US landmarks represent the cultural, historical, and natural heritage of America. From National Historic Landmarks designated by the National Park Service to iconic monuments recognized worldwide, these sites tell the story of the nation's past and present.
The United States is home to thousands of landmarks that define the nation's identity, from towering monuments in major cities to vast natural wonders carved over millennia. These sites serve as touchstones of American history, culture, and natural heritage, attracting millions of visitors annually and preserving the stories that shaped the nation. Understanding the landscape of US landmarks requires examining both the formal designation systems that protect historic sites and the iconic locations that have captured the global imagination.
US landmarks encompass a diverse range of sites including historic buildings, monuments, natural formations, cultural districts, and structures of architectural significance. The National Historic Landmark Program, formally inaugurated on October 9, 1960, represents the highest level of recognition for properties with exceptional national significance. As of August 2020, 2,597 properties have received this designation, distinguishing them from the approximately 80,000 sites listed on the broader National Register of Historic Places.
The distinction between National Historic Landmarks and other historic properties lies in their scope of significance. While National Register properties may hold local or state importance, NHLs must demonstrate value to the entire nation's heritage. This elevated status brings additional scrutiny, protection measures, and public recognition, though it does not guarantee absolute preservation if owners object to restrictions.
The distribution of National Historic Landmarks across the United States reflects patterns of settlement, historical development, and preservation efforts. New York leads all states with 270 designated landmarks, while New York City alone accounts for 114 designations, making it the city with the most recognized sites. This concentration reflects the city's role as a major port of entry, financial center, and cultural hub throughout American history.
Three cities have sufficient landmark density to warrant separate lists from their states: New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston. These cities represent the colonial and early republic periods when the eastern seaboard dominated American political and economic life. Philadelphia's landmarks include sites related to the founding of the nation, while Boston's reflect its role in the American Revolution and early industrialization.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, North Dakota has only seven NHL designations, the fewest of any state. This disparity reflects not a lack of history but rather different patterns of development, with western states having shorter periods of Euro-American settlement and different types of historically significant sites. Beyond the 50 states, US territories and associated nations also contain designated landmarks, with the Virgin Islands holding five, Puerto Rico four, and various Pacific island possessions accounting for additional designations.
Standing 93 meters tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty remains perhaps the most recognizable American landmark globally. Gifted by France in 1886 to commemorate the alliance during the American Revolution, the statue was shipped in 350 pieces packed into 214 crates. Lady Liberty has served as a symbol of freedom and democracy, greeting millions of immigrants arriving at nearby Ellis Island.
Visitors can access Liberty Island via ferry from Manhattan, with tickets that now include admission to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. The site operates daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, though advance online ticket purchase is strongly recommended to avoid extended wait times. The statue's torch and crown offer different viewing experiences, with crown access requiring separate reservations made months in advance due to limited capacity.
Stretching 277 miles across northern Arizona, the Grand Canyon represents one of Earth's most spectacular geological formations. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the canyon reveals rock layers that tell the story of nearly two billion years of geological history. President Theodore Roosevelt called it one of the great sights that every American should see, and the site now welcomes over six million visitors annually.
The Grand Canyon is divided into two main visitor areas: the South Rim and North Rim. The South Rim remains open year-round and includes the famous Skywalk, a glass-bottomed platform extending over the canyon edge. The North Rim, situated at higher elevation, closes during winter months. The canyon sits on the ancestral homeland of at least 12 Native American tribes, whose connections to the land predate modern tourism by thousands of years. The National Park offers lodging and campsites within park boundaries, along with seasonal shuttle services connecting major viewpoints.
The massive sculpture carved into the Black Hills of South Dakota depicts four American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Each face measures approximately 60 feet in height, making them visible from considerable distances. The monument represents American ideals of democracy, expansion, preservation, and unity, though its location on land sacred to the Lakota Sioux remains controversial.
