Introduction
With so much to see and do, it can be hard to narrow down your list of must-visits in the US. To help you get started, here are some of America’s most iconic landmarks:
The White House, Washington, D.C.
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. When Thomas Jefferson moved into what was then called “the President’s Palace,” he began a tradition that has continued to this day; each new president moves into The White House on Inauguration Day after taking office (although Grover Cleveland’s second term began before his first).
The building was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban, who also designed several other famous buildings in Washington D.C., including St Patrick’s Cathedral and Longford Castle near Dublin, Ireland
The Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River, St. Louis
The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot monument that rises above downtown St. Louis, Missouri. It was built to commemorate the westward expansion of the United States and has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of America. The arch stands as the tallest man-made monument in the country, with its observation deck offering spectacular views of both sides of the Mississippi River valley.
The Gateway Arch was designed by Eero Saarinen (who also designed Detroit’s Renaissance Center) and completed on October 28th 1965 after 10 years of construction work at an estimated cost $13 million dollars ($103 million today). Today it attracts more than 4 million visitors annually making it one if not THE most visited tourist attractions in Missouri!
If you’re ever visiting St Louis then definitely make sure you check out this fantastic attraction!
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The memorial was conceived in 1923 by sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who wanted to create an enduring tribute to four great American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Work began on September 17th 1927 and ended on October 31st 1941 when President Franklin D Roosevelt dedicated it as “a shrine where all Americans may come from every corner of our land to pay their respects.”
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in Arizona. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and over a mile deep. The park was established in 1919 and is an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.
The Grand Canyon has been formed over millions of years as streams carrying silt moved toward it from nearby mountains. As they flowed through glacial deposits left behind when ice sheets retreated at the end of the last ice age, they dropped their loads of silt into what became known as the Grand Canyon Supergroup–a layer cake of sandstones, shales and limestones up to 7,000 feet thick!
Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island National Monument, New York City
Now that you’re in New York City, it’s time to go see one of America’s most iconic landmarks: Lady Liberty herself. The Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island National Monument are both located right on Manhattan’s waterfront, so they’re easy to access by foot or subway.
Ellis Island was the main immigration station for immigrants entering the United States from 1892 to 1954 and processed more than 12 million people during its operation–so many people passed through this space during its lifetime that it can be hard to imagine just how many souls got their start here!
Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles
The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood. The first star was awarded in 1958 to Joanne Woodward, who received a star for her work in television, radio and theater. More than 2,600 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard honor people who have made significant contributions to the entertainment industry.
You can visit any day of the week from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm; however, if you want to avoid crowds on weekends or after 4 pm during peak tourist season (between March 1st – Labor Day), go early morning or late at night when it’s less crowded!
Alcatraz Island and Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay Area
Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge are two of America’s most recognizable landmarks. Located just offshore from San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island was a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. Today it’s home to a national park that tells visitors about life on the island during its time as a prison. The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco; over 4 million people cross it every year! Built in 1933, this suspension bridge connects Marin County with San Francisco and provides stunning views of both cities’ skylines.
America is full of historic landmarks.
America is full of historic landmarks. The White House, for example, is a symbol of the United States’ democratic government and its first president, George Washington. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is another iconic landmark that represents the city’s rich history as an important center for transportation and trade.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota contains portraits of four presidents carved into granite rock faces by Gutzon Borglum: George Washington (left), Thomas Jefferson (center), Abraham Lincoln (right) and Theodore Roosevelt (underneath).
The Grand Canyon National Park contains one of nature’s most breathtaking wonders: an enormous gorge cut through Arizona by Colorado River over millions of years! You should definitely add this natural wonder to your bucket list!
Conclusion
There are so many more landmarks to explore in America, but these are our favorites. If you want to experience them all, we recommend starting with the White House in Washington D.C. and ending with the Statue of Liberty in New York City. You’ll be able to see some amazing sights along the way!
