UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places around the world that have important significance to people. When a place is designated a UNESCO Site, it’s considered a place for the people. The country, location, or purpose doesn’t matter. It’s a place all people can go and visit and see the history. There are UNESCO Sites in America, as well as many other countries.
While the United States doesn’t have as many sites as some other countries, it does have several worth visiting if you’re ever in the area. Check them out below.
How Many UNESCO Sites Are There in America?
You might expect a large country like the United States to have a large number of UNESCO Sites, but it really doesn’t. There are only 25 sites in the United States.
The main reason that there are so few is that most of them are nature sites. While America has a long history, a lot of the buildings and structures by people who originally lived on the land were lost or taken down. So there aren’t as many cultural sites to list, unlike places like Italy.
Half (12) of the UNESCO sites are cultural, and half are natural. There’s also a mixed one, to round the number up to 25.
Which UNESCO Sites Are the Best to Visit?
Though there are only 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the ones available are truly stunning.
1. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
These caves are quite impressive, and worth a tour if you’re in the area.
©Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock.com
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is in New Mexico. It’s been a site since 1995. The area is home to more than 118 caves that formed when sulfuric acid dissolved the limestone in the area.
2. Everglades National Park
The Everglades are a huge series of swamps and grasslands, of which the Everglades National Park only covers 20 percent.
©iStock.com/Robert DelVecchio - OcuDrone
Located in Florida, this national park encompasses over 1.5 million acres. It’s been a site since 1979. The park is home to many endangered species such as the American crocodile, manatee, and the Florida panther.
3. Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture
This is Taliesin West in Arizona, one of the hundreds of designs by Frank Lloyd Wright.
©Stilfehler, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons - License
Technically, eight different sites fall under this category. The famous architectural feats of Frank Lloyd Wright were turned into heritage sites in 2019. The locations are:
- Fallingwater in Pennsylvania
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York
- Unity Temple in Illinois
- Taliesin West in Arizona
- The Frederick C. Robie House in Illinois
- The Hollyhock House in California
- The Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House in Wisconsin.
4. Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is the perfect example of how water can wear down rock over time.
©Amanda Mohler/Shutterstock.com
Located in Arizona and designated a World Heritage Site in 1979, the Grand Canyon is a must-visit. It’s a natural feature made about 17 million years ago, encompassing over 277 miles.
5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This park encompasses part of the Appalachian Trail and features many plants and animals throughout the year.
©Trent Carmichael/Shutterstock.com
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park reaches through two states, Tennessee and North Carolina. It’s been a Heritage Site since 1983. This national park is full of beautiful scenery and over 3,000 plant species.
6. Independence Hall
Passerbys might think this to be the same as any other old building, not realizing this is where very important documents were signed.
©SeanPavonePhoto/iStock via Getty Images
This historic building has been a World Heritage Site since 1979. It’s located in Pennsylvania. It’s not a remarkable building on its own, but it’s where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. It might not be the absolute best UNESCO Site in America, but it’s definitely full of important American history.
7. Glacier Bay
It’s hard to believe how captivating ice can be, but there’s no denying that this view is absolutely stunning.
©iStock.com/Spaceliner
This site goes by many names in Alaska and Canada. Some of its names include Kluane, Wrangell-St. Elias, and Tatshenshini-Alsek. This World Heritage Site is made up of a series of glaciers. It’s the largest non-polar ice field in the world and is made up of some of the longest glaciers. Different parts of the area were designated at different times, from 1979 to 1994.
8. Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park is home to impressive and sturdy abodes, such as the one in the picture above.
©Sopotnicki/Shutterstock.com
Despite having a history that dates back to 450 CE, the Mesa Verde National Park wasn’t designated until 1978. This park is home to ancient Puebloan buildings and cliff dwellings, such as the Cliff Palace and Balcony House.
9. Redwood National and State Park
The impressive trees are large, sturdy, and very, very old.
©Lucky-photographer/Shutterstock.com
Designated in 1980, this park in California is home to beautiful and large redwood trees. These trees date back to over 160 million years ago, making them some of the oldest living organisms in the world. There are many other incredible animals and plants in the area, such as the California brown pelican, tanoaks, and sea lions.
10. The Statue of Liberty
This tall, green lady is one of the most iconic statues in the United States.
©Matej Hudovernik/Shutterstock.com
When bringing up America, it’s hard not to think about the Statue of Liberty. Not only is it one of the symbols of America, but it’s one of the monuments to symbolize the ideals America stands behind, such as freedom and liberty. It became a UNESCO site in 1984.
11. San Antonio Missions
These missions were part of Spanish Catholic religious groups to help spread the religion.
©Liveon001 ©Travis Witt, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons - License
The San Antonio Missions are examples of structures made when Spain still had control over Texas. Most of the missions from this time still stand today. One of the most famous is the Alamo, which is an important part of Texas history. These are relatively new to the UNESCO list, designated in 2015.
Summary of Best UNESCO Sites in America
| List Number | Site | Location | When Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Eddy County, New Mexico | 1995 |
| 2 | Everglades National Park | Everglades, Florida | 1979 |
| 3 | Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings | Mill Run, Pennsylvania; New York, New York; Oak Park, Illinois; Scottsdale, Arizona; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California; Madison, Wisconsin | 2019 |
| 4 | Grand Canyon | Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona | 1979 |
| 5 | The Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Tennessee and North Carolin | 1983 |
| 6 | Independence Hall | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1979 |
| 7 | Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek | Alaska and parts of Canada | 1979, 1992, 1994 |
| 8 | Mesa Verde National Park | Montezuma County, Colorado | 1978 |
| 9 | Redwood National and State Park | California | 1980 |
| 10 | The Statue of Liberty | New York, New York | 1984 |
| 11 | San Antonio Missions | San Antonio, Texas | 2015 |
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Libin Jose/Shutterstock.com
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