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- The coolest building in every US state (businessinsider.com)
Across our vast nation, architecture tells a story – sometimes grand, sometimes quirky, and always unique. From elegant historic landmarks to buildings that truly defy convention, the United States is home to a spectacular array of structures that are far more than just bricks and mortar. These aren’t just places; they’re destinations, each reflecting the distinct character, history, and sometimes even the wild imagination of its state.
We recently explored some of the most striking and unforgettable buildings across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It wasn’t about finding the ‘biggest’ or the ‘prettiest’ in a traditional sense, but rather those architectural marvels that truly stand out.
Some might transport you to a futuristic landscape, while others are steeped in centuries of local culture and history. What they all share is an undeniable charm and a reason to pause and admire.
Here’s a look at some of the most fascinating architectural wonders from around the country:
ALABAMA: Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Passenger Terminal
Mobile, Alabama, boasts the Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Passenger Terminal, a striking example of early 20th-century architecture.
Completed in 1907 and designed by P. Thornton Marye, its cream walls and red clay tiles evoke a distinct Spanish influence.
Though passenger train service ceased in the 1950s, the terminal has been carefully restored, preserving its historical elegance.
ALASKA: The University of Alaska’s Museum of the North
Up in Fairbanks, Alaska, the University of Alaska Museum of the North offers more than just fascinating exhibits on the state’s indigenous cultures, wildlife, and natural wonders. Its modern design also serves as a stylish and welcoming sanctuary from the often-chilly Alaskan climate.
ARIZONA: Chapel of the Holy Cross
In Sedona, Arizona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross presents a breathtaking sight. Finished in 1956, this unique chapel appears to emerge majestically from a red stone butte, towering approximately 200 feet above the desert floor, offering spiritual solace amidst a stunning natural backdrop.
ARKANSAS: Thorncrown Chapel
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is home to the beautiful Thorncrown Chapel. While it appears to be an open-air structure, it is actually a serene, glass-enclosed architectural marvel that perfectly blends with its natural surroundings.
CALIFORNIA: The Chemosphere
Stepping into California, we find the Chemosphere in Los Angeles – a home that looks like it flew straight out of a sci-fi movie, despite being designed in 1960!
This 2,200-square-foot residence is famously perched atop a single 30-foot concrete pole. Even more remarkably, it has bravely weathered every earthquake to hit the San Fernando Valley since its construction, proving its futuristic form is also surprisingly resilient.
COLORADO: Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, protects some of the finest examples of prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan landscapes.
These ancient dwellings, where people once lived, were ingeniously constructed directly into the sides of natural cliffs. The Cliff Palace, the largest known cliff dwelling in North America, stands out with 150 rooms and 23 sacred meeting spaces, once housing around 100 people.
CONNECTICUT: Grace Farms
Grace Farms in New Canaan features a remarkable serpentine wooden pavilion that gracefully links various glass-walled rooms, including a library, a stage, a tea room, and a gym complete with a basketball court. Completed in 2015, this architectural gem is open to the public for free.
DELAWARE: Wilmington’s Grand Opera House
As the country’s oldest state, Delaware certainly has its share of classic, enduring buildings. Wilmington’s Grand Opera House, constructed in 1871, is a prime example of timeless architectural elegance.
FLORIDA: The Salvador Dalí Museum
In St.
Petersburg, Florida, the Salvador Dalí Museum stands as a fittingly unique tribute to the beloved master of surrealism. The museum proudly houses the largest collection of Dalí’s works outside of Europe.
GEORGIA: The Earth Lodge on Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
While perhaps not resembling other buildings on this list, the Earth Lodge at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Georgia carries immense historical weight, dating back to the year 1015. This reconstructed council chamber of the native Mississippian culture features walls and a ceiling rebuilt in the 1930s, but its original clay floor remains, a thousand-year-old testament to history.
HAWAII: ʻIolani Palace
Honolulu, Hawaii, is home to the magnificent ʻIolani Palace, the only royal palace on United States soil. Inspired by the grand European palaces he encountered during his 1881 world tour, David Kalākaua, Hawaii’s last reigning king, ensured its splendid construction.
IDAHO: The Dog Bark Park Inn
For those seeking truly ‘paws-itively’ unique accommodations, Idaho delivers!
The Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood isn’t just a bed and breakfast; it’s a delightful monument to American kitsch, shaped quite literally like two charming beagles. Talk about a barking good time!
ILLINOIS: Bahá’í House of Worship
Despite millions of adherents globally, there are only eight continental Bahá’í Houses of Worship worldwide. The one in Wilmette, Illinois, holds the distinction of being the oldest still standing and the only one located within the United States.
INDIANA: West Baden Springs Hotel
When the West Baden Springs Hotel opened its doors in 1902, it was grandly billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Standing inside its massive domed atrium – which was once the largest in the world – it’s easy to understand why this Indiana landmark earned such a spectacular reputation.
IOWA: Grotto of the Redemption
In West Bend, Iowa, stands the incredible Grotto of the Redemption, a testament to faith and immense dedication.
