It’s hard to believe our country has been a part of so many wretched battles. Without them, though, we would never have formed into the country we are today. It’s no surprise to find that so many war memorials have sprung up throughout the country.

While many exist in Washington, DC there are others scattered around the United States as well. Below are some of the most visited.

10. Fort Sumter National Monument – South Carolina

Believe it or not, the first battle of the Civil War took place when the Confederates attacked the year-old fort. It had originally been built to protect the coast – a lesson learned after the war of 1812. The National Park service reports that approximately 745 thousand visitors come to the park each year.

9. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park – Georgia & Tennessee

During the fall of 1863, some of the hardest battles of the civil war were fought in the hills of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. Confederate soldiers had the upper hand at first but later lost ground to the Union army. The park includes over 5,200 acres of beautiful land, monuments, and hiking trails for its 993 thousands visitors to explore.

8. Minute Man National Historic Park – Concord, Massachusetts

Minute Man National Historic Park certainly does deserve recognition. This ground is the site where the American Revolution officially began. The soldiers stationed here were called “minute men” because they were ready to fight at a “minute’s notice” to protect their country from the British. More than 1.067 million visit each year to explore the park grounds.

7. Valley Forge National Historic Park – Pennsylvania

Thousands of soldiers spent the winter in Valley Forge under the direction of George Washington during the Revolutionary War. While many of their comrades died, the soldiers fought bravely throughout the cold months and emerged victorious. Almost 1.3 million people visit to learn about the war, by watching live history demonstrations and exploring the local monuments.

6. World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument – Oahu, Hawaii

Exactly 1,177 crew members were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and in 1958 President Eisenhower approved the plans to build a monument in their honor. The USS Arizona Memorial was completed in 1961 and sits above the remains of the sunken USS Arizona. The monument is one of eight (all in different sites) that is included in the World War II Valor memorial created by President Bush in 2008 and is visited by approximately 1.4 million people annually.

5. Gettysburg National Military Park – Pennsylvania

Gettysburg was, of course, the site of the nastiest battle during the Civil War and the place where Lincoln made his famous speech ending the conflict. He dedicated the grounds to those who died fighting for a cause they believed in. Almost 1.5 million people visit each year to learn about the war and pay their respects.

4. Korean War Memorial – Washington, DC

Just south of the National Mall you’ll find West Potomac Park, the home of the Korean War Memorial. The memorial includes 19 bronze statues, a wall outlining a list of the nations that sent troops to the war, and the renowned “Pool of Remembrance.” More than 3.6 million people venture to this memorial every year.

3. World War II Memorial – Washington, DC

The classy World War II Memorial is just under 10 years old but is already a respected site. The memorial includes a semicircle made of pillars – each one adorned with an eagle and a wreath. The pillars each represent one of the states present in 1945 and are beautifully maintained for the nearly 4.2 million people who visit annually.

2. Arlington Cemetery – Washington, DC

At Arlington Cemetery you’ll find rows and rows of neatly arranged tombstones marking the resting places of some of our nation’s most honored heroes. The national cemetery is home to JFK’s grave, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and a myriad of other memorials. More than 4 million people visit the cemetery every year.

1. Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial – Washington, DC

The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial is an astounding site and draws more than 4.2 million visitors each year. The original V-shaped memorial was designed in 1981 and, at the time, was controversial due to its design. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial, bronze statues, and homage to The Three Soldiers were all added later on.

There are, literally, hundreds of war memorials and each deserves the same amount of attention. Please respectfully remember that these memorials are only the ones that the United States Park Services have monitored for visitor counts. Every single war monument in the country deserves our respect – as does each soldier, past and present.