The United States is filled with landmarks that are as beautiful as they are iconic. Some, however, are more photogenic than others. Globehunters recently scoured Instagram for the most photographed attractions in the United States. For this post, we’re filtering out some very obvious tourist attractions and focusing instead on the 10 most photographed landmarks in the United States.
Route 66, Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California
U.S. Route 66 was one of the original highways in the U.S. Highway System and is known as the Main Street of America and the Mother Road. Established in 1926, it has become the most famous road in America, and also the most photographed. The road stretches 2,448 miles, from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California. It was removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985 and has been designated a National Scenic Byway.
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is one of the most photographed cities in the world, and the Las Vegas strip contains several landmarks that have become famous in modern culture. Caesars Palace, which was built in 1966, is one such treasure. The luxury hotel and casino was established by Jay Sarno, who wanted an opulent recreation of what life may have been like during the Roman Empire. Caesars Palace contains numerous statues and columns, along with 3,976 hotel rooms and a massive casino.
Statue of Liberty, New York City, New York
The massive copper sculpture of Lady Liberty has welcomed immigrants and tourists to New York Harbor since 1886. It was gifted to the United States by the people of France and is a symbol of freedom around the world. The Statue of Liberty was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and is maintained by the National Park Service.
Empire State Building, New York City, New York
The Empire State Building has been famous since it was built in 1931. At 1,454 feet tall, it was the world’s tallest building for 40 years. Its famous Art Deco design makes it an American cultural icon. The Empire State Building has been seen in more than 250 movies and TV shows since it featured prominently in King Kong in 1933.
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is actually a series of three waterfalls that straddle the border between New York and Canada. Three separate waterfalls make up Niagara Falls — Bridal Veil Falls, Horseshoe Falls and American Falls. Combined, the three waterfalls contribute to the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America. Niagara Falls is a world-famous tourist attraction, but it is also a valuable source of hydroelectric power.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
This beautiful symbol of San Francisco was both the longest and tallest suspension bridge when it opened in 1937, with a span of 4,200 feet and a height of 746 feet. The bridge is not named for its color (which is International Orange, not yellow), but for the channel it crosses, which is called the Golden Gate and separates San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean.
Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York
New York’s most famous bridge is also one of the most photographed bridges in the entire world. The Brooklyn Bridge, which crosses the East River to connect Brooklyn with Manhattan, was the first steel-wire suspension bridge in the world. It opened to the public in 1883 after 13 years of construction. The bridge has been immortalized in countless movies, including Godzilla, Saturday Night Fever and Enchanted.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
With its endlessly striking rock formations and fabulous vistas, there is no doubt that the Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most photogenic places, not to mention one of the most visited. More than 6 million people stopped by Grand Canyon National Park in 2017, and it’s very likely that most of them snapped a photo while they were there.
Times Square, New York City, New York
The skyscrapers and neon lights of Times Square make it the second most photographed landmark in the U.S., with more than 3 million posts on Instagram. Times Square is a major tourist destination in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. Some 50 million people visit Times Square annually.
Central Park, New York City, New York
Is it any surprise that the City That Never Sleeps made this list four times? Central park tops all the spots in New York City, and when Globehunters did their research in August of 2018, this beloved park had been featured on Instagram 5,860,865 times. So grab your camera and head to the 843-acre park in the heart of New York City. Don’t forget to visit the Central Park Zoo and Belvedere Castle, which are popular landmarks in their own right.