1

Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

Image: The Silverdalex

Located in an area already filled with memorials, Arlington National Cemetery stands out as one of the nation’s most sacred landmarks. Established during the Civil War on land confiscated from General Robert E. Lee's estate, it became the final resting place for over 400,000 brave Americans, including casualties from WWII to the Vietnam War.

At its heart lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a continuously guarded monument that symbolizes the sacrifices of all unidentified fallen heroes. Notably, the graves of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy are among the most visited sites in the cemetery.

2

Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Image: Ryan Stone

Popularly known as the Vietnam Memorial, this U.S. national landmark located in Washington, D.C., honors those who served during the Vietnam War. Its centerpiece consists of two imposing black granite walls, engraved with the names of over 58,000 individuals who died or went missing while serving their country in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Designed by architect Maya Lin, the monument is strikingly powerful in its minimalism, evoking deep emotions through its simplicity. The site also includes the Three Soldiers statue and the Vietnam Women's Memorial.

3

Marine Corps War Memorial, Virginia

Image: Sal Cenicacelaya

Located in Arlington County, Virginia, this war memorial was inspired by the iconic 1945 photograph of six Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Standing 32 feet tall, the monument is an enduring symbol of courage and determination, honoring all Marines who have served since 1775.

Though the sculpture depicts a moment when the U.S. flag had 48 stars, the flag flown today is always the current version, symbolizing the memorial’s dedication to all Marines who have died in defense of the United States, regardless of the era.

4

Air Force Memorial, Virginia

Image: Yogi Panchal

Located near the Marine Corps War Memorial and Arlington Cemetery, this 270-foot-high sculpture features three stainless steel spires reaching toward the sky. It was the final project of American architect James Ingo Freed, renowned for his work with I.M. Pei and his contributions to various iconic U.S. public buildings.

The spires seem to evoke the contrails of a group of Air Force Thunderbirds performing a dramatic flight maneuver. Notably, only three of the typical four contrails are depicted, symbolizing the "missing man" formation traditionally used in Air Force funeral flyovers.

5

World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Image: Joshua Woods

Featuring 56 pillars adorned with bronze laurel wreaths, each symbolizing a U.S. state or territory, this memorial honors the 16 million Americans who served in World War II. It stands as a grand tribute to the "Greatest Generation," celebrating their victories and the sacrifices they made for their country.

Interestingly, the memorial includes two subtle "Kilroy was here" engravings, a nod to the iconic symbol that became a reassuring emblem for American soldiers during the war, marking their presence and protection wherever it appeared.

6

Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Image: Joe Richmond

Dedicated in 1995, this national memorial features a haunting image of nineteen steel statues of soldiers standing in silent patrol. The memorial honors the 1.5 million Americans who served in Korea, a conflict that is sometimes referred to as the "Forgotten War."

A granite memorial wall is also part of the site, engraved with the names of U.S. military personnel and South Koreans embedded in U.S. units who died in the conflict. The monument includes the Pool of Remembrance, a tranquil 30-foot-diameter pool lined with black granite, surrounded by a grove of trees and benches, offering a peaceful place for quiet reflection.

7

National D-Day Memorial, Virginia

Image: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain

This memorial pays tribute to the courage and sacrifice of all service members of the Allied forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The site prominently displays the inscription, "In Tribute to the Valor, Fidelity, and Sacrifice of Allied Forces on D-Day." Featuring a symbolic pool with a landing craft, an American soldier, and a German beach barrier, the memorial captures the essence of the immensely dangerous beach landings.

According to the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, the site is designed as a continuum of three distinct plazas, each representing a different phase of the operation—planning, execution, and victory. The centerpiece of the monument is a 44-foot-tall arch, symbolizing the triumph of the operation while surrounding elements evoke the soldiers' bravery under relentless fire.

8

U.S. Navy Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Image: Michael Afonso

The granite plaza of the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., is well known for its iconic Lone Sailor statue, which symbolizes all those who have served in the U.S. Navy throughout its history. The statue, crafted by sculptor Stanley Bleifeld, gazes over the Granite Sea—a map depicting the world's oceans, centered on Washington, D.C.

