List of World Heritage Sites in the United States

List of World Heritage Sites in the United States: A World Heritage Site is a specific landmark or area vested with legal protection from an international convention. UNESCO designates the World Heritage Sites based on many factors including the cultural, historical, scientific, or other forms of significance of that landmark or area. The United States showcases its rich cultural and natural heritage through the World Heritage Sites. These sites represent a diverse set of landscapes and historical significance that contribute to the global recognition of the United States’ cultural and natural treasures.

In this article, we will discuss the list of World Heritage Sites in the United States of America, with their location, year, and description.

List of World Heritage Sites in the United States

The United States Of America is the home of a total of 25 of the 1,121 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the World. Each of them has their specifications and characteristics. Here are those 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites as mentioned below.

List of World Heritage Sites in the United States
World Heritage Site	Location	Year Inscribed
Mesa Verde National Park	Colorado	1978
Yellowstone National Park	Wyoming, Montana, Idaho	1978
Everglades National Park	Florida	1979
Grand Canyon National Park	Arizona	1979
Independence Hall	Pennsylvania	1979
Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (It Is Shared with Canada also)	Alaska	1979
Redwood National and State Parks	California	1980
Mammoth Cave National Park	Kentucky	1981
Olympic National Park	Washington	1981
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site	Illinois	1982
Statue of Liberty	New York	1984
Yosemite National Park	California	1984
Chaco Culture National Historical Park	New Mexico	1987
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park	Hawaii	1987
Monticello and the University of Virginia	Virginia	1987
Taos Pueblo	New Mexico	1992
Carlsbad Caverns National Park	New Mexico	1995
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (It Is Shared with Canada Also)	Montana	1995
Papahānaumokuākea	Hawaii	2010
Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point	Louisiana	2014
San Antonio Missions	Texas	2015
Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings	Various locations across the U.S.A	2019
Great Smoky Mountains National Park	North Carolina, Tennessee	1983
Pueblo de Taos	New Mexico	1992

World Heritage Sites in the United States of America

The United States has 25 World Heritage Sites, including places like Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point, Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings, Yellowstone National Park, and Independence Hall. These sites represent America’s rich history and natural beauty in front of the World. Let us discuss this in detail some of them.

1. Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Colorado, USA. It showcases the rich cultural heritage of the ancestral Pueblo people. The park covers over 52,000 acres of rugged terrain with some beautiful cliffs and canyons. It is renowned for its well-preserved iconic Cliff Palace, which is one of the largest and most visited cliff dwellings in North America.

World Heritage Site Name	Mesa Verde National Park
Location	Southwestern Colorado, USA
Established	June 29, 1906
Area	Over 52,000 acres
Elevation	7,000 to 8,572 feet
Visitor Center	Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum
Main Attractions	Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Spruce Tree House
UNESCO World Heritage Site	Yes
Park Access	By car via US Highway 160
Climate	Semi-arid, with cold winters and warm summers
Activities	Hiking, ranger-led tours, photography, wildlife viewing
Notable Features	Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and petroglyphs.
Nearby Cities	Cortez, Colorado; Durango, Colorado

2. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is shared across three states including Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. It covers an area of around 3,468 square miles. The park is famous for its different geothermal features. Yellowstone houses a diverse range of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, elk, and various bird species.

World Heritage Site Name	Yellowstone National Park
Location	Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, USA
Area	Around 3,468 square miles
Elevation	Ranges from 5,282 feet to 11,358 feet
Visitor Center	Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, Canyon Visitor Education Center, etc.
Main Attractions	Old Faithful Geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, etc.
UNESCO World Heritage Site	Yes
Park Access	North Entrance, Northeast Entrance, East Entrance, South Entrance, West Entrance
Climate	Varied climate with cold winters and mild summers
Activities	Hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, fishing, boating, ranger-led programs, geothermal feature exploration, photography
Notable Features	Largest supervolcano on the continent and diverse wildlife
Nearby Cities	West Yellowstone, Montana; Gardiner, Montana; Cody, etc.

3. Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park covers the 1.5 million acres of diverse ecosystems, including marshes, mangrove forests, and coastal prairies. It is the home to over 350 species of birds that makes it a paradise for birdwatchers and ornithologists. The park is the largest remaining subtropical wild areas in the United States.

World Heritage Site Name	Everglades National Park
Location	Southern Florida, USA
Area	1.5 million acres
Elevation	Generally near the sea level
Visitor Center	Multiple visitor centers
Main Attractions	Wildlife watching, kayaking, hiking, airboat tours, fishing
UNESCO World Heritage Site	Yes
Park Access	US Highway 41 and the Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike
Climate	Tropical climate
Activities	Birdwatching, camping, boating, ranger-led programs, tram tours
Notable Features	Unique ecosystem and freshwater sloughs
Nearby Cities	Miami, Naples, Homestead

4. Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park spread over 1.2 million acres in northwestern Arizona. It is a vast area with so many natural wonder. It is one of the world’s most iconic geological formations. The Grand Canyon is present here that is carved by the Colorado River.

World Heritage Site Name	Grand Canyon National Park
Location	Arizona, United States
Area	Over 1.2 million acres
Elevation	South Rim: 7,000 feet and North Rim: 8,000 feet
Visitor Center	Grand Canyon Visitor Center and North Rim Visitor Center
Main Attractions	Grand Canyon viewpoints and Colorado River
UNESCO World Heritage Site	Yes
Park Access	South Rim: Open year-round and North Rim: Open mid-May through mid-October
Climate	Varies by season
Activities	Hiking, sightseeing, rafting and camping
Notable Features	Grand Canyon and Diverse ecosystems
Nearby Cities	Flagstaff, Williams, Sedona

5. Independence Hall

Independence Hall is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building was completed in 1753. It served as the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress during the American Revolution. It is constructed with Georgian architecture by featuring a red brick facade with white trim and a bell tower.

