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- Originally built with provisions for a lighthouse and military fortification, Alcatraz is probably better known as a military prison, which housed some of the USA's most notorious and dangerous criminals ,including Al Capone. Now access to the island is only possible via ferry and visitors are advised to book in advance as tour tickets regularly sell out.
- This iconic red suspension bridge spans the Golden Gate Strait between the city of San Francisco and the San Francisco peninsula and is recognised the world over. The 'international orange' colour was used by the architect to make the bridge more visible in the thick fogs that descend on the bay. For more info visit goldengatebridge.org.
- Apart from George Washington, Abraham Lincoln was the first president to receive a memorial commemorating his life and what he had done for the nation. The Lincoln Memorial, on the National Mall, includes a 19-foot tall statue of the late president which sits inside the columned building in front of the 2,000 foot long reflecting pool.
- This monument commemorates the events at the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and the story of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. The Memorial includes twin reflecting pools which are nearly an acre in size and have the names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks inscribed on them.
- The USS Arizona Memorial at Honolulu marks the final resting place of the marines that were killed by the Japanese during a surprise attack on Pearl Harbour. The memorial sits in the water above the sunken battleship and shuttles boats take visitors to and from the site.
- This 102-storey skyscraper is one of the best-known buildings in New York. The Empire State Building offers stunning views of the entire city: visitors can either view the skyline from the 86th floor Observation Deck of from the Top Deck on the 102nd floor.
- The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France and it is recognised as a symbol of democracy and freedom. There are three different types of ticket available when visiting the statue: ground tickets, pedestal tickets or 'crown' tickets which allow visitors access to the top level of the statue.
- One of the oldest suspension bridges in the whole of the United States, the Brooklyn Bridge has been designated a National Historic Landmark. It spans the East River, connecting the neighbourhoods of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
- Grand Central Terminal is a passenger rail terminal in Manhattan. The mammoth station covers 48 acres and has 44 platforms - more than any other station in the world. The building was designed by two firms of architects, Reed and Stem and Warren and Wetmore. Although their partnership was not peaceful, the end product was a success.
- Gettysburg was the site of one of the American Civil War's bloodiest battles and it was also President Lincoln's inspiration for his famous Gettysburg Address. Visitors can take tours of the park or have a look around the museum which details the history of the area.
- Visitors to the Griffith Observatory can take a look through the giant telescope, explore the exhibitions, watch the live shows at the planetarium or enjoy incredible views of the entire city of Los Angeles and the iconic Hollywood sign. Colonel Griffith J. Griffith left money in his will for the observatory to be built and in accordance with his will admission has always been free.
- The Rockefeller Centre is a complex of 19 buildings that can be found in Midtown Manhattan. It is an iconic building in New York with traditions such as the Christmas tree and ice skating rink drawing tourists in year after year. The Top of the Rock observation deck is also the perfect place to get a 360 view of the stunning Manhattan skyline.
- The New York Public Library is the second largest library in the United States, with 53 million items on offer to the public. The Rose Main Reading Room (pictured) is one of the most spectacular rooms in the facility and offers row upon row of chairs and desks for public use.
- Cloud Gate (also known as the Bean) is a sculpture designed by British artist Anish Kapoor, who also designed the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower at London's Olympic Park. Kapoor beat 30 other artists to have his design commissioned for placement in Chicago's Millennium Park. The shape of Cloud Gate distorts the city's skyline making it a popular photo opportunity with tourists.
- The Arlington National Cemetery is a US military cemetery that is the final resting place of American soldiers killed during the Civil War. The cemetery is also home to the 'Tomb of the Unknowns', a memorial dedicated to unidentified soldiers, which sits on top of a hill overlooking Washington DC.
- This colourful cathedral just to the side of the banks of the Savannah River in the southern state of Georgia. The church was originally started by French Catholics who fled the uprising in Haiti and ended up in the city. Despite being almost destroyed in a fire in 1898, the cathedral was reconstructed and decorative murals were installed.
- Mount Rushmore is possibly one of the best known landmarks in the whole of the United States, and definitely one of the hardest to miss if you're in South Dakota. These 60ft sculptures were carved into the granite rock by a Danish sculptor and his son in the 1920s. The rock bears the images of four of America's presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
- The Vietnam Memorial runs alongside the National Mall with the Lincoln Memorial to the south. It was completed in 1982 and is made up of a wall which has the names of the honoured servicemen inscribed on it. The memorial is also home to a bronze statue of three servicemen and another memorial dedicated to the work of the women who served the United States.
- Washington's Library of Congress is an intricately decorated research library which officially serves the Congress. It's the world's largest library and was built in the style of the Italian Renaissance by a pair of Washington architects and it was officially opened to the public in 1897.