Originally built for WWI (