1

Statue of Liberty

Image: Pierre Blaché

Location: New York City, New York

The iconic symbol of freedom and democracy, Lady Liberty stands tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. A fraternal gift from France in 1886, she welcomed immigrants and visitors to the United States for over a century with her torch held high , representing enlightenment and hope.

Originally, it was a brownish copper color, but after a few years of exposure to the elements, its iconic green patina—caused by the oxidation of its copper surface—began to spread. Also, did you know that her full name is actually "La Liberté éclairant le monde" , French for "Liberty Enlightening the World"?

2

Mount Rushmore

Image: John Bakator

Location: Keystone, South Dakota

Carved into the granite face of the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore features the colossal visages of four revered American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

Although the monumental sculpture was never finished due to lack of funding (the original vision of sculptor Gutzon Borglum was that each president would be depicted from head to waist), it is still one of the most enduring symbols of the nation's founding principles and leadership.

3

Lincoln Memorial

Image: Kelli Dougal

Location: Washington D.C.

Honoring the 16th President of the United States, the Lincoln Memorial stands as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln's enduring legacy and his role in preserving the Union during the Civil War. An example of neoclassical architecture, it is built in the form of a classical temple , and the massive marble statue of Lincoln seated solemnly commands reverence upon entrance.

The memorial serves as a symbolic center for civil rights and has been the site of many historic speeches , most notably Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.

4

Gateway Arch

Image: Chris Hardy

Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Considered by some to be the tallest human-made monument in the Western Hemisphere - and the tallest arch in the world - the Gateway Arch soars 630 feet above the Mississippi River, a tribute to America's westward expansion and the pioneering spirit of its people.

Made of stainless steel with reinforced concrete infill, the structure is built to withstand earthquakes and winds up to 150 miles per hour. Inside, the arch is hollow and contains a tram system that takes visitors to an observation deck at the top.

5

Washington Monument

Image: Andy He

Location: Washington D.C.

Dedicated to the nation's first President, George Washington, this towering obelisk stands at 555 feet, making it one of the tallest stone structures in the world - and for a brief period of time between 1884 and 1889, before the construction of the Eiffel Tower, it actually was the world's tallest structure.

Its cornerstone, a 24,500-pound marble block, was specially hollowed to hold a number of memorabilia , including items associated with the monument, George Washington, and various benevolent societies.

6

USS Arizona Memorial

Image: Kirby Yardley

Location: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Built over the sunken remains of the USS Arizona, this memorial pays homage to the lives lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Only accessible by boat, the solemn structure sits just above the sunken battleship without touching it , preserving the original wreckage intact.

To this day, drops of oil occasionally leak from the ship’s deteriorating oil tanks , forming oil slicks on the water’s surface that are often referred to as "the tears of the Arizona."

7

Crazy Horse Memorial

Image: Lauren Lopes

Location: Crazy Horse, South Dakota

A colossal endeavor still in progress, the Crazy Horse Memorial is a heartfelt tribute to the Lakota leader Crazy Horse , intended to honor the culture, tradition, and resilience of Native Americans.

When it is finally completed, it will be the largest sculpture in the world , standing at 563 feet high and 641 feet long.

8

Hoover Dam

Image: Ryan Thorpe

Location: Nevada/Arizona border

Although not technically a monument, the Hoover Dam undeniably stands as a testament to American ingenuity and resourcefulness. Completed in 1936, it was originally named Boulder Dam , but the association with President Herbert Hoover endured, leading to its eventual renaming in his honor.

Spanning the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona, the Hoover Dam is a monumental feat of engineering and a vital source of hydroelectric power and water for the Southwest United States.

9

Bunker Hill Monument

Image: Siddharth Mallya

Location: Charlestown, Massachusetts

Standing tall on Breed's Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill , one of the early clashes in the American Revolutionary War.

Constructed between 1825 and 1843, the granite obelisk rises 221 feet and is accompanied by a statue of Col. William Prescott , a celebrated commander and hero of the Revolutionary War. Prior to the construction of the Washington Monument, it was the nation's largest-scale memorial.

10

Golden Gate Bridge

Image: Leo_Visions

Location: San Francisco, California

Spanning the Golden Gate Strait and connecting San Francisco to Marin County, the Golden Gate Bridge is an enduring symbol of American engineering and inventiveness. Opened in 1937, the iconic suspension bridge stretches 1.7 miles, and the main cables that support the weight of the roadway are made out of over 80,000 miles of galvanized steel wire.

