Statue of Liberty considered one of the best manmade US landmarks

Caroline OsseDigital Content
March 29, 2012, 8:34 PM GMT+0

The Statue of Liberty, the national landmark on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, has been recognized by many as the patriotic American symbol of freedom and liberty. While now it is an iconic element of United States history, the statue was originally designed and created in France, and given by France in honor of the friendship between the two countries.

Among 16 manmade nationally-known landmarks in the US, a majority of survey respondents (57%) chose the Statue of Liberty as one of the top three best manmade landmarks in the US. Nearly half of respondents (49%) claim that Mount Rushmore is one of the top three; the next contender is the Hoover Dam, which was chosen as part of the top three by 26%. On the other hand, the Hollywood Sign and the Sears Tower were independently chosen as part of the top three by the least number of respondents (2%).

Between age ranges, 15% of respondents, ages 18-29, think that Disneyland, located in Anaheim, California, is one of the best manmade landmarks in the US. Only 3% of respondents who are 65 years old or older agree. Of that age group, 37% think that the Hoover Dam is one of the best, while only 14% of the younger age group agrees.

Among geographical regions, 25% of Northeasterners think that the Empire State Building is one of the top three best landmarks, while only about 12% each of those in the Midwest, South, and West agree. The only other significant deviation from the total percentages was with the Las Vegas Strip; only 4% each of those living in the Northeast, South, and West think that it should be considered as one of the top three, versus 10% of Midwesterners.

In deviation from the total respondent preference for the Statue of Liberty, a majority of Republicans (58%) consider Mount Rushmore as one of the best manmade landmarks in the US. Democrats and Independents, on the other hand, lean more toward the Statue of Liberty (60% and 57%, respectively). While 30% of both Republicans and Independents chose the Hoover Dam as one of the top three, Democrats were nearly tied in choosing between the Hoover Dam and the White House (24% and 23%, respectively).