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Landmarks

Geography 1,079 clues
Practice Landmarks

Overview

Landmarks is one of Jeopardy!'s most distinctive topics, with roughly 700 clues spread across four decades of the show. What sets it apart is an extraordinary Final Jeopardy presence: 59 FJ appearances give it an 8.4% FJ ratio, one of the highest of any topic. And these are hard clues; the FJ correct rate is only 51.7%, meaning nearly half of all contestants get Landmarks FJ clues wrong. If there is a single topic where deeper study pays off disproportionately in Final Jeopardy, this is it.

The topic splits nearly evenly between rounds: 344 Jeopardy clues (49%) and 297 Double Jeopardy clues (42%), with those 59 FJ clues making up the remaining 8.4%. The main category is "LANDMARKS" (261 clues), but BRIDGES commands an enormous 127-clue sub-category of its own, 18% of all Landmarks clues. "U.S. LANDMARKS" (61), "LITERARY LANDMARKS" (26), "LONDON LANDMARKS" (21), and "WORLD LANDMARKS" (12) round out the range.

The long-tail problem: Landmarks has 509 unique answers, and the top 80 cover only about 40% of all clues. The Golden Gate Bridge leads with 12 appearances, followed by Westminster Abbey (9), the Statue of Liberty (8), the Eiffel Tower (7), the Arc de Triomphe (7), and Mount Rushmore (7). But after the top 10, frequency drops to 5 or fewer clues per answer. You cannot memorize a short list and expect to be covered; you need broad geographic literacy.

The gimmes: the Golden Gate Bridge (12, 100%), the Arc de Triomphe (7, 100%), the Taj Mahal (6, 100%), the Sphinx (6, 100%), the Colosseum (6, 100%), the Washington Monument (5, 100%), Stonehenge (5, 100%), London Bridge (5, 100%), Big Ben (5, 100%), the Brandenburg Gate (4, 100%), the Alamo (4, 100%), the Hoover Dam (3, 100%), the George Washington Bridge (3, 100%), the Brooklyn Bridge (3, 100%), Sugarloaf (3, 100%).

The stumper zone: agriculture (3 clues, 0%, yes, that's an answer in Landmarks), Cambodia/Kampuchea (3, 0%), the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (3, 33%), the White House (3, 33%), Philadelphia (5, 40%), the Berlin Wall (4, 50%), the Capitol (4, 50%), Mount Rushmore (7, 67%), Florence (4, 67%).

Study strategy: Start with the six sections below. Section 2 (American Landmarks) and Section 3 (European Landmarks) cover the most frequently tested individual landmarks. Section 5 (Bridges) is essential, 127 clues is massive, and bridge clues often test geographic knowledge (what river, what city, what country). Section 6 (Final Jeopardy) is where you'll find the patterns that separate prepared contestants from the 48.3% who get Landmarks FJ wrong.


American Landmarks

The Golden Gate Bridge

~12 clues · 100% correct

The single most-tested landmark in Jeopardy, and a perfect gimme, no one has ever missed it. The clues cycle through a reliable set of facts: its International Orange paint color (Sherwin Williams' "Fireweed" is the closest match), its 746-foot towers (the world's tallest bridge towers at completion), its 1937 opening, and its connection to engineer Joseph Strauss, whose statue stands at the San Francisco-side visitor area. It was the world's longest suspension bridge from 1937 to 1964. During the 1987 50th anniversary celebration, so many pedestrians crowded it that some feared it might collapse. The bridge connects San Francisco to Marin County.

The FJ clue quoted chief engineer Strauss: "At last the mighty task is done; resplendent in the western sun."

The Statue of Liberty

~8 clues · 80% correct

A gift from France, "Mother of Exiles" (from Emma Lazarus's poem "The New Colossus"); that phrase has appeared in FJ. Jose Marti, the Cuban poet, was an eyewitness at the 1886 dedication, writing of "luckless Irishmen, Poles, Italians" running toward the wharves to see it. For her 100th birthday in 1986, she got her torch back after restoration. The FJ clues tend toward the literary and historical rather than simple identification.

Mount Rushmore

~7 clues · 67% correct

One of the most frequently tested American landmarks, yet surprisingly difficult at 67% correct. The Lakota Sioux knew the site as "Six Grandfathers" before it was renamed for New York lawyer Charles E. Rushmore. Its creator, Gutzon Borglum, said the four presidents represent the nation's founding (Washington), expansion (Jefferson), development (Lincoln), and preservation (Theodore Roosevelt). The first segment was dedicated July 4, 1930; the last was completed in 1941. Eleanor Roosevelt urged a fifth figure representing "American Womanhood" in 1935. Its mailing address is Keystone, South Dakota 57751.

Mount Rushmore has appeared in FJ three times, more than almost any other landmark. The clues focus on the Lakota name, Borglum's artistic philosophy, and the dedication timeline.

Watch out: Mount Rushmore is a stumper because FJ clues don't ask "What mountain has four presidents carved on it?" They ask about its Lakota name, the symbolism of the four presidents, or obscure dedication dates. Know the details, not just the image.

The Space Needle

~6 clues · 83% correct

Seattle's 605-foot landmark opened on the first day of the 1962 World's Fair. Architect John Graham produced the final saucer design. For its 50th anniversary in 2012, the roof was temporarily repainted its original "Galaxy Gold." The original paint scheme included "Astronaut White" for the supports and "Re-entry Red" for the halo. Two FJ appearances: one about the 1962 opening and paint colors, another revealing it as the inspiration for the Skypad Apartments on The Jetsons (design artist Iwao Takamoto confirmed this).