The National Historic Landmark Program, administered by the National Park Service under the Department of the Interior, follows a rigorous evaluation process. Properties must demonstrate exceptional value in illustrating American heritage. The NPS determines which properties meet NHL criteria and makes nomination recommendations after an owner notification process.
The Secretary of the Interior reviews all nominations based on predetermined criteria before making final designation decisions. Both public and privately owned properties can receive NHL status, which provides indirect protection through tax incentives and federal monitoring. Owners may object to nominations, in which case properties can only be designated as eligible rather than fully designated.
Spanning the Golden Gate Strait between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, this suspension bridge has become synonymous with San Francisco itself. Completed in 1937, the bridge's distinctive International Orange color was chosen for visibility in fog and aesthetic appeal. The structure stretches 1.7 miles and stood as the longest suspension bridge span in the world until 1964. Today it serves both as a vital transportation link and an architectural icon photographed by millions annually.
Originally erected in 1923 as an advertisement for a real estate development called Hollywoodland, the sign has evolved into a global symbol of the entertainment industry. The 14-meter-tall white letters perched on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills have appeared in countless films, television shows, and photographs. Three hiking trails of varying difficulty provide access to viewpoints near the sign, ranging from the beginner-friendly Mt. Hollywood Trail requiring approximately 2.5 hours to the more challenging Cahuenga Peak Trail taking under 2 hours. The DASH Observatory bus offers an alternative for those preferring not to hike, running every 20 minutes seven days weekly.
The National Mall in Washington DC concentrates more nationally significant landmarks per square mile than perhaps any other location in America. This two-mile stretch of parkland connects the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, with the Washington Monument rising at its center. The area serves as the nation's ceremonial heart, hosting inaugurations, protests, celebrations, and millions of tourists annually.
The White House, home and office of the President, anchors the northern edge of this landmark district. Monuments honoring presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln bookend the Mall, while memorials to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and veterans of World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War provide spaces for reflection on sacrifice and social progress. Over a dozen Smithsonian museums line the Mall, offering free admission to collections covering American history, natural history, air and space exploration, African American culture, and fine arts.
Not all landmarks consist of single sites. Route 66, the historic highway stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles, represents a linear landmark embodying American car culture, westward migration, and mid-20th-century optimism. Established in 1926 and largely bypassed by interstate highways by the 1970s, the route has experienced a revival as a heritage tourism destination.
Along Route 66, particularly through Oklahoma, travelers encounter distinctive roadside attractions that have become landmarks in their own right. These include the largest concrete totem pole at Totem Pole Park in Chelsea, Oklahoma, and The Blue Whale, a giant cartoon-style whale structure. These kitschy, oversized attractions represent a uniquely American approach to tourism and commemorate an era when cross-country travel meant two-lane highways and independent motels rather than interstates and chain hotels.
While the Grand Canyon dominates discussions of natural landmarks, America's landscape includes numerous other geological wonders. Monument Valley, straddling the Utah-Arizona border on Navajo Nation land, features distinctive sandstone buttes rising from the desert floor. These formations have appeared in countless Western films and represent the iconic American Southwest landscape.
Niagara Falls, on the US-Canada border in New York, combines natural spectacle with accessible tourism infrastructure. The falls consist of three separate waterfalls with a combined flow rate making them among the most powerful in North America. Unlike more remote natural landmarks, Niagara Falls sits adjacent to developed cities on both sides of the international border, making it one of the most visited natural attractions in North America.
American cities contain landmarks that define their identities and contribute to the national landmark landscape. Chicago's Cloud Gate sculpture, commonly called The Bean, has become the city's most photographed attraction since its 2006 installation in Millennium Park. Its reflective surface and distinctive shape create unique photo opportunities that have made it an instant icon.
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, completed in 1965, represents America's westward expansion. At 630 feet, it stands as the tallest arch in the world and the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere. Visitors can ride trams to an observation deck at the apex, offering views across the Mississippi River that historically served as the gateway to western territories.
