50 Must-See Spots For Your List
You could call these cornerstones of America's history, as every crack, curve, and wave has an interesting story. You can either brag about visiting some of these places or just let their magnificence leave you speechless.
Alabama: Edmund Pettus Bridge
Edmund Pettus Bridge was constructed in 1940. It's the same bridge that's known for the tragic Sunday of March 7, 1965. That's when civil rights protesters faced off with the police while trying to march from Selma to Montgomery to fight for their right to vote.
Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons
Alaska: Mt. McKinley (Denali)
Denali, which used to be called Mount McKinley, is the tallest mountain in North America, which is 6,190 meters high. Apparently, in 1896, it was named Mount McKinley by a gold prospector in honor of then-presidential candidate William McKinley.
Denali National Park and Preserve, Wikimedia Commons
Arizona: Grand Canyon
How about a natural landmark located in northwestern Arizona? The Grand Canyon has been inhabited for several years by Native American tribes, including the Havasupai, Hualapai, and Navajo. It is a steep-sided canyon formed by the Colorado River that is 277 miles long.
Ginka56, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Arkansas: Hot Springs National Park
Did you know? At Hot Springs National Park, the thermal spring produces over 850,000 gallons of hot water daily. That too with an average temperature of 143°F, with water that is said to have healing properties. This national park is the oldest in the US.
Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
California: Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a well-known suspension bridge that crosses the Golden Gate Strait, linking San Francisco to Marin County in California. The towers are 746 feet tall. This bridge was officially opened on May 27, 1937, after four whole years of construction.
Guillaume Paumier, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park
In need of some stunning views? This is the place to be. Rocky Mountain National Park is situated west of Estes Park and is accessible from Denver, which is about 55 miles northwest of the city. The Continental Divide cuts right through the park, shaping ecological zones.
markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Connecticut: Mystic Seaport
Ever witnessed a living history museum? Mystic Seaport brings to life a coastal village from the 19th century. The museum houses ships like the world's only remaining wooden whaling ship, the Charles W. Morgan. Joseph Conrad and the fishing schooner LA Dunton are also present.
D Ramey Logan, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Delaware: Caesar Rodney Statue
The statue officially went up on July 4, 1923, to honor Caesar Rodney and the important part he played in American history. Especially his iconic ride to Philadelphia to cast a vote for the Declaration of Independence. He rode 80 miles from Kent County to Philadelphia.
McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Florida: Kennedy Space Center
The Kennedy Space Center started out in 1962, and it was first called the Launch Operations Center. After President John F. Kennedy was executed in 1963, they decided to rename it in his honor. You should know that it is NASA's primary launch center for human spaceflight.
Kim Shiflett, Wikimedia Commons
Georgia: Ebenezer Baptist Church
This church has deep ties with the civil rights movement. Apparently, Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. became a part of Ebenezer as an assistant pastor in 1927 and then senior pastor in 1931. Then, in 1960, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to be co-pastor.
JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hawaii: USS Arizona Memorial
The memorial, designed by architect Alfred Preis, was completed in 1961. It was officially dedicated on May 30, 1962. Inside, you will see a central shrine room with marble walls with names of everyone who lost their lives on the USS Arizona carved into it.
Victor-ny, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Idaho: Shoshone Falls
Also known as the "Niagara of the West," this waterfall is placed on the Snake River in south-central Idaho. Shoshone Falls has a vertical drop of 212 feet, which makes it taller than Niagara Falls. These were allegedly formed 14,000 years ago (more or less).
Indies1, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Illinois: Willis Tower
Formerly called the Sears Tower, Willis Tower is about 1,451 feet (442 meters) tall. It literally consists of 110 stories with 108 floors of office space. The tower was first built as the headquarters for Sears, Roebuck and Company.
Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons
Indiana: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was structured in 1909 through the vision of Carl G. Fisher and his partners, James Allison, Arthur Newby, and Frank Wheeler. The first automobile races took place here from August 19 to 21, 1909, but the event was marred by accidents and fatalities.
CZmarlin — Christopher Ziemnowicz, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kansas: Monument Rocks
Monument Rocks are made up of a bunch of big chalk formations that stand out against the flat land around them. These structures were formed millions of years ago during the Cretaceous Period when this area was actually under an inland sea.
