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The native North American turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) got its name from its association with Turkish merchants. Before Europeans arrived in the New World, Turkish traders had already been selling the guinea fowl (native to East Africa) in European markets. The English referred to guinea fowl as turkey cocks or turkey hens, shortened to turkeys, because of its link with Turkish merchants. When European conquistadors and colonists started sending Meleagris gallopavo (which had already been domesticated by Native Americans) to Europe, the birds were referred to as turkeys because of their similarity to the already-familiar guinea fowl.

On April 13, 1943, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, the third president of the United States, the second vice president, and the first Secretary of State. The memorial, designed by architect John Russell Pope, was influenced by Jefferson’s love of classical architecture and highlights two of his most famous buildings, Monticello and the University of Virginia Rotunda. The Jefferson Memorial stands in a straight line with the White House.

Cherry blossoms frame the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, which stands at the edge of the Tidal Basin in the monumental core of Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/ Sarah Eddy.

The Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. as seen from the steps of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. The Tidal Basin is fringed with a variety of cherry trees that give rise to the National Cherry Blossom Festival that takes place annually in late March-early April. Paddle boats offer one of the best ways to experience the cherry tree blossoms. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

For over 50 years, the traditional lighting of this stone lantern has signaled the beginning of the annual Cherry Blossom festival. The granite lantern was presented to Washington, D.C., on March 30, 1954, as a symbol of the enduring cultural partnership between Japan and the US. It was one of two lanterns carved in 1651 that stood for over 300 years on the grounds of Toeizan Kan’eiji Temple in Tokyo. The matching lantern still stands on the temple’s grounds today. Weighing two tons (1814 kg) and standing 2.59 m (8.5 ft) tall, the lantern is the oldest free-standing, man-made stone structure located outdoors in D.C.Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Spring is a popular time for visitors to experience the cherry blossoms and monuments that surround the Tidal Basin. The Martin Luther King Memorial appears in the background. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

A Japanese pagoda among the cherry trees lining the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/John Donoghue.

Tidal Basin weeping cherry blossoms in sunlight. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Close up of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC as seen during the early morning hours of 17 November 2018. A flight trail of an Antares rocket - with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard - appears over the memorial. The rocket was launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, about 185 km (115 mi) southeast of the capital. The cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station delivered about 3,350 kg (7,400 lb) of scientific research equipment and crew supplies to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Photo Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani.

Arlington House and Arlington National Cemetery stand on a hill In Virginia beyond the intervening Potomac River (not visible) and the Tidal Basin, bordered by flowering cherry trees. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Anthony DeYoung.

A view of Arlington House and some of the grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery.

Remembrance wreaths on headstones at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, DC.

The Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial, located on Columbia Island in Washington, DC honors sailors of the US Navy, Coast Guard, and US Merchant Marine and features large waves and sea gulls. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Flying buttresses of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and Saint Paul - also referred to as the National Cathedral - in Washington, DC.

Memorial Bridge and Avenue from Arlington, Virginia is the ceremonial entrance into Washington, D.C.; the roadway leads to the Lincoln Memorial. To the right on the image is the tall Washington Monument, and at the far right is the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Pool. To the left one can see the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge and just the corner of the Kennedy Center. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., dedicated in 1922, is modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Architect Henry Bacon believed a memorial dedicated to a man who defended democracy should echo the birthplace of democracy. The iconic memorial constructed with Colorado Yule marble is 30 m tall (99 ft), 57.m long (190 ft), and 36.5 m wide (120 ft) surrounded by 36 fluted Doric columns, one for each of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. The 5.8 m high (19 ft) statue of Lincoln sitting in quiet contemplation, designed by sculptor Daniel Chester French, is located between the north and south chambers of the memorial. The Lincoln Memorial is the most popular monument on the National Mall and it is the only monument pictured on US currency (on the penny and the five-dollar bill). Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Carol Highsmith.

The striking, yet approachable statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The inscription in the Lincoln Memorial glows behind the statue at night. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The lawn and southern facade of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Southern facade of the White House in Washington, D.C. showing the semi-circular portico.

Detail of the portico at the White House showing the supporting ionic columns.

The south lawn fountain at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Vegetable garden at the White House in Washington, D.C.

West Wing colonnade at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Fourth of July fireworks in Washington, DC; view of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the US Capitol which is the anniversary of the Continental Congress’ vote to adopt the final draft of the Declaration of Independence proclaiming America free and independent from Great Britain. The country had secured its independence with victory in the American Revolutionary War in (1775-1783). The vote for independence took place on 2 July and after some additional debates, the final vote was on 4 July. The delegates finally signed the Declaration on 2 August 1776. Delegate and founding father John Adams predicted the occasion would be ”celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival...solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

Fourth of July fireworks in Washington, DC; view of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the US Capitol.

A view of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC.

The imposing Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. is 169 m (555 ft) tall. A difference in the shading of the marble, visible approximately 48 m (150 ft) up, shows where construction was halted and later resumed with marble from a different source. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Cherry blossoms frame a view of the Washington Monument from across the Tidal Basin. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/ Sarah Eddy.

Visitors enjoy the cherry blossoms that line the Tidal Basin from the land and the water. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Anthony DeYoung.

Overhead view of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Image courtesy of NASA/Bill Ingalls.

Aerial view of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Panorama of the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. The memorial - located on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial (seen in the background) and the Washington Monument - highlights both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of the war.

A section of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. representing the Atlantic conflict. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

A look through the Pacific Arch at the south end of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.

A wall of 4,048 gold stars – each representing 100 killed – at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.; a sobering reminder to all of the price over 400,000 Americans paid to secure victory. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

A wall of 4,048 gold stars – each representing 100 killed – at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.; a sobering reminder to all of the price over 400,000 Americans paid to secure victory. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.is the largest library in the world with more than 167 million items (as of 2018); its collections are universal, not limited by subject, format, or national boundary, and include materials from all parts of the world and in over 450 languages. Collections include: books, newspapers, magazines, sheet music, sound and video recordings, photographic images, artwork, architectural drawings, and copyright data. Image courtesy of the Architect of the Capital.

On 10 August 1846, the US Congress passed legislation creating the Smithsonian Institution. The organization was established with money from the estate of James Smithson, an English scientist, for the foundation of an institution for "the increase and diffusion of knowledge." It was uncertain if he meant a university, a publishing house, an observatory, a research institute, a national library, or a museum. In the end, it became all of those things, with the exception of the university. The Smithsonian today includes 19 museums, 21 libraries, nine research centers, and the National Zoo. Shown is the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Built in 1847 as the Institution's earliest building, it remains its headquarters. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.

The original 15-star, 15-stripe Fort McHenry flag (The Star-Spangled Banner) that inspired the poem that became the lyrics to the US national anthem. The flag is on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of History and Technology in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Aerial view of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Part of a group 19 larger-than-life figures representing a platoon of American servicemen at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Memorial plaza, statue, and fountain among the trees of Theodore Roosevelt Island. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

A stone footbridge, moat, and willow oaks at the presidential memorial on Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Theodore Roosevelt Island landscape. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

While the Theodore Roosevelt Island landscape is intended to evoke a sense of wilderness, it lies just over the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. proper and is accessed by footbridge from Rosslyn, Virginia (shown). Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The boardwalk that winds the through the Theodore Roosevelt Island landscape provides a multi-sensory experience. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

At the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC.

Nighttime view of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Interior view of the Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport, located in Northern Virginia. The enormous structure is part of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.

Great Falls are a series of rapids and waterfalls on the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland some 23 km (14 mi) upstream from Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The front view of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation home, near Charlottesville, Virginia. The third president of the United States completed the original house in 1772. In 1794 he began to rebuild the structure, blending his own architectural style with his favorite European designs. Remodeling continued on and off for most of the remainder of his life.

