Americans love to memorialize their history with impressive monuments. Sometimes we preserve an artifact, build a statue, or even carve an entire mountain out of a sense of national pride and sentimentality. Regardless of its form, many of our most impressive monuments and memorials have become icons in their own right. Here are just a few that deserve a place on everyone's bucket list!
Lufkin, Texas, United States
Best known for its famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial commemorates the Louisiana Purchase, westward expansion, and the debate over slavery, which began in Missouri with the Dred Scott case. The arch is known as the Gateway to the West, and is still the tallest structure in Missouri. Visitors can even take a tram to the observation deck at the top of the arch! The memorial itself is a tribute to Thomas Jefferson (who, at the time when the idea was pitched, had no national memorial in his honor), in memory of one of his greatest triumphs, the Louisiana Purchase. The concept began in the 1930s, but construction didn’t begin until the 60s. The Arch has since become a definitive icon for St. Louis. It's currently one of the most visited places in the world!
Ark Encounter Drive, Williamstown, Kentucky, United States
There's really no image more symbolic of the United States as a whole than the Statue of Liberty. It was the first thing immigrants would see upon arriving in America for the first time, and became a symbol of hope for freedom and the American dream. It was a gift from France, inspired at least in part by the Union Victory in the American Civil War, and the end of slavery. It was designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and sculpted by Gustave Eiffel. France would provide the statue itself, while the US would provide the site and the pedestal. The site was chosen without too much difficulty, but funds for the pedestal quickly ran out. Joseph Pulitzer (yes, that Pulitzer) of the New York World publication, started a public fundraiser and promised to print every contributors name in his paper, no matter how small the contribution. The resulting funds that poured in were accompanied by sweet notes such as: “the money we saved to go to the circus with” from a group of children sending in their dollar. It was finally dedicated in 1886 and has presided over New York City ever since.
From important historic sites to moving memorials, these National Monuments preserve some pretty incredible and unique American locations that are perfect for exploring, especially while on a road trip!