Other Key American Landmarks

The Washington Monument (5 clues, 100%), At 555 feet 5 inches, the world's tallest all-stone structure for its first century. Cornerstone laid July 4, 1848. FJ clue (2024) quoted Senator Sherman: "Simple in form... it rises into the skies higher than any other work of human hands."

Independence Hall (4 clues, 75%), The site where John Hancock signed his "John Hancock." Located at 520 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, originally the Pennsylvania State House; the "Birthplace of America."

The Lincoln Memorial (FJ) (Cornerstone laid February 12, 1915) Lincoln's birthday. The date is the FJ-level detail.

The Old North Church (2 clues + 2 FJ), Formally Christ Church, where Paul Revere's signal lanterns were hung. In April 1975, President Ford lit a third lantern to start America's Bicentennial. A bell inscription: "We are the first ring of bells cast for the British Empire in North America." Two FJ appearances make this a high-value target.

The Alamo (4 clues, 100%), A perfect gimme. From the Spanish for "cottonwood," this former Spanish mission (est. 1718) in San Antonio is where Bowie and Crockett died. In 1883, a Catholic diocese sold it to Texas for $20,000, an FJ clue.

Fort Knox (3 clues), Site of both the U.S. gold bullion depository and the Patton Museum. During WWII, the vault held the original U.S. Constitution.

The Capitol (4 clues, 50%), Harder than expected. Crawford's "Armed Freedom" sits atop its dome. A 1983 bomb blast shook the building.

Camp David (FJ), Named "Shangri-La" in 1942 (after the Tibetan paradise in Lost Horizon), renamed in 1953 for Eisenhower's grandson David.

Plymouth Rock (FJ), First identified in 1741 (not 1620!), it split while being dragged to Liberty Pole Square in 1774.

The Griffith Observatory (2 clues + FJ), A James Dean memorial stands adjacent to it, at one of the high spots in Los Angeles.

Watch out: Philadelphia as an answer (5 clues, 40% correct) is a major stumper, clues describe Independence Hall or the Liberty Bell without naming the city. The Capitol (50%) is trickier than expected when clues focus on architectural details.


European Landmarks

Westminster Abbey

~9 clues · 75% correct

The most-tested European landmark, though its 75% correct rate reveals surprising difficulty. William the Conqueror started the tradition of monarchs being crowned here in 1066. The coronation throne of England is in the chapel of Edward the Confessor. The tomb of Britain's "Unknown Warrior" is here, an FJ clue. The FJ clues test historical details (coronation traditions, notable burials) rather than simple identification.

The Eiffel Tower

~7 clues · 86% correct

Built for the 1889 Universal Exposition, the tallest structure of that world's fair. Its base spans the Champ de Mars. Maupassant and Dumas fils signed a protest against its construction, a favorite FJ fact. James Bond battled Grace Jones on it in A View to a Kill. Two FJ appearances, both focusing on its controversial origins.

The Arc de Triomphe

~7 clues · 100% correct

A perfect gimme: no one misses this. France's Unknown Soldier lies beneath it on the Champs-Elysees. Napoleon commissioned it, but it wasn't completed until 15 years after his death. The inner walls bear the names of 386 of Napoleon's generals. Clues consistently test the Unknown Soldier connection and the Napoleon commission.

The Colosseum

~6 clues · 100% correct

Another perfect gimme. Originally had a retractable roof ("could have been called Gladiatordome"). The gladiatorial salute "We who are about to die" and Poe's poem about its "shattered cornices" are both tested. All Double Jeopardy clues.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

~5 clues · varied

Begun in 1174, it was finally stabilized in May 2008 after more than 700 years of slow movement. According to legend, Galileo dropped weights from it. From June 1987 to June 1988, it tipped another 1/20th of an inch. Two FJ appearances: both focus on the engineering story (stabilization, counterbalancing with 800+ tons of lead) rather than the lean itself.

Big Ben

~5 clues · varied

Completed in 1858, it was to be named St. Stephen but was nicknamed after Benjamin Hall, the chief commissioner of works, an FJ fact. An 1844 review complained it "wasn't justified by utility when almost every mechanic carries a watch." Penny coins are added to or removed from its pendulum to fine-tune accuracy. The FJ clue tests the naming origin.

The Tower of London

~3 clues · 100% correct

The Crown Jewels are housed here: clues mention the Sceptre with the Dove and the Sword of Mercy. The Chief Warder has locked its gates each night at 10 for centuries. Like Sir Thomas More, three 16th-century English queens are buried here. Two FJ appearances, both testing knowledge of what's housed or buried within.

The Brandenburg Gate

~4 clues · 100% correct

Completed in 1791, it was reopened in 1989 after being closed for 28 years (during the Berlin Wall era), an FJ clue. It's the only remaining town gate of Berlin, located at the western end of Unter den Linden. Commissioned by Frederick William II, its design was modeled on the Propylaea in Athens.

The Berlin Wall

~4 clues · 50% correct

A significant stumper at 50%. Reagan's June 1987 "tear down this wall" speech is the standard J-round clue. The FJ clues are harder: 96 miles total, with the most well-known part roughly the length of an Olympic marathon. In 2009, during the 20th anniversary celebration, it was called "an edifice of fear" that "on November 9 became a place of joy." Two FJ appearances, and the 50% rate shows how the show's literary, quote-heavy approach to this landmark catches contestants off guard.

Stonehenge

~5 clues · 100% correct

A gimme when it appears. Builders of this rock circle on Salisbury Plain remain unknown. Experts now reject the idea it was a Druid temple or eclipse calculator. Recent research suggests segments were moved 150 miles from Wales. Henry James wrote that its "immemorial gray pillars may serve to remind you of the enormous background of time" an FJ clue from 2026.

