1

Forestiere Underground Gardens

Image: Francesco Ungaro

Baldassare Forestiere, a Scicilan immigrant built a series of subterranean structures over a period of 40 years in Fresno, California.

Initially created as a small cellar to escape the summer heat, Baldassare carved a series of attached rooms, with underground trees , creating an incredible structure that can be visited today.

2

Swaminarayan Akshardham

Image: Usha Kiran

A structure that most people would associate with a very different part of the world was built between 2015 and 2023 in Robbinsville, New Jersey: a large Hindu temple . It is the largest building of this kind in the United States and the second largest in the world.

3

Cathedral of Learning

Image: henry perks

A 42-story skyscraper that looks like an Art Deco cathedral, the Cathedral of Learning is part of the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Standing at 535 feet, this Late Gothic Revival structure is the tallest educational building in the Western Hemisphere and the second-tallest university building in the world. It is also the second-tallest gothic-style building in the world, after the Woolworth Building in Manhattan.

4

Hammond Castle

Image: Ted Gracz

An impressive feature of the Atlantic coast in the Magnolia area of Gloucester, Massachusetts, the Hammond Castle was the home, laboratory, and museum of John Hays Hammond Jr., an inventor and pioneer in the study of remote control .

The building is composed of modern and 15th-, 16th-, and 18th-century architectural elements, and operates as the Hammond Castle Museum, displaying Hammond's collection of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts as well as exhibits about his life and inventions.

5

San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden

Image: Annie Spratt

Imagine a Japanese Tea Garden set in an abandoned limestone rock quarry, and you will be picturing the San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden, or Sunken Gardens in Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Texas.

After several years working as a quarry, the area was redeveloped as the tea garden that it is today, with walkways, stone arch bridges, an island, a Japanese pagoda, and, of course, a tea room .

6

Ashbel Smith Building

Image: Mario La Pergola

The huge Romanesque Revival building in Galveston, Texas, familiarly known as Old Red, was built in 1891 with red brick and sandstone . The Ashbel Smith Building, as it is officially named, was the first University of Texas Medical Branch edifice.

7

Mission San Xavier del Bac

Image: Sean Benesh

The oldest European structure in Arizona is the Mission San Xavier del Balc. This historical Spanish Catholic mission is 10 miles south of Tucson and was founded in 1692. It is an outstanding example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States and it is a well-known pilgrimage site, with thousands visiting each year on foot and on horseback, some among ceremonial cavalcades or cabalgatas.

8

New River Gorge Bridge

Image: Ashley Knedler

The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge 3,030 feet long over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains. With an arch 1,700 feet long, the New River Gorge Bridge was t he world's longest single-span arch bridge when completed in 1977.

9

National Park Seminary

Image: Charles Marleau

National Park Seminary was a private girls' school open from 1894 to 1942 , located in Forest Glen Park, Maryland. Its name refers to the nearby Rock Creek Park. The historic campus boasts a massive building dating from the late 1800s.

10

Mercer Museum

Image: Camila Credidio

The incredible Mercer Museum is a poured-in-place concrete structure built by the museum's founder, archeologist Henry Chapman Mercer, originally meant as his private residence. It is located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

11

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

Image: Charles Marleau

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, United States, was designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956, and completed in 1961.

Created according to traditional Byzantine architectural forms , but reinterpreted by Wright to suit the modern context, this building offers a striking view to its visitors.

1

"New York, New York" - Frank Sinatra

Image: Adrian Falcon

Of course, when we think of songs about the Big Apple, the first that comes to mind is the iconic "New York, New York," popularized by Frank Sinatra. Perhaps this is because it’s the tune that best captures the essence , resilient spirit, and unwavering magnetism of the city that never sleeps.

It was written in 1977 by John Kander and Fred Ebb as the theme song for New York, New York , a film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro and Liza Minnelli. Minnelli performed the song in the film, but it wasn’t very successful at the time. It was The Voice 's 1980 version that would turn it into the city's unofficial—yet unquestionable—anthem .

