American Icons

Made in 1751, this bell of copper and tin originally hung in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia and was simply known as the State House bell. It was used to summon lawmakers to legislative sessions and alert townspeople about proclamations.

“It doesn’t really have any significant role at all in the revolutionary struggle,” says Edward T. O’Donnell, a history professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. But in the 1830s, its inscription—a Bible quote that says “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”—became a rallying cry for abolitionists.

“They said, ‘We will never really believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness until we abolish [slavery],’” O’Donnell says. “‘We need a way to ensure that people see this as . . . a concept that’s rooted in the founding of our country.’” So they renamed it the Liberty Bell and began invoking its imagein speeches, posters, and more.

After the Civil War (1861-65), the bell—which by then had acquired its famous crack—traveled the nation for display in various towns, reminding Americans of the time they fought together for independence. Featured on some U.S. currency, including the current $100 bill, it has come to symbolize American freedom.

In 1751, a bell of copper and tin hung in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. It was simply known as the State House bell. The bell was used to summon lawmakers to legislative sessions and alert townspeople about proclamations.

“It doesn’t really have any significant role at all in the revolutionary struggle,” says Edward T. O’Donnell, a history professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. But in the 1830s, its inscription—a Bible quote that says “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”—became a rallying cry for abolitionists.

“They said, ‘We will never really believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness until we abolish [slavery],’” O’Donnell says. “‘We need a way to ensure that people see this as . . . a concept that’s rooted in the founding of our country.’” So they renamed it the Liberty Bell. They began using its image in speeches, posters, and more.

After the Civil War (1861-65), the bell—now cracked—traveled the nation for display in various towns. It reminded Americans of the time they fought together for independence. Featured on some U.S. currency, including the current $100 bill, it has come to symbolize American freedom.

The U.S. flag has undergone 26 revisions since the first iteration in 1775. No one knows for sure who created it initially, although some historians give the credit for the original stars and stripes to New Jersey Congressman and signer of the Declaration of Independence Francis Hopkinson. (Most historians believe the story of Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross stitching the first flag is unproven and is likely a myth.)

Initially, the flag was used mostly to identify ships and military forts. It came to symbolize American patriotism amid the War of 1812 against Great Britain (1812-15). After the Battle of Baltimore, U.S. soldiers raised it over Fort McHenry, announcing victory and inspiring Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The current flag—adopted in 1960 after Hawaii became a state—features 50 stars to represent the 50 states and 13 stripes for the 13 original colonies.

Unlike other U.S. imagery, the flag is unique because “it has something of a sacred status,” with rules about how it should be treated and displayed, says Sarah Weicksel, executive director of the American Historical Association.

In modern times, the flag has sometimes served as a symbol of protest, especially during the 1960s, when demonstrators burned flags to express disagreement with the government over the Vietnam War (1954-75).

Flag burning is usually considered free speech under the law: In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Johnson that the act is protected under the First Amendment in most cases. However, many Americans find flag burning offensive, and President Trump has signaled that he may want to revisit the issue.

The U.S. flag has undergone 26 revisions since the first version in 1775. No one knows for sure who created it initially. Some historians give the credit for the original stars and stripes to New Jersey Congressman and signer of the Declaration of Independence Francis Hopkinson. (Most historians think the story of Betsy Ross sewing the first flag is probably a myth.)

Initially, the flag was used mostly to identify ships and military forts. It came to symbolize American patriotism during the War of 1812 against Great Britain (1812-15). After the Battle of Baltimore, U.S. soldiers raised it over Fort McHenry, announcing victory and inspiring Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The current flag—adopted in 1960 after Hawaii became a state—features 50 stars to represent the 50 states and 13 stripes for the 13 original colonies.

Unlike other U.S. imagery, the flag is unique because “it has something of a sacred status,” with rules about how it should be treated and displayed, says Sarah Weicksel, executive director of the American Historical Association.

In modern times, the flag has sometimes served as a symbol of protest. During the 1960s, demonstrators burned flags to express disagreement with the government over the Vietnam War (1954-75).

Flag burning is usually considered free speech under the law. The Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Johnson that the act is protected under the First Amendment in most cases. However, many Americans find flag burning offensive. President Trump has signaled that he may want to revisit the issue.

The building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., has been known by several names, including the President’s Palace, the President’s House, and the Executive Mansion. It wasn’t until 1901 that President Theodore Roosevelt officially dubbed it the White House, making it sound less formal, to emphasize the accessibility of the presidency.

