Top 22 Most Beautiful Buildings in America

Beautiful Buildings

Looking at the same old predictable and uninspired buildings can get old. Architecture is more than just constructing the most cost-effective properties without room for any form of expression or creative value.

That’s why when we see a beautiful building that breaks the mold, literally and figuratively, we stop and examine it, and we remember it for the rest of our lives. The US’s inclination to do things on its own, often distinctive and stubborn, has resulted in hundreds of innovative and eclectic beautiful buildings.

But where can you find all these wonders? We’ve done some research to find interesting buildings to include on your next sightseeing adventure and have come up with the perfect ones! Here are the top 22 most beautiful buildings in the country’s relatively young but impressive history.

Empire State Building, New York, NY
A permanent symbol of Americana and New York City since it was finished in 1931, this Art Deco masterpiece in Midtown Manhattan is 104 stories tall and reaches more than 1,450ft in the sky. You can view the city from the open-air deck on the 86th floor or go higher to the lookout on the 102nd floor. Fun Fact: This beautiful building is safely struck by lightning more than 20 times per year.

World’s Largest Basket Building, Newark, OH
This giant basket isn’t just some gimmicky building! It’s a beautiful building in person. This record-setting structure is the former home to the Longaberger Basket Company at seven stories tall. The inside is just as remarkable as its exterior, with luxurious furniture marble flooring. It surely doesn’t look or feel like a corporate office space.

Willis Tower, Chicago, IL
Formerly named the Sears Tower, Chicago’s tallest skyscraper was built in 1970 by Sears, Roebuck & Co, the largest retailer globally then. The building dominates the Windy City’s skyline and, at 108 stories, is the US’s second-tallest building, surpassed only by NYC’s One World Trade Center.

The White House, Washington, DC
As the workplace and residence of the US President, this mansion designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban spans a modest 55,000sqft. Like the country it represents, the reasonably young house has survived multiple renovations, all-consuming fire, and 43 peaceful transfers of power for over 200 years.

Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, MO
Seeing it from the outside, you would think that this impressive building that looks like a library was of the library itself. However, it’s the face of the city’s Public Library parking garage. Standing tall, you’ll see the bindings of 22 of the most iconic books in pop culture. Because it would be practically impossible for one person to pick 22 books that would satisfy all literary classics fans, the city left it up to the people to vote on their favorites when choosing the options!

Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
Situated on the west end of the National Mall, this peaceful and open-air pantheon celebrates the nation’s third president and perhaps its most important founding father. Overlooking the Tidal Basin, this neoclassical memorial was finished in 1947 and is the perfect place to escape the crowded areas of the Mall or take in the Cherry Blossoms if your visiting in spring.

Wonderworks, Pigeon Forge, TN
Head over to Pigeon Forge and stop by Wonderworks. It doesn’t look real and probably shouldn’t exist, but it most certainly is, and it definitely does! It’s a facility that makes your brain do a double-take. Step inside this upside-down beautiful building, and you’ll be greeted with lots of fun activities and more brain-teasing to really make you view everyday life in a different way.

United States Capitol, Washington, DC
The Capitol Building was finished in 1800 in a neoclassical style and symbolizes democracy globally. Located at the east end of the National Mall, this 4-acre building is home to the judicial and legislative branches of the federal government. Guided tours ARE available, but passes are required in advance.

Haines Shoe House, York, PA
If you thought the basket building was interesting, our next place is a “shoe-in”…Literally! That’s right, a building that looks like an oversized shoe. The attribute is impressive on this architectural marvel, especially in the sole. The Haines Shoe House is a cherished state landmark that has even been spotted in many movies and TV shows.

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC
As the residence of the Vanderbilts (one of the wealthiest families in America), this enormous, perfectly-landscaped Château-style mansion is the country’s largest private home. It’s even bigger than the US Capitol Building! Completed in 1895, this beautiful building is situated 2 hours away from Charlotte.

UCSD Geisel Library, San Diego, CA
Another library makes our list, and this time, we travel to the University of California. The library building is an intricate maze for the eye to view. Its rough exterior seems almost intimidating, yet it carries a certain type of charm, hard to resist. Inside the library, you will find lots of reading with over seven million books, and crossing it will leave most visitors on a dizzying adventure.

