The United States is home to a plethora of iconic landmarks, offering an array of sights that attract travelers from around the world. From stunning natural wonders to historic statues and homes with rich backstories, each state has its own standout attraction.
Click through this gallery to explore our comprehensive guide to the must-see location in every US state...
On 7 March 1965 – a day retrospectively dubbed Bloody Sunday – civil rights protestors were marching peacefully from Selma to Montgomery when they were attacked by police as they reached Edmund Pettus Bridge. Images of injured protestors on the landmark were seared onto the collective memory of the nation, and it remains an enduring symbol of the civil rights movement and those who risked their lives in the name of equality.
The Frontier State pulls no punches when it comes to epic peaks – and none are more famous than Denali (previously known as Mount McKinley). It's the tallest mountain in North America, rising up from its namesake park to a height of 20,310 feet (6,190m). Keen mountaineers scale the crag each year, but most are content with drinking in the views on the bus or airplane tours that strike through the wilderness.
You might not know them by name, but these rust-red buttes form one of the USA's most iconic images. Left to right, they're West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte, and they've shown their craggy faces in countless movies, including famed 1994 flick Forrest Gump. Today they're still an American pin-up and a road trip must-see.
Crystal Bridges Museum is filled with works by American greats, from Norman Rockwell to Andy Warhol – and the avant-garde building is a landmark in itself. It's the work of architect Moshe Safdie, who designed the curving roofs, smooth concrete facades and ponds to fit with the natural setting. It's plonked in the middle of the Ozark forest and there's even a building by revered architect Frank Lloyd Wright on site too.
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California is greedy when it comes to iconic attractions: there's the bold sweep of the Golden Gate Bridge, the mighty form of Yosemite's Half Dome and the turrets and towers of Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle to name a few. But none of them scream 'Golden State' more than the Hollywood Sign. Originally erected as an advertising ploy for a local real-estate development, the sign still watches over Tinseltown, and a string of hiking trails now wiggle their way to it.
Stretching out beneath a rocky alcove like an elaborate series of sandcastles, Mesa Verde's Cliff Palace is thought to have been built between AD 1190 and 1260. It was once formed of about 150 rooms and 23 kivas and despite a millennium of wear and tear, it still looks mighty impressive. Ranger-led tours are typically available, beginning with views from the overlook.
Yale is one of the most illustrious universities in the world and it's hard not to feel inspired on a walk through the leafy campus. Landmark buildings include the Sterling Memorial Library (pictured), a towering Gothic building home to millions of tomes, and the red-brick sprawl of Lawrance Hall. Guided walking tours reveal more than three centuries of history.
Cape Henlopen State Park in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is a compelling destination for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, offering exploration of wartime relics, pristine beaches, and diverse natural habitats. One of its most notable features is its collection of Second World War observation towers, concrete sentinels erected to guard against potential German naval threats along the Atlantic seaboard. Today, visitors can climb to the top of these towers for panoramic views of the park, coastline, and surrounding areas.
The Sunshine State is synonymous with Walt Disney World, and no landmark better sums up the Most Magical Place on Earth than Cinderella Castle. Its candy-colored towers and turrets love the camera, and they look best when fronted by a swirl of dancing Disney characters. Today fans can head inside for a dining experience at Cinderella’s Royal Table too.
Tipped by the National Park Service as Atlanta's top tourist attraction, this national historical park brings together poignant sites associated with the great civil rights leader. The most popular stop-off is Martin Luther King's birthplace, an attractive Queen Anne-style house spread over two stories. Ranger-led tours bring visitors through the understated home, where they'll learn about King's life and legacy.
The unexpected 1941 attack by the Japanese on US naval base Pearl Harbor killed more than 2,400 people and triggered the United States' entrance into the Second World War. Decades later, the tragic event is remembered on the isle of Oahu through a series of memorials and exhibitions. Among them is the USS Arizona Memorial, a striking white structure anchored above the wreckage of a battleship sunk in the attack.