The distinctive West Front (back) of Monticello is actually the better known view of Jefferson's home. Photography is not allowed inside the living quarters of the house, which includes skylights that Jefferson designed.

A life-size bronze statue at Monticello of the 188 cm (6ft 2in) Thomas Jefferson, an American Founding Father, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third President of the United States.

Jefferson designed the wind compass on the ceiling of the Monticello portico; it is attached to the weather vane directly above it on the roof. The portico clockface reflects the time on the Great Clock in the entrance hall interior of the house. The Great Clock with its two faces was considered to be sophisticated technology for its time. Unlike the Great Clock of the interior, the portico clockface does not have a minute hand. When Jefferson was living on the plantation, a bell rang on the hour and could be heard for approximately five miles. Jefferson wanted everyone on the plantation to be on the same time schedule.

The weather vane Jefferson designed to direct the wind compass.

A section of the plantation's prolific vegetable and herb gardens and apple, peach, cherry, and several other orchards overlooking a view of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Jefferson and his guests sat inside the brick structure to appreciate the gardens, orchards, and view.

Monticello's primary kitchen.

Jefferson designed a room in his house's cellar for brewing and storing beer, a popular table liquor during his era.

Jefferson was a premier connoisseur of fine wines during his era.

Jefferson designed a dumb waiter mechanism for quickly delivering wine from the cellar to the dining area.

Jefferson built a multi-purpose room for his family to live in while the main house was built.

The interior of the multi-purpose room. The Jeffersons' bed sits to the immediate right. Everything else in the room appears in the photo.

Thomas Jefferson's gravesite at Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia. He died aged 83 on 4 July 1776 - the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The inscription on the marker at Thomas Jefferson's gravesite at Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia. This epitaph specifically mentions the three things that the man was most proud of and that he wanted to be remembered for. President of the United States was not among them.

View from the battlements of Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain in New York state showing cannon, mortars, the lake, and Mount Defiance. The fort controlled a river portage between Lake Champlain and Lake George and then to the Hudson River. This was the principal trade route between the Hudson River Valley and the French-controlled Saint Lawrence River Valley.

Cannon at Fort Ticonderoga in New York state facing north towards Lake Champlain. The star-shaped fort was constructed by the French between 1755 and 1758 to protect the lake from British forces approaching from the south. Originally called Fort Carillon, it was renamed Fort Ticonderoga when the British captured the stronghold in 1759.

Cannon in Fort Ticonderoga facing north towards Lake Champlain. The fort was constructed by the French between 1755 and 1758 to protect the lake from British forces approaching from the south. Reconstruction on the fort began in the early 20th century and continues. The fort was rearmed in the 20th century with 14 24-pound cannon provided by the British Government. The cannon had been cast in England for use during the American Revolutionary War, but the war ended before they were shipped.

View from the battlements of Fort Ticonderoga in New York on Lake Champlain showing cannon, the lake, and part of Mount Defiance. After the fort was captured by an American force led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold in May 1775, its cannon were transported to Boston where their deployment on Dorchester Heights forced the British to evacuate the city in March 1776.

Mount Defiance in New York state on Lake Champlain overlooks Fort Ticonderoga 1.6 km (1 mi) to the southwest. British forces placed cannon on the 260 m (855 ft) hill forcing the American garrison to abandon the fort on 5 July 1777.

Established in 1929 by Edward W. Bok as a gift to the American people, the 50-acre garden in Lake Wales, Florida was designed to be a contemplative and informal woodland setting. Acres of ferns, palms, oaks, and pines offer a lush backdrop for flowering foliage including azaleas, camellias, and magnolias.

The 62.5 m (205 ft) Singing Tower - composed of marble and coquina (limestone formed of shells and coral) - is the focal point of Bok Tower Gardens (Lake Wales, Florida). Dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge in 1929, the tower is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Carillon music is played daily.

The Singing Tower at Bok Tower Gardens National Historic Landmark (Lake Wales, Florida) houses a 60-bell carillon.

Closeup of the upper part of the Singing Tower at Bok Tower Gardens National Historic Landmark. The limestone structure includes tile mosaics, animal carvings, and custom iron-work.

Pinewood Estate, on the grounds of Bok Tower Gardens (Lake Wales, Florida), is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the finest examples of Mediterranean-style architecture in the American southeast.

Courtyard at Pinewood Estate on the grounds of Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida.

This iconic view of Yosemite Falls, a major attraction in Yosemite National Park in California, shows both the upper and lower falls. The falls come from Yosemite Creek, rushing in the spring from snow melt. The upper fall plunges some 436 m (1,430 ft) from the valley rim, making it alone among the 20 highest falls in the world. The combined drop of 739 m (2,425 ft) for the upper fall, middle cascades, and lower fall make Yosemite Falls the highest measured falls in the United States.

Yosemite Falls generally peaks in late spring (left), during the snowmelt pulse, and dries up in late summer (right), before fall storms arrive. Images courtesy of the US National Park Service/Greg Stock.

Bridalveil Falls is often the first waterfall seen by tourists coming into Yosemite Valley in California, it drops 189 m (620 ft) into the valley. The falls run all year, roaring during the spring runoff and appearing as a windblown "bridal veil" during the rest of the year.

On the road to Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park one turns a corner and comes to a parking lot for Washburn Point. This view from the Point shows Half Dome (far left), Nevada Falls (on the right), Vernal Falls (below center).

A view of Yosemite Valley as seen when exiting the tunnel on Wawona Road (Rt. 41) into the valley; it is probably one of the most photographed views of the valley. During the summer one may be hard pressed to find parking here.

Rising nearly 1,500 m (5,000 ft) above Yosemite Valley, Half Dome is a Yosemite National Park icon and a great challenge to many hikers. This view is looking eastward and shows Stoneman Bridge in the middle distance. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

This image from Sentinel Bridge shows Yosemite Valley at sunset. Half Dome, the brightly lit rock formation in the background, is one of the last places in the valley to receive sunlight as the day ends.

Granitic rocks of different compositions (and colors) are juxtaposed on the southeast face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California. The monolith is about 914 m (3,000 ft) from base to summit along its tallest face, and is a popular objective for rock climbers. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Due to its steep, glacier-carved cliffs, Yosemite Valley experiences many rockfalls each year. This one from El Capitan occurred on 28 September 2017 and was an estimated 10,324 cubic meters in volume, or about 25,400 tonnes (28,000 tons). Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Hennette Olsboe Foreyen.

The Lyell Glacier on the left is located beneath 13,114 foot Mount Lyell, the highest peak in Yosemite National Park, California. The Lyell and Maclure glaciers sit at the headwaters of the Tuolumne River (right) and are an important source of water for alpine ecosystems (and hikers). Images courtesy of the US National Park Service.

This regional view shows the striking visual effect of the valley-and-ridge topography of the Appalachian Mountains as viewed from the International Space Station. The image shows more than 500 km (300 mi) of this low mountain chain from northeast Pennsylvania (top right) to southern West Virginia, where a dusting of snow covers a patch of land (lower left). Sunglint reflections reveal details of the Chesapeake Bay and the great bend of the Potomac River. Cities are difficult to detect from space during daylight hours, so the sickle-shaped bend of the river is a good visual guide for astronauts trying to photograph the nation's capital, Washington D.C. The farm-dominated Piedmont Plateau is the light-toned area between the mountains and the bay. The Appalachian Mountains appear striped because the ridges are forested, providing a dense and dark canopy cover, while the valleys are farmed with crops that generally appear as lighter-toned areas. (Farmland is even lighter than usual in this image because the fields are fallow after the harvest.) Photo courtesy of NASA.

