Remember The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman? Two men, faced with their mortality, set out to do all the things they’ve never had the chance to do before they die. Each of us has our own bucket list of must dos and must sees. Perhaps with a bit more chipper than the gravity instilled story of Morgan and Jack, we’ve developed a list of our top ten sights to see before you kick your own bucket. Better yet, these are all in the backyard of the good old U.S.A.
10. Hoover Dam
Narrowing in on something much smaller, number ten is the Hoover Dam. Located in Boulder City, Nevada, the Hoover Dam (once known as Boulder Dam) is over 700 ft high and 1,200 ft wide. Set in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, the Dam has been one of the most popular landmarks in America since the 1930s. Every year millions of people visit this linchpin in American history. A marvel of art deco architecture, the Hoover Dam is a testament to the expansion and adaptation of America.
9. Las Vegas Strip
Everyone all around the world knows the City of Sin. Las Vegas is a city like no other, filled with every walks of life and built in the center of a desert valley, Vegas is where grown ups go to play in the sand. The Strip, which acts somewhat like it’s own oasis, is overloaded with lights and high standing casinos. Most have seen it in TV and movies, but seeing it and being there are two different things entirely. At any given hour of any given day, The Strip is bustling. An amazing thing to see to say the least, the Vegas Strip comes in at number nine.
8. Washington, D.C.
Number eight is so filled with monuments and national treasures, you cannot single out any one in particular. Call it a bundle of history if you will, but D.C. has so much to offer in the way of tourism. Sights include the White House, the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Wall, the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, the Pentagon and so much more. Considerably, D.C. is like our federal government’s office and it’s where that talking bill from School House Rocks went to become a law. The district is dripping with history and coated in white. If you are any kind of American, Washington D.C. is a must.
7. Mt. Rushmore National Memorial
Talk about a lasting impression, Mt. Rushmore is our number seven. Constructed in 1925 near Keystone, South Dakota and embedded into the mountain range, Mt. Rushmore holds the heads of our four forefathers. Built using dynamite to carve the faces, the monument features Presidents Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson. Meant to commemorate the first 130 years of American history, today Mt. Rushmore pull in upward of 14 million visitors each year. Not bad for a bunch of stone heads.
6. Golden Gate Bridge
When you think of San Francisco, several things come to mind. The 49ers, Alcatraz, the birthplace of Bruce Lee, but the first thing that comes to mind is the Golden Gate Bridge. Deemed one of the modern Wonders of the World, the Golden Gate Bridge is the ninth longest suspension bridge in the world (the longest up until 1964). Opened in 1937, Golden Gate has been known as a coveted national landmark ever since. It is synonymous with San Francisco and for good reason. We like it as our number six sight to see.
5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Number five is the city of Philly. Home of the Liberty Bell and the known as the city in which both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed in 1776 and 1787. Today, it is the fifth most populated city in America. The city is packed with colonial buildings and breathing in American history. Where number six and seven are one day excursions, Philly will take some time to absorb the old world culture. Trust us, it’s worth it. Philadelphia is number five.
This ends part one of our Top Ten : Sights to see in America countdown. Check back with us later in the week to see the final four. Until then, keep trucking.
Tyler Baker; OSM Writer
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