BUILDINGS & LANDMARKS - Under Construction
Donauturm
Translating as Danube Tower, this observation and radio tower is the highest building in Vienna and in Austria. Constructed during 1962-1964, designed by architect Hannes Lintl, in preparation for the Viennese International Horticultural Show 1964.
Cooper-Hewitt Museum
Design museum housed within the Andrew Carnegie Mansion in Manhattan, New York City. Specifically focuses on Design and Decorative Arts.
Phare de Saint Marie
Famous lighthouse at the entrance to Marseille
Intramuros
Famous walled city within a city in Manila, the Phillipines; seven gates; completed 1872; made of bricks and hard adobe from the Pasig River quarries; walls are 45 ft thick and rise 25 ft above the moat
Wembley Stadium
Football which opened in 2007, on the site of the original stadium of the same name, which was demolished in 2002. The stadium hosts major football matches including home matches of the England national football team, and the FA Cup Final. The former stadium hosted Live Aid in December 1984 including Queen's iconic live performance.
Chateau d'If
Fortress located about 1.5 kilometres off Marseille the smallest island in the Frioul Archipelago. Built in the 16th century, it later served as a prison and was famous for being one of the settings of Alexandre Dumas's adventure novel The Count of Monte Cristo, where Edmund Dantes was imprisoned.
The Strat Hotel
Hotel and casino located in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It includes a 1,149 ft (350.2 m) observation tower, the tallest in the United States. It is also the second-tallest observation tower in the Western Hemisphere, surpassed only by the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario. The tower is topped by a pod which includes a revolving restaurant, lounges, and observation decks.
Potala Palace
In Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising. It is now a museum and World Heritage Site.
Pyramid of Djoser
Step Pyramid in Saqqara, Egypt; possibly the earliest of the pyramids and first major stone monument created by man.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
Suprising edifice built in a salt mine in Colombia.
King Fahd Causeway
Bridge connecting the island nation of Bahrain to Saudi Arabia crossing the Gulf of Bahrain, part of the Persian Gulf.
ADX Florence
Alcatraz of the Rockies, Colorado, Supermax, holds most dangerous federal criminals.
Dancing House
(Prague) AKA Fred and Ginger, is the nickname given to the Nationale-Nederlanden building in Prague that has a wavy, curved shape. Designed by Vlado Milunić in cooperation with Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot.
White House
(Washington, DC) Name given to the President's house when it was painted white after being burned by the British in the War of 1812; designed by architect James Hoban in the Palladian style popular at the time; its ZIP code 20500.
Big Dig
(Boston, MA) Common nickname for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project (CA/T), a megaproject in Boston. The most expensive highway project in US history, overrunning to $22 billion instead of the expected $2.8 billion. Rerouted the Central Artery of Interstate 93 (I-93), the chief highway through the heart of the city, into the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tunnel named the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel. The project also included the construction of the Ted Williams Tunnel (extending I-90 to Logan International Airport), the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge over the Charles River, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway in the space vacated by the previous I-93 elevated roadway.
Western Wall / Wailing Wall
( Jerusalem) where Jews, on certain occasions, assemble for prayer and lamentation: traditionally believed to be the only remaining portion of the Second Temple, built in 538 BCE and destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. Has two names, the Christian name of it is considered offensive to Jews.
Balmoral Castle
(Aberdeenshire, Scotland) Large estate house that has been one of the residences for members of the British Royal Family since 1852, when the estate and its original castle were purchased privately by Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria. They remain as the private property of the royal family and are not the property of the Crown. Queen Elizabeth II died here.
Banff Springs Hotel
(Alberta, Canada) Opened in 1888 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, as one of the earliest of Canada's Grand Railway Hotels, located in the Rocky Mountains.
Rijksmuseum
(Amsterdam) meaning National Museum, this is the largest museum in Holland. Founded in 1800 in The Hague it moved to Amsterdam in 1808 on orders of the king. Currently housed in a Gothic Revival building designed by P. J. H. Cuypers and completed in 1885, its most distinguished works include Rembrandt's Night Watch, Franz Hals's The Merry Drinker, and Jan Vermeer's The Kitchen Maid.
Pentagon
(Arlington, VA) about 3.7 million square feet of office space; built in the 1940s to house the Dept. of the Army;
Parthenon
(Athens, Greece) Built in the 5th century B.C in the Greek Golden Age by Pericles as a temple of Athena. The Acropolis is the "Sacred Rock" standing 150 metres above sea level in Athens, Greece.
Casa Mila (La Pedrera)
(Barcelona, Spain) Apartment building regarded as Antoni Gaudi's most iconic work of civic architecture due its constructional and functional innovations, as well as its ornamental and decorative solutions, which broke with the architectural styles of his day.
Stormont
(Belfast, Northern Ireland) Site of Northern Ireland's main government buildings in Belfast, which are surrounded by woods and parkland. It is frequently used as a metonym for the Government of Northern Ireland.
Spandau Prison
(Berlin) After the war, it held seven top Nazi leaders convicted in the Nuremberg trials. Demolished in August 87 to prevent it from becoming a neo-Nazi shrine after the death of its last prisoner, Rudolf Hess. The British new wave band _________ Ballet got their name after seeing the words '_________ Ballet' scrawled on the wall of a nightclub lavatory in Berlin, referring to the way a hanged Nazi would twitch and "dance" at the end of the rope.
Reichstag
(Berlin) Building which houses the Bundestag, the lower house of Germany's parliament. Met from 1894 to 1933 and again since 1999; Hitler used arson in 1933 as a pretext to arrest all communists, giving them a majority and total power in the next legislative session.
Horseshoe Curve
(Blair County, PA) National Historic Landmark near Altoona, PA. Carrying trains up the steep banks of the Allegheny Mountains was nearly impossible, so instead, engineers created a series of curves through the mountains that slowly increase the trains' elevation, reducing the travel time significantly from the Industrial Midwest to the East Coast. Was the target of Nazi saboteurs dropped off by U-Boat because it was so important to American war effort.
Old North Church
(Boston, MA) Church used to tell Paul Revere of the British attack plans before his night ride; one lantern if the British were to attack by land, 2 if they were to attack by sea; 2 lanterns were hung.
Faneuil Hall
(Boston, MA) Marketplace and meeting hall located near the waterfront and today's Government Center. Opened in 1743, it was the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others encouraging independence from Great Britain.
Atomium
(Brussels, Belgium) Standing 103 metres tall, this is known as the Eiffel Tower of Brussels. Built for the World Fair of 1958, it is a representation of a unit cell of a iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times. It has nine steel spheres which are connected by long tubes containing escalators. It also has a lift taking you directly to the top sphere for a panoramic view of Brussels.
Calgary Tower
(Calgary, Canada) A 190.8-meter (626 ft) free standing observation tower in the downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Originally called the Husky Tower, it was conceived as a joint venture between Marathon Realty Company Limited and Husky Oil as part of an urban renewal plan and to celebrate Canada's centennial of 1967.
Saddledome
(Calgary, Canada) Named for its distinctive shape. Built in 1983 for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League, and to host ice hockey and figure skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
(Canton, OH) opened September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees; all inductees get the "Gold Jacket." The Chicago Bears have the most inductees at 30.
