10 Of The Most Iconic Monuments In The US

America may be a young nation, but it has a distinct and complicated history, retold through monuments across our country. Across the US, the landmarks reveal stories of the first people who settled here, the colonists traveling to a new world, and the fierce battles that took place for freedom and justice.

For example, the Statue of Liberty is perhaps America’s most iconic landmark. This colossal sculpture stands proudly on Liberty Island guarding the New York Harbor. This is a must-see for everybody. Lady Liberty is a grand symbol of the quest for freedom and a life free from oppression.

We’ve come up with a list of monuments you shouldn’t miss in your lifetime. When visiting these famous American Monuments, history comes alive, and you leave with a better appreciation and understanding of the crucial events that occurred right where you stand. From America’s brightest moments to its darkest days, these 10 iconic monuments showcase the US’s legacy and the foundation on which our great nation is built.

Next, before President Clinton, there was Clinton…..

Castle Clinton National Park, New York, NY

Due to increasing tensions with the British, American harbor cities were obligated to build forts for protection. New York City was no exception. Between 1808 and 1811, many forts were built to defend the harbor. Southwest Battery on Manhattan Island is among them. In 1817, the city renamed the fort Castle Clinton to honor Dewitt Clinton, the Mayor of New York.

During the next thirty years, over 8 million people entered the United States through Castle Clinton. Two out of every three immigrants to enter the United States in this period passed through here until it closed on April 18, 1890.

In 1946 it was freed from demolition and was restored to its original glory by the National Park Service. The place reopened in 1975 as Castle Clinton National Monument and today serves as a tourist hot spot.

Next, a great monument for a great man…..

The Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC

On May 30, 1922, an immense crowd came together for the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. It was somewhat built to heal the national rift caused by the Civil War. Yet, for many, Lincoln’s promise of freedom remained incomplete.

Like much of Washington, the seating was segregated by race, yet the organizers chose Dr. Robert Russo Moton, President of Tuskegee Institute, as the keynote speaker. Addressing the mostly WHITE crowd, Moton delivered the first of many civil rights speeches at the memorial.

The monument has become the national gathering ground for groups fighting racial and social injustice from that day forward. The looming figure of Abraham Lincoln has bared witness to many events and demonstrations that reinforced the memorial’s importance in the first place as a symbolic space for civil rights movements.

Next, the place where the country was born…..

Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum, Provincetown, MA

There’s nothing like the view from the top of the Pilgrim Monument on Provincetown’s waterfront. This monument commemorates the first landing site of the Mayflower on November 11, 1620, with the tallest all-granite structure in the United States. But more than that, it also honors the writing and signing of the Mayflower Compact, establishing the law of the new land.

The Pilgrims explored the area for five weeks before sailing on to Plymouth. Work on the Pilgrim Monument began in 1892 when the Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Association was formed, and President Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone in 1907. Organizations and communities from all over the country donated stones for the tower’s interior. Should you venture a climb, be sure to keep your eye out as you may see your hometown represented here!

Next, a place to honor America’s brave men and women…..

National World War II Memorial, Washington, DC

On May 29, 2004, The World War II Memorial was dedicated to the lives who jumped to support the armed forces during World War II. A crucial but sometimes overlooked aspect of this war was America’s overwhelming home front effort. While many countries worldwide were dealing with the destruction and chaos, the US jumped to aid the allied forces even though this war was fought away from its shores.

Considered by many experts as a significant contributing factor to the victory, the US stunned everyone with its industrial output by producing 86,000 tanks, 193,000 artillery pieces, and 297,000 aircraft. A shocking two-thirds of all Allied equipment during the war!

Set in the middle of the National Mall, the World War II Memorial honors those 16 million American soldiers who served in the efforts. The site’s pillars represent each state and territory. Its arches are dedicated to victories, and more than 4,000 stars symbolize the sacrifices made.

Next, a monument to American fortitude…..

Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD

During the American Revolution, a small star fort known as Fort Whetstone was built at the edge of the peninsula that led to the opening of the Baltimore harbor. The fort was never attacked during this Revolution, but military experts realized the importance of coastal defenses around the US’s third largest city. So, in 1798 construction began to expand this fort with brick and stone masonry to create a more permanent structure.

It became Fort McHenry, named after George Washington’s Secretary of War, James McHenry. On September 13, 1814, the British navy sent ships to remove the defenders from their defenses. For twenty-five hours, bombs and rockets rained down on Fort McHenry. But the following day, when the smoke and fog cleared, the defenders were still standing, forcing the British to withdraw. A lawyer named Francis Scott Key witnessed the attack and was so inspired that he wrote a poem called “The Defense of Fort McHenry,” which was later put to music and renamed… “THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.”