Lily pond at the Gibraltar Gardens in Wilmington, Delaware.

Formal garden as seen from a balcony at the Nemours Mansion, Wilmington, Delaware.

Fountain and pool at the end of the Long Walk at the Nemours Gardens, Wilmington, Delaware. The Gardens are the largest French formal gardens in North America and are patterned after the gardens of Versailles. The gilded statue represents Achievement.

The one-acre (0.4 hectare) Reflecting Pool at the foot of the Long Walk at Nemours Gardens, Wilmington, Delaware features 157 jets shooting water 12 ft (3.5 m) into the air. When they are turned off, the entire Long Walk is reflected in the pool. The pool, 5.5 ft (1.7 m) deep at its deepest section, holds 800,000 gallons (3.028 million liters) of water and takes three days to fill.

View of Nemours Mansion from beyond the Long Walk and Reflecting Pool. The Mansion was built in 1909-1910 by industrialist Alfred I. duPont and named after the French town from which his family emigrated in 1800.

A view of the Sunken Garden, part of the Nemours Gardens that extends beyond the Long Walk and pool. The Temple of Diana is in the far background.

Wall fountains and pool in the Sunken Garden portion of Nemours Gardens in Wilmington, Delaware.

Aquatic flora outside one of the conservatories at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The Gardens are one of the premier botanical gardens in the United States.

"Green walls" in one of the conservatories at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

A miniature crepe myrtle in the bonsai garden at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

The silver garden inside one of the conservatories at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Ripening gourds at the vegetable garden display at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Some outdoor flower beds at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Part of the Red Rocks sandstone formation in the Sedona area of Arizona. The rocks appear to glow reddish orange in the early morning or evening sunlight.

Bell Rock is a butte south of Sedona, Arizona composed of horizontal beds of late Permian (approx. 285 million year old) sedimentary rock.

Rock formations in the Sedona area of Arizona display their distinctive horizontal sedimentary rock layers.

Kapalua Beach Trail on the island of Maui. The trail runs for 2.8 km (1.8 mi) along the Kapalua coast, passing white sand beaches, stunning homes, and lava flows, as shown in this picture.

The late afternoon sun sparkles on the channel between Lahaina, Maui and the island of Lanai.

Multicolored cinder cones in Haleakala (House of the Sun) Crater on the island of Maui. The tallest peak on the mountain is 3,055 m (10,023 ft) above sea level, which is frequently high enough to overlook the clouds. The volcano forms three-quarters of the island of Maui. The oblong crater is roughly 11 km (7 mi) long, 3 km (2 mi) wide, and 800 m (2,600 ft) deep and lies within Haleakala National Park.

A vista from the visitors center at the top of Haleakala in Maui. In the distance, 130 km (80 mi) away, lies the peak of Mauna Kea on the big island of Hawaii.

The front or back yards of homes on Tangier Island, Virginia are well tended. Miniature lighthouses decorate many a front or back yard.

The crowded cemetery on Tangier Island, Virginia is dominated by just a few families. Many of the island's population, which numbers about 600, still speak a distinct Cornish dialect dating to the late 17th century when the island was first settled.

Tangier Island, Virginia is located in the lower Chesapeake Bay. This house is typical of the local architecture. House facades generally display white siding, while shutters and roofs are of matching colors.

Even the trash bins on Tangier Island, Virginia show a lighthouse motif. There are very few cars on the island; most folks get around by golf cart, bicycle, or on foot.

Sunset over Key West, Florida.

Marker in Key West, Florida proclaiming the southernmost point in the continental US. (The southernmost point in the entire US lies on the Big Island of Hawaii.)

The Dry Tortugas are a group of islands located some 120 km (75 mi) west of Key West, Florida; they form the western end of the Florida Keys in the Gulf of Mexico. Like the Keys, the Dry Tortugas are formed primarily of coral reefs over older limestone formations. The islands were named "Dry Tortugas" upon discovery by Ponce de Leon in 1513 - "tortugas" means turtles in Spanish, and the islands are "dry" as no fresh water is found on them. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the islands nevertheless have been designated a national park and are visited by hundreds every year. This view highlights three islands in the group: Bush Key, Hospital Key, and Garden Key - the site of hexagonal Civil War-era Fort Jefferson. Image courtesy of NASA.

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, the iconic symbol of the city. The monument honors the westward expansion of the United States, much of which began in this city. Built between 1963 and 1965 (but not opened to the public until 1967), the stainless steel-sheathed structure is hollow to accommodate a unique tram system that takes visitors to an observation deck at the top. Both the height and width of the arch are 192 m (630 ft). The structure is the tallest monument in the United States and the tallest stainless steel monument in the world.

Completed in 1935, Hoover Dam on the Colorado River straddles the Arizona-Nevada border.

Grand Canyon panorama. The Grand Canyon began to take shape some 5 to 6 million years ago as the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. The Colorado River and its tributaries and channels cut through nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history in the Plateau, making the Grand Canyon a geologist’s mecca. The Grand Canyon is 446 km (277 mi) long, up to 29 km (18 mi) wide, and attains a depth of over a mile (1,857 m or 6,093 ft). Image courtesy of the National Park Service.

Image of the Grand Canyon and surrounding area taken from the International Space Station. Photo courtesy of NASA.

The Colorado Plateau spans northern Arizona, southern Utah, northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado and is well known for its striking landscapes and broad vistas - an impression enhanced in this view from the International Space Station. This astronaut photograph highlights part of the Utah-Arizona border region of the Plateau, and includes several prominent landforms. The Colorado River, dammed to form Lake Powell in 1963, crosses from east to west (which is left to right here because the astronaut was looking south; north is towards the bottom of the image). The confluence of the Colorado and San Juan Rivers is also visible. Sunglint - sunlight reflected off a water surface back towards the observer - provides a silvery, mirror-like sheen to some areas of the water surfaces. The geologic uplift of the Colorado Plateau led to rapid downcutting of rivers into the flat sedimentary bedrock, leaving spectacular erosional landforms. One such feature, The Rincon (left center), preserves evidence of a former meander bend of the Colorado River. Photo courtesy of NASA.

Natural fog sometimes fills the canyon, during temperature inversions. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Erin Whittaker.

A view of the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

Sunset in the Grand Canyon in Arizona as seen from Grand Canyon Village. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Rainbow in the Grand Canyon as seen from near Mather Point on the South Rim. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Areas of greenery along the banks of the Colorado River as it winds through the Grand Canyon in Arizona. In places, the canyon is 1.6 km (1 mi) deep.

Aerial view of the Colorado River as it snakes through the majestic Grand Canyon in Arizona. The sedimentary layers exposed in the canyon date back 2 billion years!

Ten-Mile Rock is a slab of sandstone embedded in middle of the Colorado River in Marble Canyon section of the Grand Canyon. Image courtesy of the USGS.

View of Marble Canyon, which marks the beginning section of the Grand Canyon, from near the mouth of Nautiloid Canyon. Image courtesy of the USGS.

A group of spiky agave plants at Nautiloid Canyon in the Grand Canyon; the specimen in the center is in bloom. Image courtesy of the USGS.

Barrel cactus along the Deer Creek Trail in the Grand Canyon. The Colorado River is in the background. Image courtesy of the USGS.

Looking down over a waterfall near the head of the chasm along Deer Creek in the Grand Canyon. Image courtesy of the USGS.

Multiple geologic strata, all hundreds of millions of years old, line the shores of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Image courtesy of the USGS.

Horseshoe Bend is a distinctive incised meander of the Colorado River located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near the town of Page, Arizona. The feature - where the river takes a wide turn just 10 km (6 mi) downstream from Glen Canyon Dam - is also referred to as the east rim of the Grand Canyon. Horseshoe Bend can be viewed from a steep cliff overlook, 1,300 m (4,200 ft.) above sea level. Tower Butte, shown at center of the photo, is a naturally-shaped pillar emerging from the earth. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Brent & Dawn Davis.