The Bridge of Sighs

~4 clues · 100% correct

Always a gimme. The name comes from the lamentations of prisoners forced to cross it in Venice. A bridge over the Cam River in Cambridge, England, is named after it. Appears in both the main LANDMARKS and BRIDGES categories.

Other Notable European Landmarks

The Louvre (FJ), Of its principal architects from the 1500s to the 1980s (Pierre Lescot, Hector Lefuel), none were foreigners. Paris locale of the Mona Lisa.

The Kremlin (FJ) (Not just Moscow's) Pskov and Nizhny Novgorod also have fortresses called "the Kremlin." The FJ clue tests this broader meaning.

Hadrian's Wall (FJ), Situated about 100 miles south of the Antonine Wall. A national trail stretches 84 miles from Newcastle to the Solway Firth along its line.

The Trevi Fountain (FJ, 2025), Features a relief of Agrippa approving the design of an aqueduct and Pietro Bracci's statue of Oceanus.

The Panthéon (FJ), Soufflot designed this Paris landmark and was interred there 49 years after dying.

La Scala (FJ), Its name is Italian for "theater at the stairway."

The Little Mermaid (FJ + 1 clue), A Copenhagen waterfront resident since 1913, inspired by prima ballerina Ellen Price and sculpted by Edvard Eriksen.

Watch out: European landmarks in FJ almost always test origin stories, who built it, when, and why. The Eiffel Tower protest, Big Ben's naming, the Brandenburg Gate's 28-year closure, the Kremlin's non-Moscow meaning. Simple identification is never enough at the FJ level.


World Landmarks

The Taj Mahal

~6 clues · 100% correct

A perfect gimme. Its name is literally Persian for "crown of palaces" an FJ fact. Built by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, it stands in Agra, India. The white marble dome is decorated with floral patterns and passages from the Quran. Its 133-foot minarets are a favorite DJ detail. Poet Rabindranath Tagore compared it to "a teardrop glistening on the cheek of time" another FJ clue. Two FJ appearances, both testing the poetic and etymological rather than the visual.

The Sphinx

~6 clues · 100% correct

Another perfect gimme. Part man, part lion, it crouches near the Great Pyramids south of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It made headlines in February 1988 when a chunk of its shoulder fell off. Clues describe it as "de-faced by sand and invading armies." Always identified as a limestone sculpture.

The Great Wall of China

~2 clues

A surprisingly small presence for such an iconic landmark. In its own country, it's known as "Wan-li Chang cheng." A 5,500-mile-long section runs from Mount Hu near Dandong to a spot in Gansu Province.

The Sydney Opera House

~5 clues · 100% correct

Its roof has been variously described as "sails, clam shells, and a huddle of nuns in a high wind" a memorable FJ description. The series of white sail-shaped shells serve as its roof, designed to look like sails in Sydney Harbor. The Eighth Wonder, a 2004 opera by Alan John with libretto by Dennis Watkins, is about its opening in 1973. Two FJ appearances.

Victoria Falls

FJ appearance

David Livingstone wrote of his discovery: "Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight." This is a pure literary-quote FJ clue, know the Livingstone connection.

Angel Falls

FJ + 1 clue

The longest unbroken drop of this Venezuelan waterfall is 2,648 feet. In 1960, the ashes of aviator James Angel were spread over the falls he had famously sighted decades earlier. The FJ clue tests the eponymous connection, "(James) Angel."

Mount Everest

FJ appearance (2021)

In December 2020, an international agreement added nearly 3 feet to its official height; one surveyor lost half a toe in the effort. The FJ clue is a recent one, testing awareness of this re-measurement.

The CN Tower

~4 clues · 75% correct

All 1,815 feet of it stand in Toronto. Its elevators rise at 20 feet per second. The restaurant atop it serves Saskatchewan mushrooms and Ontario wines. Clues always mention its height and its two-letter name.

Sugarloaf

~3 clues · 100% correct

The "sweet" mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro's harbor. In Brazil it's called Pão de Açúcar. You reach its summit by cable car for views of Rio and Guanabara Bay.

The Kaaba

~3 clues · 67% correct

The holiest shrine in Islam, a cube-shaped structure in Mecca's Great Mosque. Muslims orient themselves toward it during prayer. A higher-difficulty answer; the 67% correct rate reflects that some contestants struggle with the name.

Other World Landmarks

Gibraltar (3 clues + FJ); Tradition says as long as the Barbary apes remain, the British will too. Operation Felix was a planned 1941 Nazi action to seize it, never carried out because Spain wouldn't go along, an FJ clue.

Machu Picchu (1 clue), UNESCO and Peru agreed to limit visitors to 2,500 per day, but the number is regularly exceeded.

Angkor Wat, Appears in the BRIDGES category: Cambodia opened its first bridge over the Mekong in December 2001.

The Wailing Wall / Western Wall, Worshippers insert bits of paper containing written prayers into its cracks. All that remains of the Second Temple of Jerusalem.

Watch out: World Landmarks in FJ lean heavily on literary quotes. Livingstone on Victoria Falls, Tagore on the Taj Mahal, Henry James on Stonehenge; the show loves asking contestants to identify a landmark from a famous writer's description of it. If you encounter a poetic quote about a landmark in FJ, think: who is the most famous person to have written about this place?