This dramatic cascade is famous as the site of a failed jump by American stuntman Evel Knievel, which left the daredevil with bruised pride and a broken nose. Now the waterfall – which is actually greater in height than New York's famous Niagara Falls – is a favored photo stop. A viewing deck looks out over the watery spectacle.
The Windy City has a huge store of public art and Cloud Gate – affectionately known as the Bean – is the city's crown jewel. It's a stainless steel, coffee bean-shaped confection designed by artist Anish Kapoor, and it reflects people milling about Millennium Park in its shiny facade. It's a whopping 33 feet (10m) high and 66 feet (20m) long, so you really can't miss it.
Indiana Dunes National Park – one of America's newest – protects 15 miles (24km) of sandy Lake Michigan shoreline. And its headline attraction is Mount Baldy, the biggest 'living dune' at the site. It towers 126 feet (38m) above the lake and the Mount Baldy Summit Trail (only accessible with a guide at designated times) winds its way up the sand mountain.
There's an entire National Historic Site dedicated to America's 31st president, famous for his reign during the Great Depression. Among the collection of historic buildings is a blacksmith shop (like the one owned by Hoover's father, Jesse) and the gravesites of the president and his wife, Lou. Most famous, though, is the little white cottage that Hoover was born in: it's a humble, two-room house that was restored by the president himself.
The Sunflower State doesn't have quite the same density of landmarks as tourist hotspots like California and Florida, but there are some jewels all the same. The most iconic among them is the mighty Keeper of the Plains statue at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers. It's by Kiowa-Comanche sculptor Blackbear Bosin and it depicts an Indigenous chief rising some 44 feet (13m) above the waters below.
Mammoth Cave is Kentucky's star attraction and the Rotunda is the most-visited area of the park. It's a huge, circular chamber around 141 feet (43m) below the ground, and the room's sheer volume inspired the name Mammoth Cave. From floor to ceiling, the echoing hollow is about 40 feet (12m) high.
Picture the Big Easy and this classic image of St Louis Cathedral brooding over Jackson Square likely comes to mind. The 18th-century church – dubbed the oldest in continual use in the USA – is undoubtedly one of New Orleans' star attractions, and you can explore the ornate nave and gilded altar on guided or independent tours.
No photo better sums up Maine than this one. The state's rocky shores are the stuff of road trip dreams, and the most epic bits are folded into Acadia National Park. Whitewashed Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, on the west of Mount Desert Island, has become the park's poster child. Built in 1858, it's got a striking tower and a perfect rocky perch overlooking the Atlantic.
Maryland excels when it comes to historic attractions, and the most famous of all is Fort McHenry in Baltimore. Completed in 1803, the mighty bastion is best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it repelled fierce attacks by British forces. The bombardment inspired lawyer Francis Scott Key to write a poem that would ultimately become The Star-Spangled Banner, America's national anthem.
Fit to burst with historic sites, Boston's Freedom Trail links landmarks from the Old State House, the city's oldest public building, to the Bunker Hill Monument, commemorating the Battle of Bunker Hill. Among the most significant is the Faneuil Hall Marketplace: it was here that the seed for the American Revolution was sown, duly earning it the nickname 'the Cradle of Liberty'. Today it's a buzzy marketplace selling everything from antiques to clothing.
Detroit has its fair share of memorable monuments, but the sight of the Grand Hotel lording it over the Straits of Mackinac can't be beaten. It's located on car-free Mackinac Island and its camera-loving porch is tipped as the longest in the world. Rooms are plush and charmingly chintzy, and the Main Dining Room has impressive water views to boot.
This quirky structure in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden has become a symbol of the city and the wider state. A plump cherry perches on the end of a silver spoon, which arches neatly over a shallow pond. A collaboration by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, it has taken pride of place in the gardens since the 1980s and looks extra lovely as dusk descends.
Tupelo is something of a pilgrimage site for music junkies. It's famed as Elvis Presley's birth city and his teensy two-room childhood home is open to the public. Fans of the King will also find his family church (which has been restored and moved here) and museum exhibits shedding light on his early life.
