1

Library of Congress

Image: Vincent Yuan @USA

Of course—the beating heart of American knowledge! As the largest library in the country and the world , it holds millions of books, rare manuscripts, and historical treasures.

Its grandeur isn’t just in its collection. Take the Thomas Jefferson Building: with its elaborate ceilings, marble columns, and frescoes, stepping inside feels like walking into a cathedral. Ever wanted to see an original Gutenberg Bible? This is the place.

2

New York Public Library

Image: Ran Ding

Patience and Fortitude stand guard—those are the two iconic stone lions flanking the entrance. The New York Public Library’s main branch is a true city landmark.

Step inside the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, with its grand marble-lined halls and sweeping staircases. Don’t miss the Rose Main Reading Room —an awe-inspiring space adorned with murals, chandeliers, and rows of inviting wooden tables.

3

Boston Public Library

Image: Wendy Wei

A library so impressive it feels like it should charge an admission fee—but lucky for us, it doesn’t! Established in 1848, it was the first large free municipal library in the United States.

It’s home to Bates Hall, a stunning reading room with soaring barrel-vaulted ceilings and warm oak tables—a dream setting for book lovers.

4

Seattle Central Library

Image: Sylvia Yang

A sharp contrast to the historic beauties on this list, but no less worthy of inclusion. The Seattle Central Library is a futuristic masterpiece.

Designed by renowned architect Rem Koolhaas, its bold glass-and-steel exterior is impossible to miss. Inside, multi-level platforms create a space that feels more like a sci-fi movie set than a traditional library.

5

Geisel Library at the University of California, San Diego

Image: Jeremy Huang

Named after none other than Dr. Seuss himself (real name: Theodor Geisel) and his wife, Audrey, this library looks like something straight out of a sci-fi novel.

Its unique Brutalist-meets-futuristic design makes it one of UCSD’s most recognizable landmarks. It houses an extensive collection—but let’s be honest, the main draw is the building itself. It’s an architectural oddity that feels both retro and futuristic at the same time.

6

George Peabody Library

Image: Elijah Hail

Some libraries feel grand, but this one feels magical . Tucked away in Baltimore, the George Peabody Library is known for its soaring atrium, lined with six stories of cast-iron balconies adorned with gilded accents.

The library’s collection specializes in 19th-century literature—but honestly, most visitors come just to soak in its beauty. It’s a book lover’s dream come to life.

7

Iowa State Law Library

Image: Muhammed A. Mustapha

Hidden inside the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, this library is a Victorian-era gem —think spiral staircases, intricate ironwork, and rows of leather-bound books stretching to the ceiling.

It may be lesser-known than others on this list, but it perfectly illustrates how libraries can be both functional and visually captivating. This setting alone makes you not mind so much having to do legal research.

8

Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Image: Tim Bish

This is no ordinary library—as you can plainly see. It’s an architectural marvel . Located at Yale University, the Beinecke Library is famous for its translucent marble panels, which bathe the interior in a soft, golden glow.

9

Morgan Library & Museum

Image: mana5280

Walking into the Morgan Library feels like stepping into a European palace—pure Gilded Age opulence with ceiling frescoes, carved wood, and velvet drapes.

Originally J.P. Morgan’s personal book collection , it is now a New York City landmark and museum showcasing rare manuscripts, original works by Dickens and Austen, and even handwritten music by Mozart!

10

William W. Cook Legal Library

Image: Mathew Schwartz

Some law libraries are dull and purely functional. This is not one of them. Located at the University of Michigan, the Cook Legal Library is a Gothic gem with towering stained-glass windows, massive oak tables, and cathedral-like reading halls.

The architecture alone makes studying law feel a bit more poetic, but it’s also one of the finest academic law libraries in the country.

11

Suzzallo and Allen Libraries

Image: Cameron Stewart

This one looks like a place to learn witchcraft and sorcery, doesn’t it? Part of the University of Washington in Seattle, the Suzzallo and Allen Libraries feature a Reading Room that is a Gothic architectural masterpiece, with soaring ceilings and stained-glass windows .

1

Jimi Hendrix

Image: Aditya Wardhana

We’ll start with what many believe to be the very best guitarist of all time. James Marshall Hendrix , better known as "Jimi", truly redefined rock music during his tragically short career. Born in Seattle, Jimi’s fascination with music started at an early age: His school teachers recall that he would often carry around a broom, on which he would pretend to play the guitar.

The four albums recorded by Hendrix are still regarded as masterworks, known for their innovation, technique, and amazing design. If we have the difficult task of summing up this amazing musician’s legacy in one moment, we would definitively choose his rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock.