Bridges

The 127-Clue Sub-Topic

BRIDGES is the single largest sub-category within Landmarks, with 127 dedicated clues, 18% of all Landmarks content. This is essentially a topic within a topic. Bridge clues don't just test "name the bridge" they test geography (what river? what city? what country?), engineering (suspension vs. cantilever vs. covered), and history (when built? who designed it? what happened to it?).

The Major Bridges

The Golden Gate Bridge (7 clues in BRIDGES alone, 12 total, 100%), See American Landmarks above. Within the BRIDGES category specifically, clues focus on its suspension bridge record (longest from 1937 to 1964), its towers, and its engineering.

London Bridge (5 clues, 100%), The essential Jeopardy fact: the old London Bridge now stands in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Rededicated there in 1971, Guinness calls it "the largest antique ever sold." Queen Elizabeth II dedicated a new London Bridge in 1973. The nursery rhyme "falling down" connection is a low-value gimme.

The Bridge of Sighs (4 clues, 100%), Named for prisoners' lamentations in Venice. A Cambridge, England bridge is named after it.

The George Washington Bridge (3 clues, 100%), Carries traffic from Fort Lee, New Jersey, to New York City since 1931. Its lower level opened in 1962. While Washington is known for crossing the Delaware, his 3,500-foot-long namesake bridge crosses the Hudson.

The Brooklyn Bridge (3 clues, 100%), Opened in 1883, it spans the East River into lower Manhattan. One of the first bridges to use steel for cable wire. Designed by John Roebling, who also designed the Niagara Bridge.

The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (1 clue, 100%), Named for an explorer, it's the longest suspension bridge in the U.S.

The Peace Bridge (2 clues, 0%), A total stumper. Know it connects the U.S. and Canada.

The Manhattan Bridge (2 clues, 0%), Another stumper. Often asked alongside the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges as the three bridges connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Bridge Geography: Rivers, Cities, Countries

A huge portion of bridge clues are really geography questions in disguise:

  • The Seine (2 clues, 100%) The Alexandre III Bridge sits only 20 feet above it. The Pont Neuf ("new bridge"), opened in 1607, is the oldest existing bridge over the Seine in Paris.
  • The Danube: The Chain Bridge (1849) was the first to link Buda and Pest.
  • The Hudson: The George Washington Bridge crosses it.
  • The Mississippi: The Huey P. Long Bridge crosses it. The I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed into it in 2007.
  • Istanbul (3 clues, 67%) Bridges over the Bosporus connect Asia and Europe.
  • Scotland (3 clues, 67%) The Firth of Forth Bridge was the world's longest span in the late 1800s.
  • Cambodia/Kampuchea (3 clues, 0%) Total stumper. In 2001, Cambodia opened its first bridge over the Mekong.
  • Lake Pontchartrain: The almost-24-mile bridge near New Orleans is the world's longest bridge over water.
  • Japan (2 clues, 50%) In 1998, Japan took the longest suspension bridge record from the U.K.

Bridge Types and Engineering

The show regularly tests bridge engineering terminology:

  • Suspension (2 clues, 100%) All bridges with main spans over 3,000 feet are this type. The Humber Bridge in England was once the longest single-span suspension bridge.
  • Cantilever: Free-arm bridge decks built out from a central pier.
  • Trusses: Cars drive over or through them; a structural framework term.
  • Covered bridges: Pennsylvania has more (220) than any other state.
  • Floating/Pontoon: The three longest in the U.S. are all in Washington State.
  • Drawbridge: In medieval castles, raised and lowered by a windlass.
  • Bascule: A movable bridge type that pivots upward.

Bridge FJ Clues

Three of the 59 Landmarks FJ clues come from the BRIDGES category: 1. Panama Canal (1987), "It's spanned by the Bridge of the Americas." 2. New Orleans (1988), "The longest bridge over the Mississippi crosses the river at this major city." 3. North Korea and China (2018), "In 1990 the Yalu River Bridge was renamed the 'Friendship Bridge' between these 2 nations."

These FJ bridge clues are geography questions; they test what the bridge connects, not the bridge itself.

Watch out: The BRIDGES category is essentially a world geography quiz. Focus on the geography (rivers, cities, countries) not just bridge names. The Peace Bridge (0%), Manhattan Bridge (0%), Cambodia (0%), and Oakland (0%) are all major stumpers. John Roebling designed both the Brooklyn and Niagara bridges; the show tests this connection.


Final Jeopardy & Study Patterns

The Numbers

Landmarks has 59 Final Jeopardy appearances, an 8.4% FJ ratio, among the highest of any topic. The FJ correct rate is only 51.7%: of 176 contestant responses, just 91 were correct and 85 wrong. Landmarks FJ clues are substantially harder than average.

FJ Repeat Answers

These landmarks have appeared as FJ answers multiple times:

Landmark FJ Appearances Key FJ Angles
Mount Rushmore 3 Lakota name "Six Grandfathers"; Borglum's symbolism; dedication timeline
The Berlin Wall 2 Marathon-length comparison; "edifice of fear" quote
The Space Needle 2 1962 World's Fair paint colors; Jetsons inspiration
The Sydney Opera House 2 "Sails, clam shells, nuns in a high wind"; The Eighth Wonder opera
The Statue of Liberty 2 "Mother of Exiles"; Jose Marti's eyewitness account
The Leaning Tower of Pisa 2 800+ tons of lead counterbalance; stabilized 2008
The Eiffel Tower 2 1889 Exposition; Maupassant/Dumas protest
The Old North Church 2 Bicentennial third lantern; "first ring of bells" inscription
The Tower of London 2 Crown Jewels collection; Tudor queens buried there