Flanking the memorial are two buildings, with the eastern one serving as a visitor center. This small museum often offers exhibits that explore the rich history of American sailors.

9

National Museum of the United States Army, Virginia

Image: Rob Martinez

More than just a museum, this site serves as a living memorial dedicated to the history of the U.S. Army. It honors the bravery, valor, and sacrifices of soldiers across America’s history while providing an in-depth exploration of the nation’s oldest and largest military branch.

Opened on November 11, 2020, the museum’s mission is to honor America’s soldiers, preserve Army history, and educate the public about the Army's role in American history. The facility also includes spaces for ceremonies, reenactments, lectures, educational programs, and reunions, making it a dynamic hub for both remembrance and learning.

10

USS Arizona Memorial, Hawaii

Image: Tim Mossholder

This solemn memorial rests above the sunken remains of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, a pivotal site in American history. It honors the 1,177 crew members who lost their lives during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941.

The majestic white structure symbolizes peace and remembrance, while the wall of names reminds us of the individual stories of bravery and sacrifice of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. A profoundly evocative monument, it stands as a testament to national resilience and unity in the face of adversity.

1

Yale

Image: Pixabay

One of America’s most illustrious universities, Yale has been creating stories and forging traditions for more than three centuries. Being one of the oldest universities in the country means you can claim a couple of "oldest". For example, Yale is home to the earliest collegiate daily newspaper still in existence. The Yale Daily News has been around since 1878, reporting consistently five days a week. Also, the Whiffenpoofs, Yale’s oldest a capella group, has been singing every Monday night since 1909 .

Another fun fact? They may not teach magic at Yale, but theuniversity’s residential college system is very similar to the Hogwarts house system portrayed in the famous Harry Potter series . Each year, Yale freshmen are treated to a formal holiday banquet at one of the 17 extravagant Gothic dining halls on campus.

2

Stanford

Image: Jason Leung

The campus of Stanford University spans 8,180 acres in the center of the San Francisco Peninsula. It includes 630 buildings, 49 miles of roads, 3 dams, more than 40,000 trees , 25 fountains, a biological preserve, and a historic equestrian barn, among many other special features. It’s so big that it even has its own special zip code!

Perhaps one of the most relevant facts about Stanford is that it is considered the birthplace of Silicon Valley . In the 1930s, the university's Dean of Engineering, Frederick Terman, encouraged his students to stay in the area to develop a high-tech hub. This is how Bill Hewlett and David Packard ended up creating Hewlett-Packard in a garage in Palo Alto not far from campus.

3

MIT

Image: Ana GG

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded on April 10, 1861, just two days before the start of the Civil War. MIT’s official colors are Cardinal Red and Silver Gray and, in 1914, the beaver was chosen as the university’s formal mascot due to its "engineering and mechanical skill and habits of industry."

This distinguished university currently counts 98 Nobel Laureates among its alumni, faculty, and staff. But the nerdy ways of the MIT crowd don't end there.Did you know that acceptance letters for undergraduates are sent out every March 14, in commemoration of Pi Day? Admissions are even delivered at exactly 6.28 pm, which is known as "Tau time" (πx2). No wonder MIT’s motto is mens et manus , Latin for "mind and hand".

4

UCLA

Image: tommao wang

The University of California is synonymous with excellence and innovation, but there are a lot of tidbits about it that even graduates don’t know about. UCLA’s football team has had many nicknames over the years : they were known as the "Cubs", the "Grizzlies", and finally the "Bruins". A live bear even used to take the field at some games until it was banned!

UCLA was also home to some of America’s most prominent cultural icons : James Dean majored in drama, Francis Ford Coppola earned a Master of Fine Arts in Film, NASA astronaut and first mother in space, Anna Lee Fisher, graduated as a doctor and mastered in chemistry, and neuroscientist Dr. Mayim Bialik popularised this field of science with her character in the famous TV series The Big Bang Theory . Can you name any other stars who went to UCLA?