Built by Father Paul Dobberstein as a shrine, this sprawling creation is crafted from countless rocks, shells, fossils, and gems meticulously pressed into concrete. Spanning the size of a football field, it’s a truly awe-inspiring, glittering mosaic.
KANSAS: Big Well in Greensburg
Greensburg, Kansas, is home to the Big Well, a museum built over its remarkable namesake: the world’s largest hand-dug well. This impressive feat of engineering spans 32 feet in diameter and reaches a depth of 109 feet.
KENTUCKY: Churchill Downs
Most famously known as the legendary host of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs is a grand spectacle capable of holding 120,000 excited, and sometimes quite spirited, racing fans at its maximum capacity.
LOUISIANA: The Pontalba Buildings
The iconic Pontalba Buildings, framing two sides of New Orleans’ historic Jackson Square, are truly emblematic of the French Quarter’s charm. Some of the residences on their upper floors are believed to be among the oldest continuously rented apartments in the entire country.
MAINE: The Portland Head Light
Perched on the rugged coast, the Portland Head Light is one of Maine’s many picturesque lighthouses, and it has stood guard since 1791. Its construction was notably ordered by none other than George Washington himself.
MARYLAND: The American Visionary Art Museum
Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum is a celebration of outsider art. Within its wonderfully wonky exterior, you’ll discover works crafted by inspired, self-taught creators, making for a truly unique cultural experience.
MASSACHUSETTS: Simmons Hall at MIT
When it comes to college dorms, Simmons Hall at MIT in Cambridge might just be the coolest in the nation. Its striking design looks like a monstrous Tetris piece combined with intriguing underground caverns, making it a truly unforgettable place to live.
MICHIGAN: Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
As one of the oldest and largest institutions dedicated to African American history, this Detroit museum is housed in a three-story building blending African and local Detroit architectural influences. A stunning 55-foot-tall glass dome ceiling crowns this significant structure.
MINNESOTA: The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
Opened to the public in 1915, The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Saint Paul’s Como Park is a botanical paradise, featuring enchanting Japanese, Bonsai, and butterfly gardens, among many other vibrant displays.
MISSISSIPPI: Gehry’s Pods at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
Designed by the renowned Frank Gehry (whose distinctive work includes the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles), the curved metal pods housing pottery at Biloxi’s Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art are meant to appear as if they are “dancing with the trees.”
MISSOURI: The Community Bookshelf
In Kansas City, the parking garage at the local library is far from ordinary – it’s known as the Community Bookshelf. This creative facade displays the giant spines of 22 classic books, all suggested by Kansas City readers.
MONTANA: Montana State Capitol building
Construction on the Montana State Capitol began in 1896. Inside its impressive rotunda, murals pay tribute to four key figures from the state’s early history: a Native American, an explorer, a gold miner, and a cowboy.
NEBRASKA: Nebraska State Capitol Building
Lincoln, Nebraska, is home to one of the most magnificent state capitol buildings in the US. Constructed between 1922 and 1932, this architectural masterpiece features artworks that beautifully illustrate the development of law and the history of Nebraska.
NEVADA: Ward Charcoal Ovens
The distinctive beehive-shaped Ward Charcoal Ovens in Ely, Nevada, were originally built in the 1870s for silver mining operations. Today, they stand as unique historical landmarks that still look unlike anything else on the landscape.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Mount Washington Hotel
Built in 1902, the Mount Washington Hotel – now operating as the Omni Mount Washington Resort – is one of New Hampshire’s last remaining grand hotels. Adding to its allure, it’s also rumored to be delightfully haunted!
NEW JERSEY: Nassau Hall at Princeton University
Nassau Hall holds the distinction of being the oldest building at Princeton University, with its origins dating back to the 1750s. While it now serves as administrative offices, it played a significant role during the Revolutionary War, occupied by both British and American forces and sustaining battle damage.
NEW MEXICO: Taos Pueblo
Hundreds of years old, Taos Pueblo is an extraordinary multi-story complex built by Native Americans of the region. Appearing as one large, molded piece, it continues to serve as a vibrant residential community.
NEW YORK: The Chrysler Building
While the Empire State Building often steals the spotlight, many argue that the Chrysler Building is truly New York City’s most magnificent skyscraper. This Art Deco masterpiece briefly held the title of the world’s tallest building when it was completed, only to be surpassed by the Empire State Building a mere 11 months later.
NORTH CAROLINA: The Executive Mansion
North Carolina proudly designates its Executive Mansion in Raleigh as a civil landmark – and for good reason. This beautiful building serves as the governor’s official residence and a high-profile event venue, often open to public tours.
NORTH DAKOTA: The North Dakota Heritage Center
At the heart of the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck is a striking glass cube, flanked by two distinctive copper-colored wings. This impressive structure safeguards the state’s greatest treasures, including Native American historical artifacts and a wealth of dinosaur fossils.