At 86 m (282 ft) below sea level, Death Valley, California, is one of the hottest, driest places on the planet. On average, the area sees only about 5 cm (2 in) of rain a year, and summer temperatures routinely soar above 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). At night, temperatures drop considerably, and many animals in Death Valley are nocturnal as a result. Plants and animals living in this punishing environment have had to adapt to extremes of temperature and aridity. The photo shows the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, California. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Paul Stone.

Natural Bridge Canyon, Death Valley, California.

The Devil's Golf Course in Death Valley, California as seen from Dante's View. The "whiteness" is not water but a salt crust that is 1 to 2 meters thick.

The Artist's Palette along the Artist's Drive in Death Valley, California.

Ubehebe Crater in northern Death Valley National Park is an excellent place to explore the power of maars (explosion pit) volcanoes. It was here that molten lava came into contact with ground water, creating steam that eventually produced enough pressure to explode through the earth above and create a crater. Although Ubehebe Crater is only one of about a dozen craters in the Ubehebe volcanic field, it is the largest and youngest. Geologists estimate that the explosion occurred 6,000 to 10,000 years ago and some studies suggest it may have been even more recent! The crater is approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mi) in diameter, and ranges from 152-237 m (500-777 ft) deep, depending which ridge it is measured from. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Los Angeles at night as seen from the International Space Station. After sunset, the borders of "The City of Angels" are defined as much by its dark terrain features as by its well-lit grid of streets and freeways. Over 13 million people inhabit the coastal basin bounded roughly by the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains to the north and the Chino Hills and Santa Ana Mountains to the east and southeast. Image courtesy of NASA.

Oahu is the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii's capital of Honolulu stretches along its southern shore. Just to the east of Honolulu is Waikiki Beach, with throngs of tourists and dozens of high-rise hotels. Overlooking Waikiki is Diamond Head, a volcanic crater formed some 200,000 years ago (extinct for about 150,000 years). The clouds in the right hand corner of this image are an almost permanent feature of Oahu. Trade winds blowing from the northeast are stopped by the 960 m (3,000 ft) high mountain range, where they rain out most of their moisture. As a result, the windward side of Oahu is usually cloudy, and the leeward side is relatively clear and dry. The large indent in the lower left of the image is Pearl Harbor, site of the Japanese air raid which drew America into World War II. The harbor still serves as a US Navy base. Photo courtesy of NASA.

Flying over the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

A satellite image of the Big Island of Hawaii. The three largest of the five shield volcanoes that make up the island are labeled. Mauna Kea is dormant, but Mauna Loa and Kilauea remain active and contribute to the island's continued growth. Mauna Loa has historically been considered the largest volcano on Earth. Image courtesy of NASA.

Big Island of Hawaii, new black sand beach.

Hanauma Bay is a snorkeler's paradise on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu.

Devastation Trail at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

Chain of Craters Road in Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii.

Petroglyphs at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

Smoke and steam plume at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

Pahoehoe lava wall at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

Molten lava at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

Molten lava at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

Lava flowing into the sea on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Lava entering the sea on the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Image courtesy of NOAA / Kevin Lino.

A lava flow from Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano enters the ocean near Isaac Hale Beach Park on 5 August 2018. The volcano’s 2018 eruption was its largest in over 200 years. Credit: USGS.

Solitary surfer along the North Shore of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Sunset over Maui, Hawaii.

The Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, Hawaii is considered one of the most important astronomical viewing sites in the world. The white patch in the foreground is snow.

The Seattle Space needle officially opened to the public on 21 April 1962 as part of the Century 21 Exposition, a space-aged themed world's fair. The iconic steel structure stands 184 m (605 ft) tall and offers 360-degree views from three main areas: an indoor observation deck, an open-air viewing area located at 158 m (520 ft), and the world's first revolving glass floor located at 152 m (500 ft) above the ground. In 1999, the Space Needle was designated an official landmark.

The Space Needle, Seattle, Washington.

Mt. St. Helens the day before the eruption, 17 May 1980. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Harry Glicken.

On 18 May 18 1980, at 8:32 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake shook Mount St. Helens in Washington state. The bulge and surrounding area slid away in a gigantic rockslide and debris avalanche, releasing pressure, and triggering a major pumice and ash eruption of the volcano. Four hundred meters (1,300 ft) of the peak collapsed or blew outwards. As a result, 62 sq km (24 sq mi) of valley was filled by a debris avalanche, 650 sq km (250 sq mi) of recreation, timber, and private lands were damaged by a lateral blast, and an estimated 150 million cu m (200 million cu yd) of material was deposited directly by lahars (volcanic mudflows) into the river channels. Sixty-one people were killed or are still missing. Photo courtesy of USGS/Austin Post.

View of Mt. St. Helens during minor eruption, two years after the major eruption on 18 May 1980. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Lyn Topinka.

Approaching the blast zone of Mt. St. Helens in Washington state, 2007.

The caldera of Mt. St. Helens in Washington state, 2007. Some volcanic gases and a slowly rebuilding dome are visible.

Mount Rainier in the state of Washington as seen from the crater rim of Mount St. Helens, overlooking Spirit Lake. Photo courtesy of the USGS.

Spokane, Washington's Spanish Renaissance-style Davenport Hotel and Tower.

The Chronicle Building in Spokane, Washington, is the home of the Spokane Daily Chronicle.

Music instrument sculptures represent Spokane's vibrant music legacy.

The Couer d'Alene Golf Course in idaho is home to the world's only floating green.

This natural-color satellite image shows Unalaska and Amaknak Islands, which are part of the Aleutian Island chain that separates the North Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea. The city of Unalaska is split between the two islands: the northern part, where Dutch Harbor is located, is connected to the southern part by a bridge. The wakes of several ships are visible in the surrounding waters. Image courtesy of NASA.

View along the Inside Passage of the Alaska panhandle.

Mount Roberts Tram above Juneau Harbor, Alaska.

Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska.

"Clan Council" totem pole arrangement atop Cape Fox Hill, Ketchikan, Alaska.

Portage Glacier and Lake Alaska in Alaska.

A solitary caribou in the vastness of the Alaskan landscape. Caribou (Rangifer tarandus), also referred to as reindeer, are native to the Arctic tundra and Sub-Arctic Taiga (boreal forest) with a circumpolar distribution across North America and northern Eurasia.

Walruses at rest on an ice floe in the Chukchi Sea, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the USGS.

Mined for gold, silver, and copper, the region of Butte, Montana, had already earned the nickname of "The Richest Hill on Earth" by the end of the 19th century. The demand for electricity increased the requirement for copper so much that by World War I, the city of Butte was a boom town. Well before World War I, however, copper mining had spurred the creation of an intricate complex of underground drains and pumps to lower the groundwater level and continue the extraction of copper. Water extracted from the mines was so rich in dissolved copper sulfate that it was also "mined" by chemical precipitation for the copper it contained. In 1955, copper mining in the area expanded with the opening of the Berkeley Pit. The mine took advantage of the existing subterranean drainage and pump network to lower groundwater until 1982, when a new owner suspended operations. After the pumps were turned off, water from the surrounding rock basin began seeping into the pit. By the time an astronaut on the International Space Station took this picture on 2 August 2006, water in the pit was more than 275 m (900 ft) deep. This image shows many features of the mine workings, such as the terraced levels and access roadways of the open mine pits (gray and tan sculptured surfaces). A large gray tailings pile of waste rock and an adjacent tailings pond appear to the north of the Berkeley Pit. Color changes in the tailings pond result primarily from changing water depth. Because its water contains high concentrations of metals such as copper and zinc, the Berkeley Pit is listed as a federal Superfund site. Photo courtesy of NASA.

