From the fields of Lexington and Concord where the first battle of the war against British forces occured to Independence Hall in historic Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was signed, there’s a wealth of preserved locations across the country that allow people to pay a visit to history and learn what it was like when our forefathers created a new nation. America’s National Parks™ has created programs to extend the experiences of visitors to well-known national parks and notable locations. Through programs such as the Passport To Your National Parks®, America’s National Parks™ is getting citizens in touch with their history.
A personal journey through American Revolutionary War history
The Passport To Your National Parks® program has connected citizens to America’s national parks since 1986. Since then, visitors to national parks and historic sites have turned to Passport To Your National Parks®, the #1 best-selling national park guidebook, to collect ink cancellation stamps as a way to commemorate and memorialize each of their visits. The passport stamps collected allow visitors to build a completely personalized history of their journey through national park sites in the United States.
There are over 40 Revolutionary War sites within the National Park Service system. These include battlefields such as the Cowpens National Battlefield, Kings Mountain National Military Park, and Yorktown Battlefield at Colonial National HIstorical Park, notable sites such as Valley Forge National Historical Park where General George Washington’s men sought refuge, and several locations throughout Boston, including the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill, which just celebrated its 250th anniversary. These sites tell the stories of all Americans, like the Boston African American National Historic Site, telling the story of Primus Hall, a man born to enslaved parents who was “given away” to become a shoemaker’s apprentice, but instead joined the Continental Army in 1776.
The Passport Program allows visitors to preserve stories and memories as they create a deeper connection to their history. While attending American Revolution sites during these historic anniversaries, visitors can explore the museums and historic buildings, walk the fields where battles took place, attend living history presentations, reenactments, and walking tours, as well as guided tours at various locations to enhance their knowledge about the Revolution.
Through these presentations, visitors can strive to understand the positions of loyalists, what it was like to be a militiaman, or how General Washington felt as British General Howe forced his troops out of New York in the Battle of Long Island. Famous sites, such as the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Guilford Courthouse, where British General Cornwallis was met with strong resistance from Nathanael Greene and his men, and Freeman’s Farm, where a 1777 battle proved to be one of the Revolution’s longest, continue to be popular for visitors seeking to add stamps to their Passport books.
Passport to the American Revolution
To celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, America’s National Parks™ has created a new addition to the Passport Program, the Passport To The American Revolution. With a foreword written by award-winning historian and documentarian Ken Burns — who is releasing his latest documentary “The American Revolution” this fall — this special edition of the Passport To Your National Parks® guidebook highlights national parks where pivotal events of the American Revolution played out and calls attention to lesser-known sites that are tied to America’s founding. Discover untold stories from the Revolutionary War and take a journey through a timeline of the American Revolution.
Ink Cancellation Stampers with the official America250 logo have been created to commemorate visits to these special Revolutionary sites, allowing people embarking on a journey through history to mark these special anniversaries in their Passport To The American Revolution.
National Park Service sites that commemorate the American Revolution are planning events for their own 250th anniversary. Starting this past Spring, sites such as Minute Man National Historical Park commemorated the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord with a day full of living history demonstrations by costumed reenactors and educational programs marking the battle that kicked off the Revolution. Visitors of these events will be able to visit America’s National Parks Stores™ and NPS Visitor Centers to “Get Stamped!” with the official America250 Cancellation Stamps.
As we draw closer to the 2026 celebration, more sites will be planning fun, in-depth programming that people can track their visits within their Passport To The American Revolution special edition Passport book. Find out more about events and other America’s 250th events from America’s National Parks™.
Supporting National Historic Sites
The story of America’s liberty is ongoing, and the people today who are interested in visiting sites and learning about the historical moments that took place there are a part of that story. America’s National Parks™ has been dedicated to allowing people to document their journey through the most important historical sites in America since 1947, providing support to national park sites through their park stores, interpretive services, and custom products, such as the Passport To Your National Parks® books.
To date, America’s National Parks™ has donated over $180 million to National Park Service sites to purchase artifacts, fund living-history demonstrations, develop park signage, exhibits, facility upkeep and renovations, and other great educational programs.
Preserving our national history — especially the history of how our nation began — requires a communal effort. Whether you are a lifelong history buff, seeking a fun family adventure, or simply want to celebrate a monumental anniversary in our nation’s history, the Passport To The American Revolution will give you a roadmap to Revolutionary history and a way to commemorate your personal journey through American history.