1. The Giant Thermometer – Baker, California
Yes, a thermometer is a historical landmark, according to Phil Willon from The Los Angeles Times. But not just any thermometer—this 134-foot-tall behemoth in Baker, California, is billed as the world’s tallest. It was built in 1991 to commemorate the record-setting 134°F temperature recorded in nearby Death Valley in 1913. In 1992, it was recognized by local authorities as a quirky cultural landmark representing the extreme climate of the Mojave Desert.
Despite being a marketing gimmick for a nearby restaurant, the Giant Thermometer has become a beloved roadside attraction. Travelers on I-15 between Las Vegas and Los Angeles still stop for photos. It was briefly dismantled in 2012 due to high electric bills but was thankfully restored. Its official recognition underscores how Americana isn’t always about old buildings—it’s sometimes about big, weird stuff in the desert.
2. The Humble Abode of Kermit the Frog – Leland, Mississippi
You might not expect a muppet’s birthplace to be a historic site, but here we are. The town of Leland, Mississippi, has a small museum inside a historic building commemorating Jim Henson’s childhood and his most iconic creation, Kermit the Frog, Eric Grundhauser from Slate explains. It’s located near the site where Henson spent much of his boyhood playing by the swampy Deer Creek—an obvious inspiration for Kermit’s origins. The building itself was designated as a cultural landmark by the state due to its connection to Henson’s legacy.
Inside, you’ll find rare Muppet memorabilia and a green statue of Kermit smiling out front. The site celebrates the broader cultural impact of children’s television and puppetry. Declaring it a landmark ensures future generations remember Henson’s roots. Also, who wouldn’t want to preserve the birthplace of the most charming amphibian in pop culture?
3. The World’s Largest Ball of Twine – Cawker City, Kansas
Not all historical landmarks have to involve battlefields or famous speeches. Sometimes, they involve thousands of pounds of twine rolled together by an entire community, Tim Hwang from The Atlantic explains. Cawker City’s giant ball of twine, started by Frank Stoeber in 1953, has grown into a massive, ever-growing monument. It’s been recognized as a regional landmark due to its status as a symbol of community pride and good old-fashioned weirdness.
Locals add to it every August during the annual “Twine-a-thon.” It currently weighs over 20,000 pounds and continues to grow. People come from across the country to marvel at its absurdity and take selfies. It’s a perfect example of how American eccentricity sometimes earns a plaque.
4. A Giant Concrete Donut – Inglewood, California
Yes, one of L.A.’s most iconic historical landmarks is a massive donut on a roof. Randy’s Donuts, with its 32-foot concrete pastry, has been a fixture since 1953 and is listed on the California Register of Historical Resources. It represents the golden age of car-centric architecture and mid-century drive-in culture. Plus, it’s appeared in movies like Iron Man 2 and Mars Attacks!
The donut itself is so iconic that it’s almost more famous than the shop beneath it. It’s an emblem of Southern California’s quirky roadside appeal. Despite being “just a donut,” it tells the story of post-war optimism and kitsch. That’s pretty sweet history, if you ask me.
5. The Boll Weevil Monument – Enterprise, Alabama
Most towns wouldn’t build a monument to a pest, but Enterprise, Alabama, proudly did just that. In 1919, the city erected a statue honoring the boll weevil—a beetle that devastated cotton crops but forced local farmers to diversify and ultimately strengthen the economy. The statue features a robed woman holding the insect aloft like a tiny, unwelcome trophy. It was the first monument ever built to honor an agricultural pest and is officially recognized as a historic landmark.
People initially thought it was a joke, but the impact of the boll weevil led to the rise of peanut farming in the region, which saved the town. Over the years, the statue’s been stolen, vandalized, and rebuilt, but it still stands proudly in the city center. It’s a bizarre but inspiring example of turning disaster into growth. Not every historical landmark celebrates victory—some celebrate resilience in the weirdest ways.
6. The Neon Sign Graveyard – Las Vegas, Nevada
Technically called The Neon Museum, this collection of vintage neon signs is an officially recognized cultural landmark, according to Alexxa Gotthardt from Artsy. It’s home to signs from iconic, now-defunct Vegas establishments like the Stardust and Moulin Rouge. Opened in 1996, the museum preserves these glowing giants as part of the city’s flashy, fast-changing history. It’s proof that Las Vegas, while constantly reinventing itself, cares about preserving its roots.
The signs themselves are massive works of art from the mid-20th century. Some still light up in the “Neon Boneyard” section of the museum. Declaring them a historical landmark ensures they’re not lost to time or the wrecking ball. In a city known for demolishing the old, this is a rare commitment to memory.