Storm Castle Peak is in the Gallatin Gateway area of the Rocky Mountains, southwest of Bozeman, Montana.

View of Gallatin National Forest from Storm Castle Trail, Gallatin, Montana.

View of the Gallatin River from Storm Castle Trail, Gallatin, Montana.

View of mountain ridges in Gallatin National Forest from the Storm Castle Trail, Gallatin, Montana.

Farms in northwest Minnesota viewed from space resemble a patchwork quilt in this 10 September 2009 image. Fields change hue with the season and with the alternating plots of organic wheat, soybeans, corn, alfalfa, flax, or hay. Although lush green fields dominate the image, some crops have already been harvested leaving squares of tan and brown. Photo courtesy of NASA.

This image is a rare satellite view of a cloudless summer day over the entire Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes comprise the largest collective body of fresh water on the planet, containing roughly 18 percent of Earth's supply. Only the polar ice caps contain more fresh water. The region around the Great Lakes basin is home to more than 10 percent of the population of the United States and 25 percent of the population of Canada. Open water appears blue or nearly black. The pale blue and green swirls near the coasts are likely caused by algae or phytoplankton blooms, or by calcium carbonate (chalk) from the lake floor. Photo courtesy of NASA.

Orange-red sandstone cliffs at Pictured Rocks National Park, Michigan. Photo courtesy of the USGS.

A view of Rockport, Massachusetts, some 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Boston, at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula. First settled in the 17th century, the town's economy was long based on timber, fishing, and granite quarrying. Today it is a popular tourist site and artists colony.

Another view of the harbor at Rockport, Massachusetts, some 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Boston, at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula. The boulder-strewn shoreline accounts for the town's name.

Seaside view at Gloucester, Massacusetts. Settled in 1623, the city - long a fishing and seafood center - claims to be America's oldest seaport.

The Mayflower II at State Pier in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The ship is a replica of the 17th century Mayflower that transported the Pilgrims (some of the earliest English settlers) to the New World.

A couple of the dwellings at Plimouth Plantation, a living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts that recreates the original English colony of the 17th century.

A typical lobster boat docked along Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

The lights of the city of Boston seemingly spread from a central point in this image taken by the crew of the International Space Station. Photo courtesy of NASA.

Built between 1872 and 1877, Trinity Church in Boston Massachusetts is the archetype of the Richardsonian Romanesque style (named after the architect), which is characterized by rough stone, heavy round-headed arches (often springing from clusters of short squat columns), clay roof tiles, and a massive tower. Trinity Church has been honored as one of the "Ten Most Significant Buildings in the United States"; it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970.

The facade of Trinity Church in Boston Massachusetts vividly displays many details of the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

Trinity Church on Copley Square in Boston, Massachusetts lies literally within the shadow of the John Hancock Tower (New England's tallest). The church's reflection within the office building's windows creates an interesting juxtaposition of architectural styles.

The sanctuary of Trinity Church in Boston, Massachusetts.

The altar of Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts.

A view of the interior of Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts, showing some of the architectural details, stained glass windows, and the church organ.

The statue of Paul Revere in front of the Old North Church in Boston. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

The USS Constitution under sail in Boston Harbor. Photo courtesy of the US Navy/MC3 Victoria Kinney.

The USS Constitution fires a 21-gun salute during the ship's July 4th underway as part of Boston Harborfest. The six-day Fourth of July festival showcases Boston's Colonial and maritime heritage to honor and remember the past, celebrate the present, and educate the future with reenactments, concerts, and historical tours. Photo courtesy of the US Navy/ Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Shannon Heavin.

The USS Constitution, docked at Pier 1 of the Charleston Navy Yard (Boston), is the oldest floating commissioned naval vessel in the world. Launched in 1797, it was one of the first six original frigates built for the US Navy.

Close up view of the bow of the USS Constitution. The ship is constructed of white and longleaf pine, white oak, and, most importantly, southern live oak. The latter is particularly dense, heavy, and difficult to work, but very strong. Because her hull was built 53 cm (21 in) thick in an era when 47 cm (18 in) was common, she was able to withstand cannonades, thus earning the nickname of "Old Ironsides." The copper sheathing along the keel prevents the attachment of shipworms.

A top (platform) and some of the rigging on the frigate USS Constitution.

Gun ports of the USS Constitution. Although rated as a 44-gun frigate, the ship would often carry over 50 guns at a time. Constitution is 62 m (204 ft) long and 13.3 m (43.5 ft) at the beam. The height of the central mainmast is 67 m (220 ft).

The stern of the frigate USS Constitution docked at Pier 1 of the Charleston Navy Yard (Boston).

The USS Constitution leaves dry dock at the Charleston Navy Yard (Boston) and returns to sea on 23 July 2017 after a two-year restoration program that replaced the copper sheets on the ship's hull as well as various deck boards. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Matt Teuten.

Walden Pond, a 26-ha (64-acre) body of water near Concord, Massachusetts. Writer Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862), spent two years, two months, and two days living in a cabin on its shore; it provided the foundation for his famous 1854 work, Walden or Life in the Woods.

A replica of the Henry David Thoreau cabin at Walden Pond, near Concord, Massachusetts.

The statue of Henry David Thoreau in front of his reconstructed cabin at Walden Pond, near Concord, Massachusetts.

This false-color satellite image shows greater New York City. The Island of Manhattan is jutting southward from top center, bordered by the Hudson River to the west and the East River to the east. (North is straight up in this scene.) In the middle of Manhattan, Central Park appears as a long green rectangle running roughly north-south with a large lake in the middle. Also visible are parts of Staten Island (bottom left corner) and Long Island (lower right). Photo courtesy of NASA.

Visible from space, a smoke plume rises from the Manhattan area after two planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center. This photo was taken of metropolitan New York City (and other parts of New York as well as New Jersey) the morning of 11 September 2001. Image courtesy of NASA.

Another view of New York and environs taken from the International Space Station on 11 September 2001 following the attack on the World Trade Center. This image is one of a series taken that day of metropolitan New York City that shows the smoke plume rising from the Manhattan. Photo courtesy of NASA.

The entrance to the main building on Ellis Island National Immigration Museum in the winter. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

The New York city skyline as viewed from Liberty Island. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Erika Lentz.

The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, New York. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Originally, the Statue of Liberty was a dull copper color, but shortly after 1900 a green patina, caused by the oxidation of the copper skin, began to spread. As early as 1902 it was mentioned in the press; by 1906 it had entirely covered the statue. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The Statue of Liberty's face and diadem (crown), whose seven rays symbolize the seven seas and continents of the world. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The Statue of Liberty faces a dramatic cloud display. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The old Statue of Liberty torch being brought to the ground in 1984; it is now housed and on display at the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The torch of the Statue of Liberty contains webcams, so virtual visitors from around the world can enjoy views from the “Torchcam” on the website of the US National Park Service. The original copper torch was replaced during restoration from 1984-86. The flame of the new torch is covered in 24k gold leaf and reflects the sun’s rays in daytime and is illuminated by 16 floodlights at night. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

After renovation: the Statue of Liberty's re-opening on 4 July 1986, complete with a huge flag cake. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Dramatic, stark view looking up at the Statue of Liberty from its pedestal. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The statue of Abraham Lincoln at Richmond National Battlefield. On 4 April 1865, just after Union troops took control of Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital, President Lincoln and his 12-year-old son Tad toured the hostile city. This full-size bronze grouping symbolizes that moment in time, as depicted by sculptor David Frech. Behind the figures is a phrase from Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, delivered one month before: “To bind up the nation’s wounds.” Amazingly, Lincoln survived this dangerous visit, only to be murdered by a Confederate activist in Washington just 10 days later. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Independence Hall in Philadelphia is situated on Independence Square. On 8 July 1776, this was the scene of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the scene of the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, is flanked by two buildings. Congress Hall, on the right, housed the US Congress from 1790 to 1800. To the left is Old City Hall in which the US Supreme Court presided in the 1790s. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Independence Hall in Philadelphia is where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and signed. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