One of the most well-known buildings in the world, the White House has been occupied by every president except George Washington. (Washington, however, did select the site for it in 1791.) Very little of the original structure remains today, as British soldiers set fire to it during the War of 1812. The White House was then rebuilt, and each president since has made renovations and changes to the building. No matter which political party occupies the Oval Office, the White House remains a symbol of American democracy and the power of the U.S. government.

The building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., has been known by several names, including the President’s Palace, the President’s House, and the Executive Mansion. It wasn’t until 1901 that President Theodore Roosevelt officially named it the White House. He wanted to make it sound less formal and to emphasize the accessibility of the presidency.

One of the most well-known buildings in the world, the White House has been occupied by every president except George Washington. (Washington, however, did select the site for it in 1791.) Very little of the original structure remains because British soldiers set fire to the White House during the War of 1812. It was rebuilt. Each president since has made renovations and changes to the building. No matter which political party occupies the Oval Office, the White House remains a symbol of American democracy and the power of the U.S. government.

Uncle Sam—a cartoon figure with long white hair, a tall hat, and patriotic-looking garb—has symbolized the U.S. government for more than a century. His origins are still disputed, but the most popular version of the story is that his name came from Samuel Wilson, a meat packer in Troy, New York. Wilson supplied barrels of beef for soldiers during the War of 1812, stamping them with “U.S.” to indicate that they were government property. At the time, that abbreviation wasn’t common, so soldiers would say the provisions came from “Uncle Sam.”

Political cartoonists began to draw the character of Uncle Sam in the mid-1800s, and by the turn of the century, he was instantly recognizable. He became even more well-known after appearing in a World War I recruitment poster, in which he points directly at the viewer and declares, “I want you.” Today Uncle Sam is still frequently used to represent the U.S. government, especially in political cartoons.

Uncle Sam—a cartoon figure with long white hair, a tall hat, and patriotic-looking garb—has symbolized the U.S. government for more than a century. His origins are still disputed. The most popular version of the story is that his name came from Samuel Wilson, a meat packer in Troy, New York. Wilson supplied barrels of beef for soldiers during the War of 1812. He stamped them with “U.S.” to indicate that they were government property. At the time, that abbreviation wasn’t common, so soldiers would say the provisions came from “Uncle Sam.”

Political cartoonists began to draw the character of Uncle Sam in the mid-1800s. By the turn of the century, everyone recognized him. He became even more well-known after appearing in a World War I recruitment poster. The iconic poster features him pointing directly at the viewer and declaring, “I want you.” Today Uncle Sam is still frequently used to represent the U.S. government, especially in political cartoons.

When you think of the Statue of Liberty, you probably think of it as a beacon for immigrants to the U.S. That’s not how it was intended, however. The statue, which was a gift from France, was meant to commemorate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence and celebrate the relationship between the two nations. Unveiled in New York Harbor in 1886, the statue quickly became associated with immigration, thanks to its proximity to Ellis Island, the main processing point for millions of people entering the country at that time.

“Within a few months, you start to see illustrations in popular magazines, showing immigrants on a deck of a ship, viewing the Statue of Liberty,” says O’Donnell, the Holy Cross historian. In 1903, a plaque was added with the poem “The New Colossus,” written to raise money for the statue’s pedestal. It contains the line “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” which cemented the statue as a symbol of hope, freedom, and democracy for all.

When you think of the Statue of Liberty, you probably think of it as a beacon for immigrants to the U.S. That’s not how it was intended, however. Originally the statue was a gift from France. It was meant to commemorate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence and celebrate the relationship between the two nations. It was unveiled in New York Harbor in 1886. The location was close to Ellis Island, the main processing point for millions of people entering the country at that time. The statue quickly became associated with immigration.

“Within a few months, you start to see illustrations in popular magazines, showing immigrants on a deck of a ship, viewing the Statue of Liberty,” says O’Donnell, the Holy Cross historian. In 1903, a plaque was added with the poem “The New Colossus,” written to raise money for the statue’s pedestal. It contains the line “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” which cemented the statue as a symbol of hope, freedom, and democracy for all.

It’s hard to think of an accessory more American than the cowboy hat. And yet this iconic garment was actually inspired by the sombreros worn by 19th-century Mexican cowboys. The American settlers who encountered these vaqueros while crossing the U.S. frontier adapted the hat to meet their own needs, making it waterproof, protective, and more durable to withstand life on the range. The hat began to evolve into more than just a utilitarian item, however, as the cowboy became a folk hero in the later 19th century, says Weicksel, of the American Historical Society. Novels, films, and performers such as Buffalo Bill all romanticized the cowboy as a rugged conqueror of the untamed wilderness.

