- Every state has its "thing," from natural wonders to each state's most famous foods.
- We considered each state's history and reputations to form a list of what every state is known for.
- Whether Wisconsin cheese or the Grand Canyon in Arizona, every state has something special to offer.
ALABAMA: College football
Think of Alabama and you'll no doubt think of the excited chants of "Roll Tide!" at the University of Alabama. According to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, college football is by far the most popular spectator sport in the state due to a history of successful seasons for the teams at both the University of Alabama and Auburn University.
ALASKA: The northern lights
The northern lights, or the aurora borealis, can be seen from Alaska between mid-September and late April, peaking in March. The farther north you travel, the more likely it is you'll be able to see the gorgeous glowing lights Alaska is known for.
ARIZONA: The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular US tourist attractions. On average, more than 4 million people visit the Grand Canyon National Park each year.
ARKANSAS: Former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton is a native of Hempstead County, Arkansas, and served as the 40th and 42nd governor of Arkansas before becoming the 42nd president of the United States. Clinton was the second-youngest governor in the state's history, after John Selden Roane, and had the second-longest term in the state's history, 11 years and 11 months in total.
CALIFORNIA: Hollywood
From the glitz and glamour of the golden age of Hollywood to the present day, California is known for being a celebrity stomping ground and for producing a majority of the film industry's blockbusters and award-winning movies.
COLORADO: Skiing
Colorado is the nation's No. 1 ski and snowboard destination, home to 28 ski and snowboard resorts. A few of Colorado's ski resorts are among the largest in the nation, allowing skiers to experience the best of the best in regard to snow-covered slopes.
Quick-tip: Insider's reviews team has rounded up the best ski resorts in Colorado. Read more about all ski areas.
CONNECTICUT: Casinos
Connecticut is known for its incredible Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, both located on Native American reservations. Guests can enjoy fine dining, deluxe accommodations, and a wide variety of attractions and shopping opportunities.
DELAWARE: NASCAR
The second-smallest state in the country, Delaware is home to Dover International Speedway, also known as the "Monster Mile," which hosts two NASCAR races each year.
FLORIDA: Theme parks
Known as the theme-park capital of the world, Orlando is home to fan-favorite theme parks and attractions like Universal Studios Orlando and Walt Disney World.
GEORGIA: Peaches
Also known as the setting of "Gone With the Wind," Georgia is known around the world for its peaches. The peach is the state fruit of Georgia, and a peach is even featured on the US Mint's Georgia quarter.
HAWAII: Surfing
Hawaii is recognized as the birthplace of modern surfing, so it's no surprise that the state is famous across the world for the water sport. Surfing possibly dates back 1,000 years and has become a huge part of Hawaii's history and culture.
IDAHO: Potatoes
Idaho is the top potato-producing state and reportedly grows about 13 billion pounds of potatoes each year, most of which are brown russet potatoes.
ILLINOIS: Deep-dish pizza
When it comes to pizza styles in the US, it's usually a match-up between New York and Chicago. Though there are plenty of things to love about Chicago and the state of Illinois, the city is perhaps best known for its deep-dish pizza.
INDIANA: Indianapolis 500
Otherwise known as the Indy 500 or the Indianapolis 500, the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race is held every year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. It is the oldest major automobile race in the world.
IOWA: Cornfields
Iowa is known across the country for its robust farming community. Iowa is the top producer in the country of corn, soybeans, hogs, and eggs, and the state has about 87,500 farms. In 2015, Iowa farmers produced more than 2.51 billion bushels of corn, according to the US Department of Agricultural Statistics Service.
KANSAS: "The Wizard of Oz"
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." When Judy Garland uttered those iconic words in "The Wizard of Oz," Kansas would forever be fondly remembered as Dorothy Gale's home state. Today, Kansans are often reminded there's truly no place like home when looking out on Kansas' sprawling sunflower fields and beautiful farmland scenery.
KENTUCKY: The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is known for its exciting horse racing, distinctly preppy fashions, and, of course, mint juleps. The race is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, and is the longest-running sporting event in US history.
LOUISIANA: Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras, the French celebration of "Fat Tuesday" before Ash Wednesday, is an annual celebration and parade lasting about two weeks. While the biggest event unfolds in New Orleans, Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout Louisiana and is marked by drinking, delicious food, bright colors, beads, and dancing.
