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Tragic Events

11:00 a.m. Daily North Bridge At 11:00 a.m. meet a Park Ranger at the benches by the North Bridge for this 30 minute program. Learn about the momentous battle at Concord’s North Bridge, where the British Army suffered its first casualties of the war, and the legacy of this event in American History. Evening on the Lake programs are select Tuesday evenings throughout the summer at 7:00 p.m. in the…

74 parks and sites (NPS)

About Tragic Events

  • A park ranger stands before a stone monument pointing and talking to a crowd of visitors

    Concord's North Bridge: History and Memory ~ 11:00am Daily · Minute Man National Historical Park

    11:00 a.m. Daily North Bridge At 11:00 a.m. meet a Park Ranger at the benches by the North Bridge for this 30 minute program. Learn about the momentous battle at Concord’s North Bridge, where the British Army suffered its first casualties of the war, and the legacy of this event in American History.

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  • A group of people in period clothing listening to a band play with the lake in the background.

    Attend an Evening on the Lake Presentation · Johnstown Flood National Memorial

    Evening on the Lake programs are select Tuesday evenings throughout the summer at 7:00 p.m. in the Club House building located at 186 Main Street in St. Michael. No reservations are required for these free programs. Our Evening on the Lake series is sponsored by Friends of Johnstown Flood National Memorial. 2026 programs: May 26- Alleviating Human Suffering in the Face of Emergencies: The American Red Cross’ Response to the Johnstown Flood and the September 11 Attacks. Join park rangers as they discuss how the Amer…

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  • A family speaking to a living historian dresses as a Union Civil War soldier.

    Chancellorsville Anniversary · Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

    2026 Chancellorsville Anniversary Join us on Saturday, May 2 for special programs commemorating the Battle of Chancellorsville and on Sunday, May 10 for an open house at the "Stonewall" Jackson Death Site. May 2, 2026 at the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center Meet at battle painting outside Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center (9001 Plank Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22553) Join a ranger for two special extended versions on our daily Chancellorsville tour. 10:30 am - Jackson Wounding Walking Tour Examine…

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  • Three park rangers stand next to a stone memorial made of seven basalt columns

    Visit the Valor Memorial at Longmire · Mount Rainier National Park

    The Mount Rainier National Park Valor Memorial ensures that the individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice while saving the lives of others, will never be forgotten: Ranger Nick Hall U.S. Park Ranger Margaret Anderson Ranger Phil Otis Ranger Sean Ryan Seven basalt stone columns placed in a natural configuration, along with a single entrance column, form the memorial. The memorial is intended to provide the opportunity to walk among the columns, to touch their rough but regular surface, and marvel in both their uni…

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  • A wooden house sits in an open grassy field. Three people in colonial clothing press cider in front.

    Visit Hartwell Tavern · Minute Man National Historical Park

    Hartwell Tavern is a restored 18th century home located along the Battle Road in Minute Man National Historical Park. The tavern sits on a beautifully restored section of the battlefield and is the heart of our Living History operations at Minute Man. The grounds around Hartwell remain open sunrise to sunset. Living History at Hartwell Tavern: If you visit during the operational season, you will have an opportunity to explore the interior of Hartwell Tavern and talk with interpreters dressed in eighteenth century a…

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Featured parks for tragic events

Programs & experiences

Attend an Evening on the Lake Presentation

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

Evening on the Lake programs are select Tuesday evenings throughout the summer at 7:00 p.m. in the Club House building located at 186 Main Street in St. Michael. No reservations are required for these free programs. Our Evening on the Lake series is sponsored by Friends of Johnstown Flood National Memorial. 2026 progra…

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Visit the Valor Memorial at Longmire

Mount Rainier National Park

The Mount Rainier National Park Valor Memorial ensures that the individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice while saving the lives of others, will never be forgotten: Ranger Nick Hall U.S. Park Ranger Margaret Anderson Ranger Phil Otis Ranger Sean Ryan Seven basalt stone columns placed in a natural configuration, along…