2

"Chelsea Hotel #2" - Leonard Cohen

Image: Thought Catalog

The Chelsea Hotel is one of the most emblematic hotels in New York City. Artists such as William S. Burroughs, Bob Dylan, and Chet Baker, among many others, have stayed there. So, it makes perfect sense that some of these stars were inspired by the iconic building to create some of their most famous works.

Such is the case with Leonard Cohen’s "Chelsea Hotel #2," released in 1974. The lyrics not only recount a romantic encounter between the singer-songwriter and Janis Joplin but also capture the city’s bohemian atmosphere at the time.

3

"New York State of Mind" - Billy Joel

Image: Stefano Zocca

In the mid-1970s, after a long stint in Los Angeles, Bronx-born songwriter Billy Joel was terribly missing his hometown. During a return trip to the Big Apple while on tour, the Piano Man wrote his tribute to the city he loved most: "New York State of Mind."

At the time, the song wasn’t even released as a single and went largely unnoticed. However, over time, it became one of Joel’s signature songs . Decades later, the timeless tune would go on to inspire a hip-hop version—the next one on our list.

4

"Empire State of Mind" - Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

Image: ian dooley

With its evocative lyrics, Jay-Z’s modern rhythm, and Alicia Keys’ poignant backing vocals, "Empire State of Mind" captures the essence, energy, and resilient spirit of those who inhabit the city of New York. Released in 2009, the song was an instant hit. It achieved commercial success worldwide and has been featured on multiple critics' top 10 lists of best songs.

As mentioned earlier, the song’s title nods not only to Billy Joel’s "New York State of Mind," but also to rapper Nas’s 1994 single "N.Y. State of Mind."

5

"Autumn in New York" - Billie Holiday

Image: Josh Couch

Did you know that the famous "Autumn in New York" was originally conceived as a poem rather than a song? Its composer, Vernon Duke, wrote it in 1934 while vacationing in Westport, Connecticut, and added the music sometime later. Since then, many artists have recorded their own renditions, including Frank Sinatra, who helped popularize it in 1949.

But perhaps the version that best conveys the haunting melancholy of this iconic jazz standard is Billie Holiday’s, recorded in 1952. With her deep, raspy voice, the Angel of Harlem (see the next song on our list) delivers this love letter to the Empire City like no one else.

6

"Angel of Harlem" - U2

Image: The New York Public Library

"Angel of Harlem," a 1988 single by the Irish band U2, alludes to several New York City landmarks but is also a heartfelt tribute to Billie Holiday.

According to Bono, the song was inspired by the band’s first trip to the Big Apple . When they landed at JFK Airport, a limousine picked them up, and the driver had the radio tuned to Lady Day’s voice. They were so captivated by her sound that they couldn’t help but compose a song in honor of one of the city’s most influential musical figures.

7

"Englishman in New York" – Sting

Image: George Bakos

Bono wasn’t the only foreign artist who was inspired by the Empire City to pen a song. In the late 1980s, Sting released the single "Englishman in New York" as part of his second solo album after the dissolution of The Police. The song quickly became a global hit.

The "Englishman" in question is Sting’s friend, British writer and LGBTQ+ icon Quentin Crisp, who had recently relocated to New York. The singer-songwriter said that the different musical references in the song seek to capture the mood of someone walking down the street and listening to different styles, representing what it's like to walk around New York.

8

"Chelsea Morning" - Joni Mitchell

Image: Dan Braga

One of the most celebrated voices in American folk music, Joni Mitchell, wrote this song about her apartment in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. The song was inspired by the colorful reflections that danced on her walls when sunlight filtered through a mobile made of colored glass she had found in the street.

"Chelsea Morning" is part of her second album Clouds from 1969. Her sweet voice, merry acoustic guitar chords, and hopeful lyrics convey the deep emotions of the hippie lifestyle of a young woman living in 1960s New York.

