1

Ford Model T

Image: Matthew Lancaster

We’ll begin this article with the car that started it all. The Model T is considered by historians to be the very first mass-produced and affordable car, thanks to Henry Ford’s incredible innovation with the introduction of the assembly line. In the 1999 "Car of the Century" competition, the Ford Model T was named the most influential car of the 20th century, and with good reason: the creation of this groundbreaking vehicle is considered one of the most revolutionary events in the past few centuries.

2

Ford Mustang

Image: Joey Banks

The Mustang has been Ford’s most famous vehicle since 1964, with new series and models coming up to this day. Just like its name suggests, the Mustang is what is known as a "pony car": Affordable, compact, and, above all, highly styled. However, at the time of its launch, the Mustang was also synonymous with speed, debuting as a safety car in the 1964 Indianapolis 500. Not only that, it won the 1964 Tour de France international rally.

3

Chevrolet Corvette

Image: Deepthi Clicks

Few sports cars are as iconic and instantly recognizable as the Corvette. First introduced in 1953, the Corvette is still manufactured to this day, with its latest generation introduced in 2020. Experts recognize this car for its stylish design, excellent performance, and competitive pricing. These qualities have turned the Corvette into an undisputed American icon.

4

Cadillac ElDorado

Image: Evgeni Adutskevich

In the 1950s, when it came time for Cadillac to name their new luxury car model, they naturally chose to name it after the mythical city of "El Dorado." After all, what can be more luxurious than a legendary Colombian city made entirely of gold? The Eldorado was created to celebrate Cadillac’s "golden" anniversary, but it quickly became this manufacturer’s most popular vehicle, produced for over 50 years until 2002.

5

Jeep Wrangler

Image: Thomas Tucker

During WWII, the U.S. Army introduced the Willys MB, an off-road vehicle also known as the "Jeep." By the end of the war, a civilian-friendly model of the Jeep, known as the "CJ-1", was introduced to the American public with great success. Cut to 40 years later, in 1986, when Jeep introduced its now-iconic Wrangler. Its maneuverability and power were (and still are) only comparable to its comfort and style.

6

Pontiac Firebird

Image: Reinhart Julian

Whenever you see Pontiac’s black and golden phoenix in the hood of a car, you know you are in the presence of one of the most iconic American cars in history. Produced from 1967 to 2002, the Pontiac Firebird was first created as a "pony car" to compete with the Ford Mustang. With 4 different models, the Firebird is definitively synonymous with speed, performance, and, above all, style.

7

Oldsmobile 88

Image: Anton Imbro

The Oldsmobile 88 is this manufacturer’s best-selling and most famous vehicle, and with good reason. Since its introduction in the 1950s, this full-size car was extremely popular for its light weight and powerful V8 engine. Not only that, many experts believe that its large and high-performance engine made the 88 the very first muscle car in history.

8

Dodge Charger

Image: Cook aynne

In the late 70s, a now-legendary show called "The Dukes of Hazzard" introduced the world to "them Duke Boys," two cousins who engaged in high-adrenaline adventures through rural Georgia in their trusted Dodge Charger named "General Lee." The popularity of this show made the Charger familiar to America since the high-speed chases showcased by the show allowed the public to see first-hand all the perks the Charger had to offer.

9

Volkswagen Microbus

Image: Ian Usher

So far, we’ve been focusing on cars known for their speed or power, but what about comfort? This isn’t to say that the vehicles we’ve mentioned before are not comfortable, but this entry is known as the go-to car for those seeking to explore the gorgeous landscapes of our country. Since Volkswagen is a German manufacturer, the Microbus is not technically an American car, but let’s be honest: This car has been synonymous with American road trips since its inception.

10

Lincoln Continental

Image: Marty Maguire

In the early 40s, Edsel Ford, son of legendary industrialist Henry Ford, commissioned the construction of a comfortable luxury personal vehicle. The result was the Lincoln Continental , which quickly evolved from that sole prototype into one of the most iconic American cars in history. The name comes from the car’s European "continental" styling elements, like a modern design and a rear-mounted spare tire.

1

The Statue of Liberty’s color

Image: Pierre Blaché

We start our list with a moderately well-known fact: the Statue of Liberty’s beautiful emerald color is not original. Technically, it’s a sign of damage. While the statue's infrastructure is made of iron, its exterior is copper, which has turned green over time due to oxidation .

Fortunately, that same green coating now protects the statue from further damage and deterioration.

