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Road Trip U.S.A.
From sea to shining sea, there are many amazing landmarks across our country. The United States is home to breathtaking natural wonders and human-made structures. Millions of people from all over the world visit these sites each year. Every landmark helps tell the story of America’s history.
But you don’t have to pack your bags and hit the road to learn about our country’s most famous places. Read on to discover more about a few of these sites!
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Statue of Liberty
New York Harbor
The Statue of Liberty may be one of the best birthday presents ever! France gave America this 151-foot-tall copper statue in 1876. It was a gift to commemorate our nation’s 100th birthday. The statue was assembled piece by piece on an island in New York Harbor. It has stood there since 1886. For years, Lady Liberty was one of the first things millions of immigrants saw as they sailed to the U.S. The statue came to represent opportunity and freedom. Today visitors can climb to the top of the statue and look out from her crown.
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Mesa Verde
Southwest Colorado
Tucked under a cliff ledge lie the remains of a palace that’s more than 800 years old. It has 150 rooms, towers, and courtyards. The palace is one of about 600 homes and gathering places the Ancestral Pueblo people built into the rocky cliffs of Mesa Verde. The Ancestral Pueblo lived in the area from about the year 550 until the late 1200s. The U.S. government protected the site in 1906, when it became a national park. Many Indigenous people can trace their ancestors back to Mesa Verde.
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Liberty Bell
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In 1753, officials hung a new bell at the Pennsylvania State House (now called Independence Hall). The building was a key gathering place for America’s Founders. Officials rang the bell to mark important events and celebrations—or to call lawmakers to work. The bell’s now-famous crack began to appear in the 1840s. Not long after, its ringing days were over. The Liberty Bell is still on display near Independence Hall.
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The White House
Washington, D.C.
This building in our nation’s capital has been home to most U.S. presidents and their families. It was George Washington’s idea to build it and he chose the site, but he never lived there! It wasn’t ready until 1800. That’s when our second president, John Adams, moved in. For decades, the building was known as the President’s Palace, the President’s House, or the Executive Mansion. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt officially named it the White House. Today many rooms are open to the public.
Which place would you most want to visit?
Which place would you most want to visit?
Which place would you most want to visit?
