United States

United States Essentials

This collection highlights the primary architectural and cultural icons of the United States, centered in Washington D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles. In the capital, neoclassical structures like the White House and the U.S. Capitol represent the nation's democratic foundations alongside the marble Lincoln Memorial. New York City’s skyline is anchored by Art Deco masterpieces like the Empire State Building and modern landmarks like One World Trade Center. The list concludes in Hollywood, featuring world-famous entertainment sites such as the historic hillside sign and Universal Studios’ active film production lots.

Editor's Choice

This cross-country selection highlights specialized American institutions and architectural landmarks. It features major structural works like Seattle’s Smith Tower and the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center alongside niche collections such as the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix and Chicago’s International Museum of Surgical Science. Cultural history is represented by the Chickasaw Cultural Center and Washington D.C.’s Hillwood Estate. Natural and outdoor sites range from the industrial Gas Works Park to the subtropical habitats of Miami’s Monkey Jungle and the Florida Everglades.

Hidden Gems

This collection features unconventional landmarks across the United States. In the Nevada desert, Seven Magic Mountains showcases towering neon boulders, while Seattle offers the textured Gum Wall and the secluded Waterfall Garden Park. Visit the historic Ye Olde Curiosity Shop for oddities or Washington D.C.’s Maine Avenue Fish Market, the oldest of its kind. Quirky additions include Chicago’s bronze Shit Fountain, North Carolina’s 60-foot natural waterslide at Sliding Rock, and the thin granite ledge of Potato Chip Rock in California.

Iconic Heritage Sites

This collection highlights significant American landmarks, featuring neoclassical government buildings like the U.S. Capitol and Greek Revival monuments like the Lincoln Memorial. It includes vital transportation and financial hubs, such as the Beaux-Arts Grand Central Terminal and the New York Stock Exchange. Historical sites range from the colonial-era Saint Paul’s Chapel and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello to the 17th-century Boston Common. The list also encompasses engineering projects like the Hoover Dam and cultural centers including the Chicago Theatre and the Mexican heritage district of Olvera Street.

Beaches and Coastal Spots

This collection spans the diverse coastlines of the United States, featuring the Pacific, Atlantic, and Great Lakes shores. It highlights unique geological features like the volcanic black sands of Hawaii’s Punalu'u Beach and the sea stacks of Washington's Olympic National Park. The selection includes historic maritime structures such as the 19th-century Heceta Head Light and the Civil War-era Fort Sumter. Urban recreation spots like Chicago’s lakefront beaches are paired with the rugged, driftwood-strewn landscapes of the Pacific Northwest and California’s iconic piers.

Castles and Fortresses

This collection highlights 16 European castles, palaces and fortresses spanning medieval keeps, Renaissance châteaux, Baroque palaces and 19th‑century romanticist residences. Included are fortified hilltop strongholds with panoramic ramparts, Mudéjar and Manueline royal palaces, UNESCO‑listed ensembles, landscaped gardens and estate complexes, coastal watchtowers and monastic fortifications. Many sites house museums, preserved period interiors or archaeological remains, and showcase defensive architecture, royal ceremonial spaces and distinctive regional styles.

Top Museums & Art

This collection features premier American cultural institutions and landmark installations across major cities. It includes iconic art museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA, alongside historical sites such as the White House and the National Archives. Specialized venues explore maritime history on the USS Midway, natural sciences at the Shedd Aquarium, and space at the Adler Planetarium. Large-scale public art like Seven Magic Mountains and Urban Light complement world-renowned wildlife centers, including the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Central Park Zoo.

Historic Churches & Cathedrals

This collection showcases the architectural and religious diversity of the United States, spanning from the 1766 Georgian-style Saint Paul’s Chapel in Manhattan to the 21st-century post-modern Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. It features Spanish colonial missions in Texas and Arizona, neo-gothic basilicas, and the Russian Orthodox heritage of Alaska’s Saint Michael’s Cathedral. Notable landmarks include Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross, integrated into red rock buttes, and Washington D.C.’s Saint John’s Episcopal Church, a historic site frequented by every sitting president since the early 19th century.