2

B.B. King

Image: Thomas Kelley

If you are looking for an undisputed king of the blues, look no further: After all, this man has the word "King" as his surname. Born as Riley B. King in 1925, B.B. King’s career was filled with amazing performances, timeless records, and an undying love for the blues.

However, the influence of "The King of the Blues" is definitely not limited to only one genre: Many iconic musicians and bands owe a lot to B.B. King. Not only that, in 1987, King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a spot well earned by one of the most groundbreaking guitar players in history.

3

Chuck Berry

Image: Rachel Bramlett

Chuck Berry’s contributions to rock and roll can’t be overlooked: After all, there’s a reason people know him as "the Father of Rock N’ Roll". Berry’s legacy truly befits a pioneer such as himself: He redefined the concept of rhythm and blues into the most defining elements of what we now know as rock and roll, creating the basis of history’s most popular music genre in the process.

Chuck wrote such legendary songs as "Johnny B. Goode", "Maybellene", and "Roll Over Beethoven". His charisma and raw talent quickly made him one of the most famous music stars in the 50s, but his legacy still lives on to this day.

4

Carlos Santana

Image: Simon Weisser

We mentioned Jimi Hendrix’s unforgettable performance at Woodstock, but it’s also necessary to talk about Carlos Santana and his amazing breakthrough in this legendary music festival. For many Americans, Woodstock was the very first time hearing Santana’s music, but it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

Carlos Humberto Santana Barragán began playing music at an early age: His father, a musician, taught him how to play the violin and the guitar when he was 5. Nowadays, at the young age of 77, he happily continues to tour around the world.

5

Slash

Image: Cathy Mü

Some guitar players are so iconic that they don’t even need a full name, but Slash takes it to the next level: After all, he only needed a punctuation mark for the whole world to remember him. Known worldwide as the guitarist of the 80s hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, Slash is instantly recognizable by his insane riffs and solos, as well as his wild hair and elegant top hat.

Slash has been named one of the best rock guitarists in history by several magazines and publications, including Rolling Stone and Time Magazine. Should you want to hear some of his most amazing melodies, we recommend the guitar riff in "Sweet Child of Mine" as well as the insane guitar solo in "November Rain".

6

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Image: Dominik Scythe

Although his career was cut abruptly short, Stevie Ray Vaughan is considered to this day one of the most influential and groundbreaking guitar players in music history. Vaughan’s seven years in the public eye left an indelible mark on rock and roll that still continues to influence young musicians around the world.

Born in Dallas, Stevie began playing the guitar at the age of 7, inspired by his older brother, guitarist Jimmie Vaughan. By the time he made it on his own as the frontman of the "Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble" trio, Vaughan was already an accomplished studio guitarist, even recording the instrumentals on David Bowie’s iconic 1983 album Let’s Dance.

7

Frank Zappa

Image: Dominik Scythe

As you would expect, this article includes its fair share of talented and groundbreaking musicians, but we can certainly state that Frank Zappa has a quality we haven’t seen in our previous entries: His sense of humor. Zappa’s raw talent playing the guitar can only be compared to his incredible sense of irony and parody, often reflected in the lyrics of his band "The Mothers of Invention".

However, don’t let his ability for satire make you think that Zappa was anything less of a virtuoso: Even detractors who consider his experimental and eclectic style off-putting also admit that his talent can’t be denied.

8

Wes Montgomery

Image: Adrian Ordonez

For any casual observer, the guitar often seems overlooked by jazz orchestras, falling in the shadows of other instruments like the piano, the trumpet, or the saxophone. However, we can almost guarantee that any jazz aficionado will agree that Wes Montgomery ’s contributions to this genre have no equal.

You might not know that Wes was not the only musician in his family: Both his brothers, Monk and Buddy, were accomplished jazz players in their own right. However, Wes is probably the most influential of the three; many of his songs have become jazz standards, while his unique style of playing was instrumental in the creation of smooth and fusion jazz.

9

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Image: Samuel Ramos

Many regard Rosetta Tharpe as the "original soul sister," and with good reason, as she performed under the stage name " Sister Rosetta Tharpe " throughout her entire career. However, there’s another title that shouldn’t be overlooked: Since she has influenced music legends like Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, and Chuck Berry, she is also known as "The Godmother of Rock n’ Roll".

Born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, by the age of 6, Tharpe had joined her mother in a traveling evangelical group, advertised as a "singing and guitar-playing miracle". By 1938, her amazing guitar skills, often showcased in guitar battles at the legendary Apollo Theater in New York, had already earned her a name as one of the best guitar players around.

