1

Carhenge

Image: sarahehauge

The gray megaliths of Stonehenge , in contrast with the bright green of the surrounding plains, create an image familiar to most of us. The ancient monument in the south of England inspired artist Jim Reinders to design this roadside attraction near Alliance, Nebraska, along Highway 87.

He and his family built it in 1987 on his late father’s farm as a memorial. Thirty-nine cars were buried and welded in place, then spray-painted gray to form a structure imitating the original. Carhenge remains open 24/7, and anyone is welcome to visit anytime, but it looks particularly epic against the setting sun.

2

Prada Marfa

Image: Mizzu Cho

"Wait, what was that?" Imagine driving along U.S. Route 90 and catching a flashing glimpse of this lone-standing, one-story, deserted Prada store , just feet away from the road. Located 26 miles northwest of Marfa, Texas, this storefront is a land art installation built in 2005 by the architects and artists Elmgreen & Dragset.

It wasn’t meant to be an advertisement for the brand, although the shoes and handbags displayed in the interior of the shop were provided by designer Miuccia Prada herself. The location was carefully chosen so that the white shop would stand out against the barren landscape.

3

"Giant" Marfa Mural

Image: Robert Harkness

Remember Giant (1956), the film starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean? This classic about a wealthy Texan family was shot around the town of Marfa, Texas, and parts of it were filmed right at this spot. That means Marfa became the site of yet another car-stopping roadside attraction.

Right off the road on U.S. ​​Highway 90, just like the Prada Marfa, stand these colorful plywood murals that depict the characters and the Little Reata Ranch , which served as the backdrop of the movie. Artist John Cerney erected these figures in 2018, and visitors also mention that one can hear music at the site: it comes from speakers cleverly concealed between rocks and was composed by Michael Nesmith from The Monkees.

4

Galleta Meadows Sculptures

Image: Stephen Leonardi

You would have to take a 14-mile detour from California State Route 78 to see them, but it would be worth it. Galleta Meadows is a privately owned, open-to-the-public estate that has been home to over 130 giant metal sculptures created by Ricardo Breceda since 2007.

Breceda first built a giant metal dinosaur for his daughter after watching Jurassic Park III with her. When the owner of this estate saw his art, he commissioned all the sculptures that now adorn the land. The figures emerging from the ground vary. Beyond the mythological serpent dragon, some represent animals that once roamed the same land, such as the Columbian mammoth, the sabertooth tiger, and dinosaurs. A scorpion, a grasshopper, and a bighorn sheep can also be found.

5

Seven Magic Mountains

Image: Samuel Branch

The hoodoos that characterize the Western landscape inspired this pop-art image in the mind of Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. Located on Las Vegas Boulevard ten miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada, these stacks of boulders were painted with fluorescent pigments that are activated by the sun.

The installation, built in 2016, was funded by the Nevada Museum of Art and the Art Production Fund . It was originally intended to remain for two years, but the fascination with this highly photogenic landscape was such that it was decided to keep it in place and open to the public. The Seven Magic Mountains receive around 325,000 visitors every year.

6

Cabazon Dinosaurs

Image: Marius Christensen

One of the most famous roadside attractions in the U.S. is the Cabazon Dinosaurs, located just west of Palm Springs in California. These are two steel-and-concrete figures, about 20 feet tall, that have their own names: the Brontosaurus Dinny the Dinosaur and the T-Rex, Mr. Rex.

Dinny and Mr. Rex are repainted frequently to show varying colors and suits. A nearby museum gift shop houses over 100 dinosaur figures and animatronics. The stop became even more famous after being featured in Tim Burton’s Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), but they had been standing at Cabazon since artist Claude Bell began building them in 1964.

7

Salvation Mountain

Image: Nitro ‎

In the California Desert, not far from State Route 111, stands an artificial hill that was created in 1984 and has been repeatedly modified over the years to become a colorful folk site. Local resident Leonard Knight started building the hill in the 1980s, with the vision that it would forever hold a message of "unconditional love to humankind ."

Adobe bricks, straw, discarded tires and car parts, and tons of paint were all used in the production of this 150-foot-wide art project.

8

Enchanted Highway

Image: Carol Highsmith's America

The Enchanted Highway stretches for 32 miles in the southwest of North Dakota. It has been decorated with some of the world’s largest scrap metal sculptures, all made by local artist Gary Greff, who began the project in 1989. He started the project as a way to revive his town, Regent , while it was in economic decline.

