1

Statue of Liberty

Image: Pierre Blaché

Location: New York City, New York

The iconic symbol of freedom and democracy, Lady Liberty stands tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. A fraternal gift from France in 1886, she welcomed immigrants and visitors to the United States for over a century with her torch held high , representing enlightenment and hope.

Originally, it was a brownish copper color, but after a few years of exposure to the elements, its iconic green patina—caused by the oxidation of its copper surface—began to spread. Also, did you know that her full name is actually "La Liberté éclairant le monde" , French for "Liberty Enlightening the World"?

2

Mount Rushmore

Image: John Bakator

Location: Keystone, South Dakota

Carved into the granite face of the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore features the colossal visages of four revered American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

Although the monumental sculpture was never finished due to lack of funding (the original vision of sculptor Gutzon Borglum was that each president would be depicted from head to waist), it is still one of the most enduring symbols of the nation's founding principles and leadership.

3

Lincoln Memorial

Image: Kelli Dougal

Location: Washington D.C.

Honoring the 16th President of the United States, the Lincoln Memorial stands as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln's enduring legacy and his role in preserving the Union during the Civil War. An example of neoclassical architecture, it is built in the form of a classical temple , and the massive marble statue of Lincoln seated solemnly commands reverence upon entrance.

The memorial serves as a symbolic center for civil rights and has been the site of many historic speeches , most notably Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.

4

Gateway Arch

Image: Chris Hardy

Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Considered by some to be the tallest human-made monument in the Western Hemisphere - and the tallest arch in the world - the Gateway Arch soars 630 feet above the Mississippi River, a tribute to America's westward expansion and the pioneering spirit of its people.

Made of stainless steel with reinforced concrete infill, the structure is built to withstand earthquakes and winds up to 150 miles per hour. Inside, the arch is hollow and contains a tram system that takes visitors to an observation deck at the top.

5

Washington Monument

Image: Andy He

Location: Washington D.C.

Dedicated to the nation's first President, George Washington, this towering obelisk stands at 555 feet, making it one of the tallest stone structures in the world - and for a brief period of time between 1884 and 1889, before the construction of the Eiffel Tower, it actually was the world's tallest structure.

Its cornerstone, a 24,500-pound marble block, was specially hollowed to hold a number of memorabilia , including items associated with the monument, George Washington, and various benevolent societies.

6

USS Arizona Memorial

Image: Kirby Yardley

Location: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Built over the sunken remains of the USS Arizona, this memorial pays homage to the lives lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Only accessible by boat, the solemn structure sits just above the sunken battleship without touching it , preserving the original wreckage intact.

To this day, drops of oil occasionally leak from the ship’s deteriorating oil tanks , forming oil slicks on the water’s surface that are often referred to as "the tears of the Arizona."

7

Crazy Horse Memorial

Image: Lauren Lopes

Location: Crazy Horse, South Dakota

A colossal endeavor still in progress, the Crazy Horse Memorial is a heartfelt tribute to the Lakota leader Crazy Horse , intended to honor the culture, tradition, and resilience of Native Americans.

When it is finally completed, it will be the largest sculpture in the world , standing at 563 feet high and 641 feet long.

8

Hoover Dam

Image: Ryan Thorpe

Location: Nevada/Arizona border

Although not technically a monument, the Hoover Dam undeniably stands as a testament to American ingenuity and resourcefulness. Completed in 1936, it was originally named Boulder Dam , but the association with President Herbert Hoover endured, leading to its eventual renaming in his honor.

Spanning the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona, the Hoover Dam is a monumental feat of engineering and a vital source of hydroelectric power and water for the Southwest United States.

9

Bunker Hill Monument

Image: Siddharth Mallya

Location: Charlestown, Massachusetts

Standing tall on Breed's Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill , one of the early clashes in the American Revolutionary War.

