Most Famous Landmarks in Every State
This state-by-state landmark guide gives one famous starting point for every U.S. state. It is useful for quick reference, travel inspiration, classroom geography, and choosing which state guide to open next.
The most famous landmark is not always the only landmark worth visiting. Treat each entry as a beginning, then visit the state guide for natural landmarks, historic places, roadside attractions, free stops, and nearby city ideas.
The Most Famous Landmark in Every State
Alabama: U.S. Space & Rocket Center
U.S. Space & Rocket Center is a strong first landmark to know in Alabama. Add nearby places such as Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, Moundville Archaeological Park, Edmund Pettus Bridge for a fuller trip.
Alaska: Denali
Denali is a strong first landmark to know in Alaska. Add nearby places such as Mendenhall Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Glacier Bay National Park for a fuller trip.
Arizona: Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon is a strong first landmark to know in Arizona. Add nearby places such as Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend for a fuller trip.
Arkansas: Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs National Park is a strong first landmark to know in Arkansas. Add nearby places such as Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, Buffalo National River, Thorncrown Chapel for a fuller trip.
California: Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge is a strong first landmark to know in California. Add nearby places such as Yosemite Valley, Hollywood Sign, Alcatraz Island for a fuller trip.
Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is a strong first landmark to know in Colorado. Add nearby places such as Garden of the Gods, Mesa Verde National Park, Pikes Peak for a fuller trip.
Connecticut: Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic Seaport Museum is a strong first landmark to know in Connecticut. Add nearby places such as Mark Twain House, Gillette Castle, Yale University landmarks for a fuller trip.
Delaware: First State National Historical Park
First State National Historical Park is a strong first landmark to know in Delaware. Add nearby places such as Fort Delaware, Hagley Museum and Library, Cape Henlopen State Park for a fuller trip.
Florida: Castillo de San Marcos
Castillo de San Marcos is a strong first landmark to know in Florida. Add nearby places such as Everglades National Park, Kennedy Space Center, Dry Tortugas National Park for a fuller trip.
Georgia: Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is a strong first landmark to know in Georgia. Add nearby places such as Stone Mountain, Savannah Historic District, Okefenokee Swamp for a fuller trip.
Hawaii: Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a strong first landmark to know in Hawaii. Add nearby places such as Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Diamond Head, Haleakalā National Park for a fuller trip.
Idaho: Craters of the Moon National Monument
Craters of the Moon National Monument is a strong first landmark to know in Idaho. Add nearby places such as Shoshone Falls, Sawtooth Mountains, Old Idaho Penitentiary for a fuller trip.
Illinois: Willis Tower
Willis Tower is a strong first landmark to know in Illinois. Add nearby places such as Millennium Park, Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Cahokia Mounds for a fuller trip.
Indiana: Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park is a strong first landmark to know in Indiana. Add nearby places such as Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Soldiers and Sailors Monument, West Baden Springs Hotel for a fuller trip.
Iowa: Field of Dreams Movie Site
Field of Dreams Movie Site is a strong first landmark to know in Iowa. Add nearby places such as Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa State Capitol, Amana Colonies for a fuller trip.
Kansas: Monument Rocks
Monument Rocks is a strong first landmark to know in Kansas. Add nearby places such as Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, Dodge City historic sites for a fuller trip.
Kentucky: Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is a strong first landmark to know in Kentucky. Add nearby places such as Churchill Downs, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Cumberland Falls for a fuller trip.
Louisiana: French Quarter
French Quarter is a strong first landmark to know in Louisiana. Add nearby places such as Jackson Square, Oak Alley Plantation, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park for a fuller trip.
Maine: Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is a strong first landmark to know in Maine. Add nearby places such as Portland Head Light, Mount Katahdin, Old Port for a fuller trip.
Maryland: Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry is a strong first landmark to know in Maryland. Add nearby places such as Antietam National Battlefield, U.S. Naval Academy, Assateague Island for a fuller trip.
Massachusetts: Freedom Trail
Freedom Trail is a strong first landmark to know in Massachusetts. Add nearby places such as Plymouth Rock, Bunker Hill Monument, Old North Church for a fuller trip.
Michigan: Mackinac Bridge
Mackinac Bridge is a strong first landmark to know in Michigan. Add nearby places such as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Henry Ford Museum for a fuller trip.
Minnesota: Split Rock Lighthouse
Split Rock Lighthouse is a strong first landmark to know in Minnesota. Add nearby places such as Mall of America, Voyageurs National Park, Minnehaha Falls for a fuller trip.
Mississippi: Vicksburg National Military Park
Vicksburg National Military Park is a strong first landmark to know in Mississippi. Add nearby places such as Natchez Trace Parkway, Elvis Presley Birthplace, Beauvoir for a fuller trip.
Missouri: Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch is a strong first landmark to know in Missouri. Add nearby places such as Mark Twain Boyhood Home, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, Katy Trail for a fuller trip.
Montana: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is a strong first landmark to know in Montana. Add nearby places such as Little Bighorn Battlefield, Yellowstone’s Montana gateways, Going-to-the-Sun Road for a fuller trip.
Nebraska: Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock is a strong first landmark to know in Nebraska. Add nearby places such as Scotts Bluff National Monument, Carhenge, Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum for a fuller trip.
Nevada: Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is a strong first landmark to know in Nevada. Add nearby places such as Red Rock Canyon, Great Basin National Park, Valley of Fire for a fuller trip.
New Hampshire: Mount Washington
Mount Washington is a strong first landmark to know in New Hampshire. Add nearby places such as Flume Gorge, Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Franconia Notch State Park for a fuller trip.
New Jersey: Statue of Liberty views from Liberty State Park
Statue of Liberty views from Liberty State Park is a strong first landmark to know in New Jersey. Add nearby places such as Ellis Island access, Atlantic City Boardwalk, Princeton University landmarks for a fuller trip.
New Mexico: White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park is a strong first landmark to know in New Mexico. Add nearby places such as Carlsbad Caverns, Taos Pueblo, Bandelier National Monument for a fuller trip.
New York: Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty is a strong first landmark to know in New York. Add nearby places such as Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, Central Park for a fuller trip.
North Carolina: Biltmore Estate
Biltmore Estate is a strong first landmark to know in North Carolina. Add nearby places such as Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a fuller trip.
North Dakota: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a strong first landmark to know in North Dakota. Add nearby places such as Fort Union Trading Post, Knife River Indian Villages, Enchanted Highway for a fuller trip.
Ohio: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a strong first landmark to know in Ohio. Add nearby places such as Cedar Point, Hocking Hills State Park, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force for a fuller trip.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City National Memorial
Oklahoma City National Memorial is a strong first landmark to know in Oklahoma. Add nearby places such as Route 66 landmarks, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Philbrook Museum of Art for a fuller trip.
Oregon: Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is a strong first landmark to know in Oregon. Add nearby places such as Multnomah Falls, Cannon Beach Haystack Rock, Columbia River Gorge for a fuller trip.
Pennsylvania: Independence Hall
Independence Hall is a strong first landmark to know in Pennsylvania. Add nearby places such as Liberty Bell, Gettysburg National Military Park, Fallingwater for a fuller trip.
Rhode Island: The Breakers
The Breakers is a strong first landmark to know in Rhode Island. Add nearby places such as Newport Cliff Walk, Roger Williams Park, Block Island Southeast Lighthouse for a fuller trip.
South Carolina: Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a strong first landmark to know in South Carolina. Add nearby places such as Charleston Historic District, Angel Oak Tree, Congaree National Park for a fuller trip.
South Dakota: Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore is a strong first landmark to know in South Dakota. Add nearby places such as Badlands National Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park for a fuller trip.
Tennessee: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a strong first landmark to know in Tennessee. Add nearby places such as Graceland, Ryman Auditorium, Dollywood for a fuller trip.
Texas: The Alamo
The Alamo is a strong first landmark to know in Texas. Add nearby places such as Big Bend National Park, San Antonio River Walk, Space Center Houston for a fuller trip.
Utah: Arches National Park
Arches National Park is a strong first landmark to know in Utah. Add nearby places such as Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Monument Valley for a fuller trip.
Vermont: Ben & Jerry’s Factory
Ben & Jerry’s Factory is a strong first landmark to know in Vermont. Add nearby places such as Shelburne Museum, Mount Mansfield, Quechee Gorge for a fuller trip.
Virginia: Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is a strong first landmark to know in Virginia. Add nearby places such as Monticello, Mount Vernon, Shenandoah National Park for a fuller trip.
Washington: Space Needle
Space Needle is a strong first landmark to know in Washington. Add nearby places such as Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Pike Place Market for a fuller trip.
West Virginia: New River Gorge Bridge
New River Gorge Bridge is a strong first landmark to know in West Virginia. Add nearby places such as Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Seneca Rocks, Blackwater Falls for a fuller trip.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells is a strong first landmark to know in Wisconsin. Add nearby places such as Taliesin, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Lambeau Field for a fuller trip.
Wyoming: Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is a strong first landmark to know in Wyoming. Add nearby places such as Grand Teton National Park, Devils Tower, Old Faithful for a fuller trip.
How to Use This List
For a quick weekend, choose the state page closest to your route. For a bucket list, group landmarks by region so one trip can include several states without excessive driving. For family travel, mix one famous icon with an easy outdoor stop, a food break, and a backup indoor option.