A sure way to capture the spirit of a civilization is to examine what it builds. Humans have always expressed themselves through architecture, design, and innovation. Therefore, the spirit of America can be viewed through the lens of its most inspiring construction projects.
In this list, we won’t confine ourselves to buildings alone, but to all of the projects that make America great. From the Hoover Dam, to the Interstate Highways system, let’s explore the top ten constructions in American history.
The USS Constitution
Built in Boston and launched in 1797, the USS Constitution was the US Navy’s longest serving battleship. It was named by George Washington, and was designed to protect US merchant ships against French fleets and Barbary pirates.
Her fame grew after the War of 1812, during which she defeated 5 British warships. Earning the nickname “Old Ironsides” after defeating the HMS Guerriere, she was not scrapped after the war, but rather honored as a symbol of the American spirit. She remains in Boston to this day, repurposed as a ship museum.
The White House
Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the District of Columbia, the White House is one of the most widely recognized homes in the world. Completed in 1801, Thomas Jefferson was the first US president to take up residence there.
While large, the structure is of classic design and relatively understated for the home and office of a world leader. It is built of Aquia Creek sandstone, painted white.
The Transcontinental Railroad
Built between 1863 and 1869, the Transcontinental railroad connected East to West in the United States. Its construction is considered one of the greatest construction feats of the 19th century, and provided safe and fast travel across the country. Making the dangerous Oregon and California Trails obsolete, both people and freight were shipped cross country at prodigious rates. The American west was now easily accessible to almost anybody.
Wright Flyer
The dream of flight was finally realized by the Wright Brothers, when Orville Wright took to the skies in 1905 in the Wright Flyer III. The third powered aircraft they designed and built, it took off from Kill Devil Hills and launched humankind into the skies. Neil Armstrong took a piece of the original Wright Flyer to the moon. Another piece of it is currently on Mars, carried by the Ingenuity helicopter.
The Empire State Building
This 102 story, Art Deco style skyscraper may be the most iconic building in the world. Built in 1930, millions of tourists from around the globe visit the Empire State building annually. More than just a building, for many it became a symbol of hope during the Depression era. It continues to inspire Americans to this day, and has been named a “wonder of the modern world”.
The Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is an internationally recognized symbol of California. It’s a suspension bridge that spans the “Golden Gate”, connecting San Francisco to Marin County via US Rt 101. Overcoming opposition from many corners, it was finally built between 1933 and 1937 under the supervision of designer Joseph Strauss. It’s graceful beauty makes it one of the most photographed bridges in the world.
Hoover Dam
Originally called the Boulder Dam and renamed in 1947 for President Herbert Hoover, the Hoover Dam spans the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. It was built during the Great Depression, a massive effort of thousands that cost over 100 lives. The hydroelectric power generated by the Hoover Dam is shared between three states (California, Arizona, and Nevada). The enormous structure is a tourist attraction to this day.
The Interstate Highway System
Most people today can’t remember a time when America wasn’t connected by highways. We have a tendency to take them for granted. Proposed under the Eisenhower administration, this large-scale project was designed to be an all-freeway system. It created nationally unified standards for both construction and signage.
While some older freeways were adopted into the new system, most were brand new construction. This ambitious expansion opened up the country like never before.
Apollo 11
By far not the first spacecraft, nor even the first one to reach the moon, the Apollo 11 is nevertheless the most iconic. In 1969 it carried a crew of three to the moon, and Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon’s surface.
Constructed by a team of engineers at NASA, Apollo 11 was the culmination of the Space race between the US and the former Soviet Union. Millions watched in awe as images of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon were sent back to Earth. Tying this apex of flight to its humble beginnings, Armstrong had a small piece of the Wright Flyer sewn into his space suit.
One World Trade Center
The original One World Trade Center was finished in 1971, and became the tallest building in the world. While surpassed only two years later by the Sears tower, it still maintained the record for most floors in a skyscraper until it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in 2010.
Not only known for its height, it also became one of the iconic “twin towers” that dominated the New York skyline for thirty years. In 2001, it collapsed after being hit by a jet airplane in the 9/11 attacks. Plans for rebuilding were formed not long after this incident, and construction of the present-day One World Trade Center was opened for business in 2014. Considered the second tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, it is a symbol of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
America has always been a land of ingenuity and innovation. There are thousands more buildings, aircraft, ships, and other structures that are recognized as purely American in scope. However, these ten iconic constructions stand as a sampling across the board of what Americans can do. A taste of what the innovators, architects, engineers, builders, and dreamers of this country have accomplished over the years.