Every state has something it’s known for, whether it’s potatoes (hello, Idaho!) or maple syrup (hey there, Vermont!). But choosing an image that represents each state is undoubtedly a little bit more difficult.
Of course, if you saw a photo of the Hollywood sign, you would know it was taken in California. And if you looked at the Empire State Building, you would immediately think of New York. For this quiz, we dug a little deeper to find iconic images that represent each of the 50 states but don’t completely give them away. Hopefully, you can identify your state, but can you get all 50? It’s time to find out!
Hint: It’s not the Peach Pit, but you’re not far off.
Atlanta, Georgia, is home to the world’s largest drive-in restaurant, The Varsity. A city staple, the fast food hot-spot has been around since 1928 and can accommodate around 600 cars at a time.
Hint: This state shares its name with an old computer game.
That previous picturesque building probably isn’t what you think it is. The Vista House is actually a rest stop and museum located more than 700 feet above the Columbia River Gorge. The building is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it’s sometimes referred to as the “Crown Jewel” of Oregon parks.
Hint: This state was home to the man on the $100 bill.
Pennsylvania is home to Hersheypark, an amusement park founded in 1906 by Milton S. Hershey of the Hershey Chocolate Company. Once a spot for picnicking, boating, and canoeing, the park is now home to 13 roller coasters, numerous attractions, and a waterpark.
Hint: Not only does this state feature a silver slipper, it’s also known as the “Silver State” because of its silver rush in the mid-1800s.
Nevada is home to the Silver Slipper, which was restored from an old Las Vegas casino of the same name. The casino shut down in 1988, but the Silver Slipper was restored and displayed by the Neon Museum’s Las Vegas Signs Project. Today, it stands on North Las Vegas Boulevard.
Hint: This state was the birthplace of civil-rights activist Rosa Parks.
Located in Cullman, Alabama, Ave Marie Grotto is a miniature town that spans a two-block pathway. It features 125 tiny replicas of some of the most famous religious buildings—including St. Pater’s Basilica in Vatican City—as well as a few secular monuments, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The landscape was created by a Benedictine monk named Brother Joseph Zoettl, who spent nearly 50 years on the work.
Hint: Famous horror author Stephen King calls this state home.
The footwear shown previously is the iconic Bean Boot of retail company L.L. Bean. The company was founded in Freeport, Maine, where its flagship store is located. As one of Maine’s largest attractions, the store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Hint: This state’s flag features the colors of Spain, the country that first colonized it.
Every October, the famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is held in New Mexico. The nine-day event includes nearly 600 hot air balloons and is the largest balloon festival in the world, drawing some 900,000 spectators.
Hint: This state has the highest number of man-made lakes in the United States.
The world’s largest praying hands statue sits at the entrance to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The bronze sculpture was created by Leonard McMurry in 1980. At 60-feet tall and weighing more than 30 tons, it was one of the world’s largest bronze sculptures at that time.
Hint: This state has 840 miles of coastline, as well as the largest population in the country.
It may be Disney, but this photo wasn’t taken in Florida. Instead, it’s from Disneyland in Anaheim, California. While Florida’s Walt Disney World is the larger of the two stateside Disney parks, Disneyland was the first.
Hint: This state’s official dance is the shag.
This peach statue is a water tower in Gaffney, South Carolina. While Georgia is known as the Peach State, South Carolina actually produces three times the number of peaches. The water tower was designed in 1981 because the people of Gaffney wanted to make it known that they produced more peaches than Georgia.
Hint: The first woman elected to the United States Congress was born in this state.
Montana’s Glacier National Park is located on the Canada-United States border. This ecosystem—which encompasses about one million acres with more than 130 named lakes and 25 active glaciers—is sometimes referred to as the “Crown of the Continent.”
Hint: This state has the tallest state capitol building in the country.
The oldest part of New Orleans, Louisiana, is called the French Quarter. The area was founded in 1718 and is currently a hot-spot for tourists due to its rich history.
Hint: This revolutionary state is the birthplace of the Dunkin’ Donuts franchise.
Some 318 colorful Victorian cottages sit on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Founded in the early 1800s as a Methodist campground, the cottages are known as “gingerbread houses” because of their storybook-like design and candy-esque ornaments.
Hint: This state became home to the world’s first skyscraper in 1884.
The famous fictional hero Superman lives in a fictional town named Metropolis, but in 1972, DC Comics officially declared Metropolis, Illinois, the “Home of Superman.” One of the town’s several comic-related attractions is its 15-foot bronze Superman statue.
