Up until the 1960s, almost every aspect of living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer person was illegal in the United States.¹ Yet LGBTQ people refused to be erased, founding vibrant communities and places where they could be themselves.

Only recently have historians and preservationists begun to recognize and protect these places. Here are six LGBTQ travel destinations in the United States with stories to tell.

The Friend's Home in Jerusalem, NY

A woman born Jemima Wilkinson in 1752 fell seriously ill at the age of 23. Upon recovering, the patient said that Jemima had died, and that God had reanimated her body with a genderless spirit named the “Public Universal Friend.”  

The Friend, or P.U.F., became a traveling Christian preacher who advocated for nonviolence and defied gender norms. Dressed in Quaker-style long black robes and a broad-brimmed hat, the Friend collected followers who became the Society of Universal Friends and lived in community in western New York State.² Today, the house where the Friend lived is on the National Register of Historic Places.

How to visit the Friend’s Home: It’s not open to the public, but in the nearby town of Penn Yan there’s a permanent exhibit on the Public Universal Friend at the L. Caroline Underwood Museum. You can see the Friend’s portrait, bible, hat, saddle and coach.

The Castro in San Francisco, CA

The Castro—named for Castro Street—was one of the very first gay neighborhoods in the U.S. During World War II, thousands of service members were dishonorably discharged from the military because of their sexuality and sent to San Francisco. In the 1950s and 1960s, many gay men and couples bought historic Victorian homes in the Castro District, which became a rare place where LGBTQ people could live openly and freely. The Castro’s most famous resident was Harvey Milk, a local activist who became the first openly gay elected official in California and then was assassinated.

LGBTQ historic sites to visit in The Castro include:

• Twin Peaks Tavern: In 1972, lesbian owners Mary Ellen Cunha and Peggy Forster uncovered the picture windows, making Twin Peaks the first gay bar in San Francisco (and possibly the U.S.) where patrons could be seen from the street.³
• The GLBT Historical Society Museum & Archives: The first stand-alone LGBTQ history museum in the United States exhibits photographs and artifacts, including a segment of one of the first rainbow flags.
• Castro Theatre: This ornate theater is a landmark in the Castro.

How to visit the Castro: The Castro is generally considered a safe area to walk in, although it can be a little rambunctious at night. You can also take an LGBTQ walking tour with a guide.

The Pauli Murray House in Durham, NC

Though little known today, the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray was a notable activist, legal scholar, and advocate for women’s rights and civil rights. Murray grew up in a modest house in Durham. Despite brilliance in  academics, Murray was denied admission to the University of North Carolina because of race and Harvard Law School’s graduate program because of gender. Nevertheless, Murray obtained a Master of Law degree and in 1951 wrote “States’ Laws on Race and Color,” which Thurgood Marshall called the Bible of Civil Rights law. Murray helped to found the National Organization for Women (NOW); published several books; became the first female African American Episcopal priest, and is an Episcopal saint.

Today we might call Murray queer and gender-fluid, but language about gender was different in the 20^th century. Murray self-described as a “he/she personality” at times, later described herself as a woman, and lived with partner Irene Barlow for many years.

How to visit the Pauli Murray House: Explore the outdoor exhibits at the house on your own, or request a guided tour from a staff member. You can sign up for a walking tour of the historic West End neighborhood of Durham, seeing six important sites from Murray’s life.

The Furies Collective in Washington, D.C.

In the early 1970s, 12 young lesbian women moved into a townhouse near Capitol Hill and formed a separatist feminist community.  They started a national newspaper that called for the end of patriarchy, white supremacy, and imperialism. They also founded a school to teach women auto and home repair, to end dependence on men.⁴

The Furies Collective only existed for two years, but left a lasting legacy in lesbian and feminist thought. One member, Rita Mae Brown, went on to become a well-known author and activist. In 2016, their house at 219 11th St. SE became the first lesbian-related historic landmark in Washington, D.C. and the first lesbian site on the National Register of Historic Places.

How to visit the Furies Collective: The house is not open to the public, but is a stop on the D.C. LGBTQ+ History Tour.

Darcelle XV Showplace in Portland, OR

In 1967, Walter Cole purchased a run-down dive bar in Portland. With the help of his partner Roxy LeRoy Neuhardt, he started a cabaret show, which became a hit once Cole took the stage as drag queen Darcelle XV.

The club has been in business ever since, making it one of the longest-running drag venues in the U.S. Darcelle, too, persisted. Cole performed into his 90s and passed away in 2023. Darcelle XV Showplace was named to the National Register of Historic Places. “As a nightclub and drag venue, the aesthetic of Darcelle XV Showplace reflects the improvised, low-budget, and self-reliant illusion of glamour that resulted from its development during the late 1960s and early 1970s when drag was celebrated mostly behind closed doors due to gay discrimination and the threat of harassment,” the National Park Service says.⁵

How to visit Darcelle XV Showplace: The club is still an active drag venue. Check the calendar for upcoming shows. For more LGBTQ history in Portland, visit the Burnside Triangle neighborhood, the Crystal Hotel, and Erv Lind Field in Normandale Park. This was the home field of the national champion women’s softball team, the Erv Lind Florists, from 1948 to 1964, and is recognized as a protected space where LGBTQ women could connect over sports.⁶

The Stonewall Inn in New York City

Perhaps the most important landmark in American LGBTQ history is the Stonewall Inn, a bar in Greenwich Village. On Saturday, June 28, 1969, the New York City Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn. At the time, it was against the law for LGBTQ people to dance together or be served alcohol. On this night, the patrons fought back. Their resistance sparked five nights of protests and, a year later, the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, considered the first-ever Pride event. The events at the Stonewall Inn are considered the beginning of the modern gay rights movement in the U.S.

In 2016, the inn and surrounding area became the first National Monument dedicated to LBGTQ rights and history.

How to visit the Stonewall Inn: The Stonewall Inn remains a privately owned gay bar that’s open to the public. There’s a billiards room, a piano bar, and frequent dance parties. Walking tours tell the history of the Stonewall Riots and other notable sites nearby.

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