Fish, pheasants, bugs, and even a "Tin Family" of humans adorn the landscape near the city of Dickinson. Nine sites with sculptures are built along County Highway 21, most of them featuring parking areas to allow visitors to wander near the sculptures and take plenty of pictures.

9

Peachoid

Image: Jp Valery

The Peachoid water tower stands in Gaffney, South Carolina, and is shaped like, well, a peach . The tank holds one million gallons and is visible from miles around the point at Interstate 85 where it stands.

It was built for the city of Gaffney in 1981, resembling the fruit for which they were best known. It was commissioned by the Gaffney Board of Public Works, which also wanted to make the statement that Cherokee County, at one point in history, was a bigger peach producer than the entire "Peach State," Georgia.

10

Garden of One Thousand Buddas

Image: Kirsten Ann

Would you count them? There’s a peaceful garden in a valley near Glacier National Park in Montana. In it live one thousand white statues of sitting Buddhas lining a public park and botanical garden.

The construction of the site, nestled by the Mission Mountains , began in 2000. It wasn’t until 2015, however, that the 1,000th Buddha was finally placed, reaching the original goal of the founder, a Tibetan master. Hundreds of visitors arrive each week to walk the garden and wander around the 10 acres it spreads over.

1

Breaking a mirror

Image: Savannah B.

As we’ve all heard, breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck— a belief that dates back to the Romans . They thought a mirror didn’t just reflect your face, but also your soul.

Because the Romans also believed that life renewed itself every seven years, the curse was thought to last exactly that long.

2

Walking under a ladder

Image: Nick Fewings

This superstition has its roots in medieval Europe, where ladders leaning against walls formed a triangle, a shape that symbolized the Holy Trinity .

Walking through it was seen as breaking the sacred shape and inviting misfortune. Today, most people avoid it not only out of superstition but also for simple safety.

3

A black cat in your path

Image: Emmeli M

In the Middle Ages, black cats were linked to witchcraft and were thought to be witches’ companions—or even witches in disguise. Crossing paths with one was considered dangerous .

Though many cultures view black cats as lucky, in the U.S., the old stigma has persisted.

4

Knocking on wood

Image: Glen Carrie

The habit of knocking on wood to ward off bad luck likely comes from ancient pagan traditions. Trees—especially oaks—were believed to house protective spirits .

Touching or knocking on wood was a way to call on those spirits for protection. The phrase and the action traveled across centuries, and now it’s a common phrase in everyday conversations.

5

Opening an umbrella indoors

Image: Kato Blackmore 🇺🇦

The superstition that opening an umbrella indoors brings bad luck originates from 18th-century England. Early umbrellas were large, stiff, and often had metal spokes.

Opening one indoors could cause injury or break household items , so the "bad luck" warning worked as a practical safety rule.

6

Friday the 13th

Image: Nik

Friday has long been considered unlucky in Christian tradition because it was said to be the day of the Crucifixion. The number thirteen was also viewed as ominous, connected to the Last Supper .

When the two were combined, Friday the 13th gained its spooky reputation. Despite rational explanations, some hotels skip floor 13, and many people still avoid major plans on that date.

7

Spilling salt

Image: ekaterina shishina

Salt was once precious and expensive, symbolizing purity and friendship. Spilling it was considered wasteful and unlucky in ancient times.

The practice of tossing a pinch over your left shoulder comes from folklore, supposedly to blind the devil lurking there . It’s a tiny gesture that still lingers on dinner tables today.

8

Four-leaf clover

Image: Barbara Krysztofiak

The four-leaf clover is a symbol of good fortune dating back to the Celts, who believed the rare leaves provided protection against evil spirits .

Since clovers typically have only three leaves, the fourth leaf came to symbolize rarity and luck.

9

Rabbit’s foot

Image: Timofei Adrian

Carrying a rabbit’s foot for luck traces back to African and European folklore, where rabbits were seen as fertile, magical creatures .

The superstition spread through American culture in the 19th century, especially in the South. Even though it might seem unusual—and potentially unsanitary—the lucky rabbit’s foot remains a well-known charm today.

10

Wishbone

Image: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

The tradition of making a wish on a wishbone originates with the Romans, who, in turn, borrowed it from the Etruscans. They believed that birds held divine powers .

