A landmark is something easy to see and recognize that helps people know where they are. Some are built by people; some are made by nature.
Key idea
Famous landmarks and their states: the Statue of Liberty (New York), Mount Rushmore (South Dakota), the Golden Gate Bridge (California), the Gateway Arch (Missouri), the Space Needle (Washington), the Alamo (Texas), Old Faithful (Wyoming) and Niagara Falls (New York).
Why it works
Why learn landmarks with states? Tying a picture you know to a place on the map gives your memory two hooks instead of one. If you remember the Gateway Arch stands in St. Louis on the Mississippi River, you also remember where Missouri is.
Worked example: Where is it?
The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Which state is the island part of?
- The island is in the harbor between New York City and New Jersey.
- The water around it belongs to New Jersey, but the island itself is part of New York.
- The Park Service runs it as a national monument.
Answer: New York.
Common mistake
People mix up landmarks made by people with natural ones. Mount Rushmore is a natural mountain, but the four presidents' faces were carved by people, so the landmark is a human-made sculpture. Old Faithful is a natural geyser that shoots up hot water on its own. Ask: did nature make it, or did people build or carve it?