About the Book

Historic Shrines of America (1918) is a pilgrimage in book form: one hundred and twenty buildings that mattered to the American story, each with the people who made it notable — John T. Faris writing as both historian and travelling companion.

The tour runs in eight journeys, from the Land of the Pilgrims through the country of the Patroons and the Cavaliers and back again to New England, taking in state houses, churches, taverns, forts and the parlours where poems were written.

It was published when many of these places were still fighting for their lives — some have since been saved and restored, some are gone. This site adds an index by state, so you can find the ones near you.

This site reproduces the complete text of the original 1918 edition, digitized page by page from the original printing. The book is in the public domain.