National Symbols, Monuments, and Landmarks - Third Grade Social Studies
When you see a majestic bald eagle soaring on broad wings over a mountain river, spot the bold red, white, and blue stripes of the American flag fluttering in the breeze outside your school, or look at a picture of the Statue of Liberty raising her torch over New York Harbor, you immediately feel a sense of pride and connection to our nation's story. A national symbol is an object, animal, plant, emblem, or anthem that officially represents the history, values, and shared spirit of a country. A monument or landmark is a historic structure, building, or natural site preserved to commemorate significant people and events. Together, these treasures tell the story of American freedom and resilience.
What Are National Symbols?
National symbols unify millions of diverse people living across thousands of miles under a single, shared heritage. They stand for foundational ideals like liberty, courage, unity, and independence.
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| MAJOR AMERICAN NATIONAL SYMBOLS |
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| THE AMERICAN FLAG : "Old Glory"; 13 stripes and 50 stars |
| THE BALD EAGLE : National animal; represents strength & freedom |
| THE LIBERTY BELL : Cracked bronze bell in Philadelphia; liberty |
| THE GREAT SEAL : National emblem with eagle, arrows, olive branch |
| "THE STAR-SPANGLED : National anthem composed by Francis Scott Key |
| BANNER" |
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The American Flag: Thirteen Stripes and Fifty Stars
The flag of the United States, affectionately nicknamed "Old Glory" or the "Stars and Stripes," is filled with deliberate symbolism:
- The 13 Horizontal Stripes (seven red and six white) represent the original thirteen American colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776.
- The 50 White Stars arranged on a field of deep blue represent the fifty states that comprise our nation today. Whenever a new state joined the Union, an additional star was added to the flag on the following Fourth of July!
- The colors also carry meaning: Red stands for valor and bravery; White stands for purity and innocence; and Blue stands for vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
The Bald Eagle: Sovereign Ruler of the Skies
Chosen as the national emblem of the United States in 1782 by the Second Continental Congress, the bald eagle is a bird of prey native strictly to North America. With its keen eyesight, massive wingspan, and powerful flight, the bald eagle symbolizes strength, courage, independence, and freedom. The Great Seal of the United States shows the bald eagle clutching an olive branch (representing peace) in its right talon and a bundle of thirteen arrows (representing military defense) in its left talon.
The Liberty Bell: Proclaiming Freedom
Cast in London in 1752, the bronze Liberty Bell hangs today in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Inscribed around its top rim is a verse from the Bible: "Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof." Tradition holds that the bell rang out to summon citizens to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. The famous jagged crack in the bell appeared in the early 1800s, turning it into an enduring symbol of American liberty and the anti-slavery abolitionist movement.
Famous National Monuments and Landmarks
Throughout our history, the American people have erected monuments and preserved historic landmarks to honor visionary leaders and remember defining national struggles.
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| ICONIC AMERICAN MONUMENTS & LANDMARKS |
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| [ STATUE OF LIBERTY ] [ MOUNT RUSHMORE ] |
| New York Harbor Black Hills, South Dakota |
| Gift of friendship from France 60-foot granite carved heads |
| Welcomes immigrants to freedom Washington, Jefferson, |
| T. Roosevelt, Lincoln |
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| [ WASHINGTON MONUMENT ] [ LINCOLN MEMORIAL ] |
| Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. |
| 555-foot marble obelisk Seat of Martin Luther King's |
| Honors the first U.S. President "I Have a Dream" speech |
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The Statue of Liberty: Lady Liberty Welcomes the World
Rising majestically out of New York Harbor on Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty (formally named "Liberty Enlightening the World") was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States in 1886. Designed by sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, Lady Liberty holds a glowing torch high in her right hand to light the path of freedom, while her left hand cradles a tablet inscribed with the date of the Declaration of Independence: July 4, 1776 (JULY IV MDCCLXXVI). Broken shackles lie at her feet, symbolizing the end of tyranny and slavery. For millions of immigrants arriving by ship, the statue was their first breathtaking glimpse of America.
Mount Rushmore: Carved in Granite
High in the Black Hills of South Dakota, sculptor Gutzon Borglum and hundreds of workers carved four colossal sixty-foot-tall faces into solid granite rock between 1927 and 1941:
- George Washington: Represents the birth of our nation as our first president.
- Thomas Jefferson: Represents national growth as author of the Declaration of Independence and purchaser of the Louisiana Territory.
- Theodore Roosevelt: Represents development and conservation of national resources.
- Abraham Lincoln: Represents the preservation of the Union during the Civil War.
The Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial
In our nation's capital, Washington, D.C., monuments honor iconic leaders along the National Mall. The Washington Monument is a towering 555-foot marble obelisk commemorating George Washington. Nearby stands the Lincoln Memorial, where a massive marble statue of Abraham Lincoln looks out over the Reflecting Pool. It was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his electrifying "I Have a Dream" speech, calling for racial equality and justice.
The National Anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
During the War of 1812, an American lawyer named Francis Scott Key watched British warships bombard Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor all through a stormy night. When dawn broke on September 14, 1814, Key looked through his telescope and saw that the giant American flag was still flying triumphantly above the fort! Overjoyed, he penned a poem that became our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," which citizens sing with hands over hearts before baseball games and patriotic parades.
Chapter Practice Exercises
Question 1: What do the fifty stars and the thirteen horizontal stripes represent on the American flag?
Question 2: Why was the bald eagle selected as the national bird and emblem of the United States in 1782?
Question 3: What gift did France present to the United States in 1886, and what does the statue hold in each of its hands?
Question 4: Which four American presidents are carved into Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, and what main ideal does each president represent?
Solutions and Explanations
Solution 1: On the American flag, the fifty stars represent the fifty individual states that make up the nation today, and the thirteen horizontal stripes (seven red, six white) represent the original thirteen colonies that declared independence from Britain in 1776.
Solution 2: The bald eagle was chosen because it is a majestic bird of prey native exclusively to North America, known for its keen vision, immense strength, and soaring flight, making it an ideal symbol of courage, freedom, and independence.
Solution 3: France presented the Statue of Liberty to the United States in 1886. In her right hand, Lady Liberty holds high a glowing golden torch to illuminate the path to freedom; in her left hand, she holds a tablet inscribed with the date of American Independence: July 4, 1776.
Solution 4: The four presidents carved into Mount Rushmore are George Washington (representing the birth of the nation), Thomas Jefferson (representing growth and expansion), Theodore Roosevelt (representing economic development and conservation), and Abraham Lincoln (representing the preservation of the Union).