Hu Nhu, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Iowa: Iowa State Fair
The first Iowa State Fair happened here between October 25–27, 1854, in Fairfield. It then moved to its current location in Des Moines in the year 1886. The fairgrounds cover approximately 445 acres with 160 acres of campgrounds. The Butter Cow is a famous attraction here.
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Maine: Portland Head Light
This one's a historic lighthouse located in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Sounds dramatic, but the lighthouse was lit for the first time on January 10, 1791. It was built with George Washington overseeing the whole thing while Maine was still part of Massachusetts.
Aniarku, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kentucky: Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs was founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the grandson of William Clark, who established the track in 1875 after being inspired by England's Epsom Derby. It is a horse racing complex located in Louisville, where the first Kentucky Derby took place in May 1875.
Kybluegrass, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana: The French Quarter
Established in 1718, the French Quarter, or Vieux Carré, was originally the site of the city's founding by the French colonists. Some notable structures present here are the St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, and the Presbytère, which are all located near Jackson Square.
Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Maryland: Fort McHenry
Did you know that the fort was named after James McHenry? He was a signer of the US Constitution and Secretary of War under Presidents John Adams and George Washington. Throughout the Civil War, Fort McHenry worked as a military prison.
Fort McHenry Social Media Team, Wikimedia Commons
Massachusetts: Fenway Park
The famous Fenway Park is a baseball stadium in Boston that serves as the home of the Boston Red Sox. It was formally opened on April 20, 1912, and is one of the oldest ballparks in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Jtesla16 at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 1.0, Wikimedia Commons
Michigan: The Henry Ford Museum
This museum was founded by industrialist Henry Ford in 1929 as part of his mission to preserve and celebrate American ingenuity. It is also part of the larger Henry Ford complex, which includes Greenfield Village and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour.
Dsdugan, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Missouri: Gateway Arch
This is seen as one of the tallest human-made monuments in the Western Hemisphere. The monument was opened to the public on June 10, 1967, costing approximately $13 million for its construction. It is a part of Gateway Arch National Park.
Parker Botanical, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Minnesota: Mall Of America
The famous mall covers around 5.6 million square feet, with 2.8 million square feet of retail space. In addition to shopping, you will also find a Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, an indoor amusement park called Nickelodeon Universe, a mini golf course, and Escape Rooms.
Jeremy Noble from St. Paul, United States, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mississippi: Mississippi River
Here is North America's second-longest river. From its source at Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its opening at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana, it is 3,766 kilometers long. The river's watershed itself covers about 1.2 million square miles.
Nebraska: Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Chimney Rock was named a National Historic Site on August 9, 1956. It was an important landmark for pioneers heading west along the Oregon Trail, California Trail, and Mormon Trail in the mid-1800s. Immigrants often mentioned it in their diaries while moving west.
Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada: Las Vegas Strip
The Strip started taking shape in the '40s and '50s, with fancy hotels and casinos popping up like the Flamingo in 1946 and the Sands in 1952. This place is quite often and rightly referred to as "the entertainment capital of the world".
Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Montana: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is right next to the Canadian border, close to Waterton Lakes National Park up in Canada. Together, they form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This park was set up on May 11, 1910.
Tobias KlenzeDeutsch, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
New York: Statue Of Liberty
Of course, this one needs no introduction, as it is a monumental symbol of freedom and democracy in New York. The idea for the statue came about when French historian Édouard de Laboulaye thought of celebrating the 100th birthday of US independence in 1876.
William Warby, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
New Hampshire: Mount Washington
Which is the tallest mountain in the northeastern US? This one. It stands at an elevation of 6,288 feet. Mount Washington even holds the record for the highest wind speed ever measured on Earth at 231 mph. The Tuckerman Ravine Trail is pretty famous here.
Harvey Barrison, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
New Jersey: Atlantic City Boardwalk
Apparently, the Atlantic City Boardwalk was first constructed in 1870 as a way to keep sand out of hotels and provide a space for visitors to stroll along the beach. This one extends five miles with a 1.7-mile addition into the nearby city of Ventnor.
Silveira Neto, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
New Mexico: Carlsbad Caverns
Carlsbad Caverns is home to a large population of Mexican free-tailed bats, which migrate to the caves in the summer months. It was officially established on May 14, 1930, and has one of the largest cave chambers in North America, called the Big Room.
Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina: Wright Brothers Memorial
A place that commemorates the achievements of Orville and Wilbur Wright? Certainly. The two are credited with inventing the world's first successful airplane on December 17, 1903. This memorial was ultimately dedicated to them on November 14, 1932.
