Within every nation there is a specific history and culture that makes it unique. These aspects are seen through a country’s food, people, religion, and especially architecture. The architecture within a country or city is typically the first thing a person notices about that place.

It successfully reflects the culture of the country or city through its structure and its own history. In Britt Carter’s photo essay entitled, “Architecture That Makes America Great,” she brings attention to various pieces of architecture in America, each having their own extraordinary structure that makes them memorable. The first page in the essay shows two architectural structures with distinct frameworks. The second shows two of the tallest monuments in America and the final page shows how each structure stands out among its surroundings. 

The first image in the photo essay is of the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina. This bridge is often called the “Cooper River Bridge” because it straddles the Cooper River. While this bridge comes with important history, its unique structure is what draws attention. Unlike other bridges, the Ravenel Bridge is held together by two diamond shaped towers that are connected by a series of cables. The photo in the essay is a picture of what it looks like to drive under one of the towers. As seen in the photograph, the cables go through the top of the tower on either side and go all the way down to the bottom. Driving across the bridge allows a visitor to also drive under part of the bridge which makes for a unique view. Following this image is another extraordinary piece of architecture. The 9/11 monument in New York City, New York not only serves as an important memorial, but also provides the city with an unparalleled piece of architecture. The photograph in the essay shows the inside of the monument and the water pouring from the edge. It also shows part of the names engraved along the edge. Each name engraved is a name of a victim from the tragic 9/11 event. 

The next page in the photo essay includes pictures of the Empire State Building and the Gateway Arch. Both pieces of architecture are known for being especially tall. The photograph of the Empire State Building shows the structure’s height compared to the other buildings in front of it. New York City is filled with numerous buildings of various sizes, yet the Empire State Building stands out not only because of its historical value, but also because of its unique structure. The photograph shows that the Empire State Building is topped with a needle-like structure rather than a square-based top like the other buildings in the photograph. Although this building stands out among the rest, it is clear to see that it still blends in with the rest of the city. New York City is famous for its buildings and history; the Empire State Building is just one of the many significant buildings that give New York City its unique reputation. The following photograph is of another tall structure found in St. Louis, Missouri. The picture shows the Gateway Arch in front of other buildings. It is clear to see that this structure towers over the others even though it is not an actual building. The Gateway arch is 630 feet tall, making it the tallest arch in the world (gatewayarch.com). Looking at the bottom left corner of the picture one can see a boat on a body of water neighboring the arch. Comparing this boat to the arch shows just how wide the arch is. 

The final page of the photo essay shows pictures of the Seattle Space Needle and the Biltmore Estate. In the photograph of the Seattle Space needle, one can see how this needle-shaped structure towers over the rest of the city with its extreme height. Similar to the Empire State Building, it differentiates itself from the rest of the city by having a distinct shape. While the other buildings in the picture are average square-shaped buildings, the Seattle Space Needle is extremely tall and shaped unlike any other. The very last photograph is of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. It is clear to see how massive this vintage house is by comparing this home to the people and busses in the photograph. The extreme detail of the exterior and the grand fountain in front of the home reflect the immense wealth that the original owners had. The neat lawn, clean sidewalks, active fountain, and busses full of people show that this estate is still maintained and visited today. While the photograph does not show the extensive amount of land that is included in this estate, it is safe to assume that several acres of land accompany this grand estate. This mansion is surrounded by trees and grass which shows just how much the estate stands out among its surroundings. 

Each picture in the photo essay shows a piece of architecture that has its own unique structure. The first photograph shows what it is like to drive through the historic Ravenel Bridge while the second pictures the unique inside of a modern memorial. The second page shows images of two of the tallest structures in the United States. The final page shows two unprecedented pieces of architecture and how they stand out among their surroundings. While each piece of architecture has a historic aspect, it is the unparalleled framework that grabs attention of both tourists and natives. 