2

Grand Central Terminal’s hidden club

Image: David Vives

A busy train station may not seem like the ideal place for a social club, but that’s exactly the case with the Explorers Club. Operating for decades, this exclusive venue primarily serves locals, featuring a full gym, an indoor hard court, and even a smaller secondary court .

3

Gateway Arch’s time capsule

Image: Chris Hardy

This beloved St. Louis landmark holds a secret at its peak: a time capsule was placed inside the arch in 1965 , containing 762,000 signatures—many from students who attended St. Louis schools at the time.

The capsule is permanently welded inside the arch and will remain sealed for as long as the structure stands.

4

New York's High Court Building’s ball court

Image: Markus Spiske

New Yorkers seem to have a penchant for sports courts hidden on the top floors of iconic buildings—this one being the second on our list. The New York High Court Building is primarily a place for legal proceedings and bureaucratic work, but on its fifth floor, visitors will find a basketball court known as the "Highest Court in the Land."

5

The White House’s dentist

Image: Benyamin Bohlouli

It’s easy to imagine hallways and rooms filled with endless state secrets in the White House basement. But what most people won’t guess is that you can also find a dentist’s office, a carpenter’s shop, and even a bowling alley down there.

6

Niagara Falls is a huge faucet

Image: Tosab Photography

As strange as it sounds, this statement is true in a sense. The complex system of pumps and gates that administer the water of the Falls can be controlled by a central command.

In fact, part of Niagara Falls is even scheduled to be "turned off" in the coming years to replace some obsolete structures—just like a faucet.

7

Washington Monument’s Civil War graffiti

Image: Sonder Quest

Graffiti has been around all over the world, for a couple of centuries now. The Washington Monument was still under construction when the Civil War broke out, and Union soldiers stationed there carved their names and drew pictures onto the monument . These markings can still be seen today at its base.

8

Mount Rushmore’s hidden room

Image: Jéan Béller

One of America’s most famous landmarks hides a secret room known as the Hall of Records , which is filled with documents intended to preserve the nation’s history for future generations. This hidden chamber is accessed through a concealed door behind Abraham Lincoln’s ear.

9

Lincoln Memorial’s secret carvings

Image: Andy Feliciotti

Speaking of Lincoln, you’ll need a flashlight to spot this one—but it’s there. On the north wall stone of the Lincoln Memorial, the letters "EBL" can be seen carved . These initials stand for Evelyn Beatrice Longman, the artist who sculpted the memorial’s ornamental border.

10

Empire State Building’s secret floor

Image: Kit Suman

As it turns out, the Empire State Building has one more floor than the famous 102. This extra floor was originally constructed for building maintenance but now serves as an exclusive hotspot for celebrities, complete with an ultra-thin, knee-high railing separating observers from the sky surrounding them.

11

Brooklyn Bridge’s wine cellars

Image: Partha Narasimhan

Wine cellars are cold and dark places—just like the basements at the Brooklyn Bridge’s bases. This connection, now quite obvious, was made by the bridge’s engineer, Washington Roebling, who incorporated two full wine cellars into the bridge’s bases on each side and then rented the space to local businesses who needed the extra storage.

12

Disneyland’s secret members-only club

Image: Travis Gergen

If a trip to Disneyland isn’t enough of a Disney experience for you, there’s an exclusive club on the premises called Club 33 . This exclusive joint boasts an invite-only guest list, where members must pay anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000 to join, with annual membership dues ranging from $12,500 to $30,000. Do you think it’s worth it?

1

Fala Roosevelt

Image: Nathália Arantes

A star in his time, the charming dog we knew as Fala was a great companion to Franklin D. Roosevelt during his time in the White House .

The dark-coated Scottish Terrier arrived in 1940 as a gift for Roosevelt and reached his peak of fame thanks to the President's remembered "Fala Speech" from 1944 , in which he jokingly mentioned the dog.

While we all knew him by his nickname, it is said that the pet's full name was actually "Murray the Outlaw of Falahill," in homage to a Scottish ancestor of Roosevelt.

2

Bo and Sunny Obama

Image: Zé Maria

Bo and Sunny , the Obamas' two Portuguese Water Dogs, became famous across the country and even internationally.

Bo came to the White House as a gift from JFK's younger brother , Senator Ted Kennedy, in 2009 . His peculiar name was a decision by Barak's daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama, in honor of Michelle Obama's father. His presence in the media was frequent, and he even had his own web page for fans to dedicate gifts or words of affection to him. Sunny, meanwhile, came into the family 4 years later, in 2013, and became Bo's faithful companion.