9

"The Only Living Boy in New York" – Simon & Garfunkel

Image: Camila Fernández

Many songs about New York City explore the loneliness of living in a vast metropolis—and "The Only Living Boy in New York" is no exception. Paul Simon wrote the track when his musical partner, Art Garfunkel, left him behind in the city to film a movie in Mexico.

The song is part of the duo's fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water released in 1970. The song blends bittersweet lyrics with a gentle, introspective melody. Its themes of solitude and longing have resonated with many over the years, inspiring a variety of heartfelt covers by artists who connected with its quiet sorrow.

10

"New York City Serenade" – Bruce Springsteen

Image: Danny Lyon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

While Bruce Springsteen is known for being a New Jersey native, his prolific career also allowed him to write about the city across the Hudson River. "New York City Serenade" is part of the 1973 album The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle , considered by some critics to be one of the greatest albums in rock n' roll history.

The song tells the tormented love story of Billy and Diamonds Jackie as they wander the dark streets of Gotham in the 1970s. Blending Springsteen’s signature suburban rock with elements of jazz and gospel , "New York City Serenade" is one of his most atmospheric and musically ambitious pieces—a sprawling homage to the city’s grit, soul, and romance.

11

"Rhapsody in Blue" – George Gershwin

Image: rosanna17

Although it has no lyrics, we can all agree that this composition is a true musical portrait of 20th-century New York City. Written by George Gershwin in 1924, the piece blends classical tradition with jazz-inflected flourishes, capturing the vibrant, chaotic spirit of the Big Apple in full swing.

The speed and rhythm of the tune perfectly reflect the frenetic life of one of the world's greatest metropolises. "Rhapsody in Blue" is so quintessentially New York that even Woody Allen used it for the opening sequence of his film Manhattan alongside gorgeous vistas of the most iconic locations and buildings in the city.

12

"Downtown Train" – Tom Waits

Image: Erik Calonius, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

You may know this song best from Rod Stewart’s 1989 hit version, but "Downtown Train" was originally written and performed by Tom Waits for his 1985 album Rain Dogs . Without leaving behind his jazz and blues influences —and his trademark avant-garde style—this tune has an unmistakable pop touch.

Set against the backdrop of New York’s restless nightlife, the song paints a wistful portrait of longing and unattainable love—particularly for the elusive Brooklyn girls. Through his gravelly voice and poetic imagery, Waits cements his place as one of the great modern chroniclers of the Big Apple .

1

French Quarter – New Orleans, LA

Image: João Francisco

Also known as the Vieux Carré ("Old Square" in English), the French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans. Established in 1718 by the city’s founders, the neighborhood is now famous for its vibrant music scene—particularly jazz, which was born in its streets and clubs.

Architecturally, the French Quarter is characterized by a blend of Spanish and French colonial influences, with wrought-iron balconies and colorful buildings lining the streets. Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral remain central landmarks, standing as reminders of the city’s rich European history.

2

Harlem – New York City, NY

Image: John Money

Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan known for its African American culture and rich immigration history. Originally founded as a Dutch settlement around 1658, it was named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands. Harlem's complex history has been defined by a series of economic boom-and-bust cycles, with significant population shifts accompanying each cycle.

Successive waves of immigration populated its streets with people from all over the world, including Jewish and Italian Americans in the 19th century and African American residents in the 20th century. The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s cemented the neighborhood's fame, giving rise to figures like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, and helping to shape American popular culture.

3

Beverly Hills – Los Angeles, CA

Image: David Vives

Although technically a suburb of Los Angeles, with distinct neighborhoods of its own, Beverly Hills is still a somewhat closed-knit community, known for its opulent homes and celebrity residents. Originally settled in 1828, the area began as an agricultural community centered around Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas, a Mexican-era land grant.

In 1914, a group of investors, initially searching for oil, discovered water instead and decided to develop the area into a town. By the 1920s, Beverly Hills had become synonymous with wealth and luxury, attracting movie stars like Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, who built lavish estates and cemented the area as a celebrity haven.