5

Brown

Image: Keming Tan

Founded in 1764, Brown is a leading American research university, the first Ivy League school to accept students from all religious affiliations . Located in Providence, Rhode Island, this school has a bear mascot named Bruno and a library with no windows that resembles a tomb —in fact, rumor has it, that Rush and Annmary Brown Hawkins are buried here. Another one of its libraries, The John Carter Brown Library, holds an invaluable treasure: seven 15th-century letters from Christopher Columbus proclaiming his "discovery" of the Americas.

But perhaps Brown’s most curious feature is Carberry Day. Every Friday the 13th, students celebrate Josiah S. Carberry, a legendary fictional professor of "psychoceramics" who was created as a joke in 1929. Since then, every Carberry Day all students and faculty spread the campus with brown jugs filled with change they donate to the professor and his ‘future late wife Laura’. Have you ever heard of this traditional Brunonian holiday?

6

Johns Hopkins

Image: Falkenpost

This university named after the 18th-century Quaker entrepreneur and philanthropist Johns Hopkins was the first research university established in the United States . Johns Hopkins has a long and fascinating history, including mutant rabbit-related mysteries and famous alums: President Woodrow Wilson, Wolf Blitzer, Mike Bloomberg, Tori Amos, and Wes Craven, just to name a few.

Johns Hopkins is also home to some important events in literary history . In 1932, Zelda Fitzgerald was admitted to the university’s hospital and treated for schizophrenia. Soon after, F. Scott Fitzgerald, moved across the street to be closer to his wife. While in Baltimore, they wrote two novels: Save Me the Waltz and Tender is the Night .

7

UPenn

Image: Dyana Wing So

"Here’s a toast to dear old Penn", sing students at the University of Pennsylvania during home football games. Originating in the prohibition years, this tradition of throwing pieces of toast on the field seems to have taken the expression rather literally. Another popular myth at UPenn indicates that freshmen should never cross the compass embedded into the center of Locust Walk if they don't want to risk failing their first exams.

But serious things also happen at this legendary Philadelphia university. For example, it was founded by none other than Benjamin Franklin , the first general-purpose electronic computer was created here in 1946, has 38 Nobel laureates, and many other prominent Americans attended the school, such as Noam Chomsky, Ezra Pound, Warren Buffett, Tory Burch, and John Legend.

8

Caltech

Image: LisetteBrodey

Since its founding in 1891, the California Institute Of Technology has made significant contributions in various scientific fields. It has produced 39 Nobel Laureates and operates the world’s largest optical telescope , located at the Palomar Observatory. Caltech’s most popular major is Computer Science and it also has numerous groundbreaking space-related discoveries under its belt —as a matter of fact, the campus is home to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

While academic excellence is what makes Caltech unique, they also have some quirky traditions. For example, pranks are common practice, often involving rivalries between student houses , especially during Halloween. And it's not all about using their brains, Caltech students put their bodies to work as well. Ditch Day, a celebration whose origins date back to 1921, is said to resemble, wait for it, The Amazing Race .

9

Princeton

Image: jplenio

The Princeton campus is so picturesque that it has been used as a set for numerous Hollywood productions , including films like A Beautiful Mind and Across the Universe , among others. This renowned Ivy League university also houses the oldest college literary and debating club in the United States , whose graduates include two U.S. presidents, two U.S. vice presidents, and four U.S. Supreme Court justices.

There are more than 60,000 senior theses stored at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, for example, those of Michelle Obama, Ethan Coen, Sonia Sotomayor, and Maria Ressa. Princeton University is not only famous on Earth but also in outer space . In November 1969, Charles "Pete" Conrad, a former student and the commander of the Apollo 12 mission, took a Princeton flag to the moon.

10

Harvard

Image: Tamás Mészáros

Harvard University was founded as early as 1636, which makes it the oldest institution of higher education in the United States . With almost 400 years of history, it is not surprising that this prestigious university houses several interesting stories and curious facts to discover. Named after John Harvard, who donated half of his estate and his library of more than 400 books, the school currently has 79 libraries holding about 20.4 million items in 150 miles worth of shelves.

But there’s more! Did you know that eight Harvard alumni signed the Declaration of Independence? Also, Harvard had the first native Chinese instructor to teach Chinese in America, former students won 110 Olympic medals —including 46 gold—, 51 of its affiliates are Nobel laureates, 48 hold a Pulitzer Prize, and 10 won Academy Awards. Not bad, huh?

1

The Mayflower

Image: William Halsall, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1620, about 100 passengers set sail on the Mayflower , a merchant ship that usually carried goods, to start a life in the New World. They left England in September and in November landed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, putting the first stone in the foundation of the future American Nation.

The trip lasted two long months full of storms and perils. Finally, the ship, which was intended to land in Virginia, spotted the coastline up North in New England. The Mayflower pilgrims decided to stay in the area previously named Plymouth by famous explorer John Smith. During the first winter, the Mayflower served as a source of shelter . Although only half of the Pilgrims survived, they eventually founded the Plymouth Colony, celebrated the first American Thanksgiving with the Pokanoket people, and were able to establish a self-sufficient economy based on hunting, farming, and trading.

2

The Stagecoach

Image: Edward Joseph Holslag, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Before the invention of trains and automobiles, animal power was the main form of transportation. People, goods, and even mail would travel by horse, donkey, oxen, and pulled coaches and wagons, connecting cities with rural parts of the country. In the United States, the carriage era started in the late 17th century and lasted until the early 1900s when the automobile replaced horse-drawn vehicles.

The stagecoach, in particular, was the main public vehicle responsible for the conquest of the American West. It traveled along predetermined routes and had stops every 12 or 50 miles where people could rest and grab a bite to eat and horses could be changed. Moving goods and people throughout the territory meant the growth of cities, the settling of rural areas, and the creation of wealth . In this sense, carriages played a key role in the transportation revolution that transformed American life forever.

3

The Clermont

Image: Samuel Ward Stanton (d1912), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Although steamboats began to be developed in the late 1700s by the Scottish engineer James Watt, and that John Fitch was technically the first to build a steamboat in the United States in 1787, the North River Steamboat would be the one to make it into the history books .

This boat, also known as The Clermont , was designed by American inventor Robert Fulton. On August 17, 1807, this 142-foot-long vessel left New York City for Albany, constituting the first commercial steamboat service in the world . With a group of special guests aboard, the trip up the Hudson River took a total of 32 hours, at about 5 miles per hour. After this inaugural expedition, Fulton continued to build more boats, improving engine and propulsion design and making the steamboat a practical means of transportation. The success of The Clermont certainly changed river traffic and trade on major American rivers for years to come.

4

The American Railway System

Image: Popular Graphic Arts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

There’s no doubt that trains had a significant role in shaping the landscape of the country. The origins of trains can be found in the ancient world, back when causeways and wooden rails were used to guide wagons. However, it would not be until the invention of the steam locomotive in the early 1800s that the history of transportation would be forever changed , spurring an industrial revolution around the world. And The United States was no exception.

The construction of new factories drove the need for materials to be transported over large distances, and railway travel provided the perfect solution. The concept of constructing a railroad in the U.S. was first conceived in 1812 by Colonel John Stevens. Yet, the first American railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was built in 1827 . For the next 50 years, the government would issue grants to build railroads across the country, which became a very lucrative investment for companies, leading to economic growth and the development of new towns and cities.

5

The San Francisco Cable Car

Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that the cable car was invented in San Francisco in the late 1800s? It was developed by Andrew Smith Hallidie based on mining systems and is a symbol of the city still today. Clay Street Hill Railroad began public service on September 1, 1873, and it was an instant success. Other companies followed suit and launched their versions of Hallidie's patented system in the following years, totaling 53 miles of track across the city.