Constructed between 1825 and 1843, the granite obelisk rises 221 feet and is accompanied by a statue of Col. William Prescott , a celebrated commander and hero of the Revolutionary War. Prior to the construction of the Washington Monument, it was the nation's largest-scale memorial.

10

Golden Gate Bridge

Image: Leo_Visions

Location: San Francisco, California

Spanning the Golden Gate Strait and connecting San Francisco to Marin County, the Golden Gate Bridge is an enduring symbol of American engineering and inventiveness. Opened in 1937, the iconic suspension bridge stretches 1.7 miles, and the main cables that support the weight of the roadway are made out of over 80,000 miles of galvanized steel wire.

Its distinctive orange hue, known as International Orange , was carefully chosen by consulting architect Irving Morrow to both complement the natural surroundings and enhance visibility in the frequent foggy conditions of the bay.

1

There is no official ‘Founding Fathers’ list

Image: The New York Public Library

Who can be called a Founding Father? The term was coined by Senator Warren G. Harding in 1916 and is used to refer to the leaders of the Revolutionary movement, but there’s no set list . While it is mainly used for key figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, the term applies broadly to those who signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution .

2

4th of July deaths

Image: Stephanie McCabe

The legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from the British Crown was voted by the Continental Congress on July 2nd, 1776, but was formally adopted on July 4th , immortalizing the date for the rest of American history. But did you know that it is also the death anniversary of three Founding Fathers?

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died July 4, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, while James Monroe died five years later, on July 4th, 1831. Interestingly, John Adams disliked the date chosen for celebrations, as he believed the day of the vote to be more significant.

3

Refusal to sign the Constitution

Image: Howard Chandler Christy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Constitutional Convention took place in 1787, from May to September. The Constitution of the United States was presented on September 28, 1787 , but nearly two years had to pass for it to be ratified by all the states, superseding the nation’s first constitution, the Articles of Confederation.

Not all signing constituents agreed on the final seven articles, among them Benjamin Franklin, but three of them in particular —George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry— flat out refused to sign the document . Mason suggested the addition of a bill of rights, but was denied, a suggestion that would ultimately inspire the drafting of the Bill of Rights by James Madison.

4

A lawyer for the enemy

Image: National Archives at College Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Boston Massacre of 1770 was part of the incidents that prompted the start of the Revolutionary movement in the colonies. British soldiers stationed in Massachusetts to support the implementation of the Townshend Acts were confronted by an angry crowd. Overwhelmed, the soldiers opened fire without authorization, resulting in five deaths and six wounded.

During the subsequent trial, Founding Father John Adams worked as a defense lawyer for the British soldiers charged , a decision that prompted public criticism. However, he was a firm believer in the right to a fair trial for everyone, and argued that most soldiers had acted in self-defense. In the end, only two soldiers were convicted of manslaughter, a verdict Adams agreed with.

5

The origins

Image: Alex Boyd

None of the Founding Fathers was born an American (for obvious reasons), but most of them were born in the American colonies and had British origins . Out of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 47 were born in what is now U.S. territory.

The other nine? Eighth of them came from the British Isles : Two were English-born (Button Gwinnett, Robert Morris), three were Irish (George Taylor, Matthew Thornton, and James Smith), two were Scottish (James Wilson, John Witherspoon), and one was Welsh (Francis Lewis). The last one, Alexander Hamilton, was born in the British West Indies , now St. Kitts and Nevis.

6

The first signature

Image: David Nitschke

Have you ever wondered why people ask for a ‘John Hancock’ when they need a signature? It is all because of Founding Father John Hancock. One of the wealthiest men in the Thirteen Colonies, Hancock was a merchant (and smuggler) by trade, served as president of the Continental Congress, and as Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts after the Revolution.

Why is he associated with a signature? John Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence, and his signature stands out because it is visibly larger than the rest. According to legend, he claimed to have made it big so King George would be able to read it.