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Visit Hartwell Tavern

Minute Man National Historical Park

Hartwell Tavern is a restored 18th century home located along the Battle Road in Minute Man National Historical Park. The tavern sits on a beautifully restored section of the battlefield and is the heart of our Living History operations at Minute Man. The grounds around Hartwell remain open sunrise to sunset. Living Hi…

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Explore the Museum under the Gateway Arch

Gateway Arch National Park

Connect with the past, present and future while exploring six interactive story galleries in the museum. Experience over 200 years of historic events, multi-cultural influences and the inspiration behind the Gateway Arch. Challenge yourself to consider different perspectives and discover previously untold stories. Reth…

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Listen to Glacier's Podcast

Glacier National Park

Whether you are new to Glacier or a longtime regular, we recommend you check out Glacier's podcast, Headwaters . Headwaters is a podcast about how Glacier is connected to everything else. The episodes of season one provide an excellent overview of the whole park. However, they also dive into less-known stories that wil…

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All parks (74)

Acadia National Park
National Park

Acadia National Park

ME

Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million visits a year, it's one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States. Visitors enjoy 27 miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads.

Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area
National Historic Area

Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area

AK

The remote Aleutian Islands, home to the Unangax̂ (Aleut) people for over 8,000 years, became a fiercely contested Pacific battleground in World War II. Some Unangax̂ were taken from their homelands as Japanese prisoners of war while the others were evacuated from the islands by the government. Both groups suffered greatly during the war, and some would never return to their villages.

Andersonville National Historic Site
National Historic Site

Andersonville National Historic Site

GA

Nearly 13,000 men died on these grounds, a site that became infamous even before the Civil War ended. Their burial grounds became Andersonville National Cemetery, where veterans continue to be buried today. This place, where tens of thousands suffered captivity so others could be free, is also home to the National Prisoner of War Museum and serves as a memorial to all American prisoners of war.

Badlands National Park
National Park

Badlands National Park

SD

The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.

Big Hole National Battlefield
National Battlefield

Big Hole National Battlefield

MT

On August 9, 1877, gunshots shattered a chilly dawn on a sleeping camp of nımí·pu· (Nez Perce). By the time the smoke cleared on August 10, almost 90 nımí·pu· were dead, along with 31 soldiers and volunteers. Big Hole National Battlefield was created to honor all who were there.

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

AL

In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dramatic scenes of violent police aggression against civil rights protesters in Birmingham, Alabama were vivid examples of segregation and racial injustice in America.

Blue Ridge Parkway
Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway

NC,VA

A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.

Camp Nelson National Monument
National Monument

Camp Nelson National Monument

KY

The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops and a refugee camp for their families. It served as a shelter for civilians fleeing war and for enslaved people hoping to secure their freedom and aid in the destruction of slavery.

Capitol Hill Parks

Capitol Hill Parks

DC

The Capitol Hill Parks include several park areas east of the U.S. Capitol. Included in this group are Folger, Lincoln, Stanton, and Marion Parks, the Eastern Market and Potomac Avenue Metro stations, and several smaller land parcels such as Seward Square, Twining Square, the Maryland Avenue Triangles, the Pennsylvania Avenue Medians, and 59 inner-city triangles and squares.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

DC,MD,WV

Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures.

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
National Military Park

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

GA,TN

In 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought for control of Chattanooga - a gateway to the Confederacy. The Confederates were victorious at nearby Chickamauga in September. However, renewed fighting in Chattanooga that November provided Union troops victory and control of the city. After the fighting, a Confederate soldier ominously wrote, "This...is the death-knell of the Confederacy."

Clara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site

Clara Barton National Historic Site

MD

Clara Barton dedicated her life and energies to help others in times of need - both home and abroad, in peacetime as well as during military emergencies. Glen Echo was her home the last 15 years of her life, and the structure illustrates her dedication and concern for those less fortunate than herself.

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