Robie House
(Chicago) Located on the University of Chicago and built between 1909 and 1910, was built by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is considered perhaps the finest example of Prairie School, the first architectural style considered uniquely American.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
(Cleveland, OH) dedicated in 1995. On the shores of Lake Erie with large pyramid designed by I.M. Pei. In Cleveland to honor the city's seminal role in popularizing rock music, particularly local disc jockey Alan Freed's coining of the term "rock and roll" and hosting the first rock concert, the Moondog Coronation Ball, in 1952.
National Baseball Hall of Fame
(Cooperstown, NY) dedicated in 1939; The first five men elected were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson, chosen in 1936The San Francisco Giants have the most inductees, with 66.
The Little Mermaid
(Copenhagen, Denmark) The most famous symbol of the city of Copenhagen. It was created in 1913 and represents the title character in Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of the same name. Unfortunately, the statue has fallen victim to repeated acts of vandalism and theft in its time. It is only a few feet from land and accessible on foot, in Copenhagen's Langelinie Park.
Eden Project
(Cornwall, England) Giant greenhouse biomes that house plants from all over the world, including the largest "rainforest in captivity." Charity which runs environmental and social projects internationally. 18m visitors since 2001
Windsor Castle
(County Berkshire, UK) Principal royal residence in the country for over nine centuries, the longest-occupied royal palace in Europe. Original castle built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I (who reigned 1100-1135), it has been used by the reigning monarch. Inside the castle walls is the 15th-century St George's Chapel, considered "one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic" design.
Petra
(Jordan) UNESCO World Heritage site - archaeological city in southern Jordan settled by ancient Nabataeans. Stone-carved palaces into rock, called the "Rose City" One of "New 7 Wonders of the World"
Abbey Theatre
(Dublin, Ireland) Set up in Dublin in 1904 by J.M. Synge, W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory for the representation of the Irish Literary Theatre productions. Associated with the Irish literary revival.
Kilmainham Gaol
(Dublin, Ireland) Significant as a center of British oppression in Ireland; site of the executions of the 1916 leaders and of the imprisonment of many of those involved in the major struggles for independence or reform during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Royal Mile
(Edinburgh, Scotland) In Old Town of Edinburgh, running between two significant locations in the royal history of Scotland: Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The total length of the streets between the Castle and the Palace is almost exactly a Scots mile (1.81 km), hence the name.
Holyrood Palace
(Edinburgh, Scotland) Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, this has served as the principal royal residence in Scotland since the 16th century, and is a setting for state occasions and official entertaining.
Palazzo Vecchio
(Florence) construction from 1299; the town hall of Florence, Italy. It overlooks the Piazza della Signoria, which holds a copy of Michelangelo's David statue, and the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi.
Ponte Vecchio
(Florence, Italy) Called the "Old Bridge," it bridges the Arno River with multiple shops across it, was central market place for Florence's residents. The only bridge in Florence that survived World War II.
Angel of the North
(Gateshead, England) Contemporary sculpture by Antony Gormley, completed in 1998, it is believed to be the largest sculpture of an angel in the world. It stands 20 metres (66 ft) tall with a wingspan of 54 metres (177 ft) - which is larger than a Boeing 757 aircraft. Viewed by an estimated 33 million people every year due to its proximity to the A1 and A167 roads and the East Coast Main Line.
Stone Mountain
(Georgia) Carving, completed in 1972, depicts three Confederate leaders, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson. Was initially started by Gutzon Borglum (eventual sculptor of Mount Rushmore, who had KKK sympathies), but was later finished by Henry Lukeman and Walker Hancock.
Great Pyramids of Giza
(Giza, Egypt) built as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu somewhere between 2650 and 2500 BC. At 450 feet high, it was the tallest structure on Earth until 1311, when it was suppassed by the (now collapsed) central spire of Lincoln Cathedral.
West Baden Springs Hotel
(Indiana) Located in the French Lick Resort and is a national historic landmark hotel, known for the 200-foot (61 m) dome covering its atrium. Prior to the completion of the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1955, the hotel had the largest free-spanning dome in the United States. From 1902 to 1913 it was the largest dome in the world.
Hagia Sophia
(Istanbul, Turkey) Most famous example of Byzantine architecture, it was built under Justinian I. It was a functioning cathedral for about 900 years, from its completion in 537 through 1453, when it was converted to a mosque. It became a museum in the 1930s with both Islamic and Christian art, but in 2020 was controversially converted back into a mosque again.
Dome of the Rock
(Jerusalem) A located on the Temple Mount, which houses the spot where Muslims believe Muhammad rose into heaven and where Jews believe Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac to God.
Victoria Memorial
(Kolkata, India) Large marble building representing India Imperial Classicism in Central Kolkata, capital of West Bengal, built between 1906 and 1921. Dedicated to the memory of ______________, Empress of India from 1876 to 1901. It is now a museum under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, and is the largest monument in the world which is dedicated to a royal.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
(L.A.) Opened in 2003, designed by Frank Gehry; The organic, sail-like stainless steel exterior forms, which were inspired by Gehry's love of sailing, have now become iconic. Part of the architectural movement known as Deconstructivism, the concept that form does not always have to follow function.
Blackpool Tower
(Lancashire, England) When it opened in 1894, this was the tallest manmade structure in the British Empire. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it is 518 feet (158 metres) tall and is the 125th-tallest freestanding tower in the world.
The Gherkin
(London) 30 St Mary Axe (previously known as the Swiss Re Building) this is the nickname for a famous a commercial skyscraper in London's financial district. Completed in 2004, it stands on the sites of the former Baltic Exchange and Chamber of Shipping, which were extensively damaged in 1992 by an IRA bombing. The contemporary architecture of the building has made it a landmark of London.
Tower of London
(London) Historic castle on the north bank of the Thames, created by William the Conqueror in 1066 and was a symbol of oppression. Crown jewels of England are housed here. Many executions took place here, including Ann Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, and Margaret Pole. Other prisoners died here (probably murdered), such as the Princes in the Tower (killed by Richard III) and Edward VI. 1999 game Traitor's Gate based here, follows the story of Raven, an American special agent trying to steal and replace the Crown Jewels of England. Took over 5000 photos of the site to create realism.
The Walkie Talkie
(London) Nickname of skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street, because of its resemblance to a two-way radio handset. Features a sky garden on the top. Some concave window reflections caused things nearby to melt from the heat. The architecture has been widely criticized.
The Shard
(London) Nickname of the tallest building in the United Kingdom, a 72-storey skyscraper, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, in Southwark, London. Completed 2012. Renzo Piano, the project's architect, designed it as a spire-like sculpture emerging from the River Thames.
Kew Gardens
(London) The name of the Royal Botanic Gardens in west London, that boasts a collection of about 50, 000 different plant species as well as many impressive buildings such as the Palm House and the 10 story Pagoda. Virginia Wolff wrote a 1919 story of the same name.
Madame Tussaud's
(London) Tourist attraction founded in 1835 displaying the waxworks of famous and historical figures, as well as popular film and television characters.
