12/1/2004
By BY Amy Liebrock
You can walk into America's past—and follow in your ancestors' footsteps—at the country's hottest historic destinations. Plan your 2005 travels with our roundup of 28 timeless towns and 11 genealogy hot spots.
You can't deny it: As
addicted as you are to finding hard genealogy facts and adding
generations to your family tree, there's a deeper desire driving your
family history quest. You're not satisfied with mere names and dates on
your pedigree charts — you want to
learn what your forebears'
lives were actually like. You aim to understand their trials and
triumphs, to envision their everyday experiences and to discover their
roles in shaping our collective past.
But you won't find the
answers you're after in microfilm rolls or computer files. And you'll
have a tough time imagining other eras amidst the skyscrapers and strip
malls that make up modern cityscapes. So where can you step into your
ancestors' shoes? We searched high and low for America's hottest
historic destinations — places where yesterday remains as vibrant as
today, and you can truly experience history as your forebears lived it.
We finally settled on 28 timeless towns that represent our nation's
(and your families') diverse historical, cultural and geographic
backgrounds. Our roundup highlights eight spectacular spots across
America, and gives snapshots of 20 more heritage havens, so you can
start planning a getaway to your ancestors' day.