American Icons

America lacks no shortage of icons. People from every walk of life, every industry, and every historical era have had enormous impacts on American culture and how America is perceived in the world. Which American icons would make your list? Here are the ones that made ours.

John Dillinger

John Dillinger became a folk hero in the midst of the Great Depression. Disillusioned with banks and the government, Americans embraced the exploits of Dillinger, who carried out a series of high-profile crimes—including bank robberies and prison escapes—between 1933 and 1934.

FBI, Wikimedia Commons

Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong instantly became a global icon when he stepped onto the moon’s surface on July 20, 1969. Armstrong’s words at that moment have become almost as iconic as the man himself: "That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.

Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., Wikimedia Commons

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark

From May 1804 to September 1806, Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark led a team of US Army and civilian volunteers west from Illinois to the Pacific Ocean and back again. Their journey sparked the imaginations of thousands of Americans who would later move west. 

Charles Willson Peale, Wikimedia Commons

Sacagawea

Sacagawea was only about 14 years old, in a non-consensual marriage with a caucasian trapper, and pregnant with her first child when she began working with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Instrumental in the expedition's success, she later became a symbol of women's worth and independence.

Edgar Samuel Paxson, Wikimedia Commons

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth was the most celebrated American athlete of his era and one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In addition to his skill on the baseball diamond, he achieved iconic status thanks to his personal charisma and rags-to-riches story.

Irwin, La Broad, & Pudlin., Wikimedia Commons

Sitting Bull

As a spiritual and war leader, Sitting Bull successfully led the defeat of General George Custer at Little Big Horn. The Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux chief became an enduring symbol of Indigenous resistance. 

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Billy Graham

Best remembered as a television evangelist, Billy Graham was an ordained Southern Baptist minister. He was a powerful orator, preaching Christianity in layman's terms to literally billions of people through his radio and television broadcasts. He was also important to the civil rights movement, advocating for racial integration as early as 1953.

Warren K. Leffler, Wikimedia Commons

Henry Ford

Henry Ford is best known as the founder of the Ford Motor Company, but his impact on American life has been far more substantial than simply providing affordable cars to the marketplace. He revolutionized assembly-line methods in factories and how we perform our jobs at work, leading to the rise of the middle class.

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

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Walt Disney

The iconic Walt Disney is synonymous with animated films and many of the animated characters that have been beloved for generations. He—and his legacy—have had an enormous impact on global culture and economics.

Agence de presse Meurisse, Wikimedia Commons

Dolly Parton

One of the most beloved musical artists of all time, Dolly Parton is also one of the most successful. But beyond her success as an artist, she's widely beloved for her rags-to-riches story, philanthropic efforts, and empathetic, warm-hearted demeanor.

Cherie A. Thurlby, Wikimedia Commons

Eleanor Roosevelt

Widely considered the greatest American first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt was revered for her work as an activist, politician, and diplomat. She worked tirelessly toward political and social justice and had a key role in the development of civil and human rights.

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Lucky Luciano

Born Salvatore Lucania in Sicily, Lucky Luciano was a ruthless and ambitious mobster. Dubbed "the father of modern organized crime", Luciano remains one of America's most notorious criminal figures.

New York Police Department, Wikimedia Commons

Pocahontas

Pocahontas was a spunky teenager in the early 1600s when she began serving as a translator, ambassador, peacekeeper, and leader for Native American groups as they began interacting with English colonists. She remains iconic for her extraordinary strength and courage.

Elmer Boyd Smith, Wikimedia Commons

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra's incredible career as a singer and actor spanned six decades—and made him one of the biggest stars of the 20th century. He made his mark as one of America's first teen idols, causing riots in New York City in the early 1940s.

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Helen Keller

Helen Keller's long list of major accomplishments would have made her iconic regardless, but her achievements are all the more astonishing since she was deaf and blind. A college graduate, Keller was a powerful humanitarian and advocate, serving as spokesperson for the American Federation for the Blind and co-founding the American Civil Liberties Union.

Los Angeles Times, Wikimedia Commons

Edith Wharton

In 1921, Edith Wharton became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Age of Innocence. Known for her often caustic portrayal of America's upper class, Wharton wrote over 20 novels and novellas. 

E. F. Cooper, Wikimedia Commons

Billy The Kid

Born Henry McCarty, Billy the Kid became one of the most notorious outlaws of the American West. His exploits—which include killing 21 men before his untimely death at the age of 21—became highly romanticized. 

Ben Wittick, Wikimedia Commons

Martin Luther King, Jr

One of the most iconic American leaders of the 20th century, Martin Luther King, Jr (born Michael King) was a key figure in the civil rights movement. King is famed and beloved for his peaceful approach to protesting and his work to rid America of segregation and racism. 

Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons

Brigham Young

Born in Vermont, Brigham Young later settled in Mendon, New York, where he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After Joseph Smith's untimely end in 1844, Young led the Mormons to Utah, where they settled in present-day Salt Lake City. 