4

North End – Boston, MA

Image: Zoshua Colah

Boston's North End is the city’s oldest residential neighborhood, dating back to the 1630s. It played a crucial role in the American Revolution, with notable figures like Paul Revere building their homes there. The Old North Church, where the famous "One if by land, two if by sea" signal was sent, also stands as a landmark of the city’s revolutionary heritage.

The narrow streets and historic buildings offer visitors a glimpse into colonial America, making it one of Boston’s top tourist destinations. The North End is also renowned for its Italian heritage, which took root in the early 1900s, and for hosting the annual Feast of St. Anthony, a tradition dating back over a century.

5

Hollywood – Los Angeles, CA

Image: Jeremy Bishop

Hollywood is arguably the world’s most famous neighborhood when it comes to film and entertainment. Founded in the late 1800s, it quickly became the movie capital of the world with the establishment of the Nestor Film Company in 1911, the first of many studios to call Hollywood home.

Its most iconic landmark, the Hollywood Sign, was originally created in 1923 as an advertisement for a real estate development but has since evolved into a universal symbol of the film industry. While many production studios have relocated over the years, Hollywood remains synonymous with celebrity and filmmaking. Each year, millions of visitors flock to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and explore the streets where countless film legends started their careers.

6

Little Italy – New York City, NY

Image: Alex Haney

Little Italy, located in lower Manhattan, was established in the late 19th century by Italian immigrants who brought their culture, cuisine, and traditions to New York. The neighborhood quickly became a vibrant center of Italian-American life , with bustling markets, restaurants, and festivals.

Though urban development has reduced the original neighborhood to just five blocks, Little Italy still retains its old charm. Iconic spots like Lombardi’s, America’s first pizzeria, continue to draw crowds, while the annual Feast of San Gennaro—a tradition since 1926—celebrates the rich heritage of the community.

7

Chinatown – San Francisco, CA

Image: Kevin Vision

San Francisco’s Chinatown is not only the oldest but also one of the largest Chinese enclaves in North America —and even outside of Asia. Established in 1848, it holds significant historical and cultural importance, playing an important role during the California Gold Rush and the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Today, Chinatown is celebrated for its vibrant markets, distinctive pagoda-style architecture, and lively Chinese New Year festivities. Spanning 24 blocks, it remains a crucial cultural and commercial hub, drawing both tourists and locals with its authentic cuisine and historic landmarks.

8

Hyde Park – Chicago, IL

Image: Manta X

Best known as the home of the University of Chicago, Hyde Park has long been a hub for intellectuals, politicians, and social movements on Chicago’s South Side. Originally developed as a retreat for the city's affluent residents, the neighborhood is also known for its numerous museums and religious institutions, including the famous Museum of Science and Industry.

Hyde Park was also the site of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, where millions of visitors were introduced to groundbreaking innovations, such as the first Ferris wheel. Today, it remains one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods, having been home to notable figures like President Barack Obama.

9

Beacon Hill – Boston, MA

Image: Leslie Cross

Beacon Hill is one of Boston’s most picturesque neighborhoods, known for its Federal-style row houses and gaslit streets. Established in the early 1800s, it quickly became a haven for the city's elite, featuring homes designed by notable architects of the era, including Charles Bulfinch.

Beacon Hill also played a significant role in the abolitionist movement, with prominent figures like Frederick Douglass residing in the area. Adding to its architectural charm, the Massachusetts State House, also designed by Bulfinch, crowns Beacon Hill with its stunning golden dome.

10

Little Havana – Miami, FL

Image: Kian Lem

Little Havana in Miami is the heart of Cuban-American culture in the United States. Home to Cuban exiles and Latin American immigrants, the neighborhood's main street, Calle Ocho, is famous for its colorful murals, Cuban cafés, and lively music. Each year, the Calle Ocho Festival, part of the larger Carnaval Miami celebration, draws thousands of visitors.

A symbol of cultural integration, Little Havana features several significant landmarks, including the historic Tower Theater, which has served as a cultural bridge for newly arrived immigrants by offering films in both English and Spanish.