10

Robert Johnson

Image: Ahmed Rizkhaan

We’ll end this article with a man that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes as perhaps "the first ever rock star". Born in Mississippi in 1911, Robert Johnson is recognized as a pioneer in the "Delta Blues" style and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

What’s interesting is that Johnson’s career spanned only seven months: He recorded 29 songs in only 2 sessions. However, his amazing skills even spawned a supernatural legend. Many believed that Johnson’s talent came from an agreement with a supernatural entity at a crossroads.

1

Keep Austin weird (Austin, Texas)

Image: MJ Tangonan

We’ll begin with one of the most distinctive unofficial mottos out there. In the year 2000, an Austin resident named Red Wassenich called a radio show and made a pledge encouraging fellow citizens to " Keep Austin Weird ." The phrase resonated with him, and he soon began printing bumper stickers and shirts. It was quickly embraced by other Austinites, eventually evolving into the unofficial motto still seen all over the Texas capital.

2

Al-Ki (Washington)

Image: Toan Chu

The only American state that has a fully unofficial state motto. " Al-Ki " (also written as "Alki") is a word from Chinook Jargon that translates to "by and by," though it’s sometimes interpreted as " hope for the future ." Whichever translation you prefer, both express a beautiful sentiment—one that reflects not only the optimism of early 19th-century settlers but also the warm, forward-looking spirit of the people of Washington State.

3

Land of Lincoln (Illinois)

Image: Joel Mott

Illinois takes great pride in being the home state of our 16th president—and with good reason. Who wouldn’t be proud of " The Great Emancipator "? Interestingly, Lincoln wasn’t born in Illinois; he was born in a log cabin in Kentucky and spent much of his childhood in Indiana. However, Illinois was definitely Lincoln’s home : it was in the "Prairie State" that he made a name for himself as a lawyer and met his future wife.

4

Sportsman’s Paradise (Louisiana)

Image: Fitsum Admasu

If you’ve ever visited the great state of Louisiana, you’ve probably noticed the many outdoor opportunities it offers, including abundant hunting, fishing, and trapping spots. While Louisiana’s official motto is "Union, Justice, and Confidence," many know the Pelican State by another moniker: "Sportsman’s Paradise."

5

Smiling faces, beautiful places (South Carolina)

Image: Jacqueline Munguía

One of the most memorable aspects of visiting the American South is experiencing its famous " Southern hospitality ." People from the South take pride in their warmth, kindness, and the instinctive way they welcome visitors. In that spirit, South Carolina’s unofficial motto perfectly reflects these values . After all, if you ever visit this great state, be prepared to be greeted by the two things it’s best known for: "Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places."

6

Taxation without representation (Washington, D.C.)

Image: Louis Velazquez

Most license plate mottos praise the state or city they represent. However, since 2000, Washington, D.C. has famously used a slogan that protests its unique political situation. For over 20 years, D.C. license plates have featured a variation of the phrase "Taxation Without Representation"—a quote that highlights the fact that D.C. residents must pay federal taxes without having voting representation in Congress.

7

Wild, wonderful (West Virginia)

Image: Sharosh Rajasekher

There’s nothing like a good alliteration to lift your spirits. West Virginia is known worldwide for its beauty—a living reminder that good things come in small packages . What the state lacks in size, it makes up for with its stunning scenery. In that spirit, we’d like to celebrate whoever coined West Virginia’s most famous unofficial motto: "Wild, Wonderful." It’s short, simple, and perfectly captures the essence of this remarkable state.

8

America’s Dairyland (Wisconsin)

Image: Brian Suman

Wisconsin is known around the world for the exceptional quality of its dairy products, and Wisconsinites take great pride in that fact. Don’t believe it? Just look at the fans of the Green Bay Packers, who often wear iconic "cheesehead" hats shaped like wedges of cheese, proudly celebrating their state’s most famous export. While the official state motto is the single word "Forward," many prefer Wisconsin’s unofficial title: "America’s Dairyland," a nickname that appears frequently across the state.

9

Life Elevated (Utah)

Image: Taylor Brandon

In 2006, Utah’s Department of Tourism introduced a new slogan to promote tourism and inspire residents to take pride in their beautiful state. The slogan, "Life Elevated," was featured on tourism signs and license plates throughout "The Beehive State." When you think about it, the slogan is quite clever, especially considering it indirectly references one of Utah’s most beloved natural wonders: Arches National Park.

10

Old Dominion (Virginia)

Image: STEPHEN POORE

From "the Mother of Presidents" to "the Mother of States," Virginia boasts a collection of iconic nicknames . While "Old Dominion" may not be as self-explanatory as some other monikers, it’s no less impressive. The name originates from Virginia being the first overseas dominion of the English kings and queens .