“The cowboy is no longer this working guy whose job is to drive cattle,” Weicksel notes, “but now starts becoming associated with adventure and masculinity and westward movement.”

Many people still see the cowboy hat as a symbol of American spirit and heritage, even as it has evolved into something of a fashion statement. Weicksel credits Western films and the country music industry with keeping it in the public eye. Beyoncé in particular made a splash with her 2024 album, Cowboy Carter, on which she’s pictured wearing a white cowboy hat.

It’s hard to think of an accessory more American than the cowboy hat. And yet this iconic garment was actually inspired by the sombreros worn by 19th-century Mexican cowboys. The American settlers  encountered these vaqueros while crossing the U.S. frontier. They adapted the hat to meet their own needs. Changes included making it waterproof, protective, and more durable to withstand life on the range. The hat began to evolve into more than just a useful item. The cowboy became a folk hero in the later 19th century, says Weicksel, of the American Historical Society. Novels, films, and performers such as Buffalo Bill all romanticized the cowboy as a rugged conqueror of the untamed wilderness.

“The cowboy is no longer this working guy whose job is to drive cattle,” Weicksel notes, “but now starts becoming associated with adventure and masculinity and westward movement.”

Many people still see the cowboy hat as a symbol of American spirit and heritage. It has even evolved into something of a fashion statement. Weicksel credits Western films and the country music industry with keeping it in the public eye. Beyoncé in particular made a splash with her 2024 album, Cowboy Carter, on which she’s pictured wearing a white cowboy hat.

Installed on a hill overlooking Los Angeles in 1923, the Hollywood sign was never meant to symbolize American entertainment. In fact, it started out as an advertisement for an upscale housing development.

In the decade after Hollywood’s first movie studio opened in 1911, people had begun flocking to the city to work in its burgeoning film industry. Developers built an exclusive housing community called Hollywoodland, and to promote it, they put up the giant white block letters—which originally spelled out the full name of the complex—made of wood and sheet metal.

Although the sign was supposed to stay up for only 18 months, it quickly became a symbol of not just the housing development, but also the entire city of Los Angeles. The sign has been restored several times over the decades; it’s now made of more durable steel.

And thanks to its inclusion in many Hollywood blockbusters, it’s recognizable around the world. To many, the sign represents the worldwide influence of American culture and the possibilities of fame, fortune, and glamour associated with it.

“It’s something more than just being a symbol of the movie industry,” Jeff Zarrinnam, chairman of the Hollywood Sign Trust, told DiscoverLosAngeles.com. “It’s about what [people] can aspire to, whatever their hopes and dreams are.”

The Hollywood sign was installed in Los Angeles in 1923. It was never meant to symbolize American entertainment. In fact, it started out as an advertisement for an upscale housing development.

In the decade after Hollywood’s first movie studio opened in 1911, people had begun flocking to the city to work in the growing film industry. Developers built an exclusive housing community called Hollywoodland. To promote it, they put up the giant white block letters—which originally spelled out the full name of the complex—made of wood and sheet metal.

The sign was supposed to stay up for only 18 months.  It quickly became a symbol of not just the housing development but also the entire city of Los Angeles. The sign has been restored several times over the decades. Today it is made of more durable steel.

It is recognizable around the world because it has been featured in so many Hollywood blockbusters. To many, the sign represents the worldwide influence of American culture and the possibilities of fame, fortune, and glamour associated with it.

“It’s something more than just being a symbol of the movie industry,” Jeff Zarrinnam, chairman of the Hollywood Sign Trust, told DiscoverLosAngeles.com. “It’s about what [people] can aspire to, whatever their hopes and dreams are.”

Before World War II (1939-45), women were typically limited to jobs that were considered feminine, such as teaching and nursing. But once the war began and millions of men left to serve overseas, women began working in factories and shipyards, reshaping society’s assumptions about their role in the economy.

The first time Americans heard of Rosie the Riveter, it was in a 1942 song of that name celebrating a fictional factory worker meant to represent the collective effort of these women. The celebrated artist Norman Rockwell soon painted Rosie on her lunch break in front of the U.S. flag. Plenty of other artists drew her too. The famous “We Can Do It!” poster was created in 1943 to motivate female workers at a Pennsylvania factory.

When the war ended and the men returned to the U.S., many women began to demand workplace equality.

Rosie continued to inspire women long after the war. Women’s rights movements of the 1960s and ’70s embraced her as a symbol of feminism, strength, and gender equality, traits she still represents.

“Today,” Weicksel says, “for many women, Rosie the Riveter is an inspiration and also a symbol of defiance.”

Before World War II (1939-45), women were typically limited to jobs that were considered feminine, such as teaching and nursing. Once the war began, millions of men left to serve overseas. Women began working in factories and shipyards, reshaping society’s assumptions about their
role in the economy.

In 1942, Americans heard of Rosie the Riveter for the first time. A song of that name celebrated a fictional factory worker who was meant to represent the collective effort of these women. The famous artist Norman Rockwell soon painted Rosie on her lunch break in front of the U.S. flag. Plenty of other artists drew her too. The famous “We Can Do It!” poster was created in 1943 to motivate female workers at a Pennsylvania factory.

The war ended and the men returned to the U.S. Then many women began to demand workplace equality.

Rosie continued to inspire women long after the war. Women’s rights movements of the 1960s and ’70s embraced her as a symbol of feminism, strength, and gender equality, traits she still represents.

“Today,” Weicksel says, “for many women, Rosie the Riveter is an inspiration and also a symbol of defiance.”

The peace sign is now often associated with the anti-war and civil rights movements in 1960s America. But this symbol originated with protests against nuclear weapons in London in 1958. It’s designed to represent the letters N and D—for nuclear disarmament—in the semaphore alphabet used by sailors to communicate. Gerald Holtom, the activist who created the symbol, once wrote that he’d also designed it to look a bit like “an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards.”

American civil rights leader and antiwar activist Bayard Rustin, a close ally of Martin Luther King Jr., attended the U.K. protests. He likely brought the symbol to the U.S. for the first time. The symbol came to represent peace more generally, gaining widespread appeal among young people in the 1960s protesting against the Vietnam War. Throughout its history, it’s been used in support of many movements—including environmental protection and women’s rights—and, of course, as a popular graphic on merchandise.

The peace sign is now often associated with the anti-war and civil rights movements in 1960s America. But this symbol originated with protests against nuclear weapons in London in 1958. It’s designed to represent the letters N and D for nuclear disarmament. It was created from the semaphore alphabet used by sailors to communicate. Gerald Holtom, the activist who created the symbol, once wrote that he’d also designed it to look a bit like “an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards.”

American civil rights leader and anti-war activist Bayard Rustin, a close ally of Martin Luther King Jr., attended the U.K. protests. He likely brought the symbol to the U.S. for the first time. The symbol came to represent peace more generally. It gained widespread appeal among young people in the 1960s protesting against the Vietnam War. Throughout its history, it’s been used in support of many movements—including environmental protection and women’s rights. It is also a popular graphic on merchandise.

Today some of the world’s most recognizable symbols are the logos of major U.S. companies. Although it may be hard to imagine now, brands such as McDonald’s, Disney, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and Apple started out as small enterprises that had to overcome obstacles to succeed, in the vein of the classic American success story. As many of these companies expanded across the globe, they were often welcomed, notes Simon of Temple University.

“It’s the promise of America,” he says. “In some ways, people celebrate them coming in.”

But as major U.S. companies have grown more powerful, some critics see their logos as symbols of American cultural dominance and threats to local businesses, Simon adds. They worry that as these companies expand, they’ll make every place the same, leaving no space for individual cultures or ideas to thrive.

Years from now, will Americans and people around the world continue
to recognize these logos as symbols of this time? That remains to be seen.

“We’re constantly in the process of making history,” Weicksel says. “And so we’re constantly reinventing which national symbols we look to.” 

Today some of the world’s most recognizable symbols are the logos of major U.S. companies. Although it may be hard to imagine now, brands such as McDonald’s, Disney, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and Apple started out as small businesses that had to overcome obstacles to succeed. They are versions of the classic American success story. As many of these companies expanded across the globe, they were often welcomed, notes Simon of Temple University.

“It’s the promise of America,” he says. “In some ways, people celebrate them coming in.”

But as major U.S. companies have grown more powerful, some critics see their logos as symbols of American cultural dominance and threats to local businesses, Simon adds. They worry that as these companies expand, they’ll make every place the same. This will in turn leave no space for individual cultures or ideas to thrive.

Years from now, will Americans and people around the world continue to recognize these logos as symbols of this time? That remains to be seen.

“We’re constantly in the process of making history,” Weicksel says. “And so we’re constantly reinventing which national symbols we look to.”