The Top 5 Most Iconic Landmarks To Visit In The Midwest

When it comes to the most iconic landmarks in the US, the first ones that typically come to mind are in places like New York City, Washington DC, and San Francisco. Truthfully, not many famous sites are located in the Midwest. The so-called "flyover" states are often overlooked, but in fact, some of the most stunning landmarks in the country can be found in Middle America. 

Using a combination of personal knowledge, local news outlets, tourism boards, and traveler testimonies, we created a hand-picked list of the most incredible landmarks in the Midwest. We aimed to choose a combination of both natural wonders and man-made marvels, all within the 12 states that are generally considered part of the Midwest: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. From soaring peaks to celebrated feats of engineering and design, this list proves that the Midwest has just as much beauty, history, and imagination as the rest of the United States. 

In the upper regions of the Midwest, right along the Canadian border, is one of the world's greatest freshwater phenomenons: the Great Lakes. These five lakes are some of the cleanest lakes in the US and are home to a whopping 21% of the world's freshwater. Consisting of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie, the Great Lakes encompass 94,250 square miles in total. Along the shores are some of the country's most beautiful parks, like Isle Royal, an underrated national park in Lake Superior. Also bordering Lake Superior is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, known for its impressive rock formations and surreal turquoise water. Dotting the water's edge are countless charming Great Lakes destinations for a fun getaway, like Duluth, Minnesota and Ashtabula, Ohio.

Several major cities serve as excellent gateways to the Great Lakes. Consider flying into Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, or Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. Although much smaller, Traverse City is an ideal base for exploring Michigan's more remote and famously stunning Upper Peninsula, which is especially beautiful as the leaves change in autumn.

Chimney Rock is a legendary landmark on the Oregon Trail, both in real life and in the iconic computer game — if you know, you know. It stands tall above Nebraska's endless prairie and is now a National Historic Site. Chimney Rock is an enduring symbol of Western expansion, an essential chapter of United States history. "Visible for miles, Chimney Rock was more than a wonder of nature. It was also a significant landmark in measuring the emigrants' progress west," says the National Park Service's website. "As such, it was mentioned in more emigrant diaries than any other landmark on the Oregon Trail!"

Chimney Rock stands at over 300 feet tall and is contrasted dramatically by the flat prairies surrounding it. It has not changed much since those early days, especially given its location in a remote corner of western Nebraska. It's not hard to imagine pioneers riding on horseback toward this unique rock rising like a beacon in the distance.

Sadly, Chimney Rock is slowly shrinking. It has lost about 30 feet in the past 150 years, although no one is sure how tall it was when the first wagons meandered past. Even back then, travelers were certain it would come crumbling down. But Chimney Rock continues to stand proud about 4 miles south of Bayard, Nebraska.  If you hope to see it for yourself, be prepared for a long journey. The nearest major airports are in Denver, Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyoming, both nearly four hours away by car. Alternatively, visitors can take a connecting flight into Western Nebraska-Scottsbluff Regional Airport, located 20 miles from Chimney Rock.

Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore National Memorial could easily be considered one of the USA's most iconic destinations worth visiting at least once, but it is also among the most controversial. Carved into the side of a mountain are the profiles of four US presidents — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. The monument is described as "America's Shrine of Democracy," and while it is visually impressive, its historical significance is complex and painful, particularly for local Indigenous communities.

Mount Rushmore's controversy mostly stems from its location in the Black Hills, a deeply sacred region for the Lakota people that was originally protected under treaty until it was seized due to the discovery of gold. Many people also visit the nearby Crazy Horse Memorial, an unfinished carving commissioned by a Lakota Sioux chief of the famed Lakota leader known as Crazy Horse. The surrounding land is also incredibly beautiful, full of hiking trails and wildlife.

Rapid City is located just 30 minutes away and offers many options for accommodations, but many choose to stay in the smaller, closer town of Keystone, just eight minutes down the road. If you'd rather experience a retro American town that feels stuck in time, stay in the legendary Old West town of Deadwood about an hour south of Mount Rushmore. 

The Midwest isn't just natural wonders and remote historical landmarks — it also has some of the biggest and most vibrant cities in the country. One of these is Chicago, Illinois, a popular city that was named the most beautiful in the world. Between the Lake Michigan and Chicago River views, broad streets, and charming neighborhoods, there is no shortage of beauty to behold in the Windy City. 

One of Chicago's most famous landmark is Willis Tower. Formerly known as Sears Tower, this skyscraper stands at a whopping 1,483 feet tall. Willis Tower was completed in 1974 and has 108 floors — it was the world's tallest building until 1996. The impressive structure is undoubtedly a symbol of Chicago, and can be seen from nearly every corner of the city. Intrepid visitors can visit Skydeck Chicago, a viewing platform at the top of Willis Tower. Skydeck Chicago includes a museum, the country's highest observation deck, and glass boxes that extend over four feet away from the tower, providing thrilling (or perhaps stomach-churning) views of Chicago and Lake Michigan far below.

The Mississippi River is one of most significant waterways in the United States. Known as "America's River," it is one of the world's busiest water highways, and it unlocked incredible potential for expansion and economic success. While some consider the Mississippi River a symbolic boundary between the Eastern and Western US, it is the lifeblood of the Midwest in many ways. Along the shores of the Mississippi in the state of Missouri is Gateway Arch National Park, the safest national park in the US. Located smack in the middle of downtown St. Louis, the park is famously home to the Gateway Arch, a stainless steel arch that is 630 feet tall, making it America's tallest man-made monument.

Completed in 1965, the Gateway Arch is considered the "Gateway to the West." It symbolizes the landmark Louisiana Purchase of 1803, which enabled the westward expansion of America. Visitors can take a tram up to the top for expansive views, tour the historic courthouse, enjoy the beautifully maintained grounds, and stroll along the river.

To create this list of the most iconic landmarks in the Midwest, we relied on trusted local experts, online discussion forums, reputable news outlets, state tourism boards, and official resources like the National Park Service for up-to-date visitor information and historical facts. The author also drew from first-hand knowledge and personal experience traveling in the Midwest.