American Landmarks

Monuments and Landmarks

Mt. Rushmore-Black Hills of South Dakota

Who are the four faces?

• Abraham Lincoln (True or False)• Franklin Roosevelt (True or False)• Thomas Jefferson (True or False)• George Washington (True or False)• Teddy Roosevelt (True or False)• Andrew Jackson (True or False)

Answer

• Left to Right: Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Lincoln

Took 13 years to complete (1927-1941). The sculptor was Gutzon Borglum, he died before the project was finished, his son finished the project, which was Lincoln’s head. Each head is 60 feet in height, noses are 20 feet long, their mouths are 18 feet long and their eyes are 11 feet across.

Statue of Liberty-New York City

A Gift From France

• Located in the New York harbor on Ellis Island. • Must take a ferry (boat) to see the statue.• Given to the United States and officially open

in 1886.• She is 111’ tall, her face is 8’ tall and she

weighs 450,000 lbs.• On her tablet inscribed is JULY IV, MDCCLXXVI

(July 4, 1776)

Gateway Arch-St. Louis, Missouri

Gateway to the West

• The Gateway Arch was built as a monument for American trek to settling the West.

• Groups traveling west would begin their journey in St. Louis.

• Tallest monument in the United States (630’).• Took 2 years to complete (1963-1965)• Arch sways up to 18” in 150 mph winds.

The White House-Washington D.C.

Where the president works and lives.

• The president works in the Oval Office.• The president and his family live in the upper

floor rooms.• White House is located at 100 E. Pennsylvania

Avenue.

The Alamo-San Antonio, Texas

Battle during Texas War

• Texans under the direction of Gen. Samuel Houston were fighting Mexico for their independence. At this time Texas was part of Mexico. Gen. Santa Anna and the Mexican forces defeated the Texans soldiers at the Alamo (former church). Davy Crocket and Jim Bowie (bowie knife) were killed. Texans will defeat the Mexicans and gain their independence in 1836. In 1845, Texas joins the United States, the same year as Florida joins the Union.

Liberty Bell-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Story behind the crack!!!

• According to belief, the bell was rung on the day the United States signed the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) and because of the extreme heat, the bell created a crack and was never rung again. “Let Freedom Ring”

Jefferson Memorial-Washington D.C.

Built in honor of Thomas Jefferson

• Thomas Jefferson was our third president. His personal library is the foundation of the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. The memorial was built in 1943 and the bronze statue was added in 1947.

Fort McHenry-Baltimore Maryland• Francis Scott Key was captured by the British during the

War of 1812 and was held on a boat in the harbor, after watching the British bombard the fort it inspired him to write:

• Words to the Star Spangled Banner• Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.O say, does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Plymouth Rock-Massachusetts

Plymouth Rock????

• This is the site where the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. The came to America because of religious freedom. They traveled across the Atlantic from England on the “Mayflower.”

Grand Canyon-Arizona

• The canyon is over 250 miles long and 18 mile wide. The largest canyon in North America. Tourists can take donkey rides or walk to the bottom of the canyon (9 miles).

The Grand Canyon

Hoover Dam-Arizona-Nevada

Hoover Dam

Significance of the Hoover Dam

• Open in 1936 it was called Boulder Dam, in 1947 re-named Hoover Dam after President Herbert Hoover. Provides electricity for western region of the United States. The Colorado River provides the water source to create the energy. It is built on the border of Arizona and Nevada.

Golden Gate Bridge-San Francisco, California

Golden Gate Bridge

• Upon its opening in 1937 was the longest span bridge in the world (9th today)

• Took 4 years to complete.• Painted orange to blend in with the setting of

the area.• It is 1.7 miles long, and 220’ above the water.

There is a $6.00 to drive going northbound.

Empire State Building-New York City

1st major skyscrapper

• It is 1,415’ tall (120 floors), the 86th floor is the where the observatory is located (1,050’)

• Built in 1 year and 45 days (Including holidays and Sunday), average 4 ½ floors a week.

• 73 elevators located in the building, can travel from the lobby to the 86th floor in less than a minute.

Washington Monument-Washington D.C.

Tribute to George Washington

• Built from 1848-1884, in 2 phases (48-56, 76-84)

• It is 555’ tall and is the highest structure in Washington DC.

• Called an obelisk, because it has a pointed top like an Egyptian pyramid.

• Close to 900 steps to the top, there is an observation stand at the top of the monument

Ellis Island-New York City

1st Entry into America

• From 1892-1954, over 12 million immigrants from Europe entered the United States through Ellis Island.

• The immigrants were ‘process’ by U.S. government officials, many were sent back if they carried diseases or felons.

Yellowstone Park-Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park

• World’s first national park, larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined, over 2 million acres

“Old Faithful” geyser erupts about every hour for 2-4 minutes at a height of 185’

• Home to over 300 species of animals and 1,000 native plants.

Lincoln Memorial-Washington D.C.

Tribute to President Lincoln

• Construction began in 1914, opened to the public in 1922.

• Statue of Lincoln inside is 19’ high and 175 tons(took 4 years to build the statue).

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.

• Memorial is located on the back of a penny.

Sears Towers-Chicago, Illinois

Sears Tower

• It is 108 stories high, higher than the Twin Towers in New York City.

• Upon completion in 1974 was the tallest building in the world.

• Sears, Roebuck & Co. built the building, in 2009, the naming rights were changed to the Willis Tower, which it is called today, but most people in Chicago still refer to it as the Sears Tower.

Mt. Denali-Alaska

Highest Point in the USA

• Also referred to as Mt. McKinley, has an elevation of 20,300 ‘ above sea level.

• Denali, is the native Alaskan language for the summit.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial-Washington D.C.

A Wall of Brave Americans

• Built to honor those brave men and women who gave their life in the Vietnam War.

• There are 58,267 names engraved on the 2 walls of black granite.

• Completed in 1993, over 100 names have been added since it was built.

• Located on the Washington Mall near the Lincoln Memorial.

Arlington National Cemetery-Arlington, Virginia

Our national cemetery

• During the Civil War, this was the home of Robert E. Lee, Southern military leader (Curtis-Lee Mansion)

• Federal government designated this as our national cemetery in 1865, many Civil War soldiers are buried at the cemetery.

• President John F. Kennedy and brother Robert are buried here. An eternal flame burns forever at their sites.

• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is here, guarded 24 hours by the military.

Independence Hall-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Birth Place of America

• The Declaration of Independence was written here in 1774 by Thomas Jefferson, declaring our freedom from England.

• The US Constitution, Supreme Law of the Land, was written here after 5 long, hot summer months in 1787.

• George Washington presided over the Constitutional Committee.

???? Can you answer these???

• Who wrote the words to our National Anthem?• What is the highest monument in America?• Name the 4 presidents at Mt. Rushmore.• Where is Fort McHenry located?• What date is inscribed on Plymouth Rock?• Name the 3 presidents honored in Washington DC.• Who works in the Oval Office?• What is now called the Willis Tower?• Where is the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall?