Say what you want about America, there’s no doubt it’s one of the greatest nations ever built. But the U.S. is also vast and diverse, and that means there are endless landmarks for you to visit. Historic sites, modern buildings, natural wonders, and everything else under the sun, here are 30 landmarks that you need to visit in the U.S.
Central Park, New York
A massive park in the middle of the most densely populated part of the country. A perfect for a mix of both urban life and nature.
Casa Grande Ruins, Arizona
A historic mansion built before the first European had ever even set foot on American soil. Something that reminds of the various nations that used to exist.
Horshoe Bend, Arizona
A unique piece of geography that was made over thousands of years by a river literally cutting through massive rocks over time.
Antelope Canyon, Arizona
This canyon/cave will make you feel like you’re in the middle of an acid trip, but these are all naturally forming rocks. Nature truly makes the craziest things.
Monument Valley, Arizona
There’s no shortage of these gorgeous valleys throughout Arizona. If you’re a fan of the Forrest Gump movie, you probably instantly recognized this one.
Alcatraz Prison, California
The site of a famous prison escape in the 20th century, now a pretty cool museum about one of the most oppresive prisons in history.
Chrysler Building, New York
Possibly the most iconic skyscraper in the history of New York City. Nothing symbolizes Art Deco better than this building right here.
Disneyland, California
Disneyland is literally the world of our dreams. Whether you enjoy the rides or just wanna be a kid again, there’s no happier place on earth.
Rockefeller Center, New York
Built by one of the richest families in American history, the ice skating rink in the middle of it all is one of the most popular winter activities in the city.
Griffith Observatory, California
This single observatory overlooks the lives of tens of millions of people on a clear day. Not a bad view.
September 11 Memorial, New York
Not really a “touristy” place, but somewhere you can go to pay your respects. It’s also an important piece of modern art, and somewhere you can find silence in the busy city.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C
One of the most iconic D.C monuments. The architecture pretty much symbolizes the whole city at once, and it overlooks a gorgeous lake.
Key West Lighthouse, Florida
A lighthouse built 20 years before Florida formally joined the United States, it’s one of the oldest on the Gulf of Mexico.
Abraham Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C
There are few statues on earth with as much intricate detail as the Lincoln Memorial. It’s an iconic symbol of the country, and it’s a pretty nice place to visit overall.
Castillo de San Marcos, Florida
This is the oldest fort in the United States, built by the Spanish in the late 1600s.
The White House, Washington, D.C
There’s something weird about being able to stand in front of the house of the most powerful man on earth, but you can do that here.
The Hollywood Sign, California
Is any trip to California complete without a picture in front of the Hollywood sign? I know it’s just a sign, but it’s so iconic that it’s worth it.
Times Square, New York
Visiting Times Square is one of the most touristy things you can do in New York City, but damnit if it isn’t always entertaining.
Gateway Arch, Missouri
There are a lot of arches in the world, but this is the tallest in the world. It stands at 630 feet tall and is a symbol of modern architecture.
The Alamo, Texas
This is the site of one of the most famous battles in US history, and a symbol of Texas joining the United States. Also a really gorgeous old building.
Yosemite National Park, California
Buildings aren’t great, but sometimes you just wanna go to a place that has been completely untouched by manmade structures. Yosemite is a little piece of heaven on Earth.
Grand Canyon, Arizona and Nevada
Think of all the ancient rivers and seas that carved these rocks over millions of years. Not only is it a beauty to look at, it’s also an insightful wonder.
Empire State Building, New York
If there was any building that could give the Chrysler Building a run for “iconic” status, it’s this one. It was built in only 410 days and became the tallest building on Earth for the following 39 years.
Niagra Falls, New York
This cross-border natural wonder needs no introduction at all. The American side has some pretty incredible views and it’s impossible not to be amazed by it.
Washington Monument, Washington, D.C
Obelisks were really an Egyptian thing, but like most “things”, the Americans did it better.
Hoover Dam, Nevada and Arizona
Seeing a modern wonder of engineering is truly a sight to behold.
Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
The faces of four iconic U.S. presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, all carved into a single mountain. Pretty stunning to see in real life.
Seattle Space Needle, Washington
One of the coolest buildings that was built in the last century, and it gives you gorgeous views overlooking all of Seattle and the nearby mountains. Looking at it is great, looking from it is even better.
Golden Gate Bridge, California
This was one of the most ambitious projects in the history of San Francisco, and even though it’s primary job was to connect different landmasses on the bay, it ended up looking so cool that it’s the top tourist attraction in the city.
Statue of Libery, New York
If there was ever a symbol that unites all of America, it’s the Statue of Liberty. Visiting it is just something every traveler has to cross of their list, it’s not to be missed.