7

The anti-slavery clause that wasn’t

Image: Hussain Badshah

It is no secret that many Founding Fathers were slaveholders, but there was no unified opinion on the subject. Some, such as George Washington, freed their slaves in their wills, while others, such as Franklin, Paine, Hamilton, and Adams, were passionate abolitionists. Thomas Jefferson was a curious case: while he owned numerous slaves all his life, he was against the international slave trade and believed that America had to abolish slavery gradually to avoid civil unrest.

In his first draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson included his conflicted views on slavery in a paragraph condemning King George III for his role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the affronts to liberty caused by this. Ultimately, this clause had to be removed due to the objections of many delegates who supported slavery.

8

The vice president

Image: Ian Hutchinson

When the Constitutional Convention considered the best way to choose a chief executive (a.k.a., the president), they weren’t even considering the figure of the vice president , and had decided that the Senate would elect its own president. After creating the Electoral College, they realized that, being a new country, state loyalty would most likely outweigh loyalty to the union. The solution? Each elector had to choose two candidates, one of which should be from a different state. The two most-voted candidates would be president and vice president, respectively.

The first elected vice president, John Adams, was not happy with the position . He had received a huge amount of votes, but George Washington had still won in a landslide. Although he regarded the position as the "most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived", he took on his role as President of the Senate with the utmost dedication.

9

Confidence in the Constitution

Image: Adam Nir

It is difficult to believe that any Founding Father thought the Constitution to be perfect. After all, not only did some refuse to sign it, but they also included the possibility of amending it to better protect the stability and liberties of the country.

Some Founding Fathers, however, lacked confidence in the Constitution as a document. Benjamin Franklin expressed his disapproval of certain clauses . Still, he was not sure they could write one better, so he decided to sign it, faults and all, preferring to doubt himself than halt the constitutional process. On the other hand, Washington believed the Constitution to be much better than the Articles of the Confederation, but he expressed his doubts about the document lasting for more than twenty years.

10

A varied group of men

Image: Nathaniel Currier, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The centuries passed, and the wigs on the portraits have created the illusion of the Founding Fathers being a group of old men , but this is not exactly right. Although Benjamin Franklin was around 70 years old during the Revolutionary War, most Founding Fathers were young enough to fight and were between 30 and 45 years old.

The differences of age, background, and ideology between the Founding Fathers were the cause of many discussions, enmities, and rivalries, but these differences contributed to the foundation of the United States of America.

1

Statue of Liberty

Image: Erik Lindgren

We’ll start with what’s probably this city’s most famous icon. Lady Liberty has welcomed the "huddled masses" that arrived in NYC since the 19th century. You probably know that this statue was a gift from France to the American people, but did you know Gustave Eiffel, the engineer behind the iconic Eiffel Tower, built its metalwork?

Another fun fact: While nowadays the Statue of Liberty is world-known for its green hue, this wasn’t always the case. In fact, when she was inaugurated in 1886, Lady Liberty sported a reddish-brown color more befitting of copper , the metal she is made of. However, after years of oxidation due to exposure, the statue eventually became green.

2

Empire State Building

Image: Dana Andreea Gheorghe

The state of New York’s official nickname is "The Empire State": Some credit George Washington with coming up with this term, inspired by this state’s wealth and disposition. In that sense, this magnificent skyscraper stands as a proud homage to this sentiment and is one of the most recognizable figures in NYC’s skyline.

This 102-story skyscraper is located in the Manhattan borough and was, for a while, the tallest building in the world. It has been featured in over 250 films and TV shows since one of the most iconic scenes in movie history was filmed there: 1933’s King Kong showed the titular giant ape perched on top of the tower.

3

Brooklyn Bridge

Image: Brandon Day

At the time of its inauguration in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world: It stood as an engineering masterwork, both for its length and its innovative and unique design. But what’s truly amazing is that the Brooklyn Bridge has continued to amaze and inspire millions of New Yorkers for over 140 years.