Liaviator, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
North Dakota: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (1978) is about preserving the scenery that inspired Roosevelt when he was a rancher back in the late 1800s. It is named after the 26th President of the United States. One popular trail you can find here is the Caprock Coulee Trail.
Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ohio: Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum
Set on the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, this city is seen as the birthplace of rock and roll. It was designed by I.M. Pei with a glass pyramid structure. If you visit, you might even find an artifact linked to Elvis Presley.
MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City National Memorial
This memorial was dedicated on April 19, 2000, five years after the tragic Oklahoma City violence claimed 168 lives. It was minutely structured by architects Hans and Torrey H. H. Kauffman. A central element of the memorial is a 330-foot-long pool flanked by two large gates.
w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Oregon: Crater Lake
The deepest lake in the US, reaching a whopping 1,949 feet down, is Crater Lake. It's also the ninth-deepest lake in the world and is known for its clarity and blue hue with the absence of sediment. The Lake was established as a national park in 1902.
WolfmanSF, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pennsylvania: Liberty Bell
Originally called the State House Bell, it was used to summon lawmakers to meetings at Independence Hall and to mark important moments in early American history. One such instance was when the Declaration of Independence was read on July 8, 1776.
Bev Sykes from Davis, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Rhode Island: The Breakers Mansion
The mansion is built in an Italian Renaissance style, taking cues from the palaces found in Genoa and Turin. It has 70 rooms and spreads out over about 138,300 square feet. The Breakers Mansion was actually designed by Richard Hunt as a summer residence for Cornelius Vanderbilt II.
Itub, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
South Carolina: Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was reportedly constructed between 1829 and 1861 to protect Charleston Harbor and got its title from General Thomas Sumter. This place is now part of the Fort Sumter National Monument, which is managed by the National Park Service.
Bubba73, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
South Dakota: Mount Rushmore
Quite an impressive depiction of four US presidents this is. Each President was chosen for their contributions to the United States, featuring George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created this masterpiece.
Thomas Wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tennessee: Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville is frequently referred to as the "Mother Church of Country Music" because of its strong ties to the genre. It was first opened in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. The Ryman is recognized for hosting the Grand Ole Opry.
Zpb52, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Texas: The Alamo
The name "Alamo" comes from the Spanish word "cottonwood". It was also named after the Alamo de Parras, a military regiment based there. This Spanish fortress is most recognized for the Battle of the Alamo, which took place from February 23 to March 6, 1836.
Loadmaster, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Utah: Arches National Park
Interestingly, this park is famous for having over 2,000 natural stone arches, created through the processes of erosion and weathering. The greatest one is the Delicate Arch, which has become a symbol of Utah. It spans 76,519 acres of high desert area.
James St. John, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Vermont: Covered Bridges
Vermont has one of the highest concentrations of covered bridges in the United States. For instance, the Quechee Covered Bridge and the Middlebury Covered Bridge are quite famous. They were primarily made in the 19th century to protect wooden bridge structures.
Srbergeron, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Washington: The Space Needle
The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle and opened to the public on April 21, 1962. With a height of 605 feet (184 meters), the tower (designed by Edward E. Carlson and John Graham) is among the tallest buildings in the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle Municipal Archives, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
Virginia: Monticello
Monticello is the plantation home of Thomas Jefferson. In 1987, the place was titled a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jefferson began designing Monticello around 1768 with a focus on neoclassical architecture. It consists of 35 rooms, each made of different shapes and sizes.
YF12s, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons
West Virginia: New River Gorge Bridge
This was featured in the West Virginia state quarter and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. Reportedly, the project cost approximately $37 million. The bridge towers 876 feet above the New River, which is quite high as a vehicular bridge.
YF12s, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons
Wisconsin: Wisconsin Dells
What is also known as the "Waterpark Capital of the World," features beautiful scenarios of sandstone cliffs, gorges, and the Wisconsin River. Famous resorts like Kalahari Resorts, Great Wolf Lodge, and Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park are located here, as well as the nearby Devil's Lake State Park.
Bigmacthealmanac, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Wyoming: Old Faithful
Old Faithful got its name from a guy in the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition back in 1870. It is inclusive of the Upper Geyser Basin, which holds the largest concentration of geysers in the world. Apparently, every eruption can last for around 1.5 to 5 minutes.
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