12 U.S. Landmarks That (Sadly) Stump Americans
America encompasses over 3.5 million square miles of land and is home to countless natural and manmade landmarks. So, perhaps it’s forgivable that U.S. citizens have trouble identifying where some of them are.
Then again, the landmarks on this list are among the most popular sites in North America. They include places that reflect the nation’s history, as well as some of the most majestic natural settings on the planet.
Some believe the education system is to blame. They say American children should spend more time learning about our nation’s geography. However, geographic illiteracy seems to be more than just an American problem; it’s a worldwide phenomenon.
The Study
A 2021 study by OnePoll and commissioned by Charmin asked Americans to correctly identify some common landmarks on a map. The results proved that many U.S. citizens are confused about the location of some of our most historic and well-loved landmarks.
Interestingly, Americans entered the study feeling confident. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they felt confident about their geographic knowledge.
1: Redwood Forest
Located in California, the Redwood Forest is home to the tallest trees on earth. Some of the giant Sequoia’s in this national park stretch up to 350 feet tall and many of them are well over a century old.
While the Redwood Forest is one of the most incredible natural wonders in the state, a surprising number of U.S. citizens don’t know where it is. Forty-nine percent of survey respondents got its location wrong.
2: Shawnee National Forest
Only 35% of survey respondents knew the Shawnee National Forest is in Illinois. Interestingly, 18% said they thought this U.S. national park was in Ireland.
Aside from stunning oak groves and lush canyons, Shawnee National Forest is also home to the Garden of the Gods. The scenic area includes panoramic views unlike anything else in the country and unique sandstone formations you have to see to believe.
3: Grand Canyon
Though most survey respondents knew what the Grand Canyon was, few could locate it on a map. Only about four in ten knew that the 277-mile-long canyon is located in Arizona.
The most common incorrect answer on the survey was Colorado. This is somewhat forgivable since it’s the Colorado River that carved the canyon’s 4,000-foot-tall walls.
4: Niagara Falls
More than one in five survey respondents said Niagara Falls was in Iceland, rather than along the New York – Canada border. Only 32% of Americans correctly identified the well-known landmark.
Niagara Falls consists of three spectacular waterfalls and is the second-largest set of falls in the world by volume and width. The state park that contains the impressive geographical landmark is also America’s oldest and it’s one of the most popular destinations for global travelers. In 2019, it was named the “most Instagrammable waterfall in the world.”
5: Alcatraz Island
Over one in ten respondents to the OnePoll survey seemed to not know what Alcatraz Island was, let alone where it was located. Another 13% said the island was off of New York.
In truth, Alcatraz is off the coast of San Francisco, California. The island was once a U.S. fort and later became a maximum-security federal penitentiary. In the 1930s, it was considered to be the world’s most secure prison.
6: Jefferson Memorial
Almost one-third of Americans didn’t know the Jefferson Memorial is located in Washington, D.C. This is a bit surprising given that essentially all of the memorials to the nation’s founding fathers are in the capital city.
The Jefferson Memorial sits along the shore of the Potomac River and features a neoclassical design reminiscent of the Roman Pantheon. While many Americans would likely recognize the building if they saw a picture, it seems that fewer realize what it is.
7: Grand Central Station
According to the OnePoll survey, 40% of Americans couldn’t identify Grand Central Station in New York. Built in 1913, Grand Central quickly became the busiest train terminal in the U.S., and over 750,000 people continue to walk through its arched halls every day.
Though train travel is less common nationwide, it’s still a major mode of transportation in New York City. Grand Central is also featured in numerous movies, including Men in Black, Armageddon, Superman, and The Fisher King.
8: The Space Needle
The Space Needle is an iconic Seattle landmark. Rising over the Puget Sound and offering spectacular views of Mt. Rainier, it’s often on tourists’ lists of must-see landmarks.
However, few Americans seem to know where the unique tower is located. According to polling, nearly one in five believed it was in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
9: The Hoover Dam
Only 40% of Americans can tell you where the Hoover Dam is. Although this massive feat of human engineering generates enough power to serve 1.3 million people each day, most Americans are unaware that it’s located along the Arizona-Nevada border.
When it was built in 1935, the Hoover Dam was the largest in the world standing at the same height as a 60-story building. Aside from harnessing electricity for over one million Americans, it also prevents the Colorado River from flooding into Arizona and California.
10: St. Louis Cathedral
Given its name, it’s understandable that many Americans incorrectly identified the location of the St. Louis Cathedral. It’s not located in St. Louis and instead stands in New Orleans.
Only 30% of Americans knew the French Quarter landmark stood in The Big Easy. It’s the oldest continuously running Catholic cathedral in the U.S.
11: Mount Rushmore
Sixty percent of Americans were able to tell surveyors where Mount Rushmore is located. The other forty percent either got it wrong or couldn’t say.
This massive, rock-carved sculpture featuring influential American presidents sits in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Each face is nearly 60 feet tall, allowing guests to easily view the stone Presidents from the winding nearby road.
12: Yellowstone
Less than a third of Americans knew that Yellowstone extends from Wyoming to Idaho, crossing Montana on its way. The giant National Park features unique hydrothermal features including geysers like “Old Faithful.”
Though Americans seem confused by the park’s location, between three and four million manage to visit the national landmark every year. In 2021, Yellowstone saw a record 4.86 million visitors according to Statista.
It’s Not Just Landmarks
Geographic literacy surveys in the past have found that Americans have trouble identifying more than landmarks. In a survey by National Geographic conducted in the early 2000s, about 11% of young Americans, under the age of 24, couldn’t correctly identify the U.S. on a map.
Only 17% could identify where Afghanistan was, even though America was at war with the country at the time of the survey. And, 29% had no idea that the Pacific Ocean lined the west coast of the United States.
Geographic Illiteracy
At the time of the National Geographic survey, Robert Pastor, professor of International Relations at American University, in Washington, D.C. noted that the results demonstrated the “geographic illiteracy of the United States.”
Pastor went on to note that the state of geographic knowledge in the U.S. was especially appalling in light of 9/11, which should have shown Americans how connected we are to the rest of the world. Arguably, globalization has only increased since the time of the National Geographic survey, but Americans’ knowledge of geography doesn’t seem to have improved.
The most recent National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) results showed the average geography score for 8th graders was a mere 258 out of 500. This signals that a large number of students have a “below basic” understanding of geography.
It’s Not Just Americans
While some have said Americans are “American-centric” or geographically illiterate, as though it were a problem unique to U.S. citizens, the National Geographic survey showed the opposite was true. It seems students around the world struggle with geography.
According to the survey, fewer than 25% of students worldwide could locate Israel on a map. Only one in five could locate Afghanistan, Iraq, or Iran.
The End of Geography Class
U.S. News and World Report found most schools don’t require geography for students in middle or high school. And, half of social studies teachers report spending 10 percent of their time or less on geographic lessons.
Currently, education puts a heavy bias on certain subjects like math and reading, which means there’s not as much time to focus on subjects like geography. This may be due to federal testing requirements which require states to assess students in math and language arts.
The Need for Human Geography
Unfortunately for American students, geography may become increasingly important in our increasingly globalized economy. According to teacher Chris Hefferman, in a piece for PBS NewsHour, geography is more than just memorizing country locations on a map. Rather, human geography helps students “understand the relationships that exist between cultures.”
Hefferman said he hasn’t given his students a map quiz in years because Google has given them the ability to instantly look up where a country is located. Memorizing locations is no longer necessary. However, understanding different cultures and their relationships will help students navigate a world in which increased migrations, pandemics, and climate change issues take a leading role.
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