FJ Theme 1: Literary Quotes About Landmarks

The show's favorite FJ pattern for Landmarks is quoting a famous writer and asking contestants to identify the landmark:

  • Livingstone on Victoria Falls: "Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight"
  • Tagore on the Taj Mahal: "a teardrop glistening on the cheek of time"
  • Henry James on Stonehenge: "immemorial gray pillars... the enormous background of time"
  • Jose Marti on the Statue of Liberty: "Luckless Irishmen, Poles, Italians... run toward the wharves"
  • Joseph Strauss on the Golden Gate Bridge: "At last the mighty task is done; resplendent in the western sun"
  • Senator John Sherman on the Washington Monument: "Simple in form... it rises into the skies higher than any other work of human hands"
  • Gutzon Borglum on Mount Rushmore: the four presidents represent "founding, expansion, development, and preservation"

When you see a quote in a Landmarks FJ clue, identify the author first. That usually points you directly to the landmark.

FJ Theme 2: Architectural & Engineering Details

A second major FJ pattern tests construction details that go beyond tourist-level knowledge:

  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa: begun in 1174, counterbalanced with 800+ tons of lead, stabilized in 2008
  • Big Ben: completed 1858, was to be named "St. Stephen," nicknamed for commissioner Benjamin Hall
  • The Brandenburg Gate: completed 1791, modeled on the Propylaea in Athens, closed 28 years during the Wall
  • The Chrysler Building: art deco ceiling fresco by Edward Trumbull, "Transport and Human Endeavor"
  • The Trevi Fountain: relief of Agrippa, Bracci's statue of Oceanus
  • The Panthéon: Soufflot designed it, interred there 49 years after dying

FJ Theme 3: Historical Events Tied to Landmarks

  • The Alamo: Catholic diocese sold it to Texas for $20,000 in 1883
  • Plymouth Rock: first identified in 1741, split while being dragged to Liberty Pole Square in 1774
  • Camp David: named "Shangri-La" in 1942, renamed in 1953 for Eisenhower's grandson
  • Gibraltar: Operation Felix (1941 Nazi plan) never executed because Spain wouldn't cooperate
  • The Old North Church: President Ford lit a third lantern in April 1975 for the Bicentennial
  • The Berlin Wall: 96 miles total, most well-known part roughly marathon-length

FJ Theme 4: Etymology and Names

  • The Taj Mahal: Persian for "crown of palaces"
  • La Scala: Italian for "theater at the stairway"
  • The Kremlin: not just Moscow's: Pskov and Nizhny Novgorod also have kremlins
  • Scotland Yard: built on the Whitehall site of a medieval palace housing visiting Scottish kings
  • Mount Rushmore: renamed after lawyer Charles E. Rushmore
  • "Six Grandfathers": the Lakota name for the Mount Rushmore site

The Stumper Reference

Answer Clues Wrong % What trips contestants up
agriculture 3 100% Unexpected answer in a Landmarks category
Cambodia (Kampuchea) 3 100% First Mekong bridge (2001), geography disguised as bridge clue
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 3 67% Arlington details: 1921 establishment, inscription
the White House 3 67% Irish architect James Hoban (1792), architectural angle
Philadelphia 5 60% City-identification clues about Independence Hall area
the Berlin Wall 4 50% Literary quotes and marathon-length comparison in FJ
the Capitol 4 50% "Armed Freedom" statue, 1983 bombing, detail-heavy
Mount Rushmore 7 33% FJ clues on Lakota name, symbolism, dates
Westminster Abbey 9 25% Unknown Warrior tomb, coronation details

Study Strategy

  1. Memorize the FJ repeat answers. Mount Rushmore (3x), Berlin Wall (2x), Space Needle (2x), Sydney Opera House (2x), Statue of Liberty (2x), Leaning Tower of Pisa (2x), Eiffel Tower (2x), Old North Church (2x), Tower of London (2x). These nine landmarks account for 19 of 59 FJ appearances, nearly a third.

  2. Learn the quotes. Livingstone, Tagore, Henry James, Marti, Strauss, Borglum. When a Landmarks FJ clue opens with a literary quotation, this is almost certainly the pattern.

  3. Study the origin stories. The show loves asking who built it, when, and why, not what does it look like. Big Ben's naming, the Brandenburg Gate's Athenian model, the Eiffel Tower protest, the Taj Mahal's etymology.

  4. Master bridge geography. The BRIDGES sub-category is really a world geography test. Know which rivers, cities, and countries the major bridges connect.

  5. Accept the long tail. With 509 unique answers and only 40% coverage from the top 80, you will encounter unfamiliar landmarks. Use context clues: if the FJ category says "European Landmarks" and mentions a 1791 completion date, think Neoclassical architecture (Brandenburg Gate). If it quotes a 19th-century explorer, think colonial-era discoveries (Victoria Falls, Angel Falls).

Gimme Answers

top 50

Memorize these and recognize 21.5% of all Landmarks clues.