Its distinctive orange hue, known as International Orange , was carefully chosen by consulting architect Irving Morrow to both complement the natural surroundings and enhance visibility in the frequent foggy conditions of the bay.

1

Baseball

Image: Josh Hemsley

Originating in the early 19th century, baseball evolved from British bat-and-ball games like rounders. By the 1840s, it was widely played in New York and spread quickly across the country.

Professional leagues began forming in the 1870s, and by the 20th century, baseball had become a defining cultural symbol. The Major League Baseball (MLB) remains a cornerstone of American sports identity.

2

American Football

Image: Tim Mossholder

American football developed from rugby and soccer in the late 19th century, with Walter Camp shaping key rules like the line of scrimmage.

Today, the NFL is a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, with the Super Bowl considered an unofficial national holiday. Its unique strategic play sets it apart globally.

3

Basketball

Image: Markus Spiske

Invented in 1891 by James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, basketball was created as an indoor game to keep athletes active during winter.

Basketball rapidly grew in schools and colleges, evolving into the NBA by 1946. Its fast pace and high scoring made it a uniquely American phenomenon with global influence.

4

Volleyball

Image: Jannes Glas

William G. Morgan invented volleyball in 1895 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, as a less strenuous alternative to basketball for older athletes.

Originally called "Mintonette," it quickly spread through YMCA programs. Today, volleyball is a staple in American schools and a popular recreational and Olympic sport.

5

Lacrosse

Image: Gene Gallin

Though based on Indigenous games, the modern field version of lacrosse was codified in the U.S. in the mid-19th century, particularly in New York and Maryland.

American collegiate leagues helped popularize the sport. Its fast pace, physicality, and unique stick skills differentiate it from similar sports elsewhere.

6

Rodeo

Image: Lee Pigott

Rodeo emerged from cattle herding competitions in the American West in the late 1800s. Cowboys demonstrated skills like bronco riding, roping, and barrel racing.

Rodeo reflects frontier life and is heavily celebrated in states like Texas and Wyoming. It became an organized sport with professional circuits in the 20th century.

7

Skateboarding

Image: Rhendi Rukmana

Developed in California in the 1950s as "sidewalk surfing," skateboarding transformed surfing techniques for urban environments.

The sport gained a professional scene by the 1970s, complete with skate parks and competitions. Its counterculture roots remain distinctly American.

8

Roller Derby

Image: River Fx

Emerging in the 1930s as a banked-track endurance race, roller derby evolved into a full-contact team sport.

Especially popular with women, modern roller derby combines athleticism and theatrical flair. It’s a uniquely American mix of sport and spectacle.

9

Cheerleading

Image: Rojan Maharjan

Starting at the University of Minnesota in 1898, cheerleading began as organized support for college football teams.

Over time, it developed competitive elements with complex stunts and routines. Today, cheerleading is recognized both as a sport and a cultural phenomenon in the U.S.

10

Pickleball

Image: Aleksander Saks

Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, pickleball blends tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.

It gained popularity for all ages due to its accessibility and social appeal. Pickleball’s exponential growth highlights American ingenuity in casual sports.

1

I Love Lucy

Image: Nick Fewings

Airing from October 15, 1951 , to May 6, 1957, I Love Lucy was undoubtedly a pioneering sitcom that marked the way people produce and watch TV. This show was one of the first to be filmed using a multi-camera setup and in front of a live studio audience!

Lucy Ricardo , portrayed by Lucille Ball, was the protagonist who won the hearts of many Americans with her enthusiastic and funny personality. In addition, her ambition to reach stardom inspired many women to fight for their dreams beyond the diverse impediments that society put in their way.

2

All In The Family

Image: Lucrezia Carnelos

All in the Family , which first aired in 1971 , was among the first shows to bring to television the controversial social, cultural, and political issues that were central during the 1960s.

With a humorous tone, All in the Family put on the screen some topics that other sitcoms didn’t dare to handle, with characters that embodied different ideas very well.

Thus, this sitcom marked American TV, influencing other shows that came later, including some spin-offs of the series itself, such as the iconic The Jeffersons.

3

Barney Miller

Image: Pavan Trikutam

While there are many series and shows about police departments and detectives today, in 1975, TV gave us Barney Miller , one of the sitcoms that would pioneer the genre.