And here's a fun fact : The Portuguese Water Dog breed was chosen by the Obama family because its coat is hypoallergenic , which helped prevent the allergies of their eldest daughter, Malia, from being triggered.

3

Socks Clinton

Image: jbc

Choosing a name for your pet is no easy task. But this was not the case for Bill Clinton and his family.

Socks , adopted from a shelter in Little Rock, Arkansas, was easily recognizable by his peculiar appearance. With black fur and white paws , it was almost as if this cat's name was printed on him.

When Clinton came to the White House in 1993 , Socks quickly became a star and even appeared in merchandise and toys with his face on them.

4

Buddy Clinton

Image: Siep van Groningen

But it wasn't all rosy for Socks Clinton.

When Buddy , a beautiful chocolate Labrador Retriever, arrived in the family in December 1997 , Socks didn't receive him in the best way. Let's just say they got along like "cats and dogs." Fortunately, it is said that after a while, they got to know each other and got along much better.

Like his cat brother, Buddy also garnered media attention and became quite famous. As a celebrity, people would often ask for photos with him!

5

Checkers Nixon

Image: Matteo Vistocco

If we discuss true dog celebrities, we can't overlook Checkers , Richard Nixon's iconic Cocker Spaniel.

Joining the family in 1952 , Checkers didn't become a "presidential pet" or reside in the White House. However, his name didn't go unnoticed during Nixon's campaign as the Republican candidate for vice president.

You probably remember the iconic "Checkers Speech" of 1952 , in which Nixon mentioned Checkers in a move that mimicked Roosevelt's "Fala Speech" and ultimately contributed to Nixon's election as Vice President.

6

Liberty Ford

Image: David Moynihan

Liberty , with her playful and friendly personality, was the first Golden Retriever to inhabit the White House.

Liberty came to the Ford family in 1974 when Gerald was already President of the United States. Some stories suggest that Ford had a deep connection with Liberty. It is said that Ford had a special sign that he would use with the dog, particularly when he wanted to end an awkward or heavy conversation. When Liberty received the signal, she would approach and warmly greet the guest.

Some of Liberty's most typical appearances during the Ford administration were her walks along with Susan , the youngest daughter of the Ford family.

7

Pushinka Kennedy

Image: Berkay Gumustekin

Now it's the turn of Pushinka , a dog that wasn't born in America but went on to become a loved presidential pet!

But she was not just any puppy. She was the offspring of Strelka , one of the first dogs to travel into space and return safely aboard Korabl-Sputnik 2 in 1960.

After her space journey, Strelka gave birth to a litter of puppies, including one named Pushinka . In 1961 , Pushinka was gifted to John F. Kennedy by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Pushinka lived happily in the White House during JFK's presidency, and she even had offspring in the halls of the Executive Mansion! What an extraordinary life for a pup, right?

8

Macaroni Kennedy

Image: Zosia Szopka

But Pushinka was not the only pet in the Kennedy White House. Among the animals in the presidential family was Macaroni , a pony gifted to Caroline , daughter of President John F. Kennedy.

Isn't it true that almost every girl dreams of having a pony? Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, made Caroline's dream come true by giving her this cute gift in 1962 .

Of course, it quickly became the little girl's favorite and was often photographed with her. Macaroni was quite a celebrity at the time, and even made the cover of Life magazine in 1963!

9

Millie Bush

Image: Rafaëlla Waasdorp

Even though the 90s might feel like they were just yesterday, it's been quite a while since then, and some unforgettable events took place during that decade.

For example, a presidential pet "wrote" a book . That's right! Millie's Book , published in 1990 , was ghostwritten by Barbara Bush's chief of staff and tells the life in the White House from the dog’s perspective. But Millie was not only a bestselling author , she was also an honorary member of the American Kennel Club!

Millie, an English Springer Spaniel , joined the family of Barbara and George H. W. Bush in 1985 as a gift from friends. She remained with Bush until 1997, and even after her passing, some of her puppies continued to be part of the family.

10

Barney Bush

Image: paje victoria

Shortly after George W. Bush was elected President of the United States in 2000 , a cute Scottish Terrier named Barney came into his life.

With his playful personality, Barney stole everyone's attention during his time in the White House. He was also the star of the "Barney Cam" videos during the holiday season, in which the little dog was seen roaming around the White House and playing with family and staff members, always wearing his distinctive blue, red, and white patriotic collar . Do you remember him?