World Heritage Sites in the United States
The USA is home to 24 of the 1,121 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the globe.
These sites are designated for their universal value in natural or cultural heritage and are places as unique and diverse as East Africa’s Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Grand Canyon in the USA. “World Heritage Sites represent an incredible opportunity for the United States to tell the world the whole story of America and the remarkable diversity of our people and beauty of our land,” former Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell commented after nominating the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park as a World Heritage Site in 2014. “The San Antonio Missions represent a vital part of our nation’s Latino heritage and the contributions of Latinos to the building of our country.”
World Heritage Sites in the United States
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Illinois
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1982
Cahokia was a city like no other at its time. Mississipians who lived here built a variety of structures – from practical homes for everyday living to monumental public works – that have maintained their grandeur for centuries. The site offers an interpretive center, outdoor self-guided and guided tours, and amenities to keep you fueled for a full day of discovery.
The towering Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1995
Beneath this rugged land of rocky slopes and canyons, cactus, grass, thorny shrubs and the occasional tree in Carlsbad Caverns National Park are more than 118 known caves – all formed when sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding limestone. Carlsbad Cavern is one cave in a fossil reef laid down by an inland sea 250 to 280 million years ago.
Amazing underground formations inside Carlsbad Cavern
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1987
This complex collection of monumental public and ceremonial buildings are testament that their builders had a sophisticated understanding of astronomical phenomena. Visitors to this area may get a deeper sense of life and the connection to people who lived here from about 850 to 1250 by exploring Chaco through guided tours, hiking and biking trails, evening campfire talks and night sky programs.
Some of the incredible structures at Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Everglades National Park, Florida
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1979
The largest subtropical wilderness in the USA, the 1.5 million-acre Everglades National Park provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species, including the manatee, the American crocodile and the elusive Florida panther. Camping, boating, fishing, hiking, bird watching and ranger-guided programs are just a sampling of the activities popular in the Everglades.
The Florida Everglades, known as the “River of Grass”
La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1983
This massive fortification of San Juan features the La Fortaleza, the three forts of San Felipe del Morro, San Cristóbal and San Juan de la Cruz. There is also a large portion of the City Wall, built between the 16th and 19th centuries to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan. Visitors to this historic site can join a rangers’ presentation, explore the fortifications, see a video program, and relax and enjoy this attraction in Puerto Rico.
The imposing Castillo San Felipe del Morro, part of San Juan National Historic Site
Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture, Multiple States
Designated a World Heritage Site in 2019
This series of eight Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings recognizes the famed architect’s influence on modern design in both the USA and Europe. The sites included in the UNESCO designation are: Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania; Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois; the Frederick C. Robie House in Chicago, Illinois; Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin; the Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House in Madison, Wisconsin; Hollyhock House in Los Angeles, California; Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona; and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, New York.
Exterior of Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s estate in Spring Green, Wisconsin
Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks, Montana and Canada
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1995
In 1932, Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, was combined with Glacier National Park in Montana, USA, to form the world’s first International Peace Park. Experience the pristine forest, alpine meadows, rugged mountains and spectacular lakes of this area. More than 1,125 kilometers of trails also offer a hiker’s paradise across this dramatic and breathtaking landscape. Plenty of helpful information is available on the park’s site as you plan a trip to this stunning alpine landscape.
Hiking the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1979
The Grand Canyon has been referred to as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and is being formed even today by the Colorado River, which charted its course about 17 million years ago. Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 446 kilometers long, up to 29 kilometers wide and 1.6 kilometers deep. With nearly 5 million people traveling to the Grand Canyon National Park each year, visitors are encouraged to review the many options on how and where to access this magnificent canyon.
Grand Canyon National Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1983
The USA’s most-visited national park, the Great Smoky Mountains, features exceptional natural beauty, is home to more than 3,500 plant species and is relatively untouched by human influence. Auto tours, cycling and hiking trails, camping, fishing and best of all, sightseeing, are some of activities that allow visitors to experience this amazing place.
Clingman’s Dome on the Appalahian Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1987
On Hawaii Island, this site protects two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mauna Loa and Kīlauea, which continue to shape the island’s geography even today. Hiking is one of the best ways to explore this unique geological landscape, which ranges from sea level to the volcanoes’ summits. The park is also home to rich biodiversity and history.
Hiking across coastal lava rock in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Independence Hall, Pennsylvania
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1979
The U.S. Declaration of Independence and Constitution were both signed in this building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The universal principles of freedom and democracy set forth in these documents are of fundamental importance to U.S. history and have also had a profound impact on lawmakers around the world. Visitors can also explore the First Bank of the U.S., Congress Hall, Old City Hall, Franklin Court and Liberty Bell Center.
A horse-drawn carriage tour passing by Independence Hall
Kluane/Wrangell-St. Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek, Alaska and Canada
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1979
These parks are an impressive complex of glaciers and high peaks on both sides of the border between Canada and the USA. Glacier Bay features the largest non-polar ice field in the world and contains examples of some of the world’s longest and most spectacular glaciers.
