The landmark and tourist area
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
Presented to the United States in 1886 as a gift
from France, Lady
Liberty is a near-universal symbol of
freedom and democracy, standing 152 feet high atop an 89-foot pedestal on
Liberty Island. You can get a sense of the thrill millions of immigrants must
have experienced as you approach it on the ferry from Battery Park and see the
statue grow from a vaguely defined figure on the horizon into a towering,
stately colossus.
HOOVER DAM
Holding back the mighty Colorado River,
this massive
feat of engineering creates hydroelectric power
and helps provides water for seven states. In 2010, the Hoover Dam Bypass
Bridge opened to allow for faster travel through the area. But it's still worth
stopping to admire the Art Deco wonder and tour the facilities.
THE FREEDOM TRAIL
ST. LOUIS ARCH
Part of the Jefferson National Expansion
Memorial Park, this iconic
structure symbolizes the importance of St.
Louis as the Gateway to the West. Be sure to ride to the top for great views of
the city and the Mississippi.
INDEPENDENCE HALL
In this building the
Declaration of Independence was signed, George Washington was appointed
commander in chief of the Continental Army, and the Constitution was ratified.
In other words, there’s no other structure in the United States that’s loaded
with more historical significance. The Hall is part of Independence
National Historical Park, where you’ll also find the
Liberty Bell and several museums.
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
The suspension
bridge connecting San Francisco with Marin
County, completed in 1937, is a triumph in just about every way. With its 2-mi
span and 750-foot towers, it’s both beautiful and
durable—it was built to withstand winds of more than 100 mph and was
undamaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta quake. The bridge's walkway provides
unparalleled views of the Bay Area.
MOUNT RUSHMORE
In the midst of South Dakota’s Black Hills,
60-foot-high likenesses of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt are carved into a massive granite
cliff; the result is America’s
most famous memorial. From June through mid-September,
the majestic faces are dramatically illuminated at night.
THE ALAMO
This one-time Franciscan
mission stands as a monument to the 189 Texan
volunteers who fought and died here during a 13-day siege in 1836 by Mexican
general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The Texans lost the battle, but they
ultimately won their bid for independence with "Remember the
Alamo" as their rallying cry.
THE NATIONAL MALL
Washington’s Mall is surrounded by a collection
of great American landmarks, with the Capitol at
one end, the Washington
Monument at the other, and the Lincoln
Memorial and Vietnam
Memorial (among many others) near at hand. There
are also nearly a dozen museums bordering the Mall.
FORT SUMTER
The first shots of the Civil War were fired on
this fort on
a man-made island in Charleston’s harbor. The 34-hour battle that ensued would
result in defeat for the Union and turn Fort Sumter into a symbol of Southern
resistance. Today the National Park Service oversees it, with rangers giving
interpretive talks and conducting guided tours.
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