Old Bailey
(London) nickname of the Central Criminal Court of old London. One of several that houses the Crown Court of England and Wales. The street outside follows the route of the ancient wall around the City of London, which was part of the fortification's ______, hence the metonymic name.
Big Ben
(London, England) Part of the Palace of Westminster, it is a common misconception that this is the name of the clock tower itself, however it is actually the nickname of the Great Bell within the clock. The tower was designed by Augustus Pugin in a neo-Gothic style. When completed in 1859, its clock was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world. It may be named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw its installation Now officially known as the Elizabeth Tower (after a renaming in 2012 to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee).
Palace of Westminster
(London, UK) Serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Informally known as the Houses of Parliament. Burned in a fire and current building rebuilt from 1840-1876.
Prado Museum
(Madrid, Spain) The main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection. Numerous works by Francisco Goya, Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco, Rubens, Titian, and Diego Velázquez. Velázquez and his keen eye and sensibility were also responsible for bringing much of the museum's fine collection of Italian masters to Spain, now the largest outside Italy.
National Civil Rights Museum
(Memphis, TN) located in the Lorraine Motel, where MLK, Jr. was assassinated; opened in 1991.
Chichen Itza
(Mexico) Ancient Mayan city located on the Yucatan Peninsula, one of the most visited archeological sites in Mexico with over 2.6 million tourists Most known for Temple of Kukulcán (El Castillo), a giant step-pyramid. One of the "New Seven Wonders of the World."
Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)
(Monterey, CA) moved from Annapolis, MD in 1952 to the old luxury Hotel Del Monte, one of the first resort hotels.
Kremlin
(Moscow) Eleventh-century citadel in the heart of Moscow that has been the historical seat of Russian state power, housing the offices of the Russian government. Huge fortified complex containing four palaces and four cathedrals. Has been home to some Tsars of Russia and political leaders such as Lenin and Stalin. It is also home to the Tsar Bell which is the largest bell in the world although it is broken and never really has been used.
St. Basil's Cathedral
(Moscow) More common name for the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, an Orthodox church in Red Square, one of the most popular cultural symbols of Russia. The building, now a museum, was built from 1555 to 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible and commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan
Siegestor
(Munich) Three-arched memorial arch, crowned with a statue of Bavaria with a lion-quadriga. The monument was originally dedicated to the glory of the Bavarian army. Commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria and completed in 1852. After damaged in World War II, rear half was restored with words "Dedicated to victory, destroyed by war, urging peace""
United Nations Secretariat Building
(NYC) 505-foot (154 m) tall skyscraper and the centerpiece of the headquarters of the United Nations, completed in 1950. Designed by Le Corbusier and Brazilian Architect Oscar Niemeyer, it is the first skyscraper in New York City to use a glass curtain wall.
Rockefeller Center
(NYC) A large complex consisting of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres (89,000 m2) between 48th Street and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, with 14 original Art Deco buildings, including the Radio City Music Hall. Has large statues of Prometheus and Atlas. Diego Rivera's Man At The Crossroads fresco was in the RCA building Lobby, but was controversial for a portrait of Lenin and a Soviet May Day celebration represented. Was eventually demolished.
Coney Island
(NYC) Attraction in Brooklyn (actually a peninsula) near Brighton Beach, with amusement parks and served as center of entertainment since the late 19th Century. Nathan's Famous hot dogs are based here. The Cyclone roller coaster, the Wonder Wheel ferris wheel and the B&B Carousel are NRHP landmarks.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
(NYC) Built 1858-1879. Catholic cathedral in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, the seat of the Archbishop of New York. It is the largest Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral in North America.
Brooklyn Battery Tunnel
(NYC) Connecting Brooklyn with lower Manhattan, it is the longest continous tunnel in the United States. Completed in 1950, the tunnel took ten years to complete. Construction was halted for some time due to World War II.
Dakota Building
(NYC) Constructed in 1884 in Upper West Side in Renaissance Revival Style, became one of Manhattan's most prestigious apartment buildings and is the the oldest remaining luxury apartment building in New York City. Home to John Lennon and other famous people throughout the ages. Lennon was shot just outside the building.
Woolworth Building
(NYC) Dubbed the "Cathedral of Commerce" due to the many medieval style ornaments that embellish the building, it was the tallest building in the world from 1913 to 1930. Located in Tribeca.
Flatiron Building
(NYC) Known for its unusual triangular construction. When constructed in 1902 was called the Fuller Building andwas one of the tallest buildings in New York City. Sits on a triangular block formed by Fifth Avenue to the west, Broadway to the east, and East 22nd Street to the south.
Madison Square Garden
(NYC) Multi-purpose indoor arena in Midtown Manhattan, used for professional ice hockey (The New York Rangers) and basketball (the New York Knicks), as well as boxing, concerts, ice shows, circuses, professional wrestling and other forms of sports and entertainment. Controversially was built on the site of Penn Station, one of New York's most beautiful train stations.
Bronx Zoo
(NYC) Opened in 1899 in a borough of NYC, it is among the largest metropolitan zoos in the world, and is one of the largest in North America, with some 6,000 animals representing about 650 species from around the world.
George Washington Bridge
(NYC) Opened in 1931, a double-decked suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting Manhattan with Fort Lee, NJ. This is the world's busiest motor vehicle bridge, carrying over 103 million vehicles in 2016. Interstate 95 crosses the bridge.
Tudor City
(NYC) The first residential skyscraper complex in the world, built in 1926. Located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood in the East Side of Manhattan, it is named for the type of Architecture that it features.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
(NYC) at the entrance to NYC harbor over an area called the Narrows, crosses between Staten Island and Brooklyn. Was the longest suspension bridge in the world until it was surpassed by the Humber Bridge in the United Kingdom in 1981.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
(NYC) the largest art museum in the Western Hemisphere. Its permanent collection contains over two million works. 4th most visited Museum in the World.
World Trade Center
(NYC, 1974-2001) Name for the complex including the Twin Towers. At the time of their completion the Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world. Designed by Japanese-American Architect Minoru Yamasaki. used in Philippe Petit's frequent tightrope-walking performance on August 7, 1974. Truck bomb in the basement and detroyed during 9/11. Replaced by the Freedom Tower.
Lotus Temple
(New Delhi, India) A Baháʼí House of Worship opened in 1986. Notable for its flowerlike shape, composed of 27 free-standing marble-clad "petals" arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides, with nine doors opening onto a central hall with a height of slightly over 34 meters and a capacity of 1,300 people.
Preservation Hall
(New Orleans, LA) a jazz venue in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. The building is associated with a house band, a record label, and a non-profit foundation.
Hayden Planetarium
(New York City) The Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space is the official name for this Planetarium in New York City, part of the American Museum of National History. The original planetarium was opened in 1935. Neil deGrasse Tyson is its director.
Tappan Zee Bridge
(New York) crosses the Hudson River to connect Nyack in Rockland County with Tarrytown in Westchester County; opened in 1955; (named for the Native American Tappan people who once lived in the area and the Dutch word for "sea").
Konark Sun Temple
(Odisha, India) A 13th-century Temple built by king Narasimhadeva I of Eastern Ganga Dynasty around 1250 CE. Dedicated to the Hindu Sun God Surya. Located on the Bay of Bengal, was once known as the "Black Pagoda" landmark by sailors.
