Lesser-known US cities with great attractions: Under-the-radar cities with world-class attractions

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This was published 6 years ago

Lesser-known US cities with great attractions: Under-the-radar cities with world-class attractions

By David Whitley
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Sure, you can happily spend weeks in New York or LA and plunge into San Fran or Chicago's wealth of attractions. But sometimes the most impressive US cultural, historical and plain fun sites are not housed in the obvious cities. For this lot, for example, you need to spread your wings further afield.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Where? Cleveland, Ohio

The sections on the origins of rock and roll music – through jazz, folk, blues and gospel – are utterly fascinating. And, more importantly, they leave you wanting to raid record stores to listen to the likes of Robert Johnson and Hank Williams. Elsewhere, there are brilliant displays on big stars (such as Elvis), the producers and DJs that propelled rock's takeover, and the cities where different scenes emerged. See rockhall.com

Monticello

Where? Charlottesville, Virginia

Monticello wasn't just the home of third President Thomas Jefferson – he designed it himself, based largely on Palladian, classicist principles. But while the architecture, including a glorious central dome, may be magnificent, the decoration inside – full of things Jefferson collected from around the world – is more fascinating. The same applies to the tours, which go into the man – a consummate polymath – and the slaves he both kept and had relationships with. See Monticello.org

The Bradbury Science Museum

Where? Los Alamos, New Mexico

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The Bradbury delves into nuclear science, but most importantly the atomic bomb, which was developed in Los Alamos. The stories of people who worked there are riveting – particularly in terms of the lengths they had to go to keep things secret. And the horrified reactions of those who worked on the project after seeing the first test explosion live long in the memory afterwards. See lanl.gov/museum

The Henry Ford museum

Where? Dearborn, Michigan

Just outside Detroit, the Henry Ford has superb collections of cars and planes, as you might expect. But it also offers perfectly pitched trawls through American history, and has some genuinely staggering "woah there" exhibits. These include the bus where Rosa Parks made her civil rights stand, the car JFK was in when he was assassinated, and the bike shop where the Wright Brothers made the first plane. The latter was transported brick by brick from Dayton, Ohio. See thehenryford.org

The Johnson Space Centre

Where? Houston, Texas

NASA's Manned Spaceflight Centre is where astronauts are trained and flight control is based. There's an incredible amount to do there – from tram tours around the site to hanging out over lunch with an astronaut. You can visit mission control, see the gigantic Saturn V Rockets, experience blast-off in a specially designed theatre and learn about life on the International Space Station. See Spacecenter.org

The Dali Museum

Where? St Petersburg, Florida

The art museum for people who get bored with art museums, the Dali Museum has thousands of works by the Spanish surrealist, including a greedy handful of those considered his masterpieces. The museum is an architectural high point too, with an eye-popping, curving glass blob slinking around the building. See thedali.org

The Warhol Museum

Where? Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The largest single artist museum in the US spreads over six floors and, as you might expect with an artist who believed in mass producing his work, all the hits from the Jackie O screen prints to the Campbell's soup cans are there. But more importantly it explores the man and how he forced himself and his scene into the world's consciousness. See warhol.org

The American Civil War Centre

Where? Richmond, Virginia

Inside the Tredegar Ironworks that provided much of the heavy metal behind the Confederate war effort, the American Civil War Centre gives an absorbing overview of the battle between North and South. For non-military buffs, it does a great job of explaining the underlying themes – slavery, states' rights, industrial versus plantation economy – and the resulting impacts on world history. See acwm.org

Temple Square

Where? Salt Lake City, Utah

The Mormon equivalent of the Vatican, Temple Square is notable for both its grandeur and its weirdness. Seemingly hundreds of missionaries wander around between the soaring temple, curving tabernacle – home to the famed choir – and giant conference centre. Head inside the visitor centre, and the museum-esque exhibits tell the phenomenally improbable tale of the Mormon faith's origins and spread. See templesquare.com

The National Civil Rights Museum

Where? Memphis, Tennessee

Generally seen as a pilgrimage site for Elvis diehards, Memphis is also a key site on the US civil rights trail. Martin Luther King jnr was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel, and the National Civil Rights museum has been built opposite the motel. The exhibits are extensive, both on King's struggle and those of other civil rights leaders, and there's no beating about the bush about the impact on American life, past and present. See civilrightsmuseum.org

See also: A guide to tipping in the US

See also: The ultimate guide to New York for first-timers

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