View of the southern entrance to Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

The Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House served as the meeting place of the Pennsylvania Assembly for over sixty years until the state capital moved away from Philadelphia in 1799. In 1776, the Continental Congress declared Independence in this room and in 1787 the US Constitution was debated and signed here. Most historians consider this room one of the most historic rooms in the US. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

The Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia served as the meeting place of the Pennsylvania Assembly for over sixty years until the state capital moved away from Philadelphia in 1799. In 1776, the Continental Congress declared Independence in this room and in 1787 the US Constitution was debated and signed here. Most historians consider this room one of the most historic rooms in the US. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

A detail of the actual chair George Washington sat in while presiding over the Constitutional Convention in 1787. At the signing, Benjamin Franklin was optimistic about the document and said that now he had the happiness to know that the carving on the back was a rising, not a setting sun. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Service/ Annie Scott.

Landscape Arch in Arches National Park, Utah is the longest in the park and the fifth-longest in the world. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Aerial view of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland showing the entire tip of Locust Point. The fort is best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy on 13-14 September 1814. The flying of the fort’s larger American garrison flag on the morning of the 14th following 25 hours of continuous bombardment signaled American victory and inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry” that was later set to music and became known as “The Star Spangled Banner,” the national anthem of the United States. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

A closer aerial view of pentagonal Fort McHenry near the harbor in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Two field pieces in front of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland with the garrison flag flying in the background. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The Fort McHenry Guard fires the morning gun. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

The Fort McHenry Fife and Drum Corps plays on authentic War of 1812 rope tension snare drums. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Michelle Dunn.

Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, in the lower Shenandoah Valley. Happily situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, it marks the spot where the US states of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia meet. This view of Harpers Ferry is taken from Maryland Heights. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

John Brown’s Fort at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The building was originally constructed in 1848 for use as a guard and fire engine house. The abolitionist John Brown and his small army captured the armory at Harpers Ferry on the night of 16 October 1859 and took 60 citizens of the town as hostage. The local militia and armed townspeople killed several of the insurrectionists and forced the remainder to take up a position inside the fire engine house. US marines battered down the door and stormed the fire house on the morning of the 18th, capturing Brown and killing several more of his men, while suffering one fatality and freeing all the hostages. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

A view of the modern palisades marking the 1607 James Fort location at Jamestown National Historic Site, Virginia. The statue inside the fort is of John Smith, who played an important role in the establishment of a colony at Jamestown, Virginia - the first permanent English settlement in America. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Inside the reconstructed 1607 James Fort at Jamestown National Historic Site, Virginia. The building frame displays the first phase of 17th century house construction. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Exterior of the shop at Jamestown National Historic Site, Virginia where costumed interpreters demonstrate glassblowing techniques from the 17th century. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Statue of John Smith at Jamestown National Historic Site, Virginia. Smith was a leader of the Virginia Colony from September 1608 to August 1609 and was the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Glass making demonstration at Jamestown National Historic Site, Virginia where costumed interpreters demonstrate glass making techniques from the 17th century. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Stacked drift wood and offshore sea stacks at Point of the Arches, Olympic National Park, Washington state. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Beach and offshore sea stacks at Olympic National Park, Washington state. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Sea stack at sunset at Olympic National Park, Washington state. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Rain forest at Olympic National Park, Washington state. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Reflection on an utterly still high mountain lake in Olympic National Park, Washington state. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Danielle Archuleta.

Spreading phlox at Olympic National Park, Washington state. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Shawn Shletren.

This statue in Seneca Falls, NY depicts the first meeting of the two iconic leaders of the American women's suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The artwork, by sculptor Ted Aub, depicts a moment on 12 May 1851 when Amelia Jenks Bloomer, a dress reform advocate, introduced the two after an anti-slavery lecture. Seneca Falls is noted as the town where the American women's rights movement originated and Stanton and Anthony built the foundation for this movement. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

The Yorktown Victory Monument in Yorktown, Virginia commemorates the decisive 1781 battle of the Revolutionary War in which the combined forces of the United States and France defeated those of Great Britain and set the stage for ending the conflict and for British recognition of American independence. Atop the shaft of the monument is a figure representing Liberty. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Close up of a group of figures representing the thirteen original American colonies as seen on the podium of the Yorktown Victory Monument in Yorktown, Virginia. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

This modest dwelling was the site of a historic ceremony some 240 years ago. Moore House, situated along the York River in Yorktown, Virginia, is where the British signed the Articles of Capitulation surrendering to the Americans and essentially ending the Revolutionary War. Finding his army surrounded and with no access to a water escape route, British Gen. Cornwallis sent notification to Gen. Washington on 17 October 1781 regarding terms of surrender. Two representatives from the American, British, and French armies (the latter allies to the Americans) met at Moore House the following day to negotiate the surrender terms and on 19 October, Washington and Cornwallis signed the Articles directing the disposition of the troops, artillery, arms, and even the surrender itself. Two years later, the Treaty of Paris was signed officially ending the war. (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service)

A view of the Round Tops as seen from a southern cannon in Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The three-day Battle of Gettysburg (1-3 July 1863) in the US Civil War was the largest ever battle fought in the Western Hemisphere involving roughly 175,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. Union forces’ ability to hold Little Round Top hill on the Union extreme left flank on the second day of fighting helped blunt the Confederate attack and set the stage for victory the following day. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

View from a cannon overlooking Gettysburg Battlefield at Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania State Memorial at Gettysburg National Military Park commemorates the 34,530 Pennsylvania soldiers who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg (1-3 July 1863) during the American Civil War. The memorial stands along Cemetery Ridge, the Union battle line on 2 July 1863. Completed in 1914, it is the largest of the state monuments on the Gettysburg Battlefield.

The Mammoth Cave National Park entrance sign at the park's eastern entrance in the fall. Mammoth Cave, discovered in 1791, is 668 km (415 mi) long and was designated a World Heritage Site in 1981. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

The Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky is a natural opening that has been used by people for 5,000 years. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Flowstone in the Frozen Niagara section of Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Stalactites and stalagmites, made of travertine, can be seen on the Frozen Niagara tour of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Travertine, or traveling stone, is made of limestone that has crystalized out of dripping water. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

The Ruins of Karnak formation inside Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Mammoth Cave National Park on the surface. A view of the Green River at Turnhole Bend in Autumn. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Mesa Verde's largest cliff dwelling is Cliff Palace, here viewed from across the canyon at Sun Temple in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Sandy Groves.

Close-up of Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. The park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) archaeological sites in the US. Cliff Palace was continuously occupied from about 1190 to 1260 and only abandoned around 1300. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota features the sculptures of four US presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln; it towers over the Avenue of Flags near the visitor center. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Full view of Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota. The impressive monument - never completely finished - was sculpted between 1927 and 1941. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Mount Rushmore after a brief December snow storm. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Mount Rushmore emerging from the fog. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone as seen from the brink of the Lower Falls. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.

The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River as seen from Artist Point. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Diane Renkin.

A bison herd grazes in Yellowstone National Park oblivious to the approaching thunderstorm. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Jacob W. Frank.

A nursery group of bison cows and calves makes its way through Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park. Due to high rates of survival and reproduction, the bison population increases by 10 to 17% every year: ten times faster than the human population grows worldwide. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Sunrise at Blacktail Pond in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Mineralized water flowing downhill creates terraces. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.