Sing Sing
(Ossining, NY) prison where Julius & Ethel Rosenberg were executed; located on the Hudson River. Name derived from the Sintsink Native American tribe from whom the land was purchased in 1685, and was formerly the name of the village. It holds about 1,700 inmates and housed the execution chamber for the State of New York until the abolition of capital punishment in New York in 2004.
U.S.S. Arizona Memorial
(Pearl Harbor, HI) The resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed on this ship during the Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Accessible only by boat, it straddles the sunken hull of the battleship without touching it.
Hunt's Tomb
(Phoenix Arizona) White pyramid tomb on the top of a hill in Papago Park. Arizona's first governor had the tomb built in 1931 to entomb his wife. He was placed there after his death in 1934.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
(Pisa, Italy) the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral. It is known for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an insufficiently large, unstable foundation on soft ground. The ground floor is a blind arcade articulated by engaged columns with classical Corinthian capitals.
Villa Savoye
(Poissy-sur-Seine, France) Famous modernist house built by Le Corbusier in 1929. Made of steel and reinforced white concrete, its systematic efficiency, lack of ornamentation, and clean lines exemplify Purism and Le Corbusier's desire to simplify design.
Spinnaker Tower
(Portsmouth, England) Landmark observation tower, the centrepiece of the redevelopment of Portsmouth Harbour. Reflects Portsmouth's maritime history through its design and is named after a _________, a type of sail that balloons outward. The tower was opened on 18 October 2005.
Sans Souci
(Potsdam, Germany) Frederick the Great's Versailles-like palace at which Voltaire lived for several years, known by the French word for "carefree." Also the name of the now-ruined palace built in 1813 by Henry I, a king of Revolutionary Haiti.
St. Vitus Cathedral
(Prague, Czechia) cathedral situated within the Prague Castle, now the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. The cathedral also is home to the very ornate St Wenceslas Chapel and the Crown Chamber which contains the Bohemian Coronation Jewels.
Golden Spike
(Promontory Summit, Utah) In 1869 is the last, ceremonial spike driven specifically to mark the completion of a railroad line, driven by Leland Stanford to join the rails of the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States connecting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads.
Fallingwater
(SE of Pittsburgh) Modern Architecture house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935, built partly over a waterfall on Bear Run. The house was designed to serve as a weekend retreat for Liliane and Edgar J. Kaufmann, the owner of Pittsburgh's Kaufmann's Department Store.
Salt Lake Tabernacle
(Salt Lake City, Utah). Built between 1864 and 1867--An oval shaped building located in Temple Square in Salt Lake City to house LDS meetings and General Conference. It's the home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and one of the largest organs in the world. The structure was an architectural wonder in its day, prompting a writer for Scientific American to comment on "the mechanical difficulties of attending the construction of so ponderous a roof." In 1882, while on a lecture tour of America, Oscar Wilde noted that the building had the appearance of a soup-kettle; he added that it was the most purely dreadful building he ever saw. Some visitors around the beginning of the 20th century criticized it as "a prodigious tortoise that has lost its way" or "the Church of the Holy Turtle," but Frank Lloyd Wright dubbed it "one of the architectural masterpieces of the country and perhaps the world."
Hotel Del Coronado
(San Diego) Famous hotel in Queen Anne style, the second largest wooden structure in the U.S. When the hotel opened in 1888, it was the single largest resort hotel in the world. Hosted many Presidents and Hollywood stars and starlets.
Legion of Honor Museum
(San Francisco) Art Museum in San Francisco opened in 1924 with a view of the bay. The building is a full-scale replica of the French Pavilion at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, which in turn was a three-quarter-scale version of the similarly named Palace of _____________ in Paris.
Transamerica Pyramid
(San Francisco, CA) pyramid-shaped building; at 853', it's the tallest building in the city, completed in 1972. Light shade of color on façade is covered in crushed quartz, Architect William Pereira.
Palace of the Governors
(Santa Fe, NM) Built between 1610 and 1618, the oldest public building in the United States; The Palace originally served as the seat of government of the Spanish colony of Nuevo Mexico, which at one time comprised the present-day states of Texas, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.
Melrose Abbey
(Scotland) Partly ruined monastery of the Cistercian order. Founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of King David I of Scotland and was the chief house of that order in the country until the Reformation. Alexander II and other Scottish kings and nobles are buried at the abbey. A lead container believed to hold the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce
Space Needle
(Seattle, WA) Built in the Seattle Center for the 1962 World's Fair, which drew over 2.3 million visitors. Once the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River, standing at 605 ft (184 m). Is built to withstand winds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h) and earthquakes of up to 9.0 magnitude, as strong as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake.
Oriental Pearl TV Tower
(Shanghai, China) Interestingly shaped communications tower, featuring 11 spheres, big and small. When completed in 1994 was the largest structure in China. Includes revolving restaurant, small hotel and shopping center in the spheres.
Raffles Hotel
(Singapore) This luxurious colonial-style hotel has a long history dating back to 1887 and has become one of the most important Singapore landmarks.
Taliesin
(Spring Green, WI) The estate of Welsh American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. An extended exemplar of the Prairie School of architecture. Site of a grisly murder of FLW's mistress and her two children by an ex-employee of the manor in 1911. There is a "West" version of the same name in Scottsdale, AZ.
The Gateway Arch
(St. Louis) Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a weighted catenary arch, it is the world's tallest arch. Some sources consider it the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere. Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States, it was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in 1947 and was completed in 1965
Winter Palace
(St. Petersburg, Russia) 1 of 4 buildings that now make up the Hermitage museum; Initially built for Peter the Great in his new city St. Petersburg. Was the main palace of Catherine The Great. In 1905 the Bloody Sunday massacre occurred when demonstrators marched toward the palace, but by this time the Imperial Family had chosen to live in the more secure and secluded Alexander Palace.
Summer Palace
(St. Petersburg, Russia) ; A small, ornate palace completed in 1714, it became the residence of Peter the Great and his second wife Catherine I and many of their 12 children—with Peter occupying the first floor and Catherine, along with the children, occupying the second one, until Peter's death in 1725.
Gotthard Tunnel
(Switzerland) world's 3rd longest tunnel (10.5 miles); located in the Swiss Alps;
Sydney Opera House
(Sydney, Australia) One of the most photographed buildings in the world, on the banks of Port Jackson Harbor (Sydney Harbour), a masterpiece of 20th century architecture. Opened in 1973, designed by Danish Architect Juern Utzon.
Western Museum
(Tokyo) Art Museum of Tokyo hosts the largest collection of Western paintings and sculptures in Asia., featuring one of the three 'Sunflowers' of Van Gogh.
Shibuya Scramble
(Tokyo) One of the largest traffic scrambles in the world. Considered the Times Square of Japan, the scramble is adorned with innumerable electronic billboards, and the train station of the same name is one of the busiest in the entire city
U.S. Treasury Building
(Washington DC) Designed by Architect Robert Mills, depicted on the reverse of the $10 bill; statue of Alexander Hamilton stands in front of it.
Supreme Court (U.S.)
