1. Statue of Liberty, New York City, New York
Best time to visit: Jan-Dec
- The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, within New York City
- The copper-clad statue, a gift to the United States from the people of France, was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel
- The statue is a figure of a classically draped woman, likely inspired by the Roman goddess of liberty Libertas
- She holds a torch above her head with her right hand, and in her left hand carries a tabula ansata inscribed JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776, in Roman numerals), the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence
- With her left foot she steps on a broken chain and shackle, commemorating the national abolition of slavery following the American Civil War
- After its dedication in 1886, the statue became an icon of freedom and of the United States, being subsequently seen as a symbol of welcome to immigrants arriving by sea
Featured in The Best of New York
#12 in Best Attractions in the World
#12 in Best Landmarks in the World
#47 in Best Attractions in the USA
2. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
Best time to visit: Sept-Nov
- The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide (1.6 km) strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean
- It also carries pedestrian and bicycle traffic
- At the time of its opening in 1937, it was both the longest and the tallest suspension bridge in the world, titles it held until 1964 and 1998 respectively
- Recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Wonders of the Modern World, the bridge is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco and California
Featured in The Best of California
#36 in Best Attractions in the World
3. Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, California
Best time to visit: Sept-Nov
- Alcatraz Island is a small island 1.25 miles (2.01 km) offshore from San Francisco
- The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military prison
- In 1934, the island was converted into a federal prison, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
- The strong currents around the island and cold water temperatures made escape nearly impossible, and the prison became one of the most notorious in American history
- The prison closed in 1963, and the island is now a major tourist attraction
Featured in The Best of California
#18 in Best Attractions in the USA
4. Hoover Dam, Nevada
- Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona
- Since about 1900, the Black Canyon and nearby Boulder Canyon had been investigated for their potential to support a dam that would control floods, provide irrigation water, and produce hydroelectric power
- Constructed between 1931 and 1936, during the Great Depression, it was dedicated in 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over 100 lives
- In bills passed by Congress during its construction, it was referred to as the Hoover Dam, after President Herbert Hoover
Featured in The Best of Nevada
#40 in Best Attractions in the USA
5. Freedom Trail, Boston, Massachusetts
Best time to visit: June-Oct
- The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile (approximately 4 km) path through Boston, that connects 16 historically significant sites related to the American Revolution and the early history of the United States
- The trail is marked by a distinctive red brick line, guiding visitors through some of Boston's oldest neighborhoods
- Notable historic sites include the Boston Common, Massachusetts State House, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, and the USS Constitution
- Each site along the trail tells a part of the story of America's fight for independence and the events leading up to it
Featured in The Best of Massachusetts
#29 in Best Attractions in the USA
#15 in Best Easy Hikes in the USA
6. Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The Lincoln Memorial is a national memorial dedicated to honoring Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States
- It is a prominent example of neoclassical architecture, featuring a large seated statue of Lincoln, which is 19 feet tall, set within a chamber surrounded by 36 Doric columns
- Each column represents a state in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death in 1865
- The memorial is seen as symbolizing Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War and his commitment to equality and freedom among all people
- The interior includes inscriptions of two of Lincoln's most famous speeches, the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address
Featured in The Best of Washington D.C.
7. Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri
Best time to visit: April-May, Sept-Oct
- The Gateway Arch is a monumental structure located in St. Louis, along the Mississippi River
- Standing at 630 feet, it is the tallest arch in the world and the tallest monument in the United States
- The Gateway Arch commemorates President Thomas Jefferson's vision of a continental nation and marks St. Louis' role in the westward expansion of the United States during the 19th century
- It is part of the Gateway Arch National Park, which includes the arch itself, a museum located underneath it, and the historic Old Courthouse
Featured in The Best of Missouri
#32 in Best Attractions in the USA
8. Grand Central Terminal, New York City, New York
Best time to visit: Jan-Dec
- Grand Central Terminal is a commuter rail terminal located at in Manhattan, New York City, opened in 1913
- The terminal is the third-busiest train station in North America, after New York Penn Station and Toronto Union Station
- Its Beaux-Arts design incorporates numerous works of art, such as the celestial ceiling in the Main Concourse, the Glory of Commerce work, and the statue of Cornelius Vanderbilt, as well as, the two cast-iron eagle statues adorning the terminal's facades
- The terminal's Main Concourse is often used as a meeting place
Featured in The Best of New York
9. Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Best time to visit: March-May
- Independence National Historical Park is a historical site located in downtown Philadelphia
- Established in 1948, the park is recognized as the birthplace of American democracy, where it preserves several key landmarks associated with the founding of the United States
- It preserves several landmarks associated with the country's founding including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Carpenter's Hall, the location of the First Continental Congress in 1774
Featured in The Best of Pennsylvania
10. USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Best time to visit: mid-April-early June-Sept-mid-Dec
- The USS Arizona Memorial is a significant national memorial located at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu
- It commemorates the lives lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, specifically honoring the 1,177 sailors and Marines who died aboard the battleship USS Arizona
- Built in 1962, the memorial spans 184 feet across the sunken ship
- The memorial attracts thousands of visitors daily, offering a solemn space for reflection and remembrance
Featured in The Best of Hawaii
#29 in Best Museums in the USA
11. The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas
Best time to visit: Jan-April, Nov-Dec
- The Alamo is a historic site located in San Antonio, originally established as a Spanish mission known as Mission San Antonio de Valero in 1718
- The Alamo is most famously known for the Battle of the Alamo, which took place from February 23 to March 6, 1836, during the Texas Revolution
- The pivotal event involved a small group of Texian defenders who fought against a much larger Mexican army, ultimately leading to their defeat but inspiring further resistance against Mexican rule
- Today, the site not only commemorates the battle but is a symbol of Texas' struggle for independence
12. Empire State Building, New York City, New York
Best time to visit: Jan-Dec
- The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in Manhattan in New York City, built from 1930 to 1931
- Its name is derived from "Empire State", the nickname of the state of New York
- The building stands a total of 1,454 feet (443.2 m) tall, including its antenna
- The Empire State Building was the world's tallest building until the first tower of the World Trade Center was topped out in 1970; following the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Empire State Building was New York City's tallest building until it was surpassed in 2012 by One World Trade Center
Featured in The Best of New York
13. National Mall, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The National Mall is a prominent landscaped park that remains an iconic area serving as a central gathering space for national events
- It is home to numerous monuments and memorials that reflect the history and values of the United States
- The landmarks there symbolize the nation's democratic values, as well as serving as a venue for public gatherings, protests, and celebrations
- The National Mall has been a site for many historic events, including presidential inaugurations and civil rights demonstrations
Featured in The Best of Washington D.C.
14. Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, South Carolina
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park is a significant historical site located in Charleston County, encompassing two key forts that played crucial roles in American history
- Fort Moultrie is located on Sullivan's Island, and was originally a palmetto log fort that successfully defended against British naval forces in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War
- In 1860, as tensions rose leading to the Civil War, the Federal garrison abandoned Fort Moultrie for the more fortified Fort Sumter
- Fort Sumter, a sea fort built on an artificial island in Charleston Harbor, was constructed after the War of 1812 to defend the region against naval threats, and became famous as the site where the first shots of the American Civil War were fired on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked the Union garrison stationed there
- The park highlights America's struggle for independence, and how legislative compromises failed to resolve deep-rooted issues, particularly regarding slavery, during the American Civil War
Featured in The Best of South Carolina
#55 in Best Attractions in the USA
15. Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York
Best time to visit: Jan-Dec
- The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City, spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn
- Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first fixed crossing of the East River
- It was also the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its opening
- The span was originally called the New York and Brooklyn Bridge or the East River Bridge but was officially renamed the Brooklyn Bridge in 1915
Featured in The Best of New York
#24 in Best Attractions in the USA
16. Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
- The Wright Brothers National Memorial, located in Kill Devil Hills, is a site that commemorates the achievements of Wilbur and Orville Wright, who are credited with the first successful, sustained powered flights in a heavier-than-air aircraft
- The site marks the location of the Wright brothers' experiments with flight, including their first powered flight on December 17, 1903, which lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet
- At the memorial, there is a prominent 60-foot-tall granite monument dedicated in 1932, situated atop Big Kill Devil Hill
- The memorial features a visitor center that offers interactive exhibits related to aviation, history, and science
- Visitors can see a replica of the Wright brothers' plane and participate in various activities about the history of flight
Featured in The Best of North Carolina
#48 in Best Attractions in the USA
17. Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
Best time to visit: April-June, Sept-early Nov
- Biltmore Estate is a historic house museum located in Asheville, known as America's Largest Home, featuring a 250-room chateau designed in the Châteauesque style
- The estate covers approximately 8,000 acres and includes extensive landscaped gardens
- The estate was built by George Vanderbilt, a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, and was completed in 1895
- Visitors can tour the mansion, explore the extensive gardens, and enjoy various activities on the estate, including wine tasting at the nation's most-visited winery
Featured in The Best of North Carolina
#49 in Best Attractions in the USA
#8 in Best Museums in the USA
18. Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Best time to visit: mid-April-early June-Sept-mid-Dec
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a unit of the National Park System on the island of Oahu
- The site commemorates the events of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which killed over 2,400 Americans and sank twelve ships
- The site includes the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Utah memorial, the USS Oklahoma memorial, six chief petty officer bungalows on Ford Island, mooring quays F6, F7, and F8, which formed part of Battleship Row, and the visitor center at Halawa Landing
- Visitors can take a ferry to the Arizona memorial
Featured in The Best of Hawaii
#18 in Best Museums in the USA
19. Cloud Gate, Chicago, Illinois
Best time to visit: April-May, Sept-Oct
- Cloud Gate, commonly known as The Bean, is a renowned public sculpture located in Millennium Park in Chicago
- Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed "The Bean" because of its shape
- It serves as a centerpiece of the park and has become one of Chicago's most iconic landmarks
- Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its reflective and highly polished exterior has no visible seams
- The design was inspired by liquid mercury and the sculpture's surface reflects and distorts the city's skyline and clouds moving overhead
Featured in The Best of Illinois
20. Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee
Best time to visit: April-Oct
- The Grand Ole Opry is a renowned live country music stage and radio broadcast originating from Nashville
- It was founded in 1925, and is the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history
- It features performances from today's country music stars, superstars, and rising talents, showcasing the genre's past, present, and future
- The show is famous for its unique format, where each act performs a short set, allowing for a variety of artists to be featured in a single performance
- Performances include such genres as country, bluegrass, Americana, folk, and gospel music as well as comedic performances and skits
Featured in The Best of Tennessee