MAINE: Lobster
Called the "sweetest, most flavorful lobster on Earth," Maine lobster is known around the world. Lobster contributes an average of $1 billion to Maine's economy annually, making it not only what the state is known for, but a huge economic driver for the state as well.
MARYLAND: Crab
Maryland sits on the Chesapeake Bay and is known across the country for its delicious blue crabs and crab cakes. Visitors flock to Maryland every year to get their fill of the delicacy and to attend the annual crab feast in Baltimore.
MASSACHUSETTS: Dunkin'
A New England staple, Dunkin' — originally Dunkin' Donuts — was founded in Quincy, Massachusetts, and has been a state-favorite coffee brand ever since. In 1950, Bill Rosenberg opened the very first Dunkin' Donuts restaurant with the goal to "make and serve the freshest, most delicious coffee and donuts quickly and courteously in modern, well-merchandised stores."
MICHIGAN: The auto industry
Michigan is the No. 1 state in car manufacturing. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2018, one in five US auto-manufacturing jobs are based in Michigan, and Wayne County alone has more auto-manufacturing jobs than any state except Kentucky.
MINNESOTA: The Mall of America
The Mall of America officially opened in 1922 in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities. It is the largest shopping mall in the United States, with more than 500 stores and 10 attractions, including an indoor theme park. It is visited by more than 40 million people every year.
Many stores in the Mall of America have now reopened after temporarily closing during the pandemic.
MISSISSIPPI: The Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in the world and is the second-longest in the United States. According to the National Park Service, early European explorers used the Mississippi to explore what would one day become the United States. The river was also instrumental in the fur trade and the business of merchants in the early days of American history.
MISSOURI: Budweiser
Budweiser was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, due to its direct access to the Mississippi River, German immigrants moving en masse to the area in the 1800s, and nearby cave formations that allowed brewers to keep their product cool before modern refrigeration was introduced. So, next time you crack open a cold one, thank Missouri.
MONTANA: Cowboys
Montana is known for its wide, grassy plains and flourishing cattle and ranch business. Cowboy culture is very much alive and well in the state.
The state also has a rich history of Native American culture and is home to the site of the last major Native American battle in United States history at the end of the Nez Perce War of 1877.
NEBRASKA: Cattle
In Nebraska, one in four jobs is related to agriculture, and the state consistently ranks as one of the top cattle-producing states in the country. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture also reports that Nebraska's farms and ranches utilize 45 million acres, which is 91% of the state's total land area, and exported $1,318,500,000 in beef and veal in 2018 alone.
NEVADA: Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the largest city in Nevada by population and receives roughly 40 million visitors every year. The city is known across the country for its exciting nightlife, attractions, and dining, as well as for the famous Las Vegas Strip.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Fall foliage
New Hampshire is known for its beautiful fall foliage, and many leaf-peepers travel from across the country just to watch the fall leaves change color along New Hampshire's creeks and in the state's quaint, quintessentially New England villages.
NEW JERSEY: Diners
New Jersey is known as the "diner capital of the world," with some 500 diners throughout the state. If you're visiting New Jersey, make sure to work up a good appetite first!
NEW MEXICO: Los Alamos
New Mexico is perhaps best known for the town of Los Alamos, where the atomic bomb was developed during World War II. On July 16, 1945, the world's first atomic bomb was detonated on the Alamogordo Bombing Range, 200 miles south of Los Alamos.
NEW YORK: Broadway
New York City has countless attractions that draw millions of visitors every year. However, one of the most notable things to do while visiting New York is to attend a Broadway show. According to Broadway League, roughly 11 million spectators annually attend one of New York City's Broadway shows, 63% of whom are tourists, in an average year.
NORTH CAROLINA: The Wright brothers
North Carolina's state motto is "First in Flight," after the Wright brothers' famous flight at Kitty Hawk on North Carolina's Outer Banks on December 17, 1903. It was the first "controlled, powered aircraft flight" in history.
NORTH DAKOTA: Ranches
Farms and ranches occupy more than 39 million acres, almost 90% of North Dakota's land area. The state ranks first in the country for producing many common agriculture products, including spring wheat, flaxseed, and canola.
OHIO: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1983, after being chosen as the location over New York, San Francisco, Memphis, and Chicago. It attracts thousands of visitors each year. Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is considered a highly prestigious honor for the world's most famous musicians.