(Washington, DC) Also referred to as "The Marble Palace." The proposal for this building was suggested in 1912 by President William Howard Taft, who became Chief Justice in 1921. Was completed in 1935. The west façade of the building bears the motto "Equal Justice Under Law", while the east façade bears the motto "Justice, the Guardian of Liberty."
National Cathedral
(Washington, DC) Episcopalian Cathedral constructed from 1907, officially finished in 1990. The structure is of Neo-Gothic design closely modeled on English Gothic style of the late fourteenth century. It is the second-largest church building in the United States, and the third-tallest building in Washington, D.C.
Whitehall Palace
(Westminster, London UK) The main residence of the English monarchs from 1530 until 1698, when most of its structures, except notably Inigo Jones's Banqueting House of 1622, were destroyed by fire. Mostly built by Henry VIII. Was at one time the largest palace in Europe, with more than 1,500 rooms, overtaking the Vatican, before itself being overtaken by the expanding Palace of Versailles, which was to reach 2,400 rooms.
Duomo of Florence
Another name for the main Cathedral of Florence, referencing the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. It was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design of Arnolfo di Cambio and was structurally completed by 1436. It remains the largest brick dome in the world. Brunelleschi was nspired by the dome of the Pantheon in Rome.
Saint Catherine's Monastery
At the foot of the Mt. Sinai in Egypt, this Eastern Orthodox monastary was built between 548 and 565 and is the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery in the world and the world's oldest continually operating library
Winchester Mystery House
Called the Llanada Villa, this mansion in San Jose California was built and altered many times by a rich heiress has many odd building choices and is reputed to be haunted
Saint Mark's Cathedral
Cathedral in Venice in Byzantine architectural style, next to the Doge's Palace, which has always been the center of the public and religious life in the city. Works on the present basilica began in 1063 in Byzantine style to represent the power of the prosperous Venetian Republic.
Canterbury Cathedral
Cathedral of the Archbishop of _______, leader of the Church of England Flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170.
Tower Bridge
Constructed in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the bridge is a bascule (commonly called a drawbridge) and suspension bridge that spans the River Thames near the Tower of London. The drawbridge is the central portion of the bridge, with suspension bridge sections on either side of the center.
Palace of Versailles
Large royal residence southwest of Paris. In 1682, Louis XIV moved the seat of his court and government here, making the palace the de facto capital of France. Known for lavish gardens and The Hall of Mirrors. The peace treaty that formally ended World War I was negotiated and signed here as well. Baroque architects under the direction of chief designer Louis Le Vau (1612-70), the garden designer Andre le Notre (1613-1700) and arts supremo Charles Le Brun (1619-90)
Borodubur
Largest Buddhist temple in the world and is located on the island of Java in Indonesiaa magnificent Buddhist temple complex under the patronage of the Javan rulers; depicts the ten tiers of Buddhist cosmology. The site forms a key part of the celebration of Vesak, the day Buddhists celebrate the birth, death and the enlightenment of the Buddha.
St. Peter's Basilica
Largest Christian church in the world. Located in the Vatican City in Italy. The dome was created by Michelangelo.
Ise Shrine
Leading Shinto holy place, established in 690 a.d. by the imperial family, shrine of Amaterasu, the Japanese sun kami,
Red Rocks Amphitheater
Located in the town of Morrison outside of Denver Colorado, this CCC and WPA construction project in Jefferson County left a world-famous concert venue as its legacy. Famous for a Jethro Tull concert riot in 1970, and many famous recorded live albums here including U2 and Dave Matthews Band.
Azadi tower
Monument located on Azadi Square in Tehran, Iran. It is one of the landmarks of Tehran, marking the west entrance to the city. Completed in 1971 to mark the 2,500-year celebration of the Persian Empire. Initially named Šahyād ("Shah's Memorial") in honor of the Shah, but was later renamed for the Persian word for "Freedom" following the 1979 Revolution.
Grauman's Chinese Theater
Now nown as the TCL Theater, Huge movie theater built in Los Angeles with over 2300 seats. Many famous stars have put their footprints, signature, and faces in the cement outside the theater. Formerly known as Mann's from 1973 to 2001.
Coral Castle
Oolite limestone structure created by the Latvian-American eccentric Edward Leedskalnin (1887-1951), located near Miami Florida. He only worked at night to not be observed and claimed to use supernatural means.
Trans-Siberian Railway
Opened in 1916, the longest railway line in the world, with a length of over 5,772 miles, stretching from Moscow to Vladivostok, which is situated along the Sea of Japan.
Tate Gallery
Originally known as the National Gallery of British Art when opened in 1897, it was renamed for its benefactor, sugar tycoon Sir Henry ________. The original Gallery has been renamed _______ Britain (1500-present), and there are now three additional branches: _______ Modern in London (1900-Present), _______ Liverpool, and _______ St. Ives in Cornwall. The group awards the Turner Prize, a highly publicized award for British artists.
Ca' da Mosto
The oldest building in Venice, a 13th-century, Venetian-Byzantine style palace, that sits on the Grand Canal, located between the Rio dei Santi Apostoli and the Palazzo Bollani Erizzo, in the sestiere of Cannaregio in Venice, Italy. Today, it is home to the Venice Venice Hotel.
Rialto Bridge
The oldest of the bridges that cross the Grand Canal in Venice. Constructed in the late 1500s, the bridge is basically two inclined planes, with small shops lining both sides of the bridge. Named after the island it is found on, which is a word that also now means a marketplace.
U.S. Mints
There are 4 currently operating of these, located in Philadelphia (since 1793), Denver (since 1906), San Francisco (since 1854), and West Point, NY; (as of 1738)
Sea world
Three theme parks located in Orlando, San Diego, San Antonio; there was a 4th in Cleveland that was sold to Six Flags in 2001.
Washington Monument
an obelisk within the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army (1775-1784) in the American Revolutionary War and the first President of the United States (1789-1797). Located almost due east of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial,[2] the monument, made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss,[3] is both the world's tallest predominantly stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk
Newgrange
ca 3,300- 2,900 BCE ireland. Ancient Neolithic Grand Passage Tomb, older than the Pyramids and Stonehenge. On winter solstice a narrow beam of sunlight illuminates the floor of the chamber at the end of the long passageway.
National Track & Field Hall of Fame
founded 1974 in Charleston, WV; moved to Indianapolis, IN in 1985; moved to Atlanta in 1996, then to L.A. as part of a traveling museum; finally housed in the Armory building in Manhattan in 2002; Currently there are 254 inductees.
Channel Tunnel (Chunnel)
opened in 1994; a 31-mile tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover, running between Folkestone (U.K.--near Dover) and Sangatte (France--near Calais); Trains can travel through the tunnel at speeds as high as 160 km (100 miles) per hour; the trip takes about 35 minutes. It has the longest undersea portion of any tunnel in the world (37.8 km [23.5 miles]).
Great Wall of China
world's longest man made structure built to keep invaders from the north out of China, started by the Qin Dynasty, expanded by the Han Dynasty,
Burj Khalifa
(Dubai, UAE) completed 2010, the highest building in the world (2,717 ft, 828 m, 162 floors). ______ in Arabic means Tower or high rise building, and _________ was the name of the President of the UAE from 2004-2022.
