What Makes the United States Special: Landmarks, Culture and National Pride

The United States is a country of extraordinary range: the world's first national park, landmarks that became symbols of freedom, music that changed the world, and landscapes that run from desert canyons to glaciers and tropical wetlands. Here is what makes it special, for anyone curious about the country and for every American who carries its pride.

World Heritage from coast to coast

UNESCO lists 27 World Heritage properties in the United States, split almost evenly between culture and nature. Among them:

• Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 and widely recognized as the world's first national park
• Grand Canyon National Park, one of the most famous natural landscapes on earth
• Statue of Liberty, a symbol of welcome and freedom in New York Harbor
• Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776
• Mesa Verde National Park, with its remarkable cliff dwellings
• Everglades National Park, a vast subtropical wetland

The idea of the national park

The United States helped give the world the idea that great landscapes should be protected for everyone. Its national parks, from mountains to deserts to coastline, are a deep source of national pride and attract visitors from across the globe.

Music that changed the world

Jazz, the blues, country, rock and roll and hip hop all grew from American roots, shaped by many communities and regions. Few countries have had such an influence on how the world listens to music.

A country of regions

From New England to the Deep South, the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, every American region has its own accent, food and character. People are proud of their state and city, and that local pride is often stronger than any national label. New York, with its boroughs and neighborhoods, is a perfect example; read more on our New York page.

Food with a regional accent

American food is regional: different barbecue traditions, New England seafood, Southern cooking, Tex-Mex, and the diner breakfast. Many dishes tell the story of the communities who brought them.

Reaching for the moon

In 1969, American astronauts became the first people to walk on the moon, one of the defining achievements of the twentieth century and a lasting point of national pride.

Carrying the pride with you

National parks, historic landmarks, world-changing music and fierce regional pride: the United States gives its people plenty to celebrate. That pride is what our United States designs are made for, and our guide to choosing a gift based on someone's hometown shows how to make it personal.