United States of America
The United States of America joined the World Heritage Convention in 1973. With 27 inscribed properties, the country is one of the more prominent contributors to the World Heritage List. The United States of America ranks 11th worldwide and 2nd in Americas by number of World Heritage Sites. 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 (27)
Cultural: 13 | Natural: 13 | 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)
- Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge · Natural
- 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.
World Heritage Inscription Timeline
1978
Mesa Verde National Park
1978
Yellowstone National Park
1979
Everglades National Park
1979
Grand Canyon National Park
1979
Independence Hall
1979
Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek
1980
Redwood National and State Parks
1981
Mammoth Cave National Park
1981
Olympic National Park
1982
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
1983
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1983
La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico
1984
Statue of Liberty
1984
Yosemite National Park
1987
Chaco Culture
1987
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
1987
Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville
1992
Taos Pueblo
1995
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
1995
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
2010
Papahānaumokuākea
2014
Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point
2015
Moravian Church Settlements
2015
San Antonio Missions
2019
The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright
2023
Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks
2026
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
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
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)
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.