It would be outstanding to go back in time and be a witness to some historical events. Civil War era, world War Two, the building of Rome. This list would be gigantic. You could do this, in a limited way, by speaking to people who lived through it, such as people who lived through the Great Depression.
Everytime you spend time with someone who has lived through historical events, you have a chance to bear witness, ina roundabout way, to the events that occurred during a specific era in our history. I myself will be able to account both the gulf wars to my son, as an example.
Sit down with a person that lived in the past century, and ask them about an event that you are excited about. Hear it from their perspective, ask how the world reacted, and what the event changed for them. You may feel like you were actually there.
My mother remembers the Kennedy assassination. She can remember what she was wearing that day, the temperture, the whole deal. Its fascinating really. America was just devastated by it. Perhaps a greater shock than even the events of September 11th…
So, if you want experience history, find a person who lived or actually experienced a significant historical event and sit down and talk to them. Take notes, record the conversation because in time, the “witnesses” will eventuallay be history also.