Many iconic US landmarks, from towering skyscrapers like the Empire State Building to historic monuments like the White House, are popular subjects for framed photos and art, making them a staple in home decor.
Using the mathematical formula behind nature’s most harmonious designs - the golden ratio - we’ve analyzed some of the most iconic monuments across the country to reveal which are most frame-worthy for your next custom framing decor project.
Iconic golden ratio masterpieces
Independence Hall, Pennsylvania
Image via @independencenps on Instagram
Independence Hall in Pennsylvania ranks first, with a deviation of just 0.04 from the golden ratio.
This historic civic building in the city of Philadelphia exhibits stunning elements of Georgian architecture. Its facade, tower, and steeple designs follow the classical principles of symmetry and proportion that closely align with the golden ratio.
Hoover Dam, Nevada
Image via @bureau_of_reclamation on Instagram
Hoover Dam in Nevada ranks second with a deviation of 0.52 from the golden ratio.
While primarily an engineering marvel, its proportions and symmetry create a visually striking structure. The dam’s curved face and Art Deco elements contribute to its balanced aesthetic.
Spaceship Earth (Epcot), Florida
Image via @waltdisneyworld on Instragam
Spaceship Earth at Epcot in Florida ranks third, with a deviation of 0.53 from the golden ratio. Its geodesic sphere structure naturally aligns with the geometric principles of the golden ratio, creating a visually harmonious design.
Frame-worthy local landmarks
Giant Eagle Waterfall Nest, Idaho
Photo by Idahomiller
With a deviation of just 0.01 from the golden ratio, the Giant Eagle Waterfall Nest in Idaho Falls ranks first as the most picturesque local landmark in the country. Featuring two eagles soaring around their nesting chicks, this sculpture offers natural symmetry, creating a visually balanced and aesthetically pleasing structure.
Independence Hall, Pennsylvania
Independence Hall makes it onto the list again as one of the most frame-worthy landmarks in the country.
Much like many classical architects who use the golden ratio, Independence Hall achieves striking visual balance and harmony. Characterized by evenly spaced windows, doors, and other structural elements, its proportions closely reflect the golden ratio principle.
Wright Brothers National Memorial, North Carolina
Photo by Ken Lund (Creative Commons license)
The Wright Brothers National Memorial, located in North Carolina, completes the top three with a deviation of 0.05 from the golden ratio.
Its bold geometric design includes a triangular base and wing-like designs, mimicking the subject of its celebration - the first successful, sustained, powered flights in a heavier-than-air machine. Its contrasting height-to-base proportions and tapering effect create an aesthetically pleasing natural flow, almost exactly to the golden ratio.
States with the most picture-perfect landmarks
Rhode Island
When looking at local landmarks within each state, Rhode Island comes out top for the most aesthetically pleasing offerings. Three of its popular attractions have an average deviation of just 0.44 from the golden ratio. One of the state's most popular and influential landmarks is the Rhode Island State House, a striking neoclassical design. The stunning building’s features, including Romanesque pillars and a large centerpiece dome, emphasize symmetry, balance, and proportion - all closely associated with the golden ratio.
Rhode Island’s selection of stunning historical buildings cements the state’s top-ranking spot. The Elms and Rosecliff Mansion - the two other local landmarks included in the research - also score well against the golden ratio, at 0.38 and 0.62, respectively.
New Mexico
New Mexico ranks second, with an average deviation of 0.46 from the golden ratio for its local landmarks. Home to visually striking buildings and monuments that blend natural beauty with historic and religious architecture, the state’s San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church ranks among the top 10 most visually-appealing landmarks in the country (0.22 deviation from the golden ratio).
The church, along with other top state attractions included in the research - the New Mexico State Capitol (0.39) and the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (0.76) - exemplifies golden ratio elements through its striking, symmetrical design.
Idaho
Idaho is home to many stunning landmarks, from the Idaho State Capitol (0.31) to the top-ranking landmark in the country - the Giant Eagle Waterfall Nest (0.01). The state's average deviation from the golden ratio is 0.48. Idaho’s landmarks also stand out from other states, with the third local attraction analyzed - the Perrine Memorial Bridge in Twin Falls - ranking as the second most stunning bridge in the country according to the golden ratio, with a deviation of just 1.13.
Second only to the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia (with a slightly lower deviation of 1.1), the iconic Idaho bridge offers a sweeping arch design and structural symmetry that combines with breathtaking natural scenery to create a frame-worthy snapshot of the majestic Snake River.
How to incorporate the golden ratio in home decor
Incorporating framed images or artwork of iconic landmarks around your home is not only a great way of personalizing your space and adding an element of sophistication, history, and culture, but it also allows you to benefit from the visual appeal of some of the country’s best golden ratio masterpieces.
Whether it’s a print of one of the top attractions in the country or an artistic re-imagination of a local treasure, framing golden-ratio-worthy landmarks can make a striking design statement.
The golden ratio (1.618:1) is a mathematical principle used in art and architecture to create aesthetically balanced compositions. You can take the principle one step further in your interior design and apply it to your decor arrangement to achieve a more visually pleasing and impactful layout.
For example, you can use the golden ratio when designing a gallery wall by selecting a focal piece for the center and surrounding it with symmetrically arranged smaller frames.
Transform an entire room with one of our gallery wall designs.
It’s also important to consider the relation of your wall decor to the wider room, aligning your framed artwork, photos, and prints with the room's proportions to offer a more harmonious aesthetic.
A good general rule of thumb is to occupy around two-thirds (approximately 61.8%) of the width of the wall, leaving a balance between negative space and your artwork.
We hope you enjoyed reading about these iconic landmarks and how the golden ratio ties them together with home decor, and we are standing by to provide guidance on any custom framing projects you are taking on. Whether you are framing family photos, concert posters, diplomas or anything in between, see why it's more convenient, affordable and even fun to custom frame online.
Methodology
Using sources such as TimeOut and United Stories, we created a seed list of some of the most iconic buildings and landmarks across the U.S. We then researched each landmark's height and width (to 1 d.p.).
To calculate each landmark’s deviation from the golden ratio (1.618), we divided its height by width (please note that length was used for some landmarks, such as bridges and dams, or in the case that the width was unavailable). The absolute difference from 1.618 was then used to determine how closely each landmark aligned with the golden ratio, ranked based on the smallest deviations. Please note that all measurements were converted to meters for ease of data presentation and calculations.
For state rankings, we selected three popular landmarks per state, calculated their average deviation from the golden ratio, and ranked the states from lowest to highest deviation.
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