7 Iconic American Landmarks

The Statue of Liberty, a 305-foot-tall copper colossus, stands at the gateway to New York Harbor as a powerful emblem of democracy and hope. Gifted by France in 1886, “Lady Liberty” has welcomed generations of immigrants with her torch held high. Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Gustave Eiffel, the statue is imbued with symbolism. Her crown features seven rays for the world’s continents and seas. She holds broken chains, symbolizing liberation from tyranny, and a tablet inscribed with July 4, 1776, the birth of American independence. The statue was declared a national monument in 1924 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. It remains one of the most visited landmarks in the United States.

Chiseled into the cliffs of South Dakota’s Black Hills, Mount Rushmore is a grand-scale tribute to American leadership. The memorial, designed by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and completed between 1927 and 1941, features 60-foot-tall sculpted faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln—chosen to represent the “birth, growth, development and preservation of [the] country.” However, it also sits on land sacred to the Lakota Sioux, making it a complex and sometimes controversial monument in discussions of American history and Indigenous rights.

The Lincoln Memorial, located at the western end of the National Mall, honors the 16th president and his leadership during the Civil War. Dedicated in 1922, the marble structure was designed by architect Henry Bacon, who drew inspiration from ancient Greek temples to convey strength and democracy. Inside, a 19-foot-tall Abraham Lincoln sits in contemplative silence, his gaze fixed across the Reflecting Pool toward the Capitol. The memorial, sculpted by Daniel Chester French, features inscriptions of the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address. The work has served as the backdrop for pivotal moments in civil rights history, most notably Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.

Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, with construction beginning in 1858, Central Park pioneered the concept of urban green spaces. “New York's Central Park is especially iconic and significant because its layout and design served as the prototype and inspiration for urban parks across the country and beyond,” says Paradis. The park spans 843 acres and welcomes over 40 million visitors annually. But, like many American landmarks, Central Park’s history is complex. Part of the land used to create the site was once home to Seneca Village, a predominantly Black community forcibly displaced in 1857 through eminent domain. The park was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1963.

The Golden Gate Bridge, completed in 1937 after four years of construction that began during the Great Depression, spans 1.7 miles across the Golden Gate Strait. The bridge was designed to connect San Francisco with Marin County and replace a ferry-dependent route. Its construction provided a vital link that boosted regional trade and travel. Designed by Joseph Strauss, with contributions from engineer Leon Moisseiff and architect Irving Morrow, the bridge features 746-foot-tall towers and an Art Deco design that helped shape its iconic silhouette. The structure was engineered to withstand powerful winds, corrosive salt air and seismic activity, and is painted “International Orange” to enhance its visibility in the area’s dense fog. At the time of its opening, it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world.

The Alamo, located in San Antonio, Texas, stands as a powerful symbol of bravery, sacrifice and the fight for independence. Originally built in the 18th century as a Spanish mission, it later became the site of one of the most pivotal battles in American history. In 1836, a small band of Texan defenders held the mission against the vastly larger Mexican army for 13 days—a stand that galvanized support for Texas’ fight for freedom. Though the defenders were ultimately defeated, their courage gave rise to the rallying cry, “Remember the Alamo!” Today, the preserved limestone chapel and surrounding complex draw millions of visitors each year, serving as a solemn reminder of the cost of liberty.

Independence Hall is considered America’s birthplace, where the Founding Fathers fiercely debated the framework of a new government. Within its brick walls, the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, and the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787. Completed in 1753 as Pennsylvania’s State House, the building now anchors Independence National Historical Park, a 55-acre expanse in Philadelphia that also includes Congress Hall, the Liberty Bell Center and other historic sites.