The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is a beautiful Beaux-arts building housing a fine-art collection in San Francisco, California, Built to commemorate the 3,600 Californian soldiers who died in World War I. San Francisco’s most beautiful museum displays an impressive collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art. It owns more than 70 sculptures by Auguste Rodin, including a bronze cast of the artist’s best-known monument, The Thinker (cast c. 1904).

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Puerto Rico offers many sights and attractions, including the world famous Bacardi Rum factory. San Juan is the home of world famous Bacardí rum. The interactive tour includes a look back at the history of the company, the rum production process, and a Mixology course on how to mix the original mojito, Cuba libre, and other popular drinks. The trolley ride loops around the campus, and ends with a visit to the Bacardi gift shop and open air pavilion where you can enjoy drinks.

Tour Fees:
Tour, welcome drink – $12
Factory Tour, premium rum tasting or a Mixology course. – $35

Tour Hours:
Monday through Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm (last tour begins at 4:15 pm)
Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm (last tour begins at 3:45 pm)

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For Texans, the Battle of the Alamo became an enduring symbol of their heroic resistance to oppression and their struggle for independence, which they won later that year. The Alamo was the scene of a pivotal battle in the fight for the independence of Texas from Mexico. In the early 1800s, Texas belonged to Mexico. During the Texas war for independence from Mexico, Spanish troops occupied the abandoned building, now used as a fortress, calling it Alamo. In 1836, Col. William B. Travis, James Bowie, Davy Crockett, and almost 200 other Texan volunteers occupied the Alamo. After unsuccessfully defending the Alamo for 13 days against an army of thousands of Mexican soldiers led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna, the Texans died on March 6, 1836.

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credit: A Common American 

credit: A Common American 

credit: A Common American 

The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word opened the Chapel of the Incarnate Word in 1907, just 38 years after arriving in San Antonio from their native France. Designed in the Romanesque style by architect F.B. Gaenslen and under the planning supervision of Reverend J.G. Badnarek of Chicago, the chapel resembles a cathedral in its massing and scale. The imposing tower is guarded by trumpeting angels at each corner, and other statuary and symbols depict the four Evangelists. Large stained glass windows flank the outer walls, with a rosette window in the choir. The elaborate chapel interior features marble columns with gilded capitals, an embossed metal ceiling, oak choir stalls, and a 19th century pipe organ.

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The San Fernando Cathedral is located in downtown San Antonio, near the river walk. This cathedral was established in 1731 by the Canary/Spanish Islanders, who sought to build their own place of worship. It is also known as the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria y Guadalupe, the oldest cathedral in the United States. Still functions as a Catholic cathedral holding mass, sacraments, confession, baptisms, weddings and more. It holds a memorial and tomb of heroes of the Alamo. It is open to the public for viewing.

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