Just one look and the USA comes immediately to mind. Don't miss these must-see iconic landmarks on your next trip to the mighty USA!
The Statue of Liberty
It's easily one of America's most famous landmarks - an enduring symbol of New York City, of freedom and democracy and at the core of it all, friendship. On July 4, 1881, the Statue of Liberty was gifted to the USA by the French people to commemorate their alliance during the American Revolution.
The Golden Gate Bridge
Heralded as an engineering marvel when it opened in 1937, 80 years later San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is as admired as ever before. In its heyday, it was the world's longest suspension bridge and today, it's considered one of the 'Engineering Wonders of the World'. No trip to San Fran is complete without at least admiring its rusty, orange expanses stretching over the blue strait waters from afar - but it's much more fun to ride across it.
Mount Rushmore
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln... Their faces stand carved into the granite cliffs of Mount Rushmore because, to the artist Gutzon Borglum, these four presidents represented the most important events in the history of the United States. This was in 1941; today, a different artist and a different time would no doubt result in an alternate perspective but it's no less fascinating to stop and admire this enormous work of art up-close. It offers fascinating insight into the political, social and global landscape of the time.
Empire State Building
It's the climactic setting for so many film romances and it's easy to see why. The Empire State Building commands attention in the never-ending New York City skyline and once you're up top, the views only get better. With an observation deck that's open every day of the year, this is where you want to be to get spectacular panoramic views over one of the world's greatest cities.
Hoover Dam
It's a modern marvel and remains one of the finest examples of American engineering. Hoover Dam took approximately six-and-a-half million tons of cement and 45 million pounds of reinforcement steel to build. At the time of its completion in 1935, it was the world's biggest dam – 726-feet tall. What's perhaps even more impressive is that construction finished two years ahead of schedule.
Washington Monument
Washington D.C. is a city of icons; everywhere you look, this political powerhouse pays tribue to prominent figures, events and times in history. One of the most famous is the Washington Monument - a stately, 555-foot structure built to honour George Washington, the United States' first president. It has been visible in the background of some of the nation's most historic moments to date, including Barack Obama's presidential inauguration and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
Gateway Arch
It certainly stands out on the skyline of St Louis, Missouri. The shiny, modern curves of the Gateway Arch form an elegant monument to westward expansion in the USA; the monument's official name is the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. At its highest point, it's 192 metres high. While it may allude to be solely aesthetic from the outside, you can actually venture inside and all the way up to the top for stunning vistas reaching as far as 50 kilometres in any direction on a bright, sunny day.
Space Needle
A symbol of the 1962 World Fair in Seattle, the Space Needle was a meant as a sort of 'exclamation mark' on the cityscape - a nod to a more modern, innovative future, built in time for the science-and-technology themed fair. Completed in 1962, it flaunted some of the world's fastest elevators at the time. Today, it remains an icon of the city and the perfect lookout for 360-degree city views from its UFO-like decks.
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