Hoover Dam © Jim Epler

Barron’s Books recently published 1001 Historic Sites You Must See Before You Die, a visitor’s guide that appeals to dedicated history buffs as well as the general traveler. Packed with detailed information and more than 800 brilliant photos, the book takes its readers to prehistoric and ancient sites, battlefields, buildings and monuments, and homes of famous artists like Mozart, Shakespeare and Cézanne.

One of my personal favourites, the Hoover Dam, can be seen in the Griswold’s Vegas Vacation from ‘97. Other historic sites include the Lescaux Cave Paintings in France, the Pyramids in Egypt, Pearl Harbor Memorial on Hawaii, the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, and many more.

To read sample chapters from the Hoover Dam, Eiffel Tower, Sistine Chapel, and Taj Mahal, visit 1001 Historic Sites (a look inside).

1001 Historic Sites You Must See Before You Die includes a preface by UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura and is edited by Richard Cavendish who is a regular contributor for the British Magazine History Today.