Americas
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in United States
American World Heritage Sites · UNESCO sites in United States map · historical landmarks in United States
United States has 26 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List — 13 cultural, 12 natural and 1 mixed inscriptions, inscribed between 1978 and 2023. This map of UNESCO sites in United States covers every listing, with a short description, the inscription year and the nearest airports — the fastest way to see the country's most important historical sites and landmarks in one place.
American World Heritage Sites range from Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site onwards; Mesa Verde National Park was the country's first inscription, added in 1978; Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is the most recent, listed in 2023; recurring threads across the list include ancient civilizations, wild places and volcanoes nature.
2 inscriptions are transnational, shared with neighbouring countries: Moravian Church Settlements and Waterton Glacier International Peace Park. Start with Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Chaco Culture, then use the map above to plan a route between the rest.
- Sites
- 26
- Cultural
- 13
- Natural
- 12
- Mixed
- 1
- First inscribed
- 1978
Sites on the map
Inscriptions United States shares with other countries are not plotted here — you will find them in the list below.
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Flying in
Airports closest to the most sites in this country.
- WYSWest Yellowstone2 sites
- BLVBelleville1 site
- CNMCarlsbad1 site
- GUPGallup1 site
- MIAMiami1 site
- GCNGrand Canyon - Tusayan1 site
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All 26 sites in United States
List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in United States
Every inscription with its year and category. Open a site for its story, map location and nearest airports.
| Site | Year | Type | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cahokia Mounds State Historic SiteCahokia Mounds, some 13 km north-east of St Louis, Missouri, is the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of. | 1982 | Cultural | Cahokia Mounds, some 13 km north-east of St Louis, Missouri, is the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of. |
| Carlsbad Caverns National ParkThis karst landscape in the state of New Mexico comprises over 80 recognized caves. | 1995 | Natural | This karst landscape in the state of New Mexico comprises over 80 recognized caves. |
| Chaco CultureFor over 2,000 years, Pueblo peoples occupied a vast region of the south-western United States. | 1987 | Cultural | For over 2,000 years, Pueblo peoples occupied a vast region of the south-western United States. |
| Everglades National ParkThis site at the southern tip of Florida has been called 'a river of grass flowing imperceptibly from the hinterland… | 1979 | Natural | This site at the southern tip of Florida has been called 'a river of grass flowing imperceptibly from the hinterland into the sea'. The exce. |
| Grand Canyon National ParkCarved out by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon (nearly 1,500 m deep) is the most spectacular gorge in the world. | 1979 | Natural | Carved out by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon (nearly 1,500 m deep) is the most spectacular gorge in the world. Located in the state of. |
| Great Smoky Mountains National ParkStretching over more than 200,000 ha, this exceptionally beautiful park is home to more than 3,500 plant species… | 1983 | Natural | Stretching over more than 200,000 ha, this exceptionally beautiful park is home to more than 3,500 plant species, including almost as many trees (130… |
| Hawaii Volcanoes National ParkThis site contains two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mauna Loa (4,170 m high) and Kilauea (1,250. | 1987 | Natural | This site contains two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mauna Loa (4,170 m high) and Kilauea (1,250. |
| Hopewell Ceremonial EarthworksThis property is a series of eight monumental earthen enclosure complexes built between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago along… | 2023 | Cultural | This property is a series of eight monumental earthen enclosure complexes built between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago along the central tributaries of… |
| Independence HallThe Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution of the United States (1787) were both signed in this… | 1979 | Cultural | The Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution of the United States (1787) were both signed in this building in Philadelphia. |
| La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto RicoBetween the 16th and 20th centuries, a series of defensive structures was built at this strategic point in the… | 1983 | Cultural | Between the 16th and 20th centuries, a series of defensive structures was built at this strategic point in the Caribbean Sea to protect the city and… |
| Mammoth Cave National ParkMammoth Cave National Park, located in the state of Kentucky, has the world's largest network of natural caves and… | 1981 | Natural | Mammoth Cave National Park, located in the state of Kentucky, has the world's largest network of natural caves and underground passageways, which are… |
| Mesa Verde National ParkA great concentration of ancestral Pueblo Indian dwellings, built from the 6th to the 12th century, can be found on the… | 1978 | Cultural | A great concentration of ancestral Pueblo Indian dwellings, built from the 6th to the 12th century, can be found on the Mesa Verde plateau i. |
| Monticello and the University of Virginia in CharlottesvilleThomas Jefferson (1743–1826), author of the American Declaration of Independence and third president of the Un. | 1987 | Cultural | Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), author of the American Declaration of Independence and third president of the Un. |