Unsurprisingly, when you see how St Louis' skyscrapers shrink in comparison, the colossal Gateway Arch is the tallest arch of its kind in the world. Now a symbol of the city, it watches over the Mississippi River, rising to an eye-watering 630 feet (192m). It was built back in 1965 as a monument to westward expansion through the 1800s, and to third president Thomas Jefferson.
Big Sky Country is built on natural wonders, and no single spectacle in the state is more iconic than Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. The sheer size of the glacier-carved lake is awesome, spreading out over 10 miles (16km) and plunging down for about 500 feet (152m). It's pictured here fringed by a fog bank and snow-capped crags.
A quick glance at this peak – comprising a conical mount topped with a narrow spire – and it's easy to see how it earned its name. Far from just a photo stop, the chimney-like bluff has a place in history too. Pioneers on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails used this striking landmark to guide them on their travels. Modern hikers can still drink in the view and pop into the visitor center for a dose of the past too.
Think of Nevada and your mind will likely settle on the bright lights of the Vegas Strip. Think of the Strip and it'll probably land on this iconic 1950s sign. It's Vegas in miniature: loud, proud, and drenched in neon. You'll find it at the southern end of the Strip, where there will also be plenty of tourists getting their photo fix.
Famed for its unpredictable conditions, Mount Washington is the tallest peak in the White Mountains range, soaring to 6,288 feet (1,917m). Scaling the summit should be reserved for serious hikers, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy this jewel of New Hampshire state. The Cog Railway chugs up the western side of the peak come summer, while scenic overlooks offer pinch-me views.
Tipped as the oldest roadside attraction in America, beloved Lucy the Elephant began life as a fun amusement designed to entice people to the area. Fast-forward more than a century and Lucy is still standing, and she's earned a deserving spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can come along for guided tours and a quick browse of the dinky gift shop.
New Mexico has an impressive horde of natural sights, from the gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. But none are more well-known than the swirling underworld that is Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Most visitors route through the famed Big Room, the largest cave chamber on the continent. The 1.25-mile (2km) trail through it reveals spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.
Lady Liberty is definitely the most famous landmark in New York, and probably the most iconic monument in the entire United States. The giant green goddess – who stands, torch raised, shackles broken above the New York Harbor – is known the world over. She was famously a gift from France in the 1880s, and the relatively new Statue of Liberty Museum sheds light on her story.
One of the most famous stately homes in America – and proudly dubbing itself the largest – Biltmore was constructed for George Vanderbilt in the late 19th century. It's set within 8,000 beautiful acres, bursting with trees, ponds, and neat formal gardens. Inside, the walls are hung with tapestries, the ceilings are bright with frescoes and various tours snake their way through the property.
Amazing photos show what the world looked like in the 19th century
North Dakota is home to sprawling badlands and frontier towns – but nothing captures the imagination quite like a giant concrete buffalo. And giant it is, at 26 feet (8m) tall and weighing in at 60 tons. Nicknamed Dakota Thunder, it was created by American sculptor Elmer Petersen and is joined by a museum and an actual herd of buffalo.
The IM Pei-designed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will turn your head before you even get inside – its glassy pyramid glints in the light and its bold white structures seem to defy gravity. Inside, exhibits whizz through the history of rock and roll, highlighting legends from Elvis Presley to David Bowie. The Garage section is a favorite with visitors: you'll get a chance to play real instruments and record your own impromptu jam session.
Oklahoma gobbles up the longest drivable stretch of the Mother Road, and the top stop along the way is the Route 66 Museum. You'll take a drive back in time, as exhibits cover the history of the road from its earliest conception to its role through the Second World War. In true Route 66 style, you can prop up the bar at a classic 1950s-style diner too.
America has no shortage of stunning lakes, but this one wows with its intense sapphire hue and its status as the deepest in the USA. Hemmed in by the Cascades, it plunges down for 1,943 feet (592m) and striking cinder cone Wizard Island noses through its surface. It's thought to have been formed some 7,700 years ago when a volcanic peak collapsed in an eruption.