World Heritage Site Name	Independence Hall
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Visitor Center	Yes
Main Attractions	Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center, National Constitution Center
UNESCO World Heritage Site	Yes
Activities	Guided tours, historical reenactments, educational programs
Notable Features	Birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution
Nearby Cities	Philadelphia, Camden, Wilmington

6. Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks are the vast area of protected land. It also includes the northern California coast into it. It is known for its towering ancient redwood trees. The parks feature a diverse range of ecosystems.

World Heritage Site Name	Redwood National and State Parks
Location	Northern California, United States
Area	Approx. 138,999 acres
Elevation	Sea level to over 2,000 feet
Visitor Center	Multiple
Main Attractions	Giant sequoia and coast redwood trees, scenic drives, hiking trails and wildlife
UNESCO World Heritage Site	Designated as part of the “Redwood National and State Parks”
Park Access	Open year-round
Climate	Temperate rainforest climate
Activities	Hiking, camping, picnicking and wildlife viewing
Notable Features	Tallest trees on Earth, diverse ecosystem and old-growth forests
Nearby Cities	Crescent City, Eureka, Arcata

7. Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is exactly located in the south-central Kentucky. It is over 400 miles of passageways that makes it the longest cave system in the world. The cave system have a diverse geological formations like stalactites, stalagmites, and underground rivers.

World Heritage Site Name	Mammoth Cave National Park
Location	Kentucky, United States
Area	Approximately 52,830 acres
Elevation	Ranges from 456 to 1,048 feet
Visitor Center	Mammoth Cave Visitor Center
Main Attractions	Mammoth Cave, Frozen Niagara and Historic Entrance Tour
UNESCO World Heritage Site	Yes
Park Access	Open year-round
Climate	Temperate
Activities	Cave tours, hiking, camping and wildlife observation
Notable Features	World’s longest known cave system
Nearby Cities	Cave City, Bowling Green and Louisville

8. Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is particularly located in the state of Washington, US. It has nearly one million acres of diverse landscape into it. It is famous for its three distinct ecosystems, including rugged coastline, temperate rainforest, and alpine peaks.

World Heritage Site Name	Olympic National Park
Location	Washington, USA
Area	922,650 acres
Elevation	Range from sea level to 7,980 feet at Mount Olympus
Visitor Center	Multiple visitor centers
Main Attractions	Mount Olympus, Hoh Rainforest, Hurricane Ridge, Ruby Beach and Lake Crescent
UNESCO World Heritage Site	Yes
Park Access	Multiple entrances
Climate	Varied
Activities	Hiking, camping, wildlife viewing and fishing
Notable Features	Temperate rainforest, subalpine forest, and rugged coastline
Nearby Cities	Port Angeles, Forks, Port Townsend

9. Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is exactly located on the Liberty Island in Harbor of New York city. It was a gift of France to remember the centennial of American independence. It was designed by the famous French sculptor Monsieur Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. It is made of copper and stands at 305 feet tall from the ground to the tip of the torch.

World Heritage Site Name	Statue of Liberty
Location	Liberty Island, New York Harbor, New York City, New York, United States
Area	Approximately 12 acres
Elevation	Base: About 15 feet above sea level. Visitor Center Liberty Island Museum
Main Attractions	Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island Museum, Pedestal Observation Deck and Crown Access
UNESCO World Heritage Site	Yes
Park Access	Managed by the National Park Service
Climate	Temperate
Activities	Statue and museum tours, observation deck visits, ranger-led programs
Notable Features	Iconic symbol of freedom and democracy, gift from France to the United States, designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
Nearby Cities	New York City

Other Major World Heritage Sites in the United States – National Parks

Here are some other National Parks those are considered as Major World Heritage Sites in the United States as mentioned below.

National Park	Location	Notable Features
Carlsbad Caves National Park	New Mexico, USA	Deep and big cave system; famous for bats
Everglades National Park	Florida, USA	Biggest tropical wild area in the US; recognized by UNESCO as very important
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park	Hawaii, USA	Keeps the stories of Hawaiian volcanoes and culture alive; volcanoes are considered very special
Redwood National and State Parks	California, USA	Home to very tall redwood trees; considered very important by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site
Mammoth Cave National Park	Kentucky, USA	Longest cave system known in the world with over 392 miles of caves
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park	Montana (USA) and Alberta (Canada)	Combination of Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park; recognized by UNESCO as very important
Chaco Culture National Historical Park	New Mexico, USA	Ruins of Chaco Canyon, an old center of Native American culture from long ago; also very important to UNESCO
Grand Canyon National Park	Arizona, USA	Very big canyon; shows lots of Earth’s history through different layers
Great Smoky Mountains National Park	Tennessee and North Carolina, USA	Lots of animals and plants; great place to see black bears

Conclusion – World Heritage Sites in the United States

The United States Of America is the home of a total of 25 of the 1,121 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the World. A World Heritage Site is a specific landmark or particular area that is vested with legal protection from an international convention. In this article, we have discussed the World Heritage Sites in the United States with there location and inscribed year.

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FAQs on World Heritage Sites in the United States

How many World Heritage Sites are in the United States?

Currently there are 25 World Heritage Sites within the United States.

What was the first US World Heritage City?

Philadelphia was the first US World Heritage City.

How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Central America?

There are 18 NESCO World Heritage Sites are in Central America.

Which two countries have the largest number of World Heritage Sites?

Italy is the country with the most sites; followed by China with 57, then France and Germany with 52 each.

Which country is the largest UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Italy is the largest UNESCO World Heritage Site.