# Sites of Americana **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 30, 2008, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528 "2008-04-30T22:20:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/1 "2008-04-30T22:20:31Z")
If you were planning the all-American roadtrip and wanted to see the full range of the American experience from the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore to Carhenge and the world’s laregst ball of twine, what spots would be on your Must See list? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/2 "2008-04-30T22:44:22Z")
Metropolis, & pose with the statue of Superman. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/3 "2008-04-30T23:32:34Z")
You already mentioned my favorite: [Carhenge.](http://www.carhenge.com/) Others would include the [Crazy Horse Memorial](http://www.crazyhorse.org/) (which is a shitload more impressive than Mt. Rushless), Rapid City’s [Reptile Gardens](http://www.reptilegardens.com/), and [Cabela’s](http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/home/ghome.jsp;jsessionid=TZ4V3NU51IO2ZLAQBBKSCNVMCAEFMIWE?rid=0180101070502&cmCat=perf&cm_ven=performics&cm_cat=Google_Brand&cm_pla=Brand_brand_brand&cm_ite=cabela's&_requestid=74681) in Sydney, Nebraska. ---
**Author:** ![Kalibakthegreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@Kalibakthegreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalibakthegreat)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/4 "2008-04-30T23:40:11Z")
[wall drug](http://www.walldrug.com/) the [Cabazon Dinosaurs](http://www.cabazondinosaurs.com/main.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/5 "2008-05-01T00:22:00Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Metropolis, & pose with the statue of Superman. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Just to make this post helpful, he’s referring to the real town of Metropolis, Illinois: > **[The Heart of Local Business in Metropolis - Metropolis Chamber of Commerce](https://metropolischamber.com/)** > > Welcome to the Metropolis Chamber, your hub for local business, community events, and resources to help Metropolis thrive and grow. > **[Superman's Hometown, Metropolis, Illinois](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2090)** > > Metropolis is the the self-proclaimed "Hometown of Superman," celebrating its local hero every possible way it can. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/6 "2008-05-01T01:47:50Z")
Well, since the _Great Lakes_ should be on your list, if you stop in Metropolis you could stop in (or at least drive through) Wilmington (IL) to see the Astronaut at the Launching Pad diner. He’s one of the original Paul Bunyan guys, repainted. Been standing out there for as long as I can remember, and he’s on part of the original Rt. 66, so there’s a bit more americana for you. [http://www.kicksforthekids.net/2007/08/](http://www.kicksforthekids.net/2007/08/) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/7 "2008-05-01T02:07:19Z")
The original Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant ([Sanders Cafe](http://www.chickenfestival.com/sanders.htm)) in Corbin, Kentucky. (Incidentally, I always check out [Roadside America](http://www.roadsideamerica.com/) for ideas whenever I plan a road trip.) (Hmm. I see **BBV Lou** already mentioned that.) And you gotta see the Arch in St. Louis, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/8 "2008-05-01T02:53:50Z")
The Strip next to Bagnell Dam at Osage Beach, Missouri. It looks like something out of the 1930s. For that matter, the Las Vegas Strip. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/9 "2008-05-01T14:58:23Z")
The Catsup Bottle water tower in Collinsville, IL. And while you’re in southwestern Illinois, it couldn’t hurt to check out the [Piasa Bird](http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R4/PRM/Piabrd.htm). ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/10 "2008-05-01T15:16:04Z")
On a semi-serious note, you should come through Philly – not only the Liberty Bell and all that, but the statue of Rocky by the Art Museum steps, [The Mutter Museum](http://www.collphyphil.org/mutter.asp), [The Mummer Museum](http://mummersmuseum.com/home.html), cheesesteaks and hoagies, etc. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/11 "2008-05-01T16:57:27Z")
The Everglades [Natural Bridge, Virginia](http://www.naturalbridgeva.com/) And of course, the [Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum](http://www.ludden.com/sandp/) in Gatlinburg, TN. ---
**Author:** ![Purgatory\_Creek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Purgatory\_Creek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purgatory_Creek)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/12 "2008-05-01T18:21:42Z")
If you wander into North Dakota by accident, you can always stop to see the world’s largest buffalo in Jamestown. My vote goes to [The Museum of Questionable Medical Devices](http://www.museumofquackery.com/welcome.htm). ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/13 "2008-05-01T18:41:23Z")
you can find 'em all at: [www.roadsideamerica.com](http://www.roadsideamerica.com) neatly organized by category of your favorite roadside oddies: Muffler Men 2-Story Outhouses Big Bovines Big Fruit Big Coffee Pots Mega-Messiahs Mystery Spots Shoe Trees Smiley Water Towers Stonehenges (that’s right, folks…it’s plural) Tiny Churches Transparent Gals White Squirrels ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/14 "2008-05-01T19:35:01Z")
Well, I would start up in Acadia National Park, Maine. Work your way down to Boston with all the Freedom Trail historical shit there. Head west to Sturbridge, MA. Go south to Mystic, CT (maybe stop at Foxwoods or Mohican Sun casinos). Continue down I-95 to NYC. Then Philly, Jamestown, VA, and finally Washington, DC. After that someone else can take over. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/15 "2008-05-01T19:47:59Z")
South of the Border so you can buy fireworks. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/16 "2008-05-01T22:48:26Z")
Take the Circle Line cruise around Manhattan. Visit the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See Niagara Falls. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/17 "2008-05-02T02:24:59Z")
While you’re driving through California, don’t miss [Lake Tahoe](http://www.beautifulvista.com/Recent_Photos/Bike_Ride_Photos/Emerald_Bay_Lake_Tahoe.jpg) and [Yosemite](http://www.sagarmatha.com/images/yosemite.gif) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/18 "2008-05-02T03:14:41Z")
Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Monument Valley. Gateway Arch, Golden Gate Bridge, Fenway Park Blue Ridge Parkway, Pacific Coast Highway, Beartooth Highway ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/19 "2008-05-02T03:40:09Z")
You must dig Wall Drug and see Rock City, certainly. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528/20 "2008-05-02T13:00:30Z")
Yellowstone NP, Golden Gate bridge, Disneyland, a drive along the Oregon coast, the San Diego zoo. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sites-of-americana/447528.md?page=2)