The fortress-like prison in Philadelphia have 30-foot walls that go underground. Built in 1830, it was the world’s first purpose-built prison meant to deprive people of freedom as a form of punishment. Jails before this were just holding pens for people waiting for their sentences which might be flogging, hanging, Read more
The 1967 World’s Fair was held in Montreal with great success. It was the most visited World’s Fair of the century with over 54 million attendances and the highest number of countries participating at 62. Expo 67 had a lasting impact on Montreal – and on Canada. The metro’s Yellow Read more
There are railway crossings, water slides, and rollercoasters in West Edmonton Mall. It’s purported to be the largest shopping mall in the world until 2004 and claims to be the largest in North America. However, conflicting sources cite the Mall of America in Minneapolis as the largest. Regardless, Edmonton definitely Read more
Anyone who has spent at least 50 hours studying 20th century architecture would recognize Albany’s Empire State Plaza as Le Corbusier’s brainchild, a one-block model of his Radiant City, except it’s not. It was a poorly-executed urban renewal project under governor Nelson Rockefeller supported by Albany mayor Erastus Corning II, Read more
Right below the more iconic Neuschwanstein Castle, this little brother is never jealous because it’s got a storied history of its own. Sitting next to the border with modern day Austria this was the home where King Ludwig II grew up, who later built the more architecturally majestic Neuschwanstein Castle. Hochenschwangau Read more
Constructed in the late 1800’s by Bavarian King Ludwig II, it’s simply amazing to step into a castle where Richard Wagner (yes, the composer) was involved in. Some of the paintings inside the castle were even inspired by his compositions and operas. The brightly decorated interior (especially the throne room) Read more
The Senate of Canada was founded in 1867 with its confederation, but it is currently held in an old train station in Ottawa built in 1912 opposite the senate’s original purpose-built building. Funnily enough, the former train station is older than the 1920 Parliament Centre Block, which has been undergoing Read more
The oldest Lighthouse on Prince Edward Island is Point Prim Lighthouse built in 1845. It’s 60 feet tall and a $5 fee will let you climb up to the top. It’s 20 feet wide at the bottom by narrows to just 10 feet at the top, so extremely fat people Read more
Now called the Willis Tower, the department store giant Sears once owned this Chicago landmark. The stepped-back upper floors were designed to yield a maximum window-to-floor ratio to make it attractive for tenants. Not having a gallery on the architectural ingenuity of the architecture of the tower is a missed Read more
When the John Hancock Building in Chicago was completed in 1969 it was the second tallest building in the world after the Empire State Building, but only if you include the height of its 350-foot tall spires. Today, it’s roof height of 344 meters is barely remarkable. The observation deck Read more