Describing Death Valley brings a potpourri of superlatives: hottest, driest, lowest. In 1913, the valley hit a record 134 degrees Fahrenheit! But despite its brutal image, Death Valley is a beloved mecca for geologists and …
Landmarks
The Crazy Horse Monument and Memorial
The Crazy Horse Monument is a Native American carving underway in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Artists have been working on the monument since 1948. If it becomes completed as planned, it will be …
Devils Tower
Devils Tower is a natural stone formation that rises 1267 feet in the Black Hills of northeastern Wyoming. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first US National Monument in 1906.Nobody knows how this unusual …
Elvis Presley and the Graceland Estate
In March of 2006, Elvis Presleys Graceland estate was raised to the level of Washingtons Mount Vernon and Jeffersons Monticello. It officially became a National Historic Monument. Of course, long before the Secretary of the …
The Lincoln Memorial
Inside a Greek-style temple, a 19-foot statue of Abraham Lincoln looks out over Washington, D.C. Above him are the words, In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the …
Old Faithful Geyser
Imagine thousands of gallons of boiling water rushing forth from the earth. Shooting toward the sky, the water forms a tall, steamy column sometimes 180 feet high! When the water falls, its only a …
Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge
May 27, 1937 was Pedestrian Day in San Francisco. This kicked off a week-long celebration of the new Golden Gate Bridge. Pedestrian Day meant that the bridge was open to foot traffic for 25 cents …
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens is most famous for its catastrophic eruption in 1980. The active volcano is located in Washington State, about 90 miles south of Seattle and 50 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon. The Mount …
Golden Gate Park
In 2006, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom made Golden Gate Park officially car-free on summertime weekends. According to the citys own report, recreational attendance at the park has doubled and tripled on these healthy weekends. …
History and Attractions of Boston Common
Boston Common is the oldest city park in the United States. The eccentric William Blaxton settled the land, all alone with his books, in the 1620s. In 1634 he sold the land to English Puritan …

The History of Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is a small isle with a colorful history. Located in the San Francisco Bay, the land has filled important functions for the United States since Californiaís Gold Rush. Today it is best known …