devastation caused by , and the reasons for , the war that remade the union . In its successful efforts to fend off encroaching development , Gettysburg also reflects the struggles of many historic sites to preserve the sanctity of their land . nps.gov / gett . Yellowstone National Park Yes , other National Parks are stunning -LRB- Grand Canyon and Yosemite come to mind -RRB- , but Yellowstone , signed into being by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872 , was the very first in the world -- and established an early precedent for land conservationists internationally . This majestic park , bordered by Wyoming , Montana , and Idaho , preserves an enormous natural bounty : It is home to 10,000 hot springs and 300 geysers , numerous lakes and rivers , and wildlife such as bighorn sheep , bison , grizzly bears , and more than 1,000 gray wolves . nps.gov / yell . New York Harbor It 's still easy to imagine the bay as millions of immigrants might have perceived it on their way to the United States : the promise of the Statue of Liberty , the judgment of Ellis Island , and the
-LRB- Budget Travel -RRB- -- No offense to the nation 's capital , but the landmarks of our heritage extend far beyond the District of Columbia . Yellowstone National Park preserves an enormous natural bounty , including 10,000 hot springs and 300 geysers . Sears Tower -LRB- Willis Tower -RRB- It 's fitting that the country 's tallest building , the Sears Tower -LRB- we have n't come to terms with the new name either -RRB- , is in the same city that built the first skyscraper , the Home Insurance Building , demolished in 1931 . Chicago 's innovation sparked a worldwide race that continues to redefine city skylines from London to Dubai to Taipei . There 's simply no better way to experience those early architects ' remarkable vision than to stand on The Ledge at Skydeck Chicago , a transparent observation box that suspends you 1,353 feet above street level , on a wisp of glass just one and a half inches thick . Gettysburg , Pennsylvania The site of the Civil War 's bloodiest battle and of one of Abraham Lincoln 's most famous speeches , Gettysburg National Military Park is a lasting memorial to the