mile circle which formed the arced state line between Pennsylvania and Delaware. There are a number of old houses, especially those that line the Green. The oldest dwelling in the town dates from about 1700 and it’s known as the Old Dutch House. In nearby Wilmington is the oldest church in the state, the Old Swedes Church, or HolyTrinity Church founded in 1699. Not to be confused with the Old Swedes Church in Philadelphia, the one in Wilmington is said to be the nation’s oldest original church building still standing. It is built atop the foundations of Fort Christina, a Swedish fort, founded in 1638.

6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Similar to many colonial cities, Philadelphia’s beginnings were marked by false starts. The official founding of the city as we know it today began with William Penn’s 1682 ambitious grid-lay out that still marks the modern foundation of the city’s planning. However, a little know fact is that there were colonists who inhabited parts of what is today’s Philadelphia as early as 1637 with the arrival of the Swedes who established a colony along the Delaware south of the Schuylkill River. The Dutch arrived soon after and by 1655 gained administrative control of the region. Today’s best known reminder of this early period is manifested in the still extant Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church founded in 1677. It remains the oldest church in the state of Pennsylvania. The city’s history needs no special introduction. Its central location midway between north and south made it an early capital of the United States from 1790-1800. Before this it was the major meeting place of the various Continental Congresses and it was in Philadelphia where the greatest of American documents were penned and put into law: the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. Beyond the lettered history that this city fostered, the number of extant historical buildings in Philadelphia is astonishing and it even eclipses Boston in this regard. Vintage historic buildings from the colonial period, for instance, are located in so many areas of the city – in places that were established as separate towns and villages before they were merged with the growing urban metropolitan area. Germantown, Chestnut Hill, and Manayunk, for instance, all have blocks of houses and buildings that are well-preserved. In this respect, the city’s architectural and breadth scope is unique. In addition there are dozens of old colonial mansions that dot the hills above the Schuylkill, such as Lemon Hill (c. 1800), a federal-style mansion, and Strawberry Mansion (c. 1789) to name a few. The old plantations on which these houses sat became the foundations of Fairmount Park. Whole blocks of vintage row homes can still be seen in Society Hill and even older row homes, which date to the early 18^th century, can be found along Elfreth’s Alley. The Georgian style Independence Hall (1732-1753), which once served as the capitol on the United States, is the centerpiece of the city’s old quarter and a block or two away are some classic Greek Revival buildings that are now preserved as part of the Independence National Historical Park.

7. Charleston, South Carolina. No discussion of America’s historic cities is complete without mention of Charleston. Established in 1670, although a little northwest of the present location, today’s city was built starting in 1680 and named for the King of England and was known as Charles Town. Its cosmopolitan status was established early and it was the 5^th largest city in North America in 1690, a mere twenty years after its settlement. It became well-known for trade and a hub of the rice and indigo markets that South Carolina cultivated. At the beginning of the 19^th century it had the largest and wealthiest Sephardic Jewish community in North America. Consequently there are a number of Jewish temples in the city that date to colonial times and are among the oldest in the country. Well known is the Orthodox synagogue and Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Temple that dates to 1749. Huguenots and Roman Catholic communities also have a long history in this city that showed an unusual amount of tolerance for religious beliefs. The city’s streets and parks are not much changed from these colonial days. Beautiful Georgian homes still line many of the streets and walking the streets is like walking into old colonial America. Spires from the various churches in the city punctuate the skyline and many date to colonial days. Not to be missed is The Battery, the public park that is situated against the waterfront. Another interesting sight in the city is The Citadel, or the Military College of South Carolina, and its one-of-a-kind checkerboard courtyards among its barracks. State-funded, it was established in1842. Finally don’t forget to take a chartered ferry to FortSumter which guards the bay. It was here that the first shots of the Civil War were fired as Confederate soldiers attempted to take this Federal stronghold in April 1861.

8. New Orleans, Louisiana. Surprisingly most of the famous historic architecture you seen in this unique city is of Spanish pedigree despite its more common association with the French. New Orleans was founded in 1718 by the French Mississippi Company but was ceded to Spain in 1763. The buildings from the French Quarter, or Vieux Carre, were built during the Spanish occupation. By 1801 the city found itself back in French hands only to be sold by Napoleon to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The French Quarter is not to be missed for its unusual architecture and cultural backdrop. Worth seeing in the area is the Chalmette Battlefield, site of the Battle of New Orleans between the United States and Great Britain.