7. The First Nuclear Reactor – Chicago, Illinois
Hidden under a former football field at the University of Chicago is the site of the world’s first nuclear reactor. Known as Chicago Pile-1, it achieved the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in 1942. This was a critical moment in the Manhattan Project, which led to the development of nuclear energy—and weapons. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
There’s no longer a reactor there, just a commemorative marker. But the significance of the moment can’t be overstated—it changed the world forever. It’s one of those historical landmarks that’s more about the idea than the building. And it all started underneath a football stand.
8. Lucy the Elephant – Margate, New Jersey
Lucy isn’t just any elephant—she’s a six-story building in the shape of one. Built in 1881, Lucy the Elephant was originally a real estate gimmick meant to lure buyers to the Jersey Shore. She’s since been used as a tavern, a hotel, and even a summer home. Lucy was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, making her the oldest surviving roadside attraction in America.
Visitors can go inside and climb up to her howdah (that’s the fancy term for elephant saddle). She’s survived hurricanes, neglect, and even a near-demolition. Local activists saved her in the 1960s, proving that even whimsical architecture can be worth preserving. Today, she stands proud as a testament to American inventiveness and eccentric charm.
9. The Corn Palace – Mitchell, South Dakota
Imagine a building covered entirely in corn murals. That’s the Corn Palace, and yes, it’s a real, functioning venue in South Dakota recognized as a cultural landmark. Built in 1892 to showcase the state’s agricultural heritage, it’s redecorated each year with new murals made of colored corn. It’s a strange, beautiful tribute to the Midwest’s staple crop.
Each year, over 500,000 visitors show up to see the newest corn art. Inside, it hosts concerts, basketball games, and festivals. The city of Mitchell proudly maintains it as “the world’s only corn palace.” It’s kitsch with a kernel of pride.
10. The Shoe House – Hellam, Pennsylvania
This five-story building shaped like a giant work boot is exactly what it sounds like. Built in 1948 by a shoe salesman named Mahlon Haines, the Shoe House was meant to promote his business—and his eccentric personality. It contains bedrooms, a kitchen, and even a stained-glass window of a boot. It’s now listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a prime example of novelty architecture.
At different points, it’s been a rental home, an ice cream parlor, and a tourist attraction. Haines even let elderly couples stay there for free vacations. People still flock to see this bizarre but charming structure. It proves once again that even marketing gimmicks can become historic.
11. The Mystery Spot – Santa Cruz, California
This odd little cabin in the woods is a registered historical landmark—and a hotspot for weird gravitational illusions. The Mystery Spot, opened in 1939, is marketed as a place where the laws of physics don’t seem to apply. Balls roll uphill, people lean at impossible angles, and compasses spin. The California Office of Historic Preservation listed it as a Point of Historical Interest in 2014.
It’s likely a combination of optical illusions and clever engineering. But that hasn’t stopped millions of visitors from trying to make sense of it. The landmark status preserves its legacy as part of California’s roadside attraction history. Whether you believe in gravity glitches or not, it’s earned its place on the map.
12. The Birthplace of the Ice Cream Sundae – Two Rivers, Wisconsin
There’s some debate over where the ice cream sundae was born, but Two Rivers, Wisconsin, has claimed the title and even received landmark recognition for it. In 1881, local druggist Edward Berners supposedly served the first sundae when a customer asked for chocolate syrup on his ice cream—something usually reserved for sodas. The town celebrates this with a commemorative plaque and a sundae statue. It’s a sweet little slice of history.
Recognizing this spot honors both culinary innovation and good marketing. You can still visit the site today and order a sundae made the old-fashioned way. Whether or not it’s really the first, the tradition is taken seriously. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to protect the origin story of dessert perfection?
13. The Igloo City Hotel – Cantwell, Alaska
This massive, abandoned igloo-shaped building in Alaska was never even finished—but it still received landmark status due to its cultural significance. Known as Igloo City, the four-story structure was built in the 1970s as a hotel meant to attract tourists. It was poorly constructed and never opened, but its bizarre architecture has made it an unofficial symbol of remote Alaskan ambition. Locals lobbied to have it preserved for its nostalgic and visual value.
Even in its dilapidated state, it draws photographers and explorers. Its presence along the Parks Highway is unmistakable. It might not have functioned as intended, but it’s undeniably iconic. Some landmarks survive because of what they meant to be, not what they became.
14. A UFO Landing Pad – Green River, Utah
In 1967, Green River decided to embrace the space age in the quirkiest way possible—by building a concrete platform to welcome extraterrestrials. Meant as a tongue-in-cheek tourist attraction, the “UFO landing pad” has been recognized by local historical commissions as a symbol of the Cold War era’s fascination with space and aliens. It’s tied to the nearby Green River Launch Complex, where test missiles were actually launched. So the alien welcome mat isn’t as random as it sounds.
Over the years, the pad has been repainted and refurbished. It even hosts the occasional UFO festival. Landmark status has helped preserve its kitschy legacy and connection to space-age optimism. Whether or not E.T. ever shows up, it’s nice to know there’s a spot waiting for him.