Few American buildings have seen as much history as this one. Construction of the red-brick pile began in 1732 and, some four decades later, the Declaration of Independence was debated and signed here, followed by the US Constitution. Now ranger-led tours whisk visitors around 'America's birthplace', ducking into the Assembly Room where both the famed documents were signed.
Rhode Island's Gilded Age mansions are famous across the States and beyond – and the most prominent among them is the Breakers. The vision of the wealthy Vanderbilt family, the Italian Renaissance 'cottage' was finished in 1895 and it's still as sumptuous as it ever was. Tours lead visitors through a series of ornate rooms, from the Dining Room, with its heavy chandeliers and blood-red drapes, to the lavishly gilded music room.
Brooding at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter is famous as the site where the American Civil War began. Confederate forces fired at the fort on 12 April 1861 – the first shots in the conflict – and they garrisoned it for some four years afterwards. Now boats head out to the storied fort and rangers unpick its history. There's a little museum with fascinating exhibits too.
Few American landmarks are more recognizable than this one. Since 1941, the 60-foot (18m) faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln have gazed out from a rock face in the Black Hills, carved to a design by American sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Despite its huge visitor numbers, the famed monument remains controversial since it was built on Indigenous land.
The home of the King of Rock and Roll is as wonderfully eccentric as the man himself. Elvis bought the Graceland estate in 1957 and would live in it right up until his death in 1977. The house unfolds with a series of kitsch-as-can-be rooms, from the living area, with its bright stained glass and cream sofas, to the shaggy green carpets and wood accents of the famous Jungle Room. Across the road, exhibits cover everything from Elvis's musical career to his passion for automobiles.
One of the most fabled battle sites in American history, the Alamo is known for the part it played in the Texas Revolution. The bloody quest for independence included the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, in which the Texans were brought to their knees by a siege involving thousands of Mexicans. Now, the site is open for a range of history tours and it's also said to be home to a resident ghost or two.
This teetering red-sandstone arch stands out, even in a park with some 2,000 natural arches. It soars to 52 feet (16m), rising up like a picture frame or portal, capturing sunsets and sweeping panoramas of the park. A hiking trail wiggles towards the landmark, which looks every bit as elegant as its name suggests.
The image of a whitewashed church peeping out from a carpet of fall foliage is about as quintessentially Vermont as it gets. The church in question – gracing almost every New England travel guide – is the 19th-century Stowe Community Church. The scenic Stowe Recreation Path beats its way through the quaint town and begins close to the much-photographed landmark.
Virginia is a state ripe with presidential history and it has a slew of fascinating heritage sites to match. The crown jewel is George Washington's Mount Vernon, the historic home of America's first president and his wife, Martha. Guided tours explore the mansion (where Washington's private study remains) and visitors can strike out into the gardens themselves. Audio tours are also available, to learn more about the stories of the enslaved people who built and lived at the estate.
Space Needle is an apt name for a landmark that looks this much like a UFO. The skyscraper has loomed over the Emerald City since the 1960s, when it was opened for the World's Fair. A gas torch once emanated bright light from the top of the structure, but even without its technicolor coat, it still commands the city. Today it serves as an observation deck, with a handful of chic food and drink spots too.
More than 32,000 sculptures, paintings, and photos fill the Milwaukee Art Museum, a landmark institution with a history stretching back to 1888. But the building itself is the real showstopper. The Quadracci Pavilion (pictured) was the brainchild of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Stop to snap a photo of its triangular glass roof and adjoining Reiman Bridge.
Grand Prismatic Spring is mesmerizing. Yellowstone's largest hot spring has a deep cyan core, ringed by stinging acid yellow and fiery orange. The science is fascinating too: the water has different temperature bands, each of which is inhabited by a specific type of bacteria making for a distinctive hue. It's hemmed in by boardwalks, so visitors can get a closer look.
Now check out these incredible early images of the world's best-known landmarks