#AnswerCountSample Clue
1 the Golden Gate Bridge 12 Marin County's chief commuter route to S.F.
2 the Statue of Liberty 10 Eyewitness Jose Marti wrote, "Luckless Irishmen, Poles, Italians... run toward the wharves" to see its dedication
3 Westminster Abbey 8 Some people just lying around? Clement Attlee, Lord Kelvin & the very real Sir Peter Parker
4 the Eiffel Tower 8 Engineers Emile Nouguier & Maurice Koechlin helped design this 984-foot Paris structure
5 the Coast Guard 8 Boston Harbor's Little Brewster Island has the U.S. government's only manned light, manned by this military service
6 the Leaning Tower of Pisa 7 A lovely example of what is—let's be honest—iffy engineering, this famous European structure had its 850th anniv. in 2023
7 the Arc de Triomphe 7 The non-golden arch; sounds like... victory; let's stop by Charles de Gaulle's place
8 the Taj Mahal 7 133-foot minarets; 20,000 worked on it; full of Agra-culture
9 the Space Needle 7 For its 50th anniversary in 2012, the roof of this landmark was temporarily repainted its original color, Galaxy Gold
10 the Sphinx 6 Go over the Qasr El Nil Bridge, head south past the Giza Zoo & the 3 Pyramids View Inn, look for its 50-foot-long front legs
11 the Colosseum 6 This Roman landmark, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was dedicated in 80 A.D.
12 Mount Rushmore 6 8 total eyes, each about 11 feet wide; 4 noses, with one in particular about 21 feet; Midwest history
13 the Sydney Opera House 6 Hop over the Harbour Bridge & soon, hit Macquarie St. to sing the praises of this architectural marvel on Bennelong Point
14 the Hoover Dam 6 It's obstructing the flow of the Colorado River, creating Lake Mead
15 Venice 5 Not everything in this city is 500 years old—the Constitution Bridge over the Grand Canal opened in 2008
16 the Washington Monument 5 The National Mall's tallest structure
17 Stonehenge 5 In disarray, it was sold at auction in 1915 to a local Wiltshire man, who would donate it to the British government 3 years later
18 London Bridge 5 You can't sell Lake Havasu the Brooklyn Bridge; it already bought this one
19 Fort McHenry 5 Stronghold in Baltimore Harbor named for a man who was secretary of war while it was being built
20 Big Ben 5 Clock &/or bell in the Elizabeth Tower
21 the Bridge of Sighs 4 Tradition says that a couple who kisses while passing beneath this Venetian bridge in a gondola will enjoy eternal love
22 the Brandenburg Gate 4 Completed in 1791, it was reopened in 1989 after being closed for 28 years
23 the Alamo 4 Established in 1718; built as a Roman Catholic mission; Santa Anna's comin' to town
24 Scotland 4 Crossing a firth in this country, the Forth Bridge was once called the "supremest specimen of all ugliness"
25 Devils Tower 4 867 feet high from base to top, this Wyoming natural landmark is sacred to the Lakota
26 Cape Hatteras 4 This N.C. cape's lighthouse, the USA's tallest at 200 feet, was used as a lookout tower for German subs in WWII
27 the Tower of London 4 Like Sir Thomas More, 3 16th century English queens are buried at this location
28 Alexandria 4 Built in the 3rd century B.C., & standing over 350 feet high, it was the tallest lighthouse ever built
29 the Little Mermaid 3 She's been a Copenhagen waterfront resident since 1913
30 the George Washington Bridge 3 Carrying traffic from Fort Lee to New York City since 1931, its lower level opened in 1962
31 the CN Tower 3 You'll find all 1,815 feet of this 2-letter tower in Toronto
32 the Brooklyn Bridge 3 Opened in 1883, it spans the East River into lower Manhattan
33 the Berlin Wall 3 In 2009, during a 20th anniversary celebration, it was called "an edifice of fear. On November 9, it became a place of joy"
34 Tennessee 3 You'll flip when you check out the Wonderworks building in Pigeon Forge in this state
35 Sugarloaf 3 "Sweet" mountain that overlooks harbor of Rio de Janeiro
36 St. Augustine 3 Castillo de San Marcos in this Florida city is the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S.
37 Rome 3 A tourist attraction in this city is the Fountain of Neptune in the Piazza Navona
38 Plymouth Rock 3 A legend says John Alden was the first to set foot on this slab made of Dedham granite
39 Philadelphia 3 This city has bridges named for Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross & Ben Franklin
40 Michigan 3 On June 25, 1998 the Mackinac Bridge in this state celebrated its 100-millionth crossing
41 Maine 3 West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, with its red & white candy stripes, shines from this state & is the furthest east in the continental USA
42 Japan 3 In 1998 the U.K. lost out to this Asian country for the longest suspension bridge in the world record
43 Istanbul 3 Bridges over the Bosporus in this city connect Asia & Europe
44 Independence Hall 3 This "Birthplace of America" is at 520 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
45 Gibraltar 3 Operation Felix, a planned 1941 Nazi action to seize this territory, was never carried out because Spain wouldn't go along
46 Fort Knox 3 During WWII the gold vault at this military post held the original copy of the U.S. Constitution
47 Florence 3 Almost 650 years old, the Ponte Vecchio spans the Arno River in this Italian city
48 Diamond Head 3 A Hawaiian site got this name after British sailors thought volcanic crystals were precious stones
49 Colorado 3 One of the highest bridges in the world is the Royal Gorge Bridge in this Western state
50 Chicago 3 This U.S. city's Haymarket Square was the site of an 1886 riot

Sub-Areas

124
answers to learn
5 Must-Know
24 Should-Know
95 Worth Knowing

Must-Know Answers

These appear 8+ times. Memorize these first.

the Golden Gate Bridge 13 the Statue of Liberty 10 Westminster Abbey 8 the Eiffel Tower 8 the Coast Guard 8

Answers by Category

Jump to: Other | Europe | Asia | Africa | Middle East | North America | Oceania | South America