Taj Mahal
(Agra, India) ("Crown of the Palace") 240' palace built from 1631-1643 on the Jumna R. by Persia's Shah Jahan, when his favorite wife (Mumtaz Mahal) died in labor with their 14th child;
Sleeping Beauty's Castle
(Anaheim, CA) Before Walt Disney began constructing his Californian theme park, he and his wife took a trip to Europe that included a stop at Neuschwanstein. It's white limestone façade and deep blue turrets, is rumored to be real-life inspiration for it.
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes
(Argentina-Chile border) A monument high in the Principal Cordillera of the Andes at 3,832 metres (12,572 ft) above mean sea level on the border between Argentina and Chile. It was unveiled on 13 March 1904 as a celebration of the peaceful resolution of the border dispute between the two countries.
Neuschwanstein Castle
(Bavaria, Germany) Began in 1869; one of King Ludwig II's 3 castles in Southern Germany. Walt Disney used it as a model for Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland. Literally translates to New Swan Stone castle.
Forbidden City
(Beijing, China) former residence of the Emperor (built 1406-1420 by the 3rd Ming Emperor); Tiananmen Square is its Southern exit;
Guggenheim Museum
(Bilbao, Spain, 1997) Art museum in Spain that shares its name with sister museum in New York City. Designed by Frank Gehry, named after Solomon _________, who made money in mining industry, especially Yukon Gold Company in Alaska.
Hoover Dam
(Black Canyon, Colorado River) formerly called the Boulder Dam; bridges Arizona and Nevada; Creates Lake Mead. Was the largest hydroelectric station in the world when built.
Mall of America
(Bloomington, MN) Opened in 1992, the largest mall in the Western Hemisphere. 4,870,000 sq ft or 96.4 acres, enough to fit 7 Yankee Stadiums inside.
Hancock Tower
(Boston, MA) Now called "200 Clarendon Street," this is the tallest building in New England. Designed by Henry N. Cobb of the firm I. M. Pei & Partners and was completed in 1976. Widely known for its prominent structural flaws, including analysis that the building could overturn under certain wind loads—as well as failure of its signature blue windows, which allowed any of the 500-lb. window panes to detach and fall. During repairs, sheets of plywood replaced many windows, earning it the nicknames "Plywood Palace" and "Plywood Ranch."
Golden Gate Bridge
(California) opened in 1937; 746' tall at its highest point; spans the Golden Hate, a channel separating San Francisco (S) and Marin (N) Counties;
Angkor Wat
(Cambodia) world's largest religious structure; Built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is a temple that was designed to represent Mount Meru, which Hindus class as the home of the gods. Originally built to honor Vishnu (Hindu), though currently Buddhist.
Pro Football of Fame
(Canton, OH) As of the Class of 2022, there are a total of 362 members. Members are referred to as "Gold Jackets" due to the distinctive gold jackets they receive during the induction ceremony. Between four and eight new inductees are normally enshrined every year. The Chicago Bears have the most inductees, with 30.
Fort Sumter
(Charleston, SC Harbor) April 12 attack by confederates began the Civil War; surrendered Apr. 13; only 6 confederate states at the time;
Home Insurance Building
(Chicago) stood in Chicago from 1885 to 1931, it was the world's first building to use a structural steel frame and was the first "skyscraper" even though it was only 12 stories and 180 feet tall.
Willis Tower
(Chicago, 1974) built as the Sears Tower; renamed on July 16, 2009 after British insurance group bought the naming rights; it was the tallest building from its building until 1988, when the NYC World Trade Center was built; designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill;
Three Gorges Dam
(China) on the Yangtze River; largest hydroelectric power generation in the world; displaced 1.3 million people; completed in 2003.
Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel
(Colorado) Carries Interstate 70 under the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. It is one of the highest vehicular tunnels in the world, the longest mountain tunnel and highest point on the Interstate Highway System. Opened in 1973, the westbound bore is named after the U.S. President for whom the Interstate system is also named, and the eastbound bore was completed in 1979 and is named for Edwin C. ____________, a governor and U.S. Senator who lobbied for an Interstate Highway to be built across Colorado.
Henry Ford Museum
(Dearborn, MI) The museum collection largely dedicated to "Innovation" contains the presidential limousine of John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre, Thomas Edison's laboratory, the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop, the Rosa Parks bus, and many other historical exhibits. It is the largest indoor-outdoor museum complex in the United States. The Edison Institute of this museum was dedicated by President Herbert Hoover to Thomas Edison on October 21, 1929 - the 50th anniversary of the first successful incandescent light bulb. The attendees included Marie Curie, George Eastman, John D. Rockefeller, Will Rogers, Orville Wright, and about 250 others.
Abu Simbel
(Egypt) Temple that had to be relocated in 1968 for the Aswan High Dam to be built. Originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th Dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses II. His wife Nefertari and children can be seen in smaller figures by his feet. This commemorates his victory at the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites.
Aswan High Dam
(El Saad al Aali, Egypt) located just south of the city of ______ in Egypt; constructed (with Soviet aid) to regulate the yearly flood of the Nile & to create a water reservoir, later named Lake Nasser; construction lasted from 1960-1970;
Uffizi Gallery
(Florence, Italy) Art museum, arguably 2nd only to the Louvre; begun by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 for Cosimo I de' Medici for offices of the Florentine magistrates, hence the name _________, "offices" in Italian. The construction was later continued by Alfonso Parigi and Bernardo Buontalenti; it was completed in 1581.
Great Sphinx
(Giza, Egypt) built c. 2558-2532 BC by King Khafra (Khufu's son) and probably a likeness of him; located on the West Bank of the Nile, near Cairo; the largest monolith statue in the world;
Hoa Lo Prison
(Hanoi, Vietnam) used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners in terrible conditions and later by North Vietnam when it became known as the "Hanoi Hilton," holding a number of American POWS including John McCain.
King Solomon's Temple
(Jerusalem) also known as the First Temple, was the first Temple in Jerusalem, according to the Hebrew Bible. It was built during Solomon's reign over the United Kingdom of Israel and was fully constructed by c. 957 BCE. It stood for almost four centuries until its destruction in 587/586 BCE by Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar II
Petronas Towers (2)
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) 5th tallest building in world (1,483', 452 m, 88 stories); they are the tallest twin skyscrapers in the world; completed in 1996; 33' taller than the Sears Tower; joined by a double deck skybridge at the 41st story;
Hollywood sign
(L.A. County) its 50' letters were erected in 1923 to promote the real estate development. . . L-A-N-D at the end removed in 1949;
Getty Center
(L.A.) Premier Los Angeles art museum designed by Richard Meier in 1997; pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, decorative arts, and photographs from the inception of photography through present day from all over the world. Named after one of the richest Americans of the 1950s J. Paul ________ who was in the oil industry.
London Bridge (Arizona)
(Lake Havasu City, AZ) constructed in the 1830s over the Thames. By 1962, it was not sturdy enough to carry the increased load of traffic; the bridge was sold in April 1968 to make way for its replacement. Purchaser, Robert P. McCulloch, was a real estate developer who founded Lake Havasu City, wanting attract tourists and retirement home buyers.