9. San Antonio, Texas. Unlike most of the other cities and towns listed here San Antonio, along with Santa Fe, is not a coastal city. Established in 1718 around the Alamo Mission, the future location of the city was first visited by the Spaniards in 1691. The Spaniards established a mission, known as San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo) here by 1718 because they sought to establish a presence in the region as a bulwark against colonial France. Not coincidentally New Orleans, founded by the French, was established the same year. The most famous of the city’s sights can be seen in a long, well-planned day. The River Walk, Alamo, the Spanish Governor’s Palace, and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park are the best preserved historic sites in the city and should not be left out of any itinerary.

10. Savannah, Georgia. This is the state’s oldest city established in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe. Its streets, laid-out in a perfect grid, represent an excellent example of early colonial city-planning. The city’s downtown is one of the largest National Historic Landmark districts. The city’s squares, numbering 22, are what make it unique. When the city was laid-out in 1733 it was designed around four open squares, anticipating room for growth and expansion of the grid. By 1851 the city had expanded to as many as 24 squares but since then three have been demolished in urban revival schemes. Of those three, one was restored in 2010. The squares are actually parks shaded by oak and palmettos, and many have fountains and monuments. It’s really a unique arrangement. Forsyth Park is a 30 acre park established in the 1840s and contains a beautiful water fountain built in 1858. Of the city’s park, this is perhaps the best know. It also has Confederate monument which is in the center of the park. Not to be missed is River Street, which has a number of old 19^th century cotton warehouses that have been refurbished into shops and restaurants. Nearby Fort Pulaski, a national monument in of the National Park Service, is a masonry fort that overlooks the mouth of the Savannah River on Tybee Island. Construction of this moated fort was completed in 1847 and it sustained heavy damage by Union forces during the Civil War, when it was temporarily occupied by Confederate soldiers.

Honorable mentions

Newport, Rhode Island. It would be awkward not to include Newport in this list and it’s no less deserving than the other cities. Newport’s small size is also another reason to add it to the list as it’s easy to see in one day and very walkable. This old colonial coastal town was established in 1639 as a splinter group of religious dissenters further splintered and ended up here. Since Rhode Island was founded on principles of religious toleration, Newport has an interesting history and the oldest synagogues in the United States, the Touro Synagogue, built between 1759 and 1763. Another interesting site is the Mystery Tower, or Newport Tower, whose origins are still debated. Some speculate it is a vestige of a lost Norse settlement and dates to the end of the first millennium. More concensus indicates it's a colonial windmill dating from about 1670. Nobody knows for sure. In addition to these sites other places worth seeing in the city are the Redwood Library and Athenaeum, whose painters include original Gilbert Stuart portraits. It is said to be the oldest public library still in existence in the United States, found in 1747. The Cliff Walk is also worthy of a stroll and along it you can view the various Gilded Age mega-mansions built by barons such as the Vanderbilts. The most famous of these is The Breakers (1895), which is open for tours. Fort Adams State Park, a gigantic fort that guards the headlands overlooking Narragansett Bay, is among the finest historic forts in the country. Finally the Old Colony House, or Old State House, or Newport Colony House, is a finely built Georgian style government building completed in 1741. Tours area available but the schedule is odd.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This is New Hampshire's second oldest city after Dover. It is also, not surprisingly, the state's former capital. Settled in 1623 Portsmouth has a number of historic houses that reflect different periods of architecture. The Strawbery Banke, the original name given to the settlement of Portsmouth, is a ten acre area with houses that date to 1695. Many have period furnishings. Other historic homes in the city include the Georgian-style Warner House (1716) (fee), the Moffatt-Ladd House (1716) (fee), the Wentworth-Gardner House (1760) (fee), the Georgian Governor John Landgon Memorial (1784) (fee), and the John Paul Jones House (fee). The city is compact and small enough to walk with only a population of 21,000. Fort Constitution in nearby New Castle dates to 1791 and is one of the oldest federal forts (coastal defenses) in the United States. The nearby Portsmouth Naval Base hosted the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905 which ended the Russo-Japanese War and earned Teddy Roosevelt the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation.

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