OHIO: The Longaberger Company building
Ohio’s Newark is home to what might be the world’s most literal corporate headquarters: the former Longaberger Company building, shaped exactly like a giant picnic basket!
While this quirky landmark perfectly matched the basket-making company’s brand, it has sat vacant since 2016. Its future remains uncertain, with various development plans having been floated, but it continues to be a wonderfully unusual sight.
OKLAHOMA: First Americans Museum
Oklahoma City’s First Americans Museum, a sprawling 175,000-square-foot facility, beautifully honors the state’s indigenous populations and their rich history.
Its design is thoughtfully inspired by the significance of the rising and setting sun to Native cultures, with Remembrance Walls precisely aligned with the sunrise. The central half-dome is supported by 10 pillars of various stones, each symbolizing a 10-mile stretch traveled by Native people during their forced removal from ancestral homelands.
OREGON: The Portland Building
The Portland Building in Oregon has certainly sparked debate among architecture critics, with some famously calling it “one of the most hated buildings in America.” However, its bold shapes and strange geometric clashes of glass and stone make it a wonderfully weird and fitting architectural statement for the city of Portland.
PENNSYLVANIA: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater
Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1935 masterpiece, Fallingwater, remains Pennsylvania’s most celebrated work of architecture. Water cascades from each level of the building into the one below, creating a seamless and breathtaking integration with the natural landscape.
RHODE ISLAND: The Breakers
Built as a lavish summer residence for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, The Breakers mansion in Newport is a true icon of Gilded Age architecture. With 70 rooms spread across 138,300 square feet, it stands as one of the largest houses in the United States.
SOUTH CAROLINA: The International African American Museum
In Charleston, South Carolina, the International African American Museum stands powerfully atop 18 imposing 13-foot pillars. This design choice ensures the museum does not directly touch the sacred ground of Gadsden’s Wharf, a historically significant disembarkation point for enslaved Africans during the transatlantic slave trade.
SOUTH DAKOTA: The Corn Palace
Mitchell, South Dakota, is home to the truly unique Corn Palace.
Its exterior walls are adorned with intricate murals and art, all crafted entirely from — you guessed it — corn! The remarkable design is updated with fresh corn artwork every single year.
TENNESSEE: Parthenon in Centennial Park
Built for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897 and then meticulously reconstructed between 1921 and 1930, the Parthenon in Nashville’s Centennial Park is a full-sized replica of the ancient Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Today, it serves as a public art museum.
TEXAS: James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany skyspace
Designed by the renowned artist James Turrell, the “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace in Houston offers a truly otherworldly experience. This captivating performance space makes you feel as though you’ve stepped into another dimension, playing with light and perception.
UTAH: Natural History Museum of Utah
The Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City, designed by Todd Schliemann of Ennead Architects, looks as though it could have been organically carved straight out of the surrounding natural landscape, blending seamlessly with its environment.
VERMONT: The Old Round Church
Richmond, Vermont, features the Old Round Church, which, while technically a 16-sided polygon, is circular enough to fuel a local legend. The rumor claims it was built in that unique shape specifically so the Devil would have no corners in which to hide!
VIRGINIA: Dulles International Airport
Airports can often be a source of frustration, but Virginia’s Dulles International Airport is an architectural marvel to admire. Its striking design almost resembles a futuristic aircraft itself, making for a memorable first impression.
WASHINGTON: Seattle Central Library
Forget notions of dusty, forgotten book repositories. The Seattle Central Library stands as a brilliant testament to modern architecture, a vibrant and dynamic space that redefines what a library can be.
WASHINGTON, DC: The United States Capitol
The United States Capitol Building is such a familiar fixture in our news and culture that its grandeur and historical significance are often taken for granted.
It’s truly a moment to pause and appreciate this monumental government building, which stands as a powerful reflection of America’s complex past. Construction began in September 1793, with much of the structure built by enslaved workers alongside free Black and white laborers.
In 2012, a marker was added to the Capitol Visitor Center to commemorate the unpaid labor of the enslaved people who helped build our nation’s Capitol.
WEST VIRGINIA: The Palace of Gold
In the Hare Krishna community of New Vrindaban, West Virginia, stands the majestic Palace of Gold, an ornate and visually stunning memorial shrine that feels like a piece of another world.
WISCONSIN: The Burke Brise Soleil
The most striking feature of the Milwaukee Art Museum is undoubtedly the Burke Brise Soleil. This towering sunscreen boasts an impressive 217-foot wingspan and performs a fascinating display, gracefully folding and unfolding twice each day.
WYOMING: Smith Mansion
Deep in Wyoming’s remote Wapiti Valley, you’ll stumble upon the Smith Mansion, a truly wild and wonderful architectural anomaly.
What began in 1971 as a family home for architect Francis Lee Smith quickly transformed into an ongoing, hand-built creation he simply couldn’t stop adding to. Sadly, Smith’s passionate pursuit of his dream home ended in tragedy in 1992 when he fell from one of its many balconies, leaving behind a structure that’s as fascinating as it is poignant.
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- The coolest building in every US state (businessinsider.com)