The majestic coastal mountain range at Glacier Bay in Alaska
Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1981
This is the world’s longest known network of caves and underground passageways with explored areas extending for more than 644 kilometers. Mammoth Cave National Park supports more than 130 species of flora and fauna and provides rich cave-dwelling wildlife habitat. Visitors can engage in cave tours, surface hikes, canoeing, picnicking, horseback riding, bicycling, camping and more. A quick tour of the park’s site before traveling to this destination will help you fully prepare for this underground adventure.
An expansive underground chamber in Mammoth Cave National Park
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1978
The exceptional archaeological sites of the Mesa Verde National Park landscape provide testimony to the ancient cultural traditions of Native American tribes and are among the best preserved in the USA. They represent a graphic link between the past and present ways of life of the Puebloan Peoples of the American Southwest. The park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. Opportunities vary by season, and advance planning to this unique location is highly recommended.
Cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park
Monticello and the University of Virginia, Virginia
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1987
Designed by Thomas Jefferson, third president of the USA and author of the Declaration of Independence, Monticello, although some kilometers away, is a building at the heart of the University of Virginia. The integration of the buildings into the natural landscape, the originality of the plan and design, and the refined proportions and décor make Monticello an outstanding example of a neoclassical work of art, while the University of Virginia is an outstanding example of a great educational institution from the Age of Enlightenment.
Aerial view of Monticello and the surrounding Charlottesville landscape
Olympic National Park, Washington
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1981
Olympic National Park features spectacular coastline, scenic lakes, majestic mountains and glaciers, and magnificent temperate rainforest. These diverse ecosystems are like visiting three parks in one. Visitors can begin their experiences at any of the five visitor centers for more details about maximizing this coastal experience.
Crossing a footbridge while backpacking in Olympic National Park
Papahānaumokuākea, Hawaii
Designated a World Heritage Site in 2010
A nearly 2,000-kilometer series of small islands and atolls and the surrounding marine wilderness located northwest of Hawaii, this pristine site has tremendous natural value as one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. It is equally significant for its living Native Hawaiian culture, encompassing archaeological remnants from pre-European settlement, as well as ancestral and spiritual sites. Note: Access to Papahānaumokuākea is currently restricted to specific purposes; general visitation is not available.
Poverty Point Monumental Earthworks, Louisiana
Designated a World Heritage Site in 2014
In northeastern Louisiana near Monroe, Poverty Point encompasses the site of impressive earthen mounds, concentric half-circles and other shapes built by members of a Native American society more than 3,400 years ago. These massive forms were shaped without the use of modern tools, wheels or domesticated animals. Millions of artifacts found at the site continue to help archaeologists on their quest to discover more about the people who created it and the site’s purpose.
Overlooking the landscape from one of the earthen mounds at Poverty Point
Redwood National and State Parks, California
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1980
Home to the oldest and tallest trees on earth, the redwood forest in this area hosts remnants of a group of trees that have existed for 160 million years. The park also protects vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild river ways and nearly 64 kilometers of pristine coastline. Together the National Park Service and California State Parks manage these lands. Five visitor centers will help visitors enjoy this diverse and profound landscape.
Hikers marveling at the towering redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks
San Antonio Missions, Texas
Designated a World Heritage Site in 2015
Built on what was once the frontier of New Spain along the San Antonio River, the site includes five mission complexes that showcase the history of the region, especially the exceptional and lasting blending of Spanish and native Coahuiltecan cultures. The 18th century missions are both architecturally and archeologically significant, encompassing not just ornate churches, but also farmland, homes, granaries, workshops and more.
The grounds surrounding Mission San Jose in San Antonio
Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984
The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France on the 100th anniversary of U.S. independence in 1876, dedicated on Oct. 28, 1886. Standing at the entrance to New York Harbor, it has welcomed millions of immigrants to the USA ever since. Advance planning is the key to a Statue of Liberty visit.
The Statue of Liberty with New York City in the background
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1992
Situated in the valley of a small tributary of the Rio Grande, the adobe settlement in Taos represents the culture of the Pueblo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico. Adobe dwellings and ceremonial buildings are standing testaments to the enduring culture of a group established in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Also designated a National Historic Landmark, these multistoried adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for more than 1,000 years.
Sunset over Taos Pueblo with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the background
Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1978
Yellowstone National Park contains half of all the world’s known geothermal features (10,000) and the world’s largest concentration of geysers (more than 300, or two thirds of all those on the planet). It is equally known for supporting abundant and diverse wildlife such as grizzly bears, wolves, bison and wapitis. Yellowstone is the USA’s first national park and attracts visitors from around the world.
Grand Prismatic Spring at sunset in Yellowstone National Park
Yosemite National Park, California
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984
In the heart of California, this park offers a dramatic landscape and awe-inspiring views. With its hanging valleys, many waterfalls, cirque lakes, polished domes, moraines and U-shaped valleys, Yosemite National Park provides an excellent example of granite monoliths shaped by glaciation. Plan ahead for a trip to this popular destination by visiting the park’s website for helpful travel and lodging information.
Yosemite Valley looking onto El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks
