While these parks may be smaller than the average state park, what they lack in acreage, they make up for in historical value. Find out more about these parks below and in the National Geographic Guide to State Parks of the United States, 5th Edition, and start planning your next trip.
‘Īao Valley, Hawai‘i — 6 acres
Long considered a spiritual place, this green valley in the West Maui Mountains was named after the demigod Maui’s daughter, ‘Īao (Cloud Supreme).
Pilgrim Memorial, Massachusetts — 9 acres
Site of the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620, the memorial features a detailed re-creation of the settlement and Wampanoag village, as well as a full-size reproduction of the Mayflower II.
Totem Bight, Alaska — 11 acres
Alaska’s Tlingit and Haida people are well represented with a re-created 19th-century clan house and 14 totem poles, arranged along a self-guided interpretive trail.
‘Iolani Palace, Hawai‘i — 11 acres
The United States’ only official state residence of royalty, this was the home of Hawai‘i’s last monarchs.
Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont — 43 acres
This notch, possibly carved by a glacial-melt river about 12,000 years ago, was used by fugitive slaves on their escape to Canada.