| Monumental Earthworks of Poverty PointMonumental Earthworks of Poverty Point owes its name to a 19th-century plantation close to the site, which is in the… | 2014 | Cultural | Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point owes its name to a 19th-century plantation close to the site, which is in the Lower Mississippi Valley on a… |
| Moravian Church SettlementsThis transnational serial property comprises four congregational settlements in four countries representing the… | 2015 | Cultural | This transnational serial property comprises four congregational settlements in four countries representing the transnational scope and consistency… |
| Olympic National ParkLocated in the north-west of Washington State, Olympic National Park is renowned for the diversity of its ecos. | 1981 | Natural | Located in the north-west of Washington State, Olympic National Park is renowned for the diversity of its ecos. |
| PapahānaumokuākeaPapahānaumokuākea is a vast and isolated linear cluster of small, low lying islands and atolls, with their surrounding… | 2010 | Mixed | Papahānaumokuākea is a vast and isolated linear cluster of small, low lying islands and atolls, with their surrounding ocean, roughly 250 km to the… |
| Redwood National and State ParksRedwood National Park comprises a region of coastal mountains bordering the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. | 1980 | Natural | Redwood National Park comprises a region of coastal mountains bordering the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. |
| San Antonio MissionsThe site encompasses a group of five frontier mission complexes situated along a stretch of the San Antonio River basin… | 2015 | Cultural | The site encompasses a group of five frontier mission complexes situated along a stretch of the San Antonio River basin in southern Texas, as well as… |
| Statue of LibertyMade in Paris by the French sculptor Bartholdi, in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel (who was responsible for the steel… | 1984 | Cultural | Made in Paris by the French sculptor Bartholdi, in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel (who was responsible for the steel framework), this towering… |
| Taos PuebloSituated in the valley of a small tributary of the Rio Grande, this adobe settlement – consisting of dwellings and… | 1992 | Cultural | Situated in the valley of a small tributary of the Rio Grande, this adobe settlement – consisting of dwellings and ceremonial buildings – represents… |
| The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd WrightThe property consists of eight buildings in the United States designed by the architect during the first half of the… | 2019 | Cultural | The property consists of eight buildings in the United States designed by the architect during the first half of the 20th century. |
| Waterton Glacier International Peace ParkIn 1932 Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta, Canada) was combined with the Glacier National Park (Montana, United… | 1995 | Natural | In 1932 Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta, Canada) was combined with the Glacier National Park (Montana, United States) to form the world's first… |
| YellowstoneGeysers and bison on a sleeping supervolcano. | 1978 | Natural | Geysers and bison on a sleeping supervolcano. |
| Yellowstone National ParkThe vast natural forest of Yellowstone National Park covers nearly 9,000 km 2 ; 96% of the park lies in Wyoming, 3% in… | 1978 | Natural | The vast natural forest of Yellowstone National Park covers nearly 9,000 km 2 ; 96% of the park lies in Wyoming, 3% in Montana and 1% in Ida. |
| Yosemite National ParkYosemite National Park lies in the heart of California. With its 'hanging' valleys, many waterfalls, cirque lakes… | 1984 | Natural | Yosemite National Park lies in the heart of California. With its 'hanging' valleys, many waterfalls, cirque lakes, polished domes, moraines and… |
Frequently asked questions about World Heritage in United States
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in United States?
- United States has 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 13 cultural, 12 natural and 1 mixed.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in United States?
- Mesa Verde National Park was inscribed in 1978. A great concentration of ancestral Pueblo Indian dwellings, built from the 6th to the 12th century, can be found on the Mesa Verde plateau i.
- What is the newest World Heritage Site in United States?
- Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, inscribed in 2023. This property is a series of eight monumental earthen enclosure complexes built between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago along the central tributaries of the Ohio…
- Which sites in United States are natural World Heritage Sites?
- 12 of the 26 listings are natural: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Everglades National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park.
- Which UNESCO sites in United States are easiest to reach?
- Each site page lists the closest airports with distance, so you can pick the gateway city first and work outwards. The "Flying in" panel on this page shows the main gateways for United States.
- What are the main historical sites and landmarks in United States?
- The 26 UNESCO-listed sites above are United States's internationally recognised historical sites and landmarks, starting with Mesa Verde National Park (1978). Each entry links to a full page with a map, photos and travel notes.
- Is there a map of American World Heritage Sites?
- Yes — the map on this page plots all 26 American UNESCO World Heritage Sites; click any marker to open that site's page.