Next, a reminder that peace and justice should be for all…..

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Montgomery, AL

This is the first monument to honor African Americans lynched in the United States between 1877 and 1950. The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) envisioned and achieved the memorial as a sacred space for reflecting on racial terror in America and the legacy it left.

Located on a former warehouse site where Black people were forced to labor, the memorial includes a garden, sculptures, explanatory texts and quotations, and a temple-like house with hanging rectangular boxes made of Corten steel.

Visitors first go through the Peace and Justice Memorial Garden before entering the long hallway of the main entrance. The garden contains a captivating “Memory Wall,” an arched brick wall from the Montgomery Theater, built in 1860, which enslaved workers made. From the garden, a winding pathway leads to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice entrance.

Next, a place that rung out the changes in our country…..

The Liberty Bell, Philadelphia, PA

The Abolitionist advances of the 1800s took advantage of the State House Bell, turning it into a symbol of their battle for freedom and calling it the Liberty Bell. This bell, which weighs over a ton, has been associated with several important events in American history, including the War of Independence and the Civil War.

On July 8, 1776, popular legend says the Liberty Bell rang to symbolize America’s independence from Great Britain. People who wish to see the Liberty Bell can visit its hometown of Philadelphia, where the bell is displayed in a specially designed dome.

Fun Fact: When visiting, you may notice that “Pennsylvania” is misspelled on the bell. That’s because the spelling of the state’s name was not, in fact, consistent until the late 1800s.

Next, a place to remember…..

The Alamo, San Antonio, TX 

We all “Remember the Alamo.” But we can’t seem to agree on the details of what happened in the spring of 1836! Pay a visit to this historical place and come to your own conclusion. It was initially the Mission San Antonio de Valero chapel, founded in 1716 by Franciscans. But by the beginning of the next century, the chapel was occupied by Spanish troops. During that period, the chapel became known as “the Alamo” because of the grove of cottonwood trees surrounding it.

Now, the basic story of the Alamo is that Mexican general Santa Anna appeared with a large army and attacked the Alamo on March 6, 1836, overrunning the approximately 200 defenders in less than two hours. The only survivors were a few women and children. Many legends have grown about the Battle of the Alamo, but the facts often give a different account. We DO know that some Texians and Tejanos wanted the federalist constitution back, some wanted central control to be based in Mexico, and THAT was the primary reason for the turmoil in Texas, not independence, as some say.

Next, the faces of America…..

Mount Rushmore, Keystone, SD

Formed in the face of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota’s Black Hills National Forest are four gigantic sculptures portraying the faces of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt to recognize their contributions to the birth of democracy and the growth of the United States.

The 60ft high faces were shaped from the granite rock face between 1927 and 1941 and represent one of the world’s most prominent pieces of sculpture. It’s also one of America’s most popular tourist attractions. Just about two million people visit Mount Rushmore each year.

It’s located just north of what is now Custer State Park in the Black Hills National Forest and was named after New York lawyer Charles E. Rushmore, who traveled to the Black Hills in 1885 to investigate mining claims in the region. When Rushmore asked a local man the name of a nearby mountain, he replied that it never had a one, but from now on would be known as Rushmore Peak, later Mount Rushmore.

Next, the place where war began…..

Fort Sumter, Sullivans Island, SC

The Civil War presents the US with its most critical defining moments that play a crucial role in defining ourselves as a Nation. Fort Sumter can be considered the place where it all began. As Charleston burned a trail towards secession to preserve slavery, construction on Fort Sumter moved.

The Confederacy attacked the US garrison of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, which redefined American freedom. At the heart of these events were the issue of states’ rights versus federal authority flowing over the underlying issue of slavery. Fueled by decades of disagreement and battle, South Carolina seceded because of Lincoln’s election and the social and economic changes that were sure to happen.

With Fort Sumter as a solid stronghold of Federal authority, war was inevitable. A solid symbol for both the North and the South, Fort Sumter remains a memorial to all that struggled to hold it. Here you can learn about where the American Civil War began and Fort Sumter’s part from park rangers eager to tell.

And finally…..

BONUS: Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA

While not an actual monument, but more of a historical landmark, don’t miss checking out this city. Colonial Williamsburg is an extraordinary place in the US that takes you back in time to the rise of America. This isn’t just a place to learn about our history. Here things are happening now, in THIS century.

It’s the place where the idea of our country is being born and where the standards we stand for as Americans are being determined. They are the 18th century, but “LIVE,” filled with the stories of the women, men, and children, both free and enslaved, whose morals and concepts gave us a new world.

Go back in time and meet the people who made America. Sing, dance, eat and have fun with them. For every person who wants to REALLY understand this country, this is your place!