Other

53 answers | 162 clues
Must-Know (2)
the Golden Gate Bridge 13x $458 avg J:11 DJ:1 FJ:1
J $100 1994 During its 50th anniversary party in 1987, so many people crowded this Calif. bridge some feared it might collapse
J $1,000 2016 If you want to match the International Orange paint color of this bridge, Sherwin Williams' Fireweed is close
FJ 2015 On the completion of this in 1937, its chief engineer wrote, "At last the mighty task is done; Resplendent in the western sun"
the Coast Guard 8x $875 avg J:3 DJ:5
J $300 1994 This branch of the armed services has jurisdiction over U.S. lighthouses
DJ $800 2006 Boston Light in Boston Harbor is the last named U.S. lighthouse; its keeper is from this military organization
DJ $1,200 2017 Boston Harbor's Little Brewster Island has the U.S. government's only manned light, manned by this military service
Should-Know (6)
the Space Needle 7x $440 avg J:5 FJ:2
J $200 2020 Looking for this landmark? Go over to 400 Broad Street, Seattle, then go up up up
J $600 2014 Architect John Graham produced the final saucer design of this Seattle landmark
FJ 2015 For its 50th anniversary in 2012, the roof of this landmark was temporarily repainted its original color, Galaxy Gold
the Hoover Dam 6x 20.0% stumper $500 avg J:5 FJ:1
J $400 2016 It's obstructing the flow of the Colorado River, creating Lake Mead
J $800 2017 To tour this dam's power plant, you have to take an elevator 530 feet down through the rock wall of Black Canyon
FJ 2014 From 1936 to 1987, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power helped operate this facility in another state
the Washington Monument 5x $475 avg J:3 DJ:1 FJ:1
J $200 2018 The National Mall's tallest structure
J $500 DD 1986 Landmark shown under construction in this 1879 photo:
DJ $1,000 1984 At 555' 5", this 100-year-old all-stone structure is world's tallest
Fort McHenry 5x $325 avg J:1 DJ:3 FJ:1
DJ $200 1996 Among the forts that are monuments, this Maryland one is also a historic shrine
DJ $600 1999 During the Civil War, this Baltimore fort was used as a federal prison
FJ 2024 From its ramparts, you can see the mouth of the Patapsco River as it flows into Chesapeake Bay
Devils Tower 4x $1,200 avg DJ:3 FJ:1
DJ $800 2021 This diabolical monument is the site of a close encounter at the end of a 1977 film
DJ $2,000 2016 867 feet high from base to top, this Wyoming natural landmark is sacred to the Lakota
FJ 2025 Also called "great gray horn" & "bear's tipi", this site in the western U.S. was made a national monument in 1906
Tennessee 4x $900 avg J:2 DJ:2
J $200 2021 Before it was Elvis' home, Graceland in this state was named for Grace Toof, whose niece & niece's husband built the mansion
DJ $2,000 2011 You'll flip when you check out the Wonderworks building in Pigeon Forge in this state
J $400 2016 The Jack Daniel Distillery
Worth Knowing (45)

