Scenic beauty can be found all over the United States–from beautiful coastline beaches and stunning mountains ranging from the East to West coasts, to vast deserts and glistening rivers and lakes–it’s no wonder we call it,”America the Beautiful.” But the US hides more beauty in places that most would not think about. Sites such as caves, ruins, and shipwrecks can often be described as scenic and beautiful, even though they may not initially appear so. What some would call scenic blight is, in fact, a fantastic view into the past and can tell a story about a group’s culture 

It is difficult to truly define what makes something “scenic” or “beautiful” due to its subjectivity. The closest definition is that for something to be scenic, it must have qualities that please the aesthetic senses, usually sight. When viewing landscapes with varying colors, light, and shapes, people tend to believe that landscapes are beautiful. But when looking at a shipwreck preserved on a beach shoreline, for example, some may view the scene as unnatural, and even unpleasing. The same logic can be applied to modern ruins or even caves. At first glance, these scenes could be seen as rusted metal and rotted wood, piles of rubble, or an uncomfortable dark space hidden below the surface and not be appreciated to the level they should be. Exploring the scenic value of shipwrecks, ruins, and caves can give others a better understanding of scenic properties and how historical and cultural value influences beauty. 

Shipwrecks 

In the U.S. alone, there are 10,000 recorded shipwrecks according to the Coast Survey’s Automated Wreck and Obstruction Information System (AWOIS). When a ship is wrecked, either beached onto land or sunk to the bottom of the water, several factors determine if the wreck should be preserved. According to The National Register, properties must meet at least one of the following criteria: association with significant historical events or persons, distinctive construction characteristics or artistic values, or potential to yield important historical information. For ships, additional criteria include being a representative vessel type, association with a significant designer or builder, or involvement in important maritime activities. 

Preserving shipwrecks helps preserve moments of historical importance for others to see and learn from years later. There are many shipwrecks all over the United States where tourists and travelers can learn about the area’s history, some even allowing people to dive down and see the boats up close underwater. On Lake Michigan near South Manitou Island, the shipwreck of the steamship Francisco Morazan protrudes out of the water. Visitors on the island enjoy the beaches while learning about the shipwreck’s history. At the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Washington, visitors can learn about over 150 historical shipwrecks on the ocean floor. 

While these shipwrecks may not appear to have any scenic beauty on the outside, their beauty is found within the stories they share. Some underwater shipwrecks even turn into ecosystems for local marine life, such as a World War II German submarine that sank in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina. When history and stories can be shared and learned over time, that is where true beauty can be found. 

Ruins 

America has a long history of different civilizations living on this land, most of which have been gone for many centuries. With roughly 410 different officially registered ruin sites across the country, many wonder how what seems to be a pile of rubble can be seen as preserved beauty. According to the Archaeological Institute of America, conservation aims to remove or lessen the causes of deterioration. For archaeological sites, this impacts both how we see and understand them. Techniques like structural stabilization, reconstruction, and protective shelters help influence their preservation and our experience. 

Ruins offer a chance for visitors to see the history of the land and imagine what life and society were like in the past. Preserving these sites helps future generations learn about the different cultures and facets of America’s history. The United States has a wide range of historical ruins, all preserving stories and cultures from America’s past. The Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico rests where Ancestral Puebloans built what was effectively a huge trade center in the heart of the desert. The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, which is the site of a pre-Columbian Native American city directly across the Mississippi River in Illinois. 

Although most ruins appear to be just mounds in the earth, barren patches of land, or strange rock formations, they play an important role in reminding current and future generations of what the beginnings of societies looked like. To some, it may seem strange to call these sites beautiful or to understand why anyone would want to visit them. To quote a review of Susan Stewart’s book The Ruins Lesson: “Ruins excite our imagination with the lesson that our greatest structures will one day return to the ground, while reminding us that in their fallen states these sites are endowed with beauty, even redemption.” Ruins, in their own sense, are scenic due to their historical and cultural values that show us the beauty of the past. 

Caves 

Formed by combinations of chemical processes, erosion by water, tectonic forces, microorganisms, pressure, and atmospheric influence, caves are home to many different types of species, habitats, and unique geological formations. There are roughly 45,000 caves in the United States that can be explored and hold countless pieces of information about their local areas. Caves also play a crucial role in our environment by helping ensure the quality of groundwater by filtering and purifying the water. To protect and preserve caves, the land and water on the surface must be protected. Ensuring that waterways are clear of pollution, minimizing invasive species, and lessening human-made erosion and climate change helps preserve the natural beauty of caves. 

Visiting and exploring caves is a great way to learn more about the history and culture of different areas around the United States. However, it is important for visitors to be aware of the cave’s environment and do their best not to disturb the natural beauty of the cave. There are many scenic caves with unique rock formations, such as Luray Caverns in Virginia, which feature a scenic array of calcite formations and crystal-clear pools, or the Rusnik Caves at Dunbar Cave State Park in Tennessee, which hold the oldest known cave art in North America. Along with many other sites in the US, caves offer a wonderful way to explore the underground and learn about different historical and cultural aspects of the surrounding areas. 

To most, a cave might seem just like a dark, damp space that holds little to no value. But caves are preserved to help protect the environment, study past rock formations and local wildlife, and even see fossils and cave paintings from America’s past. These important factors showcase the true beauty of caves and just how important they are to the environments around us. 

Scenic America’s mission to protect and preserve all forms of scenic beauty extends beyond the obvious landscapes of mountains, beaches, and rivers. By advocating for the conservation of shipwrecks, ruins, and caves, they highlight the hidden treasures of America’s past and their intrinsic value. These sites, often overlooked or dismissed as mere relics, hold significant historical, cultural, and environmental importance. 

Shipwrecks tell tales of maritime history and become ecosystems for marine life; ruins offer insights into ancient civilizations and their way of life; and caves reveal geological wonders and ancient artworks. Through the protection of these diverse and unique scenic sites, Scenic America ensures that the beauty of the nation’s heritage is appreciated and preserved for future generations, demonstrating that true scenic beauty encompasses a rich tapestry of natural and historical wonders.