The Midwest region has 8 NHA’s—more than most regions—ranging from industrial to pastoral, and most are devoted to travel by horse, boat, car or plane. Each heritage area provides a unique way for us to learn our history and explore our diverse culture in vibrant and interactive ways, such as riding in a Santa Fe Trail stagecoach above. Parks travelers tend to focus on the most famous iconic national parks, but I found some of my most treasured experiences below.

• Abraham Lincoln covers his working life, campaign and legacy in Illinois.
• Bronzeville celebrates the rich culture of the south side of Chicago.
• Freedom’s Frontier preserves history in Kansas (above) & Missouri.
• Illinois & Michigan Canal connects sites along an important water route.
• MotorCities teaches us all about old fossil fuel cars from Detroit.
• National Aviation expands the greater Dayton Aviation NHP in Ohio.
• Ohio & Erie Canalway includes the greater Cuyahoga Valley area plus First Ladies.
• Silos & Smokestacks shares simpler times in Iowa.

If you missed any of the posts above, I encourage you to click on them now, especially the last one. I’m slowly filling in the map and will continue posting Midwest state photo summaries on alternate Saturdays. I only have a few more Midwest national park units to post before I complete all sites in the region, and look for a few more New York sites. Thursdays will alternate between summaries like this one and eclectic extras like last week.