Top 10 Best Man Made Landmarks in the United States

Ah, yes, America. The land of the free and the home of the brave. We have a lot of incredible buildings and structures in the United States.

Here are some of the best man-made landmarks in the country. I highly recommend visiting any of them, and I know there are plenty more out there worth exploring as well!

The Top Ten

  1. Statue of Liberty

    The Statue of Liberty is one of the most instantly recognized landmarks in the world. A symbol of America and the land where immigrants are welcomed, the statue was a gift from France. It was originally copper but turned to the green color we see today because of chemical reactions.

    It was delivered in 1886. The statue is 305 ft tall. It's a figure of the Roman Goddess Libertas and was sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. Few American icons are more instantly recognizable than the Statue of Liberty. It's a monument on my bucket list for sure.

    Thank you, France, for such a beautiful monument. The Statue of Liberty is, of course, a symbol of liberty and freedom. One of the best landmarks on Earth.

  2. The White House

    The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. The building has housed every U.S. President since John Adams moved in during 1800.

    The White House has been an iconic part of our country. As the residence of the President, it has a lot of history behind it. When you see the White House, you think about all the Presidents we have had in our history. Every President since John Adams has called the White House home while in office.

    It was originally designed by Irish architect James Hoban in the neoclassical style. The current White House is not the same as the original due to the original version being burned down by the British Army when they invaded Washington in the War of 1812. Reconstruction began almost immediately, and James Monroe moved into the Executive Residence in 1817, which is the main part of the building.

    The iconic Oval Office, where the President does his executive actions, was first established by William Howard Taft, though it was damaged in a fire. Franklin Roosevelt began the modern version of the Oval Office we are familiar with today. Some amenities include a tennis court, putting green, movie theater, bowling lane, swimming pool, and more.

  3. Golden Gate Bridge

    The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County, California. Completed in 1937, it is an iconic symbol of San Francisco and is renowned for its Art Deco design and its distinctive "International Orange" color. The bridge spans approximately 1.7 miles. At the time... read more

    The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in the world, representing San Francisco and California. It carries US Route 101 and California State Route 1.

    Initially designed by Joseph Strauss in 1917, construction lasted from 1933-1937. It's considered one of the wonders of the modern world, and the fact the bridge has been standing for the last 80+ years is a testament to how much of a marvel it really is.

    The Golden Gate Bridge symbolizes the beauty of America and the opportunity it holds.

  4. Washington Monument

    This monument is in honor of the first President and Commander of the Continental Army in the American Revolution, George Washington. Construction initially began in 1848 but was put on hold for 23 years due to a lack of funding and the Civil War.

    It wasn't complete until 1885 and opened in 1888. It's quite a unique monument and one I'd like to visit someday.

    The Washington Monument is stunning. It is really a lot bigger than it looks. Obelisks are really cool regardless.

  5. Lincoln Memorial

    The Lincoln Memorial is located across the National Mall, right by the Washington Monument. It is built in honor of the 16th President in a neoclassical style temple. The designers were Henry Bacon and Daniel Chester. It was constructed from 1914-1922.

    This was the site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. This monument is one of the most famous in the Nation's Capital.

    I would love to go to the Lincoln Memorial. The history behind the Capitol is so awesome.

  6. Mount Rushmore

    Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a massive sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. The monument features the 60-foot heads of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. It was sculpted by Gutzon Borglum... read more

    Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills of Keystone, South Dakota. Honestly, the fact that this was actually carved is an impressive feat on its own. This project originated in 1927 and wasn't finished until 1941.

    Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created the design and oversaw the project. It features four famous US Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, chosen to represent America's birth, growth, development, and preservation. Originally, they were supposed to carve the Presidents' faces down to their waists, but a lack of funding forced them to stop construction.

  7. Gateway Arch

    The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192-meter) monument located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965. The Arch is the tallest monument in the United States and serves as a symbol of westward expansion. It is part of the Gateway... read more

    The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a 630 ft tall structure that represents the American idea of Manifest Destiny or westward expansion. It is often called the "Gateway to the West."

    The design was created by architect Eero Saarinen. It was constructed from 1963-1965 and officially opened in 1967. It has become a city icon and a state icon. Honestly, it looks surprisingly modern for being made in the late 60s.

    The Gateway to the West. It's actually a pretty cool view from the top as well.

  8. Empire State Building

    The Empire State Building is a skyscraper situated in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Completed in 1931, it stands 1,454 feet tall including its antenna and was the world's tallest building until 1971. Known for its Art Deco architecture, it has been featured in numerous films, including King Kong... read more

    The Empire State Building was one of the first modern skyscrapers and is located in Manhattan, New York. It was constructed from 1930-1931. The building is 102 stories tall, with a total height of 1,454 ft, including its antenna.

    At one point in time, it was the tallest building in the world until 1970 when the World Trade Center was built. Currently, it is the 7th tallest building in the city. On top of that, it is very famous and has been featured in several movies.

    The Empire State Building represents the industrial and hard-working side of the United States.

  9. Hollywood Sign

    Ah yes, the Hollywood sign, easily one of the most recognizable icons in American culture. You know you're in America when you see this sign. It sits in the Hollywood Hills, overlooking Hollywood in Los Angeles. The letters are 45 ft tall, and the sign is 350 feet long.

    Originally created in 1923 as an advertisement for local real estate development, the sign gained such widespread recognition that it was left up. Visible from across the Los Angeles Basin, the sign has been a target of pranks and vandalism in the past. It has undergone restoration a few times over the years, including the installation of a security system to deter future incidents.

    Interestingly, you can actually hike up to the sign from Griffith Park, where it is located on Mt. Lee.

  10. Chrysler Building

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Crazy Horse Memorial

  12. ?

    Hollywood Walk of Fame

    13. The Contenders

  13. Space Needle

    The Space Needle is an observation tower in Seattle, Washington. Completed in 1962 for the Century 21 Exposition (World's Fair), it stands 605 feet tall and offers panoramic views of the city, Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, and the surrounding mountains. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the... read more

    The Space Needle is an observation tower located in Seattle. It is an iconic futuristic structure that is an icon for the entire Pacific Northwest.

    It was built for the 1962 World's Fair, and it only took a year from when construction originally started to its initial opening day. The structure is 604 ft tall, and the highest level is 515 ft off the ground. There's even a restaurant at the top.

    I remember visiting this landmark while on a trip to the U.S. Amazing view.

    Built during the space age. It would be fitting in the year 2062.

  14. Brooklyn Bridge

  15. Hoover Dam

    The Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona. Completed in 1936, it was a major engineering feat of its time. The dam provides hydroelectric power, water storage, and flood control for the southwestern United States.

    I have been here before when I was on vacation in 2015.

  16. Willis Tower

    I've been there before, and the glass deck makes the view of Chicago exotic.

  17. The Pentagon

  18. World Trade Center

  19. Palos Verdes Lighthouse

  20. AT&T Building (Nashville)

  21. Fountains at Bellagio (Las Vegas, Nevada)

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