On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France.
National monuments are located in 31 states as well as in the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Minor Outlying Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Arizona, with 18, has the largest number of national monuments, followed by California with 15 and New Mexico with 14. At least 65 national monuments protect places of natural significance, including 12 geological sites, seven marine sites, and five volcanic sites.
The Great Sphinx of Giza: This enormous statue of a lion with a human head stands guard over the pyramids. At around 73m (240ft) long and 20m (66ft) high, it is the largest monolith statue in the world and also one of the oldest known monumental sculptures.