Young is iconic as a religious leader who helped colonize the American West.

Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass escaped a life of slavery in 1838. His classic autobiography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written By Himself was published in 1845. He became known as a powerful author, orator, and national leader of the abolitionist movement in America.

George Kendall Warren, Wikimedia Commons

Susan B Anthony

An active crusader in the temperance, abolitionist, and women's rights movements, Susan B Anthony is best known for her work for women's suffrage. She had a pivotal role in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment—colloquially known as the Susan B Anthony Amendment—which gave women the right to vote.

Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright was an architect who designed some of the world's most iconic structures. His work continues to have a significant influence on contemporary architecture and home design.

Al Ravenna, Wikimedia Commons

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He remains best known for his role in the rise of pop art and his bright, colorful paintings of American icons ranging from Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali to Campbell's soup cans. 

Bernard Gotfryd, Wikimedia Commons

Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock's unique "drip technique" revolutionized art and gave the world a new way to think about and view art. He was one of the first painters to move from the boundaries of form to pure expression and, as such, was one of the leaders of the abstract expressionist movement. 

Tony Vaccaro, Getty Images

Georgia O’Keeffe

Georgia O'Keeffe is an iconic American artist. She was influential in the Modernism movement, painting clean, simple large-scale images of flowers, bones, desert landscapes, and architectural subjects.

Alfred Stieglitz, Wikimedia Commons

Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams, the iconic American photographer renowned for his stunning black-and-white landscape photos, was an advocate for environmental conservation. He was particularly devoted to documenting the last remaining fragments of America's untouched wilderness.

J. Malcolm Greany, Wikimedia Commons

Anne Hutchinson

Iconic as one of America's first feminists, Anne Hutchinson arrived in Boston in 1634, when she was 43 years old. She began holding meetings in her home to discuss religious sermons and Puritan beliefs. She quickly drew the ire of male Puritan leaders who feared her defiance of gender roles would inspire other women to rebel too. 

She was excommunicated and banished from Boston in 1637.

Fotosearch, Getty Images

Elvis Presley

One of America's greatest pop icons, Elvis Aaron Presley defined rock and roll culture—not just by fusing musical genres to create a new sound, but also through his dance moves, attitude, and clothing styles. Forever known as the King of Rock and Roll, he gave voice to an entire generation.

Rossano aka Bud Care, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mark Twain

Mark Twain—born Samuel Clemens—is considered one of the greatest, most beloved American writers of all time. His best-known works include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885).

A.F. Bradley, Wikimedia Commons

Madonna

As the best-selling female recording artist of all time, Madonna has had a significant impact on the global musical landscape. In addition to selling over 330 million records worldwide, she opened doors for other female singers and redefined what it means to be a female pop star. Time magazine considers her to be one of the most powerful women of the 20th century.

chrisweger, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson had an incredible impact on global culture through music, dance, and fashion. Considered one of the most influential entertainers of all time, he helped to desegregate popular music, creating a pathway to superstardom that defied barriers and that other performers could follow. 

Jo Hale, Getty Images

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan has a unique blend of skill, technique, artistry, and showmanship that redefined what it means to be a basketball player. He became iconic not just for his athleticism on the court but his endorsement of several products—most notably Nike's Air Jordans—that made him a household name.

Focus On Sport, Getty Images

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is iconic as a guitarist, musician, songwriter, and cultural figure. He's widely regarded as the greatest guitarist in popular music, revolutionizing how the electric guitar is played.

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Marilyn Monroe

Is there anyone more iconic than Marilyn Monroe? The allure of the blonde bombshell and her impact on culture—particularly film and fashion—has not waned in the decades since her death.

Bert Parry, Wikimedia Commons

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie's status as an American icon can hardly be debated, given the number of buildings across the US that bear his name. As an industrialist and investor, he became one of the richest men in America's history. But he's best known for his philanthropic initiatives centred around education, public libraries, and world peace.

Theodore C. Marceau, Wikimedia Commons

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali remains iconic both for his unique skills in the boxing ring and his humanitarian efforts. He is beloved the world over for his work towards achieving equality, peace, and justice for all.

Len Trievnor, Getty Images

Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King is iconic for the indelible mark she left on women's tennis. Not only is King one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but she also advocated for equal pay in tennis as part of her commitment to women's and LGBTQ rights and social justice.

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Malcolm X

Like Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X was a key figure in the civil rights movement during the 1950s and 60s. But, unlike King, Malcolm encouraged Black Americans to use any means necessary to protect themselves and spurred the development of the Black Power movement.

Herman Hiller, Wikimedia Commons

Bob Dylan

Hailed as the "Shakespeare of his generation", Bob Dylan is a gifted lyricist who set the bar high for the singer/songwriters who followed in his footsteps. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016 for his poetic expressions within songs.

Chris Hakkens, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons