Riding into the Sunset: USA Landmarks East to West Quiz

Answer: East River

Construction on this bridge started in 1869 and was completed in 1883, which makes it one of the oldest roadway bridges in the United States of America. It has the distinction of being the first steel wire suspension bridge to be constructed. Connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn across the East River it was officially named the Brooklyn Bridge in 1915. Prior to that it had the names New York-Brooklyn Bridge or, at times, the East River Bridge.

Its engineering excellence was recognised in 1972 when it was declared a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

Answer: Neoclassical

Dedicated in 1886, this massive copper sculpture was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and built by the creator of the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel. It was presented to the people of the United States as a gift from the people of France.

The neoclassical period was one of the great periods of sculpture, a period that drew heavily on ancient models. Bartholdi sought to provide a model that could define American liberty in much the same way that Britannia defined the United Kingdom's. France had a figure of liberty on the Great Seal of France but Bartholdi felt that represented too revolutionary a figure that was lacking in sympathy. Hence he made the American version a fully clothed one and, instead of being armed, he gave her a torch as a symbol of peace.

Answer: Three

The three falls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe is the widest and tallest. They are part of the border between Ontario (Canada) and New York (United States). Not only is this set of falls one of the most beautiful in the world and, as such, a huge attraction for tourists, it is also a massive source of hydroelectric power for the region.

The ability to juggle the needs of both the industrial benefits and the commercial wealth generated by tourism is a constant headache for the stewards entrusted with the care of them.

Answer: The Gateway Arch

When it was built, this 630 foot stainless steel arch represented the tallest arch in the world and it was the tallest man-made monument in the western hemisphere. The idea for the arch first surfaced in 1933 but it wasn't until 1945 that a competition was launched to design it.

The final design came from Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in 1947 and it wasn't until 1963 that construction began. It was completed in 1965 and opened in 1967.

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

Doane Robinson, a South Dakota historian, is credited with the initial idea of carving images of famous people into the Black Hills region of South Dakota, as a way to promote tourism in the region. He wanted Lewis and Clark, Red Cloud, and Buffalo Bill Cody but the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum (with help from his son, Lincoln), thought the monument should have wider appeal so they chose the four presidents. Mr Borgum Snr created the sculpture's design and supervised the project from 1927 to 1941. The original plan was to create head to waist carvings, but funding was exhausted by 1941 so the project was ceased after the 60 foot heads were completed.

In total, about 450,000 tons of rock were dynamited off the mountainside to form the images.

Answer: Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park was inaugurated in 1872 making it the first National Park in the USA. Old Faithful is a cone geyser and is located in the northwest of the park in Wyoming but near the Idaho border. It was first discovered in 1870 by members of the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition as they travelled down the Firehole River.

The geyser erupts regularly with a frequency between 44 to 125 minutes. Its spout height is between 106 to 185 feet.

Answer: Dallas

The Texas School Book Depository is a seven story building overlooking Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. On this date, Lee Harvey Oswald, a temporary employee in the building, fired at least three shots from a sixth floor, killing the president who was travelling in a convertible Lincoln Continental as a parade through the streets of Dallas. Oswald himself was killed by Jack Ruby before he could face trial.

Answer: Colorado

The Grand Canyon in Arizona has developed over the last 70 million years. The steep- sided canyon exposes the layers of rock which actually records a great deal of the early geologic history of the North American continent. The canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and at one point achieves depth of 6,093 feet (1,857 meters).

The Pueblo people respected the Grand Canyon as a holy site. Garcia Lopez de Cardenas from Spain who found the canyon in 1540 was the first European to viewed the canyon.

Answer: International Orange

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge carrying US Route 101 traffic from San Francisco to Marin County. When it was opened in 1937, it was longest and the tallest suspension bridge in the world. The main span is 4,200 feet (1,280 m) and has a height of 746 feet (227 m). In 2010, it was declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World. The Frommer's Travel Guide has described the bridge as "possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world".

The famous International Orange colour was originally used as a sealant. The US Navy had wanted the bridge to be painted with black and yellow stripes for visibility reasons for shipping traffic.

Answer: Pacific Park

The Santa Monica Pier, in excess of a hundred years in age now, was designated a Santa Monica Historic Landmark in 1976. It has two joined piers that have had two separate owners. The longer "Municipal Pier" was created to carry sewer pipes to the breakers and it opened in 1909. The shorter, wider one is called the "Pleasure Pier" though it is also known as the "Newcomb Pier". This was built in 1916 by Charles I. D. Looff and his son Arthur.

Pacific Park, true to its name, faces the Pacific Ocean. It contains twelve rides and the world's first solar powered Ferris wheel.

This is the end of our east-west journey and it is only fitting that is finish at the western end of US Route 66.