More than 2,500 National Historic Landmarks are scattered across the United States, from Massachusetts over to Hawaii and in every state in between. Each landmark, whether it’s an historic building, statue, district or site, represents an meaningful aspect of American history and culture. Primarily managed by the National Park Service, significant sites are regularly added to the list, helping to make it as diverse, inclusive and wide-ranging as the nation itself.
Which landmark are you adding to your next itinerary? Take a look.
The Fort Union Trading Post was the most important location for fur trading on the Upper Missouri River in the mid-1800s. Diane Kroupa, North Dakota, 2018/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/fd/3c/fd3c803a-9f33-41dd-8b29-69077456b35e/5-0b83dcfa-6c6d-40d8-8b27-815f3f36f2ce.jpg)
Powered by the mighty Mississippi River, the mill that now houses the Mill City Museum first opened in 1874 and is a reminder of the Minnesota’s previously thriving milling industry. Xu Han, Minnesota, 2024
Even shrouded in fog, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers breathtaking views of colorful foliage in fall.
William Sisson, North Carolina, 2021/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/e5/43/e543ccb6-d5b0-452d-8229-23e70d4f0c0d/4-3a60b6e8-1d88-4f1b-ae15-513f502252d7.jpg)
The mansion on the Biltmore Estate is built on land purchased in the 1800s. The home still belongs to the Vanderbilt family and has helped make Asheville a tourist destination.
Brian Miller, North Carolina, 2022/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/d4/f1/d4f1bd13-56e4-4634-81e0-2eef68c4acfe/3-c63e383b-80ba-4a79-bca5-6bebb6b1fa18.jpg)
The site of an infamous confrontation between law enforcement and civil rights activists in 1965, known as “Bloody Sunday,” the Edmund Pettus Bridge became a National Historic Landmark in 2013.
Michael Ruggiero, Alabama, 2023/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/8d/99/8d99f37b-d305-4d09-9e30-37037cbe8759/9-df6e9f7a-c68b-4e38-9ed1-01f589080243.jpg)
The USS Arizona Memorial on the island of Oahu lists the names of the service members who lost their lives during the attack at Pearl Harbor during World War II. Sylvia Longmire, Hawaii, 2020/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/23/66/2366cda5-4a57-47c0-8569-9060c16ce219/8-9fd6d06e-50ea-46a5-b005-6241b821041b.jpeg)
The steam tugboat Baltimore is moored at a dock at Locust Point across the Inner Harbor from downtown Baltimore.
Michael Mitchell, Maryland, 2021/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/cd/0d/cd0d0e84-ec8e-452b-8778-397fde191061/10-bb1503b9-add1-4600-8be7-c3c705749aba.jpg)
Established in 1872, Harvard University’s historic Arnold Arboretum serves as a public park and scientific research station on 281 acres.
Karen Hosking, Massachusetts, 2018/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/88/b5/88b532c9-cb54-4315-a0a4-33efe17a31ac/12-0335ddd9-a2fe-4cbd-b0f2-8824a6eade3b.jpg)
Not a place to play “Donkey Kong,” the Cleveland Arcade, built in 1890, was one of America’s first indoor shopping centers.
Raine Patterson, Ohio, 2015/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/e3/09/e30960f6-7909-4f6e-bad2-049e1532d9e5/6-afa15d15-8afb-4a31-85fd-842f38639ee5.jpg)
As the sun sets below the horizon on a winter day, the lights of Annapolis illuminate the Maryland State House.
Michael Horan, Maryland, 2020/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/c5/92/c592a4bf-8556-4384-8b41-c6d2fea43ad6/11-4d486e6b-e8ac-4458-b490-9ca4e68e8cf7.jpg)
The large windows if the Grand Canyon Lodge along the canyon’s north rim allow for a preview for guests planning to hike the stunning natural wonder.
N. Jo Fretwell, Arizona, 2012/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/74/9e/749e15f6-569d-4066-b71d-6ab93f70e61d/alt1-72bf52c4e91e1beda6fd4db7ff79fdb25f5249b5.jpg)
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Boston Common is adorned with a display of 37,000 American flags, representing the many members of the military who’ve lost their lives in combat.
Jatinkumar Thakkar, Massachusetts, 2015/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/88/af/88afeb78-3ae9-427a-b7d2-c7be574a1a08/13-6e941705-4cdf-438e-8b7d-996ea011d81a.jpg)
A man and his canine companion take a rest on the rim of a fountain in New York’s Union Square.
Mahfuzul Hasan Bhuiyan, New York, 2011/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/53/16/5316c30a-a0b5-48e1-9a12-cc33097aea2d/alt2-72bf52c4e91e1beda6fd4db7ff79fdb25f5249b5.jpg)
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