OKLAHOMA: Tornadoes
While Oklahoma might be known for "Oklahoma!" the musical, it's also a well-known spot for tornadoes. America's very first tornado warning was issued in Oklahoma on March 25, 1948, and the state consistently ranks as one of the states with the most tornadoes.
OREGON: Craft beer
Portland, Oregon, as well as the entire state, is arguably known for its "earthy-crunchy" culture, beautiful hiking trails, cozy coffee shops, and craft beer breweries.
PENNSYLVANIA: The Liberty Bell
Pennsylvania is rich in American history and is home to one of America's most recognizable historical objects, the Liberty Bell. Visitors travel from far and wide to visit Philadelphia and marvel at this symbol of American freedom, crack and all.
RHODE ISLAND: Coffee milk
Only true Rhode Island natives are aware of the delicious drink that is coffee milk. Made with cold milk and coffee syrup, the fan-favorite beverage is also the state's official drink. This unique-to-Rhode Island drink is delicious, so next time you're passing through, be sure you grab a glass.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Beaches
South Carolina's beautiful weather makes it easy to enjoy the state's beaches and stretches of coastline. Home to Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has been a destination for people from across the country.
Quick-tip: Insider's reviews team has rounded up the best Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head hotels. Read more about all the high-end to budget-friendly options.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore is one of the most iconic American tourist attractions in the country. Depicted on the side of the mountain's face are former US presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Mount Rushmore was originally conceived as an idea to drive tourism to South Dakota and its famous Black Hills mountain region.
The history of Mount Rushmore is controversial, however, and some see the monument as a painful reminder of how the land was taken from Native Americans. In addition, Washington and Jefferson were slave owners. Some activists have called for the monument to be removed entirely.
TENNESSEE: Country music
The state's capital, Nashville, is known as "Music City" and is the home of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Country Music Awards. It is also the stomping ground of many country music legends. The state has also produced some of the most iconic names in country music, from Dolly Parton to Johnny Cash.
TEXAS: Barbecue
Texas is known across America for its delicious barbecue. Barbecue is not only part of the cuisine of Texas, but the culture. Though each part of the large state has its own way of cooking meat, Texas as a whole would probably argue that Memphis, Carolina, or Kansas City-style simply can't compare to the dry-rub smokiness of Texas barbecue.
UTAH: National parks
Utah is home to five gorgeous national parks, most notably Arches National Park in Grand County, Utah. The state also has 13 national park service units and multiple national monuments.
VERMONT: Maple syrup
Vermont produces more maple syrup than any other state. In 2017, the state produced nearly 2 million gallons of syrup. Roughly 47% of the country's maple syrup comes from Vermont, and each year, maple syrup lovers travel to St. Albans to celebrate everything maple syrup at the Vermont Maple Syrup festival.
VIRGINIA: Jamestown
Virginia is rich in American history and is regarded as "the birthplace of the nation." The first settlers to set up a permanent residence in America arrived in what would become Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. In 1612, Jamestown settler John Rolfe began planting tobacco, and before long the plant had become a thriving industry in the state — an industry that has continued to this day.
WASHINGTON: Coffee
Starbucks is known across the world as a global leader in coffee sales. However, the very first Starbucks coffee shop opened in Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1971. Coffee fans can still visit the first Starbucks location, which has retained much of its original charm from the signage to the vintage chairs inside.
WEST VIRGINIA: Scenic roads
West Virginia is known for its scenic roads and highways, and the state markets its beautiful drives as a reason to visit the state. From mountain views to sweeping farmlands and tree-lined roads, West Virginia is arguably one of the most beautiful states to take a slow Sunday drive through.
WISCONSIN: Cheese
Wisconsin's famous cheese comes as a result of a thriving dairy industry. According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin's cheese-making industry produced 3.52 billion pounds in 2022, or 25% of the nation's total cheese production.
WYOMING: Mountains
Wyoming, one of the most mountainous states in the country, is home to the Rocky Mountains as well as the first national park in the country, Yellowstone National Park, which features mountains, large canyons, rivers, hot springs, and geysers. The most notable geyser in Yellowstone National Park is Old Faithful.
Correction: August 8, 2023 — An earlier version of this story included a photo caption that misidentified apricots as peaches. The photo was replaced with one of peaches.
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