Providence was founded by Protestant pastor Roger Williams in 1636, and the name means “divine care.” Williams was a campaigner for religious liberty and had been expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his radical religious and political beliefs (he argued for the division between Church and State). Williams and his followers purchased the settlement from the Narragansett Indians, and Williams named it in gratitude to “God’s merciful providence unto me in my distress.” He later said, “I desired it might be a shelter for persons distressed of conscience.”

Harrisburg began as a ferry stop and trading post, run by John Harris Sr., and colloquially known as Harris Ferry. Briefly renamed Louisbourg after Louis XVI of France, the town's founder (and son of John Harris Sr.) John Harris Jr. insisted the town be renamed after his father, the first white settler in the region—and so, Harrisburg was founded.

The origins of Salem’s name are the subject of some debate. Some historians believe its name is biblical in origin, borrowing the last five letters from the word Jerusalem, and serving as an Anglicized version of the Hebrew word shalom, meaning “peace.” Others believe it was named by missionary David Leslie, who named the city after his hometown, Salem, Massachusetts. Either way, Salem was officially named in 1850.

Tulsa is a city on the Arkansas River, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It’s known for its art deco architecture, mostly in the central Deco District. Landmarks like the Philcade and Philtower buildings reflect a 20th-century construction boom fueled by the prosperous local oil industry. The Philbrook Museum of Art is housed in an Italianate villa that was once the home of a local oil magnate.

Cincinnati is experiencing another boom, this time in its historic Over-the-Rhine district, which is being transformed with significant investments in infrastructure. Changes include a new streetcar that connects downtown to the neighborhood, and an expansion of the district’s art scene.

Fargo is where the Plains Art Museum exhibits regional and Native American works in a revamped old warehouse. Modern and vintage are spread over two hangars. Cheer your favorite N. Dakota football team in the Fargodome, then visit the Red River Zoo.

Charlotte, North Carolina is often called the City of Champions. Visit to find out why.

The Finger Lakes is named for its series of long, thin lakes, and known for its vineyards. On Cayuga Lake, the city of Ithaca is home to Cornell University and its Johnson Museum of Art, showing ancient and modern art in an I.M. Pei–designed building. The surrounding area is marked by high gorges, many with dramatic waterfalls, including Taughannock Falls and Buttermilk Falls.

Los Alamos is a town in New Mexico that is recognized as the birthplace of the atomic bomb––the primary objective of the Manhattan Project by Los Alamos National Laboratory during World War II.

Jersey City is in northeastern New Jersey. Its eastern waterfront faces the Hudson River where it meets Upper New York Bay. Liberty State Park has panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the former immigrant gateway. The park’s Liberty Science Center features interactive exhibits, live animals and an IMAX Dome theater. Bars and ethnic eateries line downtown’s Grove Street.