Castel Gandalfo
(Lazio, Italy) the Pope's summer residence, located on Lake Albano;
Cavern Club
(Liverpool, England) music club in Liverpool where the Beatles got their start;
Crystal Palace
(London) A cast iron and plate glass structure, originally built in Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. Destroyed by fire in 1936 but still gives its name to a Premier League football club.
London Eye
(London) Also known as Millenium Wheel, the largest ferris wheel in the world at the time it was built in 2000; sponsored by British Airways
The Tube
(London) Nickname for the London Underground. When its 1st section opened in 1863, it was the 1st underground railway system in the world; world's longest subway system--244 miles (391 km) long;
Westminster Abbey
(London) formerly the Abbey of St. Peter; famous Brits buried here include Darwin & Newton (in the Nave); William Pitt; Dickens, G. Chaucer & Robert Browning (Poets Corner);
Buckingham Palace
(London--postal code SW1A 1AA) London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Built for the Duke of __________ in 1703 on a site that had been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It was acquired by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen's House.
Bradbury Science Museum
(Los Alamos, NM) Main public facing museum of nuclear testing facility, including full-size models of the Little Boy and Fat Man atomic bombs. Not named after Ray _______, but after Norris ________, the second director of the center.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
(Louisiana, USA) 23.87-mile long bridge (the longest overwater highway bridge in the world) spans the lake north from New Orleans to Mandeville; completed in 1969.
Algonquin Hotel
(Manhattan) home of the ________ Round Table, including Dorothy Parker, Alexander Woollcott, Heywood Broun, Robert Benchley, Robert Sherwood, George S. Kaufman, Franklin P. Adams, Marc Connelly, Harold Ross, Harpo Marx, and Russell Crouse.
Ka'aba
(Mecca, Saudi Arabia) A building at the center of Islam's most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram, the most sacred site in Islam, containing the "Black Stone" It is considered by Muslims to be the Bayt Allah (Arabic: بَيْت ٱللَّٰه, lit. 'House of God') and is the qibla (Arabic: قِبْلَة, direction of prayer) for Muslims around the world when performing salah. Believed by Muslims to have been rebuilt several times throughout history, most famously by Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail (Ishmael)
Graceland
(Memphis, TN) Elvis' home; its address is 3764 Elvis Presley Blvd.;
Kennedy Space Center
(Merritt Island, FL) Since December 1968, NASA's primary launch center of human spaceflight. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Launch Complex 39.
Mitchell Corn Palace
(Mitchell, SD) Built in 1892 to showcase the rich soil of South Dakota and encourage people to settle in the area. Russian-style onion domes and Moorish minarets were added in 1937, giving the distinctive appearance that it has today as a tourist attraction and host to various community and sporting events.
Bolshoi
(Moscow) famous theater for opera and ballet; home to the world-famous _______ opera and bellet companies; the current building was built on Theatre Square in 1824 to replace the Petrovka Theatre, which had been destroyed by fire in 1805;
Cathedral of St. John ...
(NYC) ...the Divine or ... the Unfinished: the seat of New York's Episcopal bishop; the world's sixth-largest church by area and either the largest or second-largest Anglican cathedral.
Lincoln Tunnel
(NYC) An approximately 1.5-mile-long (2.4 km) tunnel under the Hudson River, connecting Weehawken, New Jersey, to the west with Midtown Manhattan in New York City to the east. Opened in 1937. The three tubes, operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (formerly Port of New York Authority), comprise six traffic lanes in total and carry a combined total of almost 113,000 vehicles per day
Chrysler Building
(NYC) Art Deco tower built from 1928-30, and designed by William van Alen; Still the tallest brick building in the world; Now it is the 4th tallest in NYC. When it was built, it beat out the Eiffel Tower as the world's tallest structure;
MetLife Building
(NYC) Next to Grand Central Terminal. Designed in the International style by Richard Roth, Walter Gropius, and Pietro Belluschi and completed in 1962, the building is 808 feet (246 m) tall with 59 stories. Originally the PanAm building for the headquarters of PanAmerican Airways.
Frick Collection
(NYC) Small but important art museum in the Upper East Side of New York City at former residence of industrialist. Old Master paintings and European fine and decorative arts, including works by Bellini, Fragonard, Goya, Rembrandt, Turner, Velázquez, Vermeer, and many others. To preserve ambience of old mansion, no children are allowed.
Holland Tunnel
(NYC) Two-tube vehicular tunnel under Hudson River that carrying I-78 from Jersey City to SoHo. The world's first mechanically ventilated tunnel. Originally known as the Hudson River Vehicular Tunnel or the Canal Street Tunnel, it was renamed the ________ Tunnel in memory of Clifford Milburn __________, the chief engineer, following his sudden death in 1924 before the tunnel was opened.
The Cloisters
(NYC) a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to Medieval art; located in Fort Tryon Park; Its buildings are centered around four ________ —the Cuxa, Saint-Guilhem, Bonnefont and Trie—that were acquired by American sculptor and art dealer George Grey Barnard in France before 1913, and moved to New York.
Empire State Building
(NYC) after destruction of the Word Trade Center, it became the tallest building in NYC; 102 floors; the architect was William Lamb of Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates; construction started in 1930; located on the corner of 34th Street & 5th Avenue at 350 5th Ave, NY, NY 10118;
Federal Hall
(NYC) built in 1700 as NY's City Hall; served as the 1st capitol building of the USA; the site of G. Washington's 1789 inauguration; also where the U.S. Bill of Rights was ratified; demolished in 1812.
Brooklyn Bridge
(NYC) connects Manhattan to Brooklyn over the East River; opened 1883 after 14 years & 27 deaths & at 1595 feet it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, as well as the tallest structure in NYC; architect John Roebling;
Guggenheim, (Solomon R.) Museum
(NYC) designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and opened in 1959; known for its circular interior walkway;
Statue of Liberty
(NYC) officially unveiled 10-28-1886 on Bedloe's Island; The copper statue, a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States, was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
Cotton Club
(NYC) opened 1922, legendary nightspot in the Harlem district of New York City that for years featured prominent Black entertainers who performed for white audiences. The club served as the springboard to fame for Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and many others. However, also had explicitly racist Plantation and Jungle themed entertainment.
Grand Central Terminal
(NYC) world's largest railroad terminal; located at the intersection of 42nd Street & Park Ave in Midtown;
International Tennis Hall of Fame
(Newport, RI) In 1954, Jimmy Van Alen established it inside the Newport Casino. As of 2017, a total of 252 inductees from 23 countries have been recognized.
Laerdal Tunnel
(Norway) Opened in 2000, It is the longest road tunnel in the world, it is a 15.2-mile link under mountainous terrain that completes the direct link between Oslo & Bergen; cost $1.1 billion
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
(Oklahoma City, OK) blown up by Timothy McVeigh in 1995. Named after longtime federal judge born in Oklahoma and nominated to Federal Judgeship by FDR.
Cinderella's Castle
(Orlando, Florida) kept at only 189', because Florida law dictates anything higher than 200' must have a flashing red light at top.