The bridge was designed by John A. Roebling, assisted by his son and chief engineer Washington Roebling. This NYC landmark eventually became a family affair: After John Roebling fell ill and was bedridden, his wife Emily contributed to see the project to completion.

4

Broadway

Image: Eddie Bugajewski

Looking for a night at the theatre? Then Broadway is the place to be. This street is synonymous with excellent plays and musicals, up to the point that it has become a metonym for the entire industry. Broadway offers 41 professional theaters, each with 500 seats or more, offering quality performances for thousands of people each year.

Alongside London West End’s district, Broadway is known as the highest level of theater entertainment in the English-speaking world. In that sense, Broadway represents the crème de la crème of American theater, up to the point of inspiring the name of other NYC theaters, which are known as "Off-Broadway" or "Off-off-Broadway".

5

Central Park

Image: Dana Andreea Gheorghe

Looking for a quick stroll through green scenery? Then head on to the most famous NYC park. While definitively the most iconic, you might be surprised to learn that Central Park is not the biggest park in the city: In fact, it’s only in sixth place. Having said that, this iconic location is still massive enough to fill a big part of New York City’s skyline with its lush green.

Central Park was built over a period of approximately 50 years during the 19th century, from its proposal in the 1840s to its completion in 1876. Nowadays, it features several iconic monuments and features, like the USS Maine National Monument, the Strawberry Fields Memorial, and the Central Park Zoo, which showcases over 160 different animal species.

6

New York Public Library Main Branch

Image: Chris Ladouceur

Libraries are known as "the guardians of knowledge", and New York City’s Public Library is no exception: With approximately 53 million items, this New York institution has preserved American culture and knowledge since 1895.

While the library has over 90 locations across the city, its most famous location is probably the main branch building, located in Manhattan. This location, officially known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, showcases the library’s famous stone lions guarding its entrance. Fun fact: These lions were nicknamed ‘Patience’ and ‘Fortitude’ by NYC Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.

7

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Image: Pascale Amez

Standing at the heart of Brooklyn since 1911, Brooklyn Botanic Garden houses over 14,000 plants and trees, which welcome approximately 800,000 visitors every year. Besides showcasing these lovely specimens, the Garden offers educational and conservation programs, as well as a special garden inspired by the works of William Shakespeare.

While everything in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is certainly worth visiting, its main attraction is its 200 cherry trees, featured across its Cherry Walk and Cherry Esplanade. Thousands of tourists from all around the world gather in the garden during Spring, to watch these gorgeous trees blossom.

8

Grand Central Terminal

Image: Afif Ramdhasuma

You would think there’s not a lot of tourist value in a train station, but trust us: Grand Central Terminal is definitively worth the visit. This stationnot only showcases beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture and design, but it also perfectly encapsulates the busy and energetic everyday that New Yorkers take so much pride in.

Notably, the terminal has been featured in countless films and TV shows: Approximately 25 large-scale films are shot in the terminal each year. Most of these films have been shot on the famous 'Track 34,' which doesn’t block filming since it doesn’t have structural columns.

9

Met Museum

Image: Changqing Lu

We could have included a great number of museums in this list: After all, New York City is home to hundreds of fine art institutions. However, we ended up choosing the most visited museum in the United States, and one of the most respected cultural establishments in the world: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as " the Met ".

Founded in 1870, the Met is located in located right next to the eastern edge of Central Park. The museum houses over 1.5 million objects, including Ancient Egyptian art and paintings from masters like Van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso.

10

Flatiron Building

Image: Serge Pelletier

This iconic building showcases the resilience and strength of New Yorkers. While nowadays is known as a New York institution, at the time of its opening it was sometimes called "Burnham's Folly": Many believed that the building, designed by Daniel Burnham, would eventually be knocked down by the wind due to its unique triangular shape.

And yet, this skyscraper still stands, 120 years after its inauguration. Its sleek and avant-garde design has truly cemented the Flatiron building as an architectural wonder.