Closeup of travertine terraces colored orange, brown, and pink by thermophiles (simple microorganisms that thrive in hot water). Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Jacob W. Frank.

Clearing storm on Yellowstone Lake near Flat Mountain Arm in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Firehole River in the Upper Geyser Basin in winter in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the US, and the third largest in the world. The vivid colors in the spring are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.

Close-up of Grand Prismatic Spring colored by thermophiles (simple microorganisms that thrive in hot water). Boardwalks allow visitors to safely approach such thermal features. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Curtis Akin.

Morning Glory Pool is a hot spring in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. The distinct color of the pool is due to thermophiles (bacteria that thrive in hot water). Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.

Gray clouds reflected over a calm Yellowstone Lake. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Steam rises from Lion Geyser at sunset. Note steam from other geysers in the background. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Water and steam shoot straight up as Old Faithful erupts on a clear winter day in Yellowstone National Park. The geyser erupts regularly on average about every 90 minutes (intervals can range from 60 to 110 minutes); eruption times can range from 1.5 to 5 minutes. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Jacob W. Frank.

Parhelion (sundogs) and rime ice at the Upper Geyser Basin in December 2015 at Yellowstone National Park. A parhelion is an atmospheric optical phenomenon that consists of a bright spot to one or both sides of the sun; rime ice forms when supercooled liquid water droplets freeze onto surfaces. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

The setting sun shines through an eruption of Pink Cone Geyser in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Rainbow over the Gardner River Canyon near Mammoth in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Double rainbow seen from Lower Mammoth in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Dan Hottle.

Red Rock in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.

Snow dusts the area around Fountain Paint Pot in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Fountain Paint Pot in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. Splatter cones are encrusted with newly fallen snow that will soon melt in the steam. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Diane Renkin.

Red Spouter at Fountain Paint Pot in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.

Red Spouter spray at Fountain Paint Pot in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

The Yellowstone River near Tower Fall in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Snow pillows in Pebble Creek in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

Sunset on the Madison River near Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

A thunderstorm at sunset at Swan Lake Flat in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

A thunderstorm at sunset at Swan Lake Flat in Yellowstone National Park. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

A pedestal log along the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Andrew V. Kearns.

A petrified log erodes from the Painted Desert at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Andrew V. Kearns.

Large logs of petrified wood reveal their colors from naturally caused breaks at Giant Logs in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Hallie Larsen.

Stars of the Milky Way shine from behind lit clouds above The Battleship, a butte near Crystal Forest in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jacob Holgerson.

Blue Hen Falls in the spring in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Autumn view of Blue Hen Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Brandywine Falls and observation area in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ D.J. Reiser.

Hikers explore some of the Ritchie Ledges at Cayahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Sunset view from the Ritchie Ledges at Cayahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Sequoia National Park in California is notable for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman, the largest tree and the largest organism on earth. The General Sherman tree, shown here in the winter, grows in the Giant Forest, which contains five of the ten largest trees in the world. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

The General Sherman Tree is located in Sequoia National Park. The tree is the largest in the world, measured by wood volume (it contains more wood in its trunk than any other tree on Earth). The General Sherman is approximately 2,200 yeas old, stands 83 m (275 ft) tall, and is over 11 m (36 ft) in diameter at the base. Photograph courtesy of the National Park Service.

Kings Canyon National Park in California, which borders on Sequoia National Park, also sequesters its own sequoias, including these giants at Grant Grove. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Hiking in the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park offers spectacular views, including this U-shaped valley carved by a glacier thousands of years ago. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

View of Barry Glacier in Alaska, from Prince William Sound. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Drake Singleton.

Alaska is home to North America’s highest peak, Denali, seen in the background in this picture. Denali, at the heart of the six-million-acre Denali National Park and Preserve, stands 6,190 m (20,310 ft) above sea level and is the third-highest of the Seven Summits (the tallest peaks on all seven continents). Denali has five large glaciers flowing off its slopes. The mountain’s name comes from Koyukon, a Native Alaskan language, and means “the high one” or “the tall one.”

A particularly vivid auroral display in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska almost makes the trees appear to be aflame. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Early fall aurora framed by aspen trees. Summer skies are too bright to see aurora, but by the end of August, the sun goes far enough below the horizon to allow the northern lights to be seen in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Kent Miller.

A ground squirrel checks its surroundings in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska; Denali looms in the background. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Alaska is home to North America’s highest peak, Denali, seen in the background in this picture. Denali, at the heart of the six-million-acre Denali National Park and Preserve, stands 6,190 m (20,310 ft) above sea level and is the third-highest of the Seven Summits (the tallest peaks on all seven continents). Denali has five large glaciers flowing off its slopes. The mountain’s name comes from Koyukon, a Native Alaskan language, and means “the high one” or “the tall one.”

Alaska is home to North America’s highest peak, Denali, seen in the background in this picture. Denali, at the heart of the six-million-acre Denali National Park and Preserve, stands 6,190 m (20,310 ft) above sea level and is the third-highest of the Seven Summits (the tallest peaks on all seven continents). Denali has five large glaciers flowing off its slopes. The mountain’s name comes from Koyukon, a Native Alaskan language, and means “the high one” or “the tall one.”

A grizzly bear peeks out of the brush at a mother moose and her two young calves near the Savage River in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Ken Conger.

Alaska is home to North America’s highest peak, Denali, seen in the background in this picture. Denali, at the heart of the six-million-acre Denali National Park and Preserve, stands 6,190 m (20,310 ft) above sea level and is the third-highest of the Seven Summits (the tallest peaks on all seven continents). Denali has five large glaciers flowing off its slopes. The mountain’s name comes from Koyukon, a Native Alaskan language, and means “the high one” or “the tall one.”

Reflection Pond in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska is a popular spot to capture a mirror image of Denali. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Tim Rains.

Panoramic view of the mountain and tundra world of Noatak National Preserve, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Caribou on the move on Nunivak Island, Alaska. Photo courtesy of NOAA/Allen Shimada.

A grizzly bear in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska shuffles along the edge of the Noatak River in September, looking for one of the many salmon carcasses that wash up on the gravel bars after spawning. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Distant caribou in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska migrate south through the DeLong Mountains in small groups. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Caribou on the move across the tundra in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska. There are more animals in this view than one might first think, caribou blend into their surroundings very well. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Caribou migration in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska. Some 300,000 caribou reside in the preserve. Every spring and fall, these animals pass through the preserve on the 1,000 km (600 mi) trek between their summer and winter grounds. Noatak National Preserve helps protect this millennia-old journey that is vital to both the caribou and the people who live along their path. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Caribou bull swimming across a river in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Kyle Joly.

The world famous view in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska that artist MK MacNaughton turned into a painting (see next image). Copter Peak is the large mountain in the center. Nunaviksak Creek runs along the base of the snow-capped mountain. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

“Lunch Break With Copter Peak.” Artist-In-Residence MK MacNaughton created this dazzling painting for the National Park Service. It reflects her inspiration from a backcountry trip in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Nature's bluest blue and reddest red in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska. Even an amateur photographer looks good when the fall colors are at their peak and a clear September sky makes the blue water pop out of the image. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Lichens and mosses in a variety of shapes and colors grow slowly and patiently on a rock in the backcountry wilderness of Noatak National Preserve, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Northern lights are visible at night in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska from September through April. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Boris Koeten.

Winter in the Lower Noatak Basin. In November there is still enough sunshine to capture the shadows and bright white of snow and ice on the landscape in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

White spruce taiga in the Alaska Range, Alaska. Image courtesy of NOAA/ L.B. Brubaker.

