The US has many historical, cultural, and natural landmarks worth visiting, including the White House in Washington DC, Native American landmarks in South Dakota, Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and the Space Needle in Seattle. These landmarks offer a variety of experiences for visitors interested in politics, history, nature, or architecture.
Although America is a relatively young country, it is already filled with historical significance and important cultural events. Visiting American monuments is a wonderful way to teach kids about the country’s history or to learn more about it on their own. While opinions vary as to which American landmarks are the most prominent, experts agree that most are historically fascinating and worth visiting.
The nation’s capital in Washington DC contains dozens of notable structures, monuments and memorials for visitors to enjoy, including the White House, home to the president of the United States and the operational headquarters of the executive branch of government. Construction on the White House began less than 20 years after the country’s inception in 1776, and it has been inhabited by every president since John Adams. He has a tremendous history, he survived riots and at one point was gutted by flames. Today, guided tours visit parts of the White House on an almost daily basis, but in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, they are only given by special request. Contact your local member of Congress to obtain the forms needed to arrange a tour.
If you’d like to look further back in American history, consider visiting one of the Native American landmarks scattered throughout the country. In South Dakota, visitors can see the progress of the Crazy Horse memorial, which will be the largest sculpture in the world when completed. While viewing the monument, visitors can also see the carved statues of four US presidents in nearby Mt. rushmore. Both of these great American landmarks are located in the Black Hills, an area rich in both Native American and United States historic sites.
Stretching even further back into the country’s natural history, historic visitors might want to visit some of the most productive paleontology digs in the world, at Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado. Visitors to this amazing park can see locally discovered fossils and study the history of North American dinosaurs. Backpacking through Dinosaur National Monument is also permitted and can be a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the world of these ancient animals.
The West Coast of the United States is filled with beautiful architectural landmarks. In San Francisco, California, the northern edge of the city is home to the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the largest suspension bridges in the world. Built in 1937 and traditionally painted a brilliant rust color, this landmark is the gateway to Northern California and a tribute to architectural ingenuity. Visitors to the bridge can walk its span and take in spectacular views of San Francisco, the Marin Peninsula, and perhaps even passing whales.
In Washington’s capital Seattle, architecture lovers will adore the unlikely-looking Space Needle, which dominates the city’s skyline. This 605-foot (185 m) tall structure features an observation deck and gift shop high above the ground. A meal at the slowly rotating SkyCity restaurant is a highly recommended one-of-a-kind experience, as diners can see a full panorama of the city below.
Whether your interest in history is political, natural, or architectural, the United States offers an amazing variety of American landmarks to admire. If you’d like to teach your children about the historical significance of your state or country, consider a road trip that takes in some of the many publicly available sites. While the country’s history may be relatively short, the continent’s history is millions of years old, and American landmarks make a conscientious effort to highlight most of the significant events of the past.
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