Glen Canyon Dam
(Page, AZ) built in 1964; 2nd largest dam on the Colorado River; its reservoir is called Lake Powell;
Eiffel Tower
(Paris) 1st structure to surpass 300 meters in height; tallest structure in the world from 1889-1930; Built as centerpiece of 1889 World's Fair, originally meant to be temporary.
Musee d'Orsay
(Paris) art museum with the world's largest collection of Impressionists; located on the left bank of the Seine, housed in the former railway station, the Gare d'Orsay; opened 1986;
Liberty Bell
(Philadelphia) "Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" inscribed; cracked 7-8-1835 as it tolled the death of Chief Justice John Marshall; In September 1777, taken to Allentown where it was hidden under the church floor boards during the British occupation of Philadelphia, to avoid being melted down for munitions.
Carpenter's Hall
(Philadelphia) Building that hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774 and was home to Franklin's Library Company, The American Philosophical Society, and the First and Second Banks of the United States.
Library of Congress
(Washington, DC) the de facto national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. Until 1897, it was located in the Capitol Building, now is in three separate buildings on Capitol Hill.
Independence Hall
(Philadelphia) Historic civic building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in which the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated and adopted. Principal meeting place of the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1783 and was the site of the Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1787. Appears on the back of $100 bill, with Benjamin Franklin on the Front.
Liberty Bridge
(Pittsburgh, PA) built 1928, crosses the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh.
Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro)
(Rio de Janeiro) in 1920's, Brazil's churches pooled their money to build this 120' monument on a 2300' peak overlooking Rio; on Mount Corcovado (not Sugarloaf). One of the "New Seven Wonders of the World."
Mayo Clinic
(Rochester, MN) Considered the top hospital in the nation. Originally in Minnesota, now with campuses in Jacksonville, Florida; and Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. The practice specializes in treating difficult cases through tertiary care and destination medicine.
Spanish Steps
(Rome, Italy) Connect at its base the Piazza di Spagna, a square in Rome where a former Spanish Embassy is located, with the Trinità dei Monti, a church on the hilltop above. There are 130-some steps in all. On one of the lower corners of the steps stands a house lived in by the poet John Keats.
Stonehenge
(Salisbury Plain, southern England) Constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC, a grouping of large "bluestones" surrounded by 56 aubrey holes; Today, only 52 of the original ~80 sarsen stones remain at the monument. Monument is aligned towards the sunrise on the summer solstice. The stones are set within other Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments including several hundred tumuli (burial mounds).
Alamo
(San Antonio, TX) means "cottonwood" in Spanish.f. by Franciscan monks in 1718 as San Antonio de Valero; Davie Crockett, James Bowie, William B. Travis, James Bonham, and many others died here on Feb. 23, 1836. On April 21, 1836, Santa Anna was defeated by Sam Houston and other Texans during the battle of San Jacinto.
Alcatraz
(San Francisco Bay) federal prison open from 1934-63; Name from Spanish for gannett, a seabird. l Capone, George "Machine-Gun" Kelly, Alvin Karpis (the first "Public Enemy #1"), and Arthur "Doc" Barker. Robert Stroud was known as the "Birdman of _________" because of his studies of birds which had taken place when he was incarcerated at Leavenworth Prison. When moved to __________, Stroud was never allowed to keep any birds.
City Lights
(San Francisco) Famous book store owned by beat writer Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Cow Palace
(San Francisco) Indoor arena in SF, former home arena of Golden State Warriors in the 60s, site of 1964 Republican Convention. The idea for the arena was inspired by the popularity of the livestock pavilion at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
Exploratorium
(San Francisco, CA) a museum of science, technology, and arts, model for participatory science museums around the world. The brainchild of Frank Oppenheimer, an experimental physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project with his brother J. Robert Oppenheimer. Diverted from an academic career as a result of a HUAC inquiry.
Hearst Castle
(San Simeon, CA) Known formally as La Cuesta Encantada (Spanish for "The Enchanted Hill"), is a historic estate in San Simeon, located on the Central Coast of California. Conceived by a publishing tycoon and his architect Julia Morgan, the castle was built between 1919 and 1947.
The Hermitage
(St. Petersburg, Russia) art museum; It is the largest art museum in the world by gallery space, founded in 1764 when Empress Catherine the Great acquired an impressive collection of paintings from the Berlin merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky. Shares name with Andrew Jackson's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's homes.
Taipei 101
(Taiwan) built in 2004; tallest building in world until surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in 2009. Named for the city and for the number of floors. (1667')
CN Tower
(Toronto) at 1815', it was the tallest self-supporting structure in the world from 1975-2007 until surpassed by the Burj Khalifa; built as a TV transmission tower; built by Canadian National Railway Company and was initially privately owned, but ownership of the tower was transferred to the Canadian government in 1995; it is now managed by a public corporation. Includes observation decks, a revolving restaurant at some 1,151 feet (351 metres), and an entertainment complex.
Hockey Hall of Fame
(Toronto, Ontario) Established in 1943 in Kingston Ontario, now in Downtown Toronto, inside Brookfield Place. An 18-person committee of players, coaches and others meets annually in June to select new honourees. In 2010, a subcategory was established for female players.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
(Vienna, Austria) "Museum of Art History," housed in its festive palatial building on Ringstraße, it is crowned with an octagonal dome. It is the largest art museum in the country and one of the most important museums worldwide. Opened in 1891 by Emperor Franz Joseph I on Maria-Theresien-Platz.
Grand Coulee Dam
(Washington) U.S.'s largest concrete dam; located on the Columbia River about 92 mi. W. of Spokane, WA; dedicated by Truman in 1942; the greatest source of hydroelectric power and the largest concrete structure in the USA; Creates Lake Franklin D. Roosevelt
Freer Gallery
(Washington, DC 1923) An art museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. focusing on Asian art. The _______ and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery together form the National Museum of Asian Art in the United States.
Capitol Building, U.S.
(Washington, DC) At the eastern end of the National Mall; incl. National Statuary Hall; The original design by amateur architect William Thornton was later modified by the British-American architects Benjamin Henry Latrobe Sr., and then Charles Bulfinch.
Lincoln Memorial
(Washington, DC) dedicated May 30 1922; located on the West end of the National Mall; on the South corner, the Gettysburg Address is engraved in stone; the 36 columns represent the 36 states during _______'s term; Appears on the $5 bill, used to appear on penny until replaced with Union Shield in 2010.
Ambassador Bridge
Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan;
Alhambra
(name means Red in Arabic?) Moorish fortress in Granada, Spain; built between the 12th and 14th Centuries; the site became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella (where Christopher Columbus received royal endorsement for his expedition), and the palaces were partially altered
Great Mosque of Djenné
13th or 14th Century, Rebuilt 1907, Located in Mali, the largest mud-built structure in the world,
Brandenburg Gate
8th-century neoclassical monument in Berlin with sculpture by Johann Gottfried Schadow of a quadriga - a chariot drawn by four horses - driven by Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory. Napoleon took the quadriga to Paris. Later returned to Berlin and the Prussian eagle and Iron Cross added. Built by Prussian King Frederick William II after suppressing the Dutch popular unrest, on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin to the town of __________ an der Havel.