Later, although the electric street car, a lot cheaper to build and maintain, became the vehicle of choice for city transit, cable cars continued to be better equipped for steep hills. In 1947 the city Mayor urged to "get rid of all cable lines" leading a committee to launch a public campaign to save this iconic vehicle. Even celebrities rallied for the cause and ultimately the cable car system survived the attempt, specifically because of its great cultural value, especially among the thousands of tourists who visit San Francisco every year.

6

The Columbia Bicycle

Image: Boston Public Library, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1878, Civil War veteran Colonel Albert A. Pope, inspired by a British bike he saw at the Philadelphia World’s Fair, hired a sewing machine company to make the first American bicycle . The brand went on to be called Columbia , and by 1888 was manufacturing about 5,000 high-quality bikes a year. However, for a couple of years, it would not be seen as a means of transportation but as pure entertainment.

Later, with the development of the British Rover safety bike, bicycles were no longer limited to athletes and the brave. Pope started selling these easier-to-ride vehicles and the American bicycle industry finally took off in 1890. By the beginning of the 20th century, 1 million bikes were produced in the U.S. yearly and people were even riding them to work every day.

7

The First American Car

Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Few people know that the first successfully American manufactured car was actually developed by bicycle makers. In the Autumn of 1893, brothers Charles and Frank Duryea road-tested the first gasoline-powered automobile in Chicopee, Massachusetts . It was, in fact, an old horse-drawn buggy into which the brothers installed a 4 HP, single-cylinder gasoline engine.

By 1899 there were around thirty companies manufacturing cars in the U.S. One of the most representative staples of the history of automotive manufacturing in the country is, no doubt about it, the Ford Model T . This "affordable" car was intended for the American middle class and it was first produced in 1908 in Detroit. Within days of its release, over 15,000 Ford cars were sold and the popularity of this iconic American company is still relevant today.

8

The Tremont Street Line

Image: Boston Transit Commission, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The first subway in America was built during the second phase of the Industrial Revolution in Boston, Massachusetts in 1897. This cutting-edge mode of transport was possible thanks to the invention of the electric motor by Frank Sprague in 1866 . But, why Boston? In the late 19th century, bustling Boston had a street congestion problem due to overcrowding and frequent blizzards and needed an out-of-the-box solution.

City officials agreed the best thing to do in a city with narrow colonial streets was to build an underground subway. Finally, on September 1, 1897, a four-track subway line between Boylston Street and Park Street was opened to the public . Additional lines and stations have been added throughout the following centuries, ushering in a new era in American public transportation.

9

The 1903 Wright Flyer

Image: John T. Daniels, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

On December 17, 1903, a powered airplane invented by brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first sustained flight over the skies of North Carolina . The Wright Flyer —also known as the _Kitty Hawk_— was a single-place biplane that managed to fly 852 ft on its fourth attempt before it was blown over on landing. The aircraft was later repaired but never flew again —although you can now visit it at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

After this exceptional achievement by the Wright brothers, the progress of American aviation never ceased to amaze. For example, in 1910 the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line started to operate and although it lasted only three months, it is now considered the United States’ first airline. By 1918 the U.S. Post Office was using airplanes to transport mail across the country . Finally, in 1958 Pan American ushered in the Jet Age with the iconic Boeing 707.

10

The Apollo 11

Image: Project Apollo Archive, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

From the 1950s onwards, the Soviet Union and the United States embarked on a space race that made possible an unprecedented program of scientific exploration. On April 12, 1961

the Soviets managed to send the first person into space. In response, just 23 days after Yuri Gagarin, the first American man entered space aboard the Freedom 7 Mercury capsule . Alan Shepard’s trip lasted only 15 minutes and 28 seconds but it was more than enough to mark the beginning of an unprecedented revolution. Who would have thought that only 8 years later we would be transporting humans to the moon?

The story of Apollo 11 is well known, yet it deserves a special place in the history of American transportation , which is by no means limited to the Earth. Without the development of space shuttles, it would be impossible to imagine the future of transportation, a future that will surely be defined by the conquest of the unknown.