United States of America | World Heritage Explorer

The United States of America has been a State Party to the World Heritage Convention since 1973. With 26 inscribed properties, the country is one of the more prominent contributors to the World Heritage List. Its inscriptions include cultural and natural properties, representing a diverse heritage portfolio. Some of these properties are shared with neighboring countries, demonstrating cooperation across borders in heritage conservation.

United States of America as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: December 7, 1973

Status: Ratification

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 1976-1983, 1987-1993, 1993-1999, 2005-2009

Total of Mandate Years: 23

Total of Mandates: 4

WHC Electoral Group: I (Western Europe/North America)

World Heritage Sites in United States of America (26)

Cultural: 13 | Natural: 12 | Mixed: 1

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site · Cultural
Carlsbad Caverns National Park · Natural
Chaco Culture · Cultural
Everglades National Park · Natural
Grand Canyon National Park · Natural
Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Natural
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park · Natural
Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks · Cultural
Independence Hall · Cultural
Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek · Natural (Transboundary)
La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico · Cultural
Mammoth Cave National Park · Natural
Mesa Verde National Park · Cultural
Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville · Cultural
Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point · Cultural
Moravian Church Settlements · Cultural (Transboundary)
Olympic National Park · Natural
Papahānaumokuākea · Mixed
Redwood National and State Parks · Natural
San Antonio Missions · Cultural
Statue of Liberty · Cultural
Taos Pueblo · Cultural
The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright · Cultural
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park · Natural (Transboundary)
Yellowstone National Park · Natural
Yosemite National Park · Natural

Map of World Heritage Sites

This interactive map shows the location of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in United States of America.

Tentative World Heritage Sites (17)

Brooklyn Bridge · submitted: April 12, 2017
Ellis Island · submitted: April 12, 2017
Central Park · submitted: April 12, 2017
Early Chicago Skyscrapers · submitted: April 12, 2017
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument · submitted: April 12, 2017
California Current Conservation Complex · submitted: April 12, 2017
Marianas Trench Marine National Monument · submitted: April 12, 2017
Marine Protected Areas of American Samoa · submitted: April 12, 2017
Big Bend National Park · submitted: April 12, 2017
Civil Rights Movement Sites · submitted: January 30, 2008
Dayton Aviation Sites · submitted: January 30, 2008
Thomas Jefferson Buildings · submitted: January 30, 2008
Mount Vernon · submitted: January 30, 2008
Serpent Mound · submitted: January 30, 2008
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge · submitted: January 30, 2008
Petrified Forest National Park · submitted: January 30, 2008
White Sands National Monument · submitted: January 30, 2008

Source: UNESCO Tentative Lists

Country Profile United States of America

Official Name: United States of America

Continent: Americas

Subregion: North America

UNESCO Region: Europe and North America

Capital: Washington, D.C.

Population (2024): 340,110,988

Land Area: 9,147,420 km²

Currency: United States dollar (USD)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: State Party United States of America

About States Parties

States Parties are countries that have joined the World Heritage Convention. They commit to identifying, nominating, and protecting properties of outstanding cultural or natural value on their territory. States Parties are also expected to monitor and report on the condition of inscribed sites.

World Heritage Insights

How Politics and Institutions Shape the UNESCO World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage List is usually seen as a catalogue of the world’s most important cultural and natural places. Yet behind every inscription there is a structured decision process: countries must first join the Convention, run for a seat on the World Heritage Committee, prepare nominations through a fixed procedure, and finally obtain enough votes for inscription.

World Heritage Info

Background

Learn about UNESCO, the World Heritage Convention, Tentative Lists, and how World Heritage Sites are selected and preserved. Explore the history, structures, and processes that protect humanity’s cultural and natural treasures.

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