Breaking the bone with someone else was thought to transfer luck to the person who ended up with the larger piece .

11

Coin in a fountain

Image: Lila Mitchell

Tossing a coin into water to make a wish has its roots in ancient Europe. Wells and springs were considered sacred, often associated with gods or spirits.

People dropped coins as offerings for health or good fortune . Today, fountains across the U.S. and around the world collect millions of coins.

12

Wishing upon a star

Image: Ali

The superstition of wishing upon a star comes from ancient Greece and Rome, where falling stars were believed to carry messages from the gods .

Even today, looking up at the night sky and spotting a shooting star inspires many people to make a wish.

1

The Big Apple, New York City

Image: Jermaine Ee

New York may be famous for bagels, pizza, and hot dogs , but its nickname has nothing to do with fruit. The term "Big Apple" started popping up in horse racing circles in the 1920s, when jockeys and trainers used it as shorthand for the city’s top racetracks. A sportswriter named John Fitz Gerald picked it up and popularized it in his columns. Decades later, the city even used it in tourism ads, and the rest is history!

2

The Windy City, Chicago

Image: Dulcey Lima

Chicago’s nickname might sound like a weather forecast, but the truth is more colorful. Newspapers in the late 1800s used "Windy City" to poke fun at local politicians , suggesting they were full of hot air. Sure, Lake Michigan’s winds played a part, but it was really the dig at the city’s bragging that made the phrase hit home!

3

The City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia

Image: Catherine Kerr

This one is actually quite simple, actually. Philadelphia’s name comes from the Greek words for love, phileo, and brother, adelphos . The city’s founder, William Penn, wanted it to be a place of religious freedom and fair treatment, even making agreements with Native Americans over land. In short, the nickname reflects the city’s values. Beautiful, isn't it?

4

Sin City, Las Vegas

Image: David Vives

We don’t really need to explain why Las Vegas is called Sin City: casinos, nightlife, and more than a little temptation . You know how the saying goes, what happens in Vegas… But the roots go deeper. In the early 1900s, Block 16 downtown had a reputation linked to illegal businesses, and the label stuck. Nevada later legalized gambling in 1931, and that sealed Las Vegas’ image as the country’s playground of vice.

5

The Big Easy, New Orleans

Image: Harold Wainwright

New Orleans picked up the nickname "The Big Easy" in the 1970s as a playful contrast to New York’s "Big Apple." The first to use it was a columnist, and later a novel and film with the same title helped spread it. The name suits the city well because its music, food, and culture have an effortless, laid-back feel that still defines New Orleans today.

6

Beantown, Boston

Image: Lance Anderson

Boston baked beans are behind this nickname , but you probably already figured that out. Now, let’s look at the deeper layer here: during the colonial era, molasses poured into the city as part of the triangular trade, and it flavored both rum and beans. Traders nicknamed Boston "Beantown" back then, though today it is mostly tourists who still use the term.

7

The Emerald City, Seattle

Image: Luca Micheli

Seattle’s leafy scenery gave it the name Emerald City. Surrounded by water, rain, and forests, the city is filled with parks like Discovery Park and the Arboretum, which keep it vibrant throughout the year. The nickname highlights Seattle’s natural beauty, providing a refreshing contrast to its reputation for gray skies.

8

The Mile High City, Denver

Image: Owen Lystrup

Denver sits at an exact elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level, which is why it’s called the Mile High City. Fun fact about this: at Coors Field, the local baseball stadium, a row of purple seats marks the one-mile line . Visitors often notice the altitude the first time they climb a hill or sip a beer, so the nickname is more than just clever branding. Do you like this city?

9

The Magic City, Miami

Image: Pontus Wellgraf

Miami earned the nickname Magic City not for magicians (that would’ve been a fun story, right?), but for how quickly it grew . In the late 1800s, Julia Tuttle, a local landowner, helped bring the railroad and development to the area. In no time, Miami transformed from farmland into a bustling hub. We could say it was magic, don’t you think?

10

The City of Angels, Los Angeles

Image: Henning Witzel

Some nicknames have more intriguing stories, but that’s not the case for LA. Los Angeles’ nickname is about as straightforward as they come. "Los Angeles" translates directly from Spanish as "The Angels." In short, this elegant nickname mirrors the city’s name itself, one that’s full of angels, apparently!