Iconic Memorials & Monuments

This selection highlights the architectural diversity and historical depth of American monuments. It features the iconic neoclassical marble structures of the National Mall, such as the Lincoln and Washington Monuments, alongside modern tributes like the National September 11 Memorial's reflecting pools. The list includes unique sites like the 12th-century Sinagua cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle and the ongoing mountain-carving of the Crazy Horse Memorial. From the bronze soldiers of the Korean War Veterans Memorial to the eternal flame at JFK’s gravesite, these sites honor pivotal moments and figures in United States history.

Architectural Landmarks & Ruins

This collection surveys the evolution of American construction, from the pre-Columbian cliff dwellings of Montezuma Castle and the ancient irrigation sites of Pueblo Grande to the sleek heights of One World Trade Center. It features neoclassical monuments like the United States Capitol and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, alongside the Art Deco masterpieces of midtown Manhattan, including the Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center. From the functional elegance of Grand Central Terminal to Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture at Taliesin, these sites document the nation’s historical, political, and cultural development.

Iconic Bridges

This collection highlights architecturally significant spans across the United States, from the neo-Gothic stone towers of the Brooklyn Bridge to the modern cantilever design of Santiago Calatrava’s Sundial Bridge. It features historic landmarks like Iowa’s 19th-century Holliwell covered bridge and the Neoclassical masonry of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The selection includes diverse engineering styles, including Victorian cast-iron footbridges in Central Park, multi-level suspension bridges in New York City, and scenic coastal structures like the Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge in Oregon.

Iconic Parks & Nature

This collection spans the diverse landscapes of the United States, from the red sandstone arches of Utah and the granite spires of Bryce Canyon to the ancient, towering redwoods of California. It includes historic urban spaces like Boston Common, the nation's oldest public park, and massive natural landmarks like the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak and Oregon’s volcanic Crater Lake. Highlights include the cherry blossom-lined Tidal Basin reservoir in Washington, D.C., and Seattle’s industrial-reclaimed Gas Works Park.

Iconic Volcanoes

This selection highlights the diverse volcanic landscapes of the United States, from the glaciated peaks of the Pacific Northwest to the massive shield volcanoes of the Hawaiian archipelago. The list includes Mount Rainier, the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S., and Mauna Kea, which stands as Hawaii's highest point. In Alaska, remote giants like Mount Blackburn and the active Mount Veniaminof showcase the geological power of the Aleutian Range. These landmarks encompass a range of volcanic types, featuring dormant summits alongside some of the world's most active stratovolcanoes.

Top Viewpoints & Towers

From the Art Deco spires of New York’s Empire State and Rockefeller Center to the granite cliffs of Yosemite’s Tunnel View, these sites offer premier vantage points across the United States. Urban highlights include the 1,776-foot One World Trade Center and Chicago’s 360-degree observatory overlooking Lake Michigan. Natural landmarks feature the Colorado River’s dramatic meander at Horseshoe Bend and the eroded badlands of Death Valley’s Zabriskie Point. Engineering marvels such as the High Roller ferris wheel and the Roosevelt Island Tramway provide moving perspectives of city skylines.

Iconic Lighthouses

This selection highlights lighthouses ranging from active coastal beacons to historically linked structures, situated across Mediterranean cliffs, the North Sea, the Kerch Strait and the Russian Arctic. Entries include an active Mallorcan lighthouse, a heritage light near Fort Kijkduin, a Kerch Strait beacon by Yeni‑Kale fortress, and remote Barents Sea and Kanin Peninsula lights, illustrating varied maritime roles and coastal settings.

New York City

Washington, D.C.

San Francisco

Los Angeles

Chicago

Las Vegas

New Orleans