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Positive things known around the world about U.S. cities:
Washington D.C./Baltimore-- D.C. is known to everyone as the Capital of the United States and for the famous monuments there. But I don't think many overseas folks have any feeling at all about Baltimore, which doesn't have a lot to brag about anyway.
Dallas/Ft. Worth--Maybe the TV show Dallas? Cowboy history?
Seattle--Scenic beauty and tech. It could also tout its (historical) music scene...Hendrix, Cobain, et al.
Chicago--Where the skyscraper was invented, great architecture, where President Obama was from, and less charitably, gangsters--from the 1920s to now.
Atlanta--Like Baltimore, I don't think overseas folks think much about Atlanta at all, even after the Olympics there. Maybe some are aware of it as the home of CNN, but that's about it. Not much else to brag about to foreigners.
Miami/Fort Lauderdale--Nightlife, beaches, and partying. Miami Vice TV. And for Latin Americans, particularly, a major business center.
Boston--Its history and its status as a higher education Mecca, although average Joes around the world probably have little to no impression of Boston or care about Harvard or MIT.
New York City--Glamour, the U.S. center of the arts, Broadway, and big-time Wall Street finance. Also, sadly, the 9/11 attacks.
Philadelphia--As said above, maybe the Rocky Statue and maybe as the birthplace of the U.S.
Los Angeles--Movie, TV, and music powerhouse. Obviously.
Houston-- Big oil. But not much else to brag about overseas.
San Francisco/San Jose-- Scenic beauty, tech powerhouse, and quasi-European vibe,
It really depends on where in the world you're talking about - I've noticed that in East Asia (Japan, China, Korea) San Francisco is very well-known for having the most prominent Asian population in the US. Similarly, in Eastern Europe Chicago is well-known for having a very prominent Eastern European population.
Otherwise it's NYC known for being a big exciting city, DC for government, LA for celebrities, Texas for cowboys (not the team), Miami for beaches and partying - that's kind of about it honestly. Many people around the world don't know much about most American cities. There may be some music stuff like Nashville for Country, Detroit for Motown, Seattle for Grunge, etc. but even that is inconsistent at best.
Washington D.C./Baltimore-- The White House and the seat of American government. Very few foreigners living abroad ever think about Baltimore.
Dallas/Ft. Worth-- Most foreigners conflate Dallas with "generic Texas" stereotypes of big cowboy hats, ranchers on a horses, oversized everything, etc. The Dallas Cowboys NFL team is not nearly as big as people think it is overseas.
Seattle-- Space Needle. You'd be surprised how many people don't know Microsoft or Amazon is HQ in Seattle.
Chicago-- Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Big skyscrapers.
Atlanta-- Hip hop (depending on their age). Not much else.
Miami/Fort Lauderdale-- Beach. Party lifestyle. Glamourous rich people. Latin flavor.
Boston-- Harvard and MIT.
New York City-- Countless references in film and TV. 9/11 terrorist attacks. Wall Street. Statue of Liberty. Friends.
Philadelphia-- Not much
Los Angeles-- Countless references in film and TV. The Hollywood Sign. Rich people in fancy houses. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Like Dallas, I think foreigners also conflate LA with "generic California" stereotypes of surfing, laid-back beach bros, sunshine, etc.
Houston-- NASA
San Francisco/San Jose-- Big tech companies. Startups. Golden Gate bridge
Washington D.C./Baltimore-- The White House and the seat of American government. Very few foreigners living abroad ever think about Baltimore.
Dallas/Ft. Worth-- Most foreigners conflate Dallas with "generic Texas" stereotypes of big cowboy hats, ranchers on a horses, oversized everything, etc. The Dallas Cowboys NFL team is not nearly as big as people think it is overseas.
Seattle-- Space Needle. You'd be surprised how many people don't know Microsoft or Amazon is HQ in Seattle.
Chicago-- Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Big skyscrapers.
Atlanta-- Hip hop (depending on their age). Not much else.
Miami/Fort Lauderdale-- Beach. Party lifestyle. Glamourous rich people. Latin flavor.
Boston-- Harvard and MIT.
New York City-- Countless references in film and TV. 9/11 terrorist attacks. Wall Street. Statue of Liberty. Friends.
Philadelphia-- Not much
Los Angeles-- Countless references in film and TV. The Hollywood Sign. Rich people in fancy houses. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Like Dallas, I think foreigners also conflate LA with "generic California" stereotypes of surfing, laid-back beach bros, sunshine, etc.
Houston-- NASA
San Francisco/San Jose-- Big tech companies. Startups. Golden Gate bridge
Pretty good list, but I think you missed a few things:
Houston - Oil
Seattle - Rain and Grunge Music
NYC - Hip-hop moreso than Atlanta
Philly - Rocky
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