Trinity Church, Boston, MA
Built some time in the 1870s in Boston’s Back Bay area, this Romanesque, rough-stone church is one of the city’s most well-known beautiful buildings. Each December, the church welcomes many visitors who line up for its free Candlelit Carols, performances of traditional carolers and anthems that the Trinity choirs and instrumentalists have offered since 1909.

Chrysler Building, New York, NY
When completed in 1930, this Art Deco skyscraper on the East Side of Midtown Manhattan was the tallest in the world. It was also the first artificial structure to exceed 1000ft in height and remains the tallest brick building globally. While the Empire State Building surpassed the “world’s tallest” status just 11 months after completion, some say the Chrysler Building is even more impressive to see. However, since no official tours are offered, you’ll have to view it from afar or visit the public lobby.

Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL
It makes sense that one of the planet’s most beloved abstract artists is housed in a facility that is as creative as he was. Dali himself would probably create a museum that is entirely outside the scope of any average-thinking individual. However, this beautiful building is a perfectly curved, misshapen, jutting, winding structure of glass, metal, and concrete that does a wonderful job of at least providing a nice frame to hang his most cherished works of art.

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA
This beautiful building is arguably one of the most important structures in US history. Philadelphia’s Independence Hall is where the young nation’s Declaration of Independence and its Constitution were debated and adopted into law. Predating US independence, the Georgian-style hall was completed in 1753 and originally housed the Liberty Bell, which has now been moved across the street in its own building.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA
Speaking of beautifully curved and hand-crafted architecture, Disney has their work of art located at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. This smooth steel structure looks almost functional as it borrows inspiration from that of a sailboat. The concert hall inside is much more traditional yet also expertly crafted.

The Alamo, San Antonio, TX

Everyone knows the phrase “Remember the Alamo,” even if they’re not exactly sure what happened at the 18th-century Spanish mission. Later converted and used as a fortress, in 1836, this beautiful building was the site of a bloody and powerful battle of the Texas Revolution fought between Texas’s early Anglo settlers and the Mexicans. Today, one of the most visited historic sites in the country welcomes about three million visitors annually.

Statue of Liberty, New York, NY
Fun Fact: A gift from France to our country, this 151ft copper lady was, perhaps, the world’s first crowdfunded campaign. When the French government couldn’t afford to complete and ship the statue stateside, an 1885 drive started by New York World publisher Joseph Pulitzer attracted more than 120,000 donors, most of whom gave less than a dollar. Shortly after, Lady Liberty arrived in pieces and was assembled on what we know today as Liberty Island, where she still welcomes visitors to the New York Harbor.

Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD
This fort was built in 1798 and played a vital role in the War of 1812 when the US armed forces successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British Navy. It later served as a prison for captured Confederate soldiers and sympathizers during the Civil War. The fort is referenced in the Star-Spangled Banner and receives thousands of tourists each year.

Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
The Lincoln Memorial stands out for its refined grace that reminds you of a Greek temple in a city that’s crowded with some of the most recognizable monuments. Located on the western side of the National Mall, this beautiful building features a larger-than-life, seated Abraham Lincoln exuding calm and steadfastness. Always Washington’s most-visited monument with an average of six million visitors per year, the site looks even more special at night.

Luxor, Las Vegas, NV
One of the most beautiful buildings along the Vegas Strip can be found at the Luxor because of its highly skilled craftsmanship and an extraordinary level of extravagance inside and outside the hotel casino. Inside you’ll discover pyramid rooms with slanted walls, and they’ve spared no opportunity of enhancing the experience of sleeping inside a giant pyramid of luxury and excitement.

Delano South Beach, Miami, FL
This white, four-winged Art Deco masterpiece was constructed in 1947 and designed by architect Robert Swartburg as a whimsical addition to South Beach. Renovated in 1994 by French designer Philippe Starck, the hotel’s sleek interior has long been a favorite hangout spot for celebrities frequenting Miami.

Let us know if we’ve missed any beautiful buildings and also check out: Top 11 Most Beautiful Cities in the USA