Europe

41 answers | 147 clues
Must-Know (3)
the Statue of Liberty 10x 25.0% stumper $299 avg J:4 DJ:4 FJ:2
J $100 1998 With Ellis Island, it's the USA's most visited national monument
DJ $895 DD 1990 This monument's pedestal is built within the star-shaped walls of Fort Wood
FJ 2019 Eyewitness Jose Marti wrote, "Luckless Irishmen, Poles, Italians... run toward the wharves" to see its dedication
Westminster Abbey 8x 14.3% stumper $414 avg J:6 DJ:1 FJ:1
J $100 1995 The last monarch crowned in this church was Elizabeth II
DJ $800 2015 This London landmark stands on the site of an old Benedictine monastery
J $1,000 DD 2024 Some people just lying around? Clement Attlee, Lord Kelvin & the very real Sir Peter Parker
the Eiffel Tower 8x $450 avg J:5 DJ:1 FJ:2
J $100 1986 James Bond gets a dizzy "View to a Kill" battling Grace Jones on this Parisian landmark
DJ $600 1985 Its base spans the width of the promenade of the park of the Champ de Mars
J $1,000 DD 2016 It served as the entrance gateway to the 1889 World's Fair
Should-Know (12)
the Leaning Tower of Pisa 7x $240 avg J:4 DJ:1 FJ:2
J $100 1988 From Jun '87 to June '88 it tipped another 1/20th of an inch according to a University of Pisa spokesman
FJ 2010 Begun in 1174, it was finally stabilized in May 2008, after more than 700 years of slow movement
FJ 1998 Plans are for steel cables to temporarily replace the over 800 tons of lead that counterbalance it
the Arc de Triomphe 7x $757 avg J:4 DJ:3
DJ $400 2015 After his victory at Austerlitz in 1805, Napoleon began building this structure to honor the French army
J $500 DD 1995 The inner walls of this Paris landmark bear the names of 386 of Napoleon's generals
J $1,000 2024 The non-golden arch; sounds like... victory; let's stop by Charles de Gaulle's place
Venice 5x $440 avg J:3 DJ:2
J $200 2008 A common transport is seen here in this European city
DJ $600 1990 The famous Rialto Bridge was the only bridge over this city's Grand Canal until modern times
DJ $200 1989 Harry's Bar off this city's Grand Canal owes its fame to Ernest Hemingway
Stonehenge 5x $425 avg J:3 DJ:1 FJ:1
J $300 1985 Builders of this English rock circle, thought to be astronomical calendar, are still unknown
J $600 2016 Experts now reject the idea that this monument on Salisbury Plain was a Druid temple or calculator built to predict eclipses
FJ 2026 Henry James said its "immemorial gray pillars may serve to remind you of the enormous background of time"
London Bridge 5x $200 avg J:4 DJ:1
J $100 1987 In the nursery rhyme, it's the bridge that "is falling down"
J $100 1984 You can't sell Lake Havasu the Brooklyn Bridge; it already bought this one
J $200 2008 No longer "falling down", this bridge from England is now found in Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Big Ben 5x $475 avg J:4 FJ:1
J $200 2011 This name properly refers to only the great hour bell at the northern end of London's Houses of Parliament
J $500 1991 An 1844 review said, it "wasn't justified by utility when almost every mechanic carries a watch"
FJ 2011 Completed in 1858, it was to be named St. Stephen, but was nicknamed this, honoring the chief commissioner of the works
the Bridge of Sighs 4x $1,050 avg J:3 DJ:1
J $600 DD 1994 The name of this Italian bridge comes from the lamentations of prisoners who were forced to cross it
J $2,000 DD 2016 In Italian it's known as the Ponte dei Sospiri
J $800 2008 The name of this bridge in Venice is said to have come from the lamentations of prisoners
the Brandenburg Gate 4x $1,000 avg J:2 DJ:1 FJ:1
J $800 2014 Commissioned by Frederick William II, this gate was based on a model of the Propylaea in Athens
J $1,000 2011 This, the only remaining town gate of Berlin, is at the western end of the avenue Unter den Linden
FJ 2009 Completed in 1791, it was reopened in 1989 after being closed for 28 years
the Alamo 4x $717 avg J:1 DJ:2 FJ:1
J $150 1984 From the Spanish for "Cottonwood", the site where Jim Bowie & Davy Crockett died
DJ $1,600 2009 Established in 1718; built as a Roman Catholic mission; Santa Anna's comin' to town
FJ 2018 In 1883 a Catholic diocese sold this to the state of Texas for $20,000
Scotland 4x 25.0% stumper $950 avg J:2 DJ:2
DJ $600 2000 Traquair, the oldest inhabited castle in this U.K. country, is home to the Maxwell Stuart family
DJ $1,600 2018 Crossing a firth in this country, the Forth Bridge was once called the "supremest specimen of all ugliness"
J $800 2014 This country's Firth of Forth Bridge was the world's longest span in the late 1800s
Cape Hatteras 4x 25.0% stumper $1,000 avg J:3 DJ:1
J $200 1997 A brick lighthouse on this N.C. cape warns ships away from Diamond Shoals, a famous ship graveyard
J $500 1991 America's tallest lighthouse, 193 feet high, is at this point on the N.C. coast
DJ $3,000 DD 2017 This N.C. cape's lighthouse, the USA's tallest at 200 feet, was used as a lookout tower for German subs in WWII
the Tower of London 4x $250 avg J:2 FJ:2
J $200 2000 5,000 photos of this complex, home of the Crown Jewels, were taken for the video game "Traitors Gate"
FJ 2023 Like Sir Thomas More, 3 16th century English queens are buried at this location
FJ 1993 The Sceptre with the Dove & the Sword of Mercy are part of a collection housed here
Worth Knowing (26)

Asia

11 answers | 29 clues
Should-Know (1)
the Taj Mahal 7x $720 avg J:4 DJ:1 FJ:2
J $200 2021 India's Taj Trapezium Zone is a 4,000-square-mile area centered on this where emissions are restricted
J $800 2020 UNESCO described this landmark, built in memory of a man's wife, as "the jewel of Muslim art in India"
DJ $2,000 2009 133-foot minarets; 20,000 worked on it; full of Agra-culture
Worth Knowing (10)

Africa

7 answers | 20 clues
Should-Know (2)
the Sphinx 6x $467 avg J:4 DJ:2
J $200 2016 South of the Great Pyramid of Giza is this limestone sculpture, part man, part lion
J $600 2024 Go over the Qasr El Nil Bridge, head south past the Giza Zoo & the 3 Pyramids View Inn, look for its 50-foot-long front legs
J $200 1984 De"faced" by sand & invading armies, it crouches near the Great Pyramids
Alexandria 4x $2,875 avg J:2 DJ:2
J $200 1991 This lighthouse was completed during the reign of Ptolemy II
DJ $4,000 DD 2021 Today this Egyptian city is home to Al-Muntazah lighthouse
J $300 1997 It's said that the fires of this Egyptian lighthouse could be seen for about 30 miles
Worth Knowing (5)

Middle East

4 answers | 17 clues
Should-Know (2)
the Colosseum 6x $600 avg J:2 DJ:4
DJ $400 2016 This Roman amphitheater was officially dedicated in 80 A.D. by Titus
J $800 2010 This Roman fixer is a contractor's dream! The games may have stopped here in 523 A.D. but the fun for you is just beginning!
J $400 2008 At its peak, this amphitheater could hold 45,000 spectators
Mount Rushmore 6x 20.0% stumper $620 avg J:4 DJ:1 FJ:1
J $100 1995 This South Dakota landmark has been called the "Shrine of Democracy"
DJ $1,000 DD 1986 In 1935, Eleanor Roosevelt urged the addition of a 5th figure to it, representing "American Womanhood"
FJ 2009 Its creator said its parts represent our nation's founding, expansion, development & preservation
Worth Knowing (2)

Oceania

2 answers | 8 clues
Should-Know (1)
the Sydney Opera House 6x $750 avg J:3 DJ:1 FJ:2
J $400 1986 Its roof was designed to look like sails in Sydney Harbor
DJ $600 1986 Its white curving roofs were built to resemble wind-filled sails
J $1,000 2024 Hop over the Harbour Bridge & soon, hit Macquarie St. to sing the praises of this architectural marvel on Bennelong Point
Worth Knowing (1)

South America

1 answers | 3 clues
Worth Knowing (1)
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