Set in New York City, the show focuses on the lives of detectives Barney Miller (Hal Linden), Philip K. Fish (Abe Vigoda), Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz (Max Gail), Ron Harris (Ron Glass), and Nick Yemana (Jack Soo); characters with personalities as varied as they are funny.

What made Barney Miller stand out was the realistic way it narrated the lives of the different detectives, all influenced by their peculiar jobs.

4

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Image: Senad Palic

The 70s were years of premieres. And one of them was The Mary Tyler Moore Show , a sitcom that came to revolutionize television.

With an independent , smart, career-focused, and single woman as the main character, this show stood out in those days. This aspect led the sitcom to win several Emmys and Golden Globes for its acting, writing, and impact on TV and society.

Mary interacted in the show with funny, witty, and adorable characters, such as Rhoda and Murray.

5

The Golden Girls

Image: Lance Asper

Airing for seven years, The Golden Girls is undoubtedly one of those sitcoms that all Americans remember. Four grown women sharing a house in Miami is enough premise to create countless scenes and comedic situations. Among them, the legendary Betty White fills the screen with sweetness and grace, playing "Rose."

The Golden Girls drew attention at the time for being one of the first sitcoms to show women of their age living different aspects of life like any other adult, without restrictions of any kind. If you haven't seen it yet, run to the TV and turn on an episode!

6

Cheers

Image: Edgar Chaparro

Boston, Massachusetts, is the setting of Cheers , the sitcom that ran for more than ten years, from 1982 to 1993.

"Cheers" is the name of the bar where the main characters work: Sam, Diane, Carla, Coach Ernie (later replaced by Woody Boyd), Cliff, and Norm. All kinds of stories, encounters, misunderstandings, and much more unfold there, all highlighted by a witty script and hilarious performances.

Winner of several Emmys, the series marked an era, leaving jokes that were repeated on TV throughout the decades that followed.

7

Seinfeld

Image: Patrick Tomasso

Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld together created one of the funniest sitcoms this country has ever seen.

First aired in 1989 , Seinfeld was humorously described as "a show about nothing," as it portrayed the daily lives of four friends in New York. However, the characters were enough of a driving force to make things happen. Jerry Seinfeld, a stand-up comedian, and his three friends -George, Elaine, and Kramer- brought to life a series of hilarious situations, each character more eccentric than the last.

Seinfeld stood out because it focused more on each comic situation than on the long-term development of its characters. In addition to that, the show consistently used an ironic tone to critique social norms and stereotypes !

8

Friends

Image: Ilse Orsel

One of the sitcoms influenced by Seinfeld was the iconic Friends , which aired for ten years, from 1994 to 2004.

Which was your favorite character: Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, or Joey? Each of these quirky guys living in New York had a huge fan base in the 90s when the series aired on NBC. The success of Friends was undeniable, and its actors went on to earn sums of money that few comedy actors had ever earned before.

Although it has been criticized in recent years for its lack of diversity, there is no denying that this sitcom has given us a good dose of laughs and touched the hearts of many Americans over the years!

9

The Office

Image: Adolfo Félix

You'd think a run-of-the-mill office wouldn't have much to give the viewer, right? Well, The Office appeared in 2005 to prove that's not true at all.

To achieve the success it enjoyed (and continues to enjoy), this sitcom only needed a great script, superb direction, and some seriously exceptional actors.

While the American version of this mockumentary is an adaptation of the British original, it was the American one that went around the world. That was largely thanks to actors like Steve Carell as the unusual boss Michael Scott, Rainn Wilson as the hilarious Dwight, and the talented John Krasinski as Jim. They, along with the rest of the cast, made this series a comedic masterpiece.

10

The Simpsons

Image: Stefan Grage

When it comes to iconic animated characters, The Simpsons instantly comes to mind.

Probably the most famous animated family in the world, the Simpsons have been on our screens for many years, debuting in 1989 and continuing to this day. The mastermind behind the show, Matt Groening, created characters that, while hilarious and charming from their first appearance, evolved to reveal complexity and depth over the years.

The biggest fans may say that the series is no longer what it once was. While this may be true, no one can deny that Homer , Marge, Bart , Lisa, Maggie, and other iconic characters like Flanders, Crusty, Barney, Burns, and Skinner will always be part of American culture.