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Denver has the "cash register" building which is pretty distinct IMHO. But it doesn't have the recognition of the Empire State Building or the Space Needle.
I'm going to disagree with most people and say Chicago and NYC's skylines are not recognizable at all in silhouette format. Unless you're putting the State of Liberty in (which is really stretching reality), NYC's is just a bunch of tall buildings most people wouldn't be able to pick out of a lineup.
The most recognizable, in my opinion, would be those with very distinct buildings - St Louis (the arch), Seattle (the Space Needle) and DC (Washington monument).
There are some others with distinct buildings like Dallas (Reunion Tower) or SF (Transamerica Pyramid, and the Golden Gate Bridge becomes unrecognizable in black-and-white silhouette format, it looks indistinguishable from any other bridge)) but I don't think your average Joe would recognize those at all.
That is part of what makes New York's skyline so recognizable, its massive... No one is going to confuse any other American city for New York, except maybe Chicago. (even in silhouette form).
You can also see the Empire State Building and World Trade Center from virtually every angle, and those are among the nations most recognizable buildings.
I generally agree with the other cities you mentioned, except Dallas, I am sure somewhat recognizable from pictures and silhouettes, but on the level of New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Seattle, and SF (I forgot SF before).
St. Louis is a dead giveaway -- the most identifiable in the US.
After that there is NYC, Washington DC (probably tied)
Then San Francisco if the Golden Gate is shown.
Seattle next -- although there are other cities (San Antonio?) with a space needle phallus thingy.
Chicago fits in there somewhere but I'm not sure many would recognize it. An impressive lake facade.
Las Vegas is a bizarre conglomeration of things...pretty unique.
The almost ubiquitous ferris wheel shows up in a number of places now.
That is about it in the US.
Nashville's skyline is a one-building wonder in terms of recognizability (no pun intended). I put it in the same category as Denver's "Cash Register" or the Reunion Tower in Dallas. Even Knoxville's World's Fair sphere probably sets it apart more. However, about three hours to the west though is this Pyramid thing though and combined perhaps with a bridge over the Mississippi, places Memphis close to St. Louis territory.
Instantly:
New York City - icons like the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and World Trade are cemented into people's minds
San Francisco - The Transamerica pyramid tower and bay bridge are phenomenally iconic
Washington, DC - the Washington Monument and the Capitol, everyone knows
St Louis - because of the beautiful arch alone. St Louis has a truly weak skyline overall, unfortunately
Highly Recognizable:
Chicago - Sears Tower is iconic and the rest may confuse people
Seattle - The Space Needle most know, but some may not
Los Angeles - Cluster of downtown towers against the mountain backdrop has been in many tv shows and movies
Dallas - Pretty unique skyline
Miami - Most folks recognize it, has been in TV shows and movies, especially with the water at the bottom and skyline showing
Only Recognizable Amongst Those in the Know:
Las Vegas - It gets a lot of recognition, if the right skyline angle is shown
Philadelphia - Nice downtown cluster is immediately recognized if you know what to look for
Detroit - Renaissance Center gives it away to those who know where to look
Atlanta - The long midtown and downtown skyline most may know, but it doesn't pop as instant or even highly recognizable
Austin - Changing too fast really for popular recognition
Nashville - The Batman building is making this skyline popular and more and more recognizable
Minneapolis - Unique tallest tower sets it apart if you focus in
Last edited by jjbradleynyc; 08-24-2020 at 01:32 PM..
NYC for Empire State Building, Chicago for Sears Tower, Seattle for the Space Needle, which predated most other phallic observatory towers like the CN or Reunion towers and remains unique for the Jetsons design.
Instantly:
New York City - icons like the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and World Trade are cemented into people's minds
San Francisco - The Transamerica pyramid tower and bay bridge are phenomenally iconic
Washington, DC - the Washington Monument and the Capitol, everyone knows
St Louis - because of the beautiful arch alone. St Louis has a truly weak skyline overall, unfortunately
Highly Recognizable:
Chicago - Sears Tower is iconic and the rest may confuse people
Seattle - The Space Needle most know, but some may not
Los Angeles - Cluster of downtown towers against the mountain backdrop has been in many tv shows and movies
Dallas - Pretty unique skyline
Only Recognizable Amongst Those in the Know:
Las Vegas - It gets a lot of recognition, if the right skyline angle is shown
Philadelphia - Nice downtown cluster is immediately recognized if you know what to look for
Detroit - Renaissance Center gives it away to those who know where to look
Atlanta - The long midtown and downtown skyline most may know, but it doesn't pop as instant or even highly recognizable
Austin - Changing too fast really for popular recognition
Nashville - The Batman building is making this skyline popular and more and more recognizable
Minneapolis - Unique tallest tower sets it apart if you focus in
Agree 100% with this post ☝️ the only change I’d make is adding Miami the skyline is pretty recognizable.
Last edited by Koji7; 08-24-2020 at 01:02 PM..
Reason: Added a blurb
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