New York City contains numerous architectural landmarks beyond the Statue of Liberty. The Flatiron Building's distinctive triangular shape made it an icon of early 20th-century architecture. The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883, was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time and remains a vital connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Times Square, while not a single structure, functions as a landmark district known globally for its electronic billboards and New Year's Eve celebrations.
Landmark preservation faces ongoing challenges including climate change, urban development pressure, funding limitations, and changing public priorities. Coastal landmarks face increased risk from rising sea levels and intensified storms. Historic buildings in growing cities compete with development interests seeking to maximize land values. Natural landmarks experience stress from visitor numbers that sometimes exceed sustainable levels.
The National Historic Landmark program provides tools for preservation but cannot guarantee protection, particularly for privately owned properties whose owners may object to designation restrictions. The balance between preservation and property rights remains a recurring tension in American landmark policy. Federal funding for preservation has fluctuated with changing political priorities, affecting the resources available for maintenance, research, and public education.
Looking forward, landmark preservation increasingly incorporates digital documentation, climate adaptation strategies, and efforts to tell more inclusive stories that acknowledge previously marginalized perspectives. Many landmarks associated with Native American history, African American heritage, and immigrant experiences have received greater recognition in recent decades, broadening the narrative of what constitutes nationally significant heritage.
US landmarks serve multiple functions simultaneously: they preserve tangible connections to history, provide spaces for public gathering and reflection, drive tourism economies, and shape national identity. From formally designated National Historic Landmarks to iconic sites recognized through popular culture, these places anchor collective memory and offer opportunities for education and inspiration. The diversity of American landmarks reflects the nation's complex history, vast geography, and ongoing evolution. Whether natural wonders like the Grand Canyon, monuments like the Statue of Liberty, or architectural achievements like the Golden Gate Bridge, these sites continue to draw visitors seeking to experience in person what they have seen countless times in photographs and media. Preserving these landmarks for future generations requires sustained commitment, adequate funding, and recognition that heritage protection serves not just tourism but the deeper purpose of maintaining connections between past, present, and future.
National Historic Landmarks possess national significance to American history and culture, while National Register properties may be significant at local or state levels. All NHLs are automatically included on the National Register, but only a small fraction of National Register properties achieve NHL status.
New York has the most National Historic Landmarks with 270 designations. New York City alone accounts for 114 of these, making it the city with the highest number of landmark designations in the country.
Yes, both publicly and privately owned properties can receive NHL designation. However, private owners may object to the nomination, in which case the property can only be designated as eligible for NHL status rather than receiving full designation.
As of August 21, 2020, there are 2,597 designated National Historic Landmarks across the United States, its territories, and associated nations. This number continues to grow as new properties are evaluated and designated.
NHL designation provides indirect protection through tax incentives, preservation grants, federal monitoring of threats, and technical assistance. The designation raises public awareness and can support heritage tourism, though it does not provide absolute protection against alteration or demolition.
Many US landmarks offer free access, particularly monuments and outdoor sites. The Smithsonian museums along the National Mall in Washington DC are free, as is viewing most monuments. However, some landmarks like the Statue of Liberty require paid ferry tickets, and national parks typically charge entrance fees.
Organizations supporting the preservation and promotion of America's historic and cultural landmarks
Experience the heart of American democracy with monuments, memorials, and world-class museums concentrated in a walkable two-mile corridor.
Witness one of Earth's most spectacular geological formations with 277 miles of canyon revealing nearly two billion years of Earth's history.
The Secretary of the Interior announced 18 new National Historic Landmark designations recognizing sites significant to civil rights history and indigenous heritage.
Grand Canyon National Park introduced a timed entry reservation system for peak season visits to address overcrowding and protect natural resources.
The expanded museum on Liberty Island now features interactive exhibits detailing the statue's construction, symbolism, and role in American immigration history.