Urban landscapes are much more than just buildings and streets—they reflect the history, culture, and values of the society that shaped them. Just as a geologist reads natural landscapes to understand the Earth’s history, we can “read” urban landscapes to understand human activity over time. My travels of over 150,000 km across the Americas took me through countless small towns, historic sites, bustling cities, and sprawling metropolitan areas, offering a unique perspective on the diversity of landscapes, cultures, and urban life.