Hint: This state is home to the oldest state university in the country.
The largest home in America, The Biltmore Estate, is located in Asheville, North Carolina, and is both a museum and an inn. Encompassing more than 8,000 acres, Biltmore was originally erected as a country home for the Vanderbilt family in 1895.
Hint: This state is home to the multinational food manufacturing company Kellogg’s.
Michigan’s Grand Hotel opened on Mackinac Island in 1887 as a summer retreat. In 1989, it was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior and has been a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2001.
Hint: This state is the only one that didn’t ratify the 18th amendment.
The Breakers mansion is located in Newport, Rhode Island. Commissioned as a summer home by the Vanderbilt family in 1893, the building was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1994.
Hint: This state is known as the “Volunteer State.”
The Memphis Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee, was built in 1991 as a sports arena. The geometric venue was abandoned in 2004 and re-opened in 2015 as a megastore for wilderness retail company Bass Pro Shops.
Hint: There are more hogs than humans in this state.
The famous American Gothic painting features the backdrop of this now-famous Iowa home. Located in Eldon, Iowa, the home was once a private residence until it was donated to the State Historical Society of Iowa in 1991.
Hint: This state’s nickname is “The Last Frontier.”
Located within Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, Brooks Falls is famous for the large number of brown bears and grizzly bears that hunt for salmon in its waters. The bears are so prevalent and beloved that there’s even a 24-hour live cam where you can watch them online.
Hint: This state’s motto is “Mountaineers Are Always Free.”
Completed in 1977, the New River Gorge Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 by the National Park Service.
Hint: This state became home to the first Six Flags amusement park in 1961.
Cadillac Ranch is a public art installation in Amarillo, Texas. Created in 1974, the installation showcases 10 half-buried Cadillacs and has been featured many times in pop culture, from James Brown’s “Living In America” music video to the Pixar animated film Cars.
Hint: In 1976, this state became the only one to turn down an opportunity to host the Olympics.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a rock structure near Morrison, Colorado, that’s been turned into a concert arena. Many notable performers have played there, from The Beatles to Daft Punk.
Hint: This state was the birthplace of Johnny Cash.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is home to the Christ of the Ozarks statue, a monumental sculpture depicting Jesus Christ. Created in 1966, the statue stands nearly 65-feet tall and is the third-tallest Jesus statue in the world.
Hint: This state houses two of the world’s longest caves.
Mount Rushmore is not the only mountain-engraving in South Dakota. Located in the Black Hills of Custer County, the Crazy Horse Memorial pays homage to Native American warrior Crazy Horse and was intended to create cross-cultural understanding between Natives and non-Natives.
Hint: This state is also known as the “lightning capital” of the United States because it experiences more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the country.
The previously pictured Spaceship Earth ride can be found in Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Epcot drew more than 12 million visitors in 2017, according to a study by the Themed Entertainment Association. That makes it the fourth most visited theme park in North America and the seventh most visited park in the world.
Hint: This state is known as the “Lentil Capital of the World.”
Often referred to as the “Niagara of the West,” Shoshone Falls is a waterfall on the Snake River in Idaho. It’s 212-feet high, making it taller than Niagara Falls, which is 188 feet.
Hint: This state was the first to ratify the United States Constitution.
The 11 concrete watchtowers on Delaware’s coast have been preserved since World War II. Only two towers are open to the public, with restoration projects on the horizon for the others.
Hint: This state is the least populous in the country.
That picturesque barn is one of 27 homesteads built by Mormon settlers from Idaho in Teton County, Wyoming, in the 1890s. Today, it’s a common spot for photographers to visit for an iconic shot.
Hint: This state’s unofficial nickname is the “Nutmeg State.”
The Colt Armory is an old firearms factory complex in Hartford, Connecticut. After a destructive fire in 1864, the structure was rebuilt in 1987 with the iconic and distinctive deep blue, onion-shaped dome. Today, the space is leased by different companies, according to the Hartford Courant.
Hint: The life expectancy in this state is the highest in the country.
Iolani Palace was one royal residence of the late-1800s Kamehameha Dynasty rulers in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is the only royal palace in America. After the monarchy was overthrown in 1893, the palace was turned into the state capitol building until 1969. In 1978, it was restored and opened as a museum.
Hint: This state hosted the first professional baseball game in the United States.
The Soldiers & Sailors Monument in the heart of Indiana’s capital has become an iconic symbol for the state. It is a memorial for the Indiana citizens who fought in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, the Frontier Wars, and the Spanish-American War.
Hint: This state produces the most copper in the United States.
