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French fries - American soldiers stationed in Belgium during World War I named the fried potato slices they were served "French fries" after the French language spoken by Belgium combatants. The misnomer stuck, and arrived in the States to take its place at the top of fast food menus across the nation.

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The Yorktown Siege, 1781 - The siege of Yorktown, a decisive battle during the American Revolutionary War, saw the British routed by George Washington's Continental Army, and French Army troops led by Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau. The illustration shows Generals Washington and Rochambeau, together with the Marquis de Lafayette.

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Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834) - A close confidant of George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette fought in the American Revolutionary War and was present at Yorktown when British forces under Lord Cornwallis surrendered. The photograph shows a bronze sculpture depicting the Marquis de Lafayette, located at Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

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Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) - Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and the third US president, served as US minister to France and was based in Paris from 1774 to 1789. While abroad he became enamored with French cuisine and cooking methods. After being sworn in as president in 1801, one of his first priorities was hiring a French chef for the White House kitchen.

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Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C. -

The central block of the Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, D.C. was influenced by the facade of the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris.

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New Orleans, LA - La Nouvelle-Orléans was founded in 1718 and named for Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. The city's historic French Quarter is a popular tourist destination.

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Jean Lafitte (c.1780–c.1823) -

Dashing French pirate Jean Lafitte helped General Andrew Jackson defend New Orleans against the British in the final battle of the War of 1812. The city's Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop on Bourbon Street is reputed to be one of the oldest structures used as a bar in the United States.

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Fraunces Tavern Museum, NY -

Located in New York City is this landmark museum, which served as a headquarters for George Washington before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War. Among its previous owners was Etienne DeLancey, a French Huguenot.

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Fraunces Tavern Museum, NY - The museum's Memories Room is where Washington bid farewell to his officers in December 1783. Inside is a small statue of Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who served with Washington and was the architect who designed Washington, D.C.

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Pierre Charles L'Enfant (1754–1825) - Pierre Charles L'Enfant (1754–1825) was a French engineer and architect who designed the basic plan for Washington, D.C., a gridiron of irregular rectangular blocks and broad diagonal avenues, exemplified by the National Mall. L'Enfant is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859) - French sociologist and political theorist Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to the United States in 1831 and chronicled his visit through copious notes. The notes became the basis for his celebrated work 'Democracy in America.' 

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Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, NV - Looming large over the Las Vegas Strip is a 540-ft replica of the Eiffel Tower, centerpiece of the glitzy Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.

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Tony Parker - The very anglo-sounding Tony Parker was born in Bruges, Belgium but raised in France. However, he's better known in America as a professional NBA basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs.

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Chateau Marmont Hotel, CA - Compare the Chateau d'Amboise in France's Loire Valley with this plush hotel, which dates back to 1929. The similarities in design are quite deliberate. The famous Hollywood landmark has also popped up in numerous movies.

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French-speaking Hollywood stars - A number of Hollywood actors speak fluent French. Among them is Jodie Foster, who studied at the Lycée Français in Los Angeles. Other notable French speakers include Bradley Cooper and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

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New Orleans, LA -

Café du Monde is the best place to sample beignets, fried dough wedges showered with powdered sugar. Brought from Canada to Louisiana by the French-speaking Acadians, the belt-loosening delicacy has been served here since 1862.

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Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima - Rene Gagnon was one of the six flag-raisers on the famous Iwo Jima Memorial. Born in Manchester, NH to French-Canadian immigrants, Gagnon, together with his five fellow marines, are immortalized on the Marine Corps War Memorial, in Washington, D.C.

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Paris, TX - There are several towns and cities in the US called Paris, but it's Paris, TX that continues to capture the public's imagination. The town was featured in Wim Wenders's 1984 film (although it is, in fact, set elsewhere), and a 70-ft Eiffel Tower is situated in the center, topped with a crimson Stetson.

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Baton Rouge, LA -

The Louisiana state capital was founded in 1721 by French colonists. The city is named after bâton rouge—"red stick"—a red boundary pole placed by American Indian tribes to mark territory and discovered by French explorers in 1699. Pictured is the amazing stained glass dome of the Old State Capitol building.

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Montpelier, VT -

The Vermont state capital was named for Montpelier, France, as an acknowledgement of the country's military assistance during the American Revolutionary War. Other French-named US state capitals include Baton Rouge, Boise, Des Moines, Juneau, Pierre, and Saint Paul.

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Little Rock, AR - When intrepid French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe stumbled across an odd-looking rock formation along the banks of the Arkansas River in 1721, he named it "la petit roche," or the "little rock." Today, Little Rock is the state capital of Arkansas.

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Zydeco music style -

Hit a Louisiana live music bar and chances are you'll end up tapping your feet to zydeco, a musical style that evolved from French Creole speakers' admiration for blues and R&B. It is uniquely performed using a piano accordion and washboard.

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Cajun music style -

Cajun music is characterized by the catchy combination of accordion and fiddle, along with the high-pitched tones of a metal triangle. Unlike zydeco, the sound is rooted in Creole-influenced, Acadian musical tradition.

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Cajun culture - French Arcadians from Nova Scotia migrated south in the early 1800s to settle in what is now Louisiana. The name "Cajun" is generally accepted as an English mispronunciation of "Acadian." Pictured is an extended Cajun family at home in Crowley, LA in the 1930s.

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Cajun cuisine - Jambalaya - Spicy homemade Jambalaya, a traditional Cajun dish made with smoked andouille sausage (brought to Louisiana by French immigrants) and shrimp. The town of LaPlace, on the Mississippi River, is famous for its authentic Creole andouille.

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Cajun cuisine - crawfish étouffée - A seasonal treat, crawfish étouffée is a Creole classic. The word étouffée comes from the French word "to smother," and the dish is a rich stew chock full of tender crawfish served over a bed of rice.

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Jack Kerouac (1922–1969) - Born Jean-Louis Kérouac, the influential American novelist and poet was of French-Canadian descent. Hailing from Massachusetts, the Beat Generation spokesman is celebrated for his defining work, 'On the Road.' The 120-foot-long original scroll of the novel is pictured.

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Statue of Liberty - One of the most iconic structures in the US was designed by French sculptor Fréderic Auguste Bartholdi, built by Gustav Eiffel, and presented as a gift of friendship from the people of France. A quarter-scale replica overlooks the River Seine in Paris.

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The French Laundry -

Some of America's most acclaimed restaurants specialize in fine French cuisine, including The French Laundry, a three-star Michelin restaurant located in California's Napa Valley. Diners are served plated works of culinary art.

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Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park, LA -

Ever wondered how early Acadian, Creole, and American Indian peoples lived and worked? Well, you get a pretty good idea from this historic village, which features guided tours around original homes, costumed artisans, live music, a cooking school, dance lessons, and yoga classes. French and English are spoken throughout.

See also: Historic European cafés you need to visit

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