Crater Lake, Oregon in summer I. A view from the West Rim, taken near the Lightning Springs Picnic Area. The island’s name is Wizard Island. Formed 7,700 years ago when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak, scientists today marvel at the lake’s purity: fed by rain and snow. It is the deepest lake in the US and one of the most pristine on earth. Artists, photographers, and sightseers gaze in wonder at its blue water and stunning setting atop the Cascade Mountain Range. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Crater Lake, Oregon in summer II. A view of the Phantom Ship (center left), with Mount Scott in the distance. Taken near the summit of Garfield Peak. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

The Phantom Ship in Crater Lake, as seen from the Sun Notch Trail. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Crater Lake, Oregon in summer III. A view from the lake shore, with Llao Rock in the distance. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

A winter view of Crater Lake, Oregon, taken near the top of Watchman Peak. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Some of the volcanic spires seen along the Pinnacles Trail at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Sunrise Over Crater Lake, Oregon. A view from the top of Watchman Peak, just before sunrise. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Cape Cod beach, North Eastham, Massachusetts.

The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis is the oldest cathedral in continuous use in what would become the United States. Founded in 1720, it is dedicated to Saint Louis, who was also King Louis IX of France (r. 1226-1270).

An unusual cornstalk and morning glory cast iron fence surrounds the Colonel Short Villa located on the corner of Fourth and Prytania Street in the Garden District of New Orleans.

Colonel Short's Villa on Fourth Street in the Garden District of New Orleans.

The Carroll-Crawford House in the Garden District of New Orleans.

Mule-drawn carriage rides are an iconic and popular way to tour the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Steamboat rides on the Mississippi River are popular with both tourists and locals.

New Orleans is well known for the unique way in which its dead are buried - in above ground cemeteries and mausoleums. Because much of the city is at or below sea level, there is a high water table in the soil. If a body or coffin is placed in an in-ground tomb in New Orleans, there is risk of it being water-logged or even displaced from the ground. For this reason, the people of New Orleans have generally used above-ground tombs. Over the years as designs have evolved, these tombs have become architecturally, culturally, and historically distinct.

The Milky Way galaxy arches over the entrance sign to Joshua Tree National Park in California. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Lian Law.

The distinctive Joshua tree is native to the arid Southwestern United States, specifically California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, and to northwestern Mexico. It is confined mostly to desert and open grasslands regions. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Robb Hannawacker.

Windswept clouds hover over a solitary Joshua tree at Joshua Tree National Park, California. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Larry McAfee.

Skull Rock is a popular destination at Joshua Tree National Park, California. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Robb Hannawacker.

Joshua trees and grasses at Joshua Tree National Park, California. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

A approaching thunderstorm at Joshua Tree National Park, California. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Robb Hannawacker.

A Joshua tree silhouetted by a fiery sunset at Joshua Tree National Park, California. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Brad Sutton.

The Milky Way rises above sheer canyon cliffs at Black Canyon in Gunnison National Park, Colorado. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/ G. Owens.

Cinderella Castle was designed as a gateway to fantasyland and center of the theme park, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida. Designed to reflect the late-Gothic, flamboyant style of the 1400s, the project was inspired by real and fictional palaces, including European chateaus, castles, and churches. Completed in July 1971, after 18 months of construction, the castle is 58 m (189 ft.) tall. A set-building trick known as forced perspective makes the castle appear larger than it is.

The Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon was dedicated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on 14 May 1968 and lists the name of every Medal of Honor recipient. Also displayed on the wall are representations of the Army, Navy-Marine-Coast Guard Medals of Honor. The Medal of Honor was first presented 25 on March 1863 .

In April 1972, the first pandas in the United States arrived at the Smithsonian National Zoo as an act of goodwill following President Richard Nixon's state visit to China. Since that time, the National Zoo's Conservation Biology Institute has become a leader in giant panda conservation teaming with colleagues in China in this effort. These large, charismatic black and white bears have been native to the mountain ranges and bamboo forests of south central China for several million years and are an international symbol for conservation of a vulnerable species. Pandas are one of the few animals in the world to have their natural habitat designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian National Zoo.

On 17 June 1775, the American Revolution’s first major battle occurred outside of Boston. Though named “The Battle of Bunker Hill,” the original objective of both sides was nearby Breed’s Hill. The American militia only withdrew from their entrenched positions after inflicting huge casualties on the British and after running out of ammunition. The Bunker Hill Monument, constructed between 1825 and 1843 on Breed’s Hill, is a 67-m (221-ft) high granite obelisk fronted by a statue of William Prescott, the leader of the American rebels. Prescott is noted for telling his troops, “Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes."

The entrance to Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and governor of Virginia; the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, the ninth US president; and the ancestral home of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president. Established in 1619, the plantation was the site of the first annual, English-speaking Thanksgiving in America, where the military tune "Taps" was composed and first played, and where the first bourbon whiskey in America was brewed.

A memorial to the tune "Taps" at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia. The plaintive military tune is played at the end of day and at funerals. While the Union Army was camped at the Plantation during the Civil War, General Daniel Butterfield and his bugler O.W. Norton, created "Taps" to honor the troops, and it was here that "Taps" was first played.

A bald eagle – symbol of the United States – perched in a tree in Alaska. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

Virgin Peak from Gunnysack Island in southwest Alaska. Photo courtesy of NOAA / Lt Cmdr Dave Neander.

Fiery sunset over the San Juan Islands, Washington. Image courtesy of NOAA / George Leigh.

The Bell X-1 flown by US Air Force Capt. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager on 14 October 1947 when he broke the sound barrier in level flight, giving birth to the supersonic era of flight. Piloting the single engine, single seat, mid-wing rocket plane painted orange, Yeager flew at Mach 1.06, 1,127 km (700 mi) per hour, at an altitude of 13,000 m (43,000 ft) over the Rogers Dry Lake of the Mojave Desert in southern California. The aircraft was named “Glamorous Glennis” for his wife. The X-1 is displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

Each part of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial has a special significance to the civil rights leader it honors. The monument was dedicated on 28 August 2011, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and is inscribed with inspiring quotes from Dr. King that highlight his efforts for freedom, justice, and equality through his philosophy of non-violence. The memorial is located at West Potomac Park at 1964 Independence Avenue, S.W., DC, referencing the year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law. It is the first monument to honor an African-American on the National Mall.

Secretary of War Edwin Stanton designated Arlington National Cemetery a national cemetery on 15 June 1864. Over 400,000 service members (and their eligible dependents) from all of America’s major wars, from the Revolutionary War to present day conflicts, are interred in Arlington’s 639 acres (259 ha; almost exactly 1 sq mi). On 30 May 1868, the first official “Decoration Day,” later renamed Memorial Day, was observed at Arlington National Cemetery.

Statue honoring Sacagawea, a member of the Lemhi-Shoshone tribe, whose courage, resiliency, knowledge of several native languages, and of the people and geography of the Missouri River region were crucial to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Louisiana Purchase territory. She is responsible for saving the expedition from failure when she rescued the instruments, journals, and other necessities for the journey swept from the expedition’s boat into the water during a storm. There are more statues dedicated to her than any other American woman. Sacagawea’s granddaughter was the model for this statue standing in the US Capitol Visitor’s Center. Photo courtesy of US Capitol Visitor's Center.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery in Virginia.

The native North American turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) got its name from its association with Turkish merchants. Before Europeans arrived in the New World, Turkish traders had already been selling the guinea fowl (native to East Africa) in European markets. The English referred to guinea fowl as turkey cocks or turkey hens, shortened to turkeys, because of its link with Turkish merchants. When European conquistadors and colonists started sending Meleagris gallopavo (which had already been domesticated by Native Americans) to Europe, the birds were referred to as turkeys because of their similarity to the already-familiar guinea fowl.