Page, Arizona, is home to the colorful Antelope Canyon. The canyon was formed by the erosion of sandstone, mostly due to flash flooding, which still occurs there from time to time today. As a sacred site for the Navajo people, the land is only accessible through guided tours.
Hint: This state is nicknamed the “Beehive State.”
Located in eastern Utah, the Arches National Park spans more than 76,000 acres and features more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. The most well-known and frequently photographed arch is the Delicate Arch, which stands 52 feet and is featured on Utah license plates.
Hint: This state is home to the ice cream sundae.
The Green Bay Packers and their stadium, Lambeau Field, are iconic Wisconsin institutions. Opened in 1957, the stadium was renamed in 1965 to honor the Packers’ founder and long-time head coach Curly Lambeau, who had died earlier that year.
Hint: Kool-Aid was invented by a man from this state.
Nebraska’s Chimney Rock was one of the most famous and recognizable landmarks for travelers on the Oregon Trail. It has since become a symbol for western migration. The rock is a natural formation, with a spire that rises 325 feet into the sky.
Hint: You’ll find the geographic center of the contiguous states in this state.
The Monument Rocks are a large cluster of chalk formations in Gove County, Kansas. Estimated to have been formed 80 million years ago, they were the first landmark chosen as a National Natural Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior in 1968.
Hint: This state is home to America’s first major railroad station.
The orange glow of the neon Domino Sugars sign has been lighting up the Baltimore sky since 1951. As one of the largest neon signs in the country, the sign has become an iconic symbol of Maryland.
Hint: This state produces more apples than any other state in the country.
The Space Needle is an observation tower in Seattle, Washington. The iconic landmark was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair. At 605-feet tall, it’s one of the tallest structures in the West and a hotspot for tourists.
Hint: This state was the first to declare its independence from England.
The Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge is more than 100 years old and was the longest covered bridge in the United States until 2008 when the Smolen-Gulf Bridge opened in Ohio. The Cornish-Windsor was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1970 by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Hint: This state has a fast food chain named after it.
The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory was opened in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1996. The first Louisville bat shop was opened in 1855, and after years of moving the shop around, the CEO decided to bring the brand back to its namesake town.
Hint: This state is home to 11,842 lakes.
Created in 1986, the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry art piece is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It’s the centerpiece for the Walker Art Center’s Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the largest urban sculpture park in the world. The artwork’s creator, Claes Oldenburg, was known for making oversized versions of food products and everyday objects.
Hint: This state has the only non-rectangular flag in the United States.
Ohio is home to the only basket-shaped building in the United States. Created in 1997 as the headquarters for the Longaberger company, the building was designed to be a replica of the popular picnic basket sold by the company.
Hint: This state shares a park with Canada called the “International Peace Garden.”
The world’s largest buffalo monument stands outside of the National Buffalo Museum in Jamestown, North Dakota. Created in 1959, the 26-foot, 60-ton statue was named “Dakota Thunder” in 2010 after a naming contest.
Hint: This state was the birthplace of eight United States presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.
Virginia Beach’s 34-foot bronze King Neptune statue was built in honor of the state’s annual Neptune Festival. First celebrated in 1974, the festival usually generates more than $20 million each year, with more than 400,000 attendees.
Hint: The Miss America pageant got its start in this state back in 1921.
Morey’s Piers is an amusement park located on the Wildwood boardwalk in New Jersey. Founded in 1969, the park now has more than 100 attractions and is often referred to as “America’s Boardwalk.” And if you thought that was interesting, you’ll want to learn these 30 Shocking Facts About Amusement Parks.
Hint: This state’s official flower and official tree are both the magnolia.
Erected in 1848, Mississippi’s Biloxi Lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and was declared a Mississippi Landmark in 1987. Additionally, the lighthouse has become a post-Katrina symbol for the state’s resilience following the deadly hurricane.
Hint: This state’s name means “green mountain” in French.
The first Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream store opened in 1978 at a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont. But today, the company’s main factory is located in Waterbury, Vermont.
Hint: This state is also known as the “Cave State” and is home to more than 6,000 caves.
The six columns at the University of Missouri once supported the university’s Academic Hall, the first building on campus. When the Academic Hall burned down in 1892, the six columns were all that remained. They still stand today and are a symbol of the university.
Hint: This state is home to the world’s largest railway station by number of platforms.
Unisphere is a stainless steel depiction of Earth located in New York City’s Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Commissioned to celebrate the beginning of the space age, the sphere was unveiled at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and measures 120 feet in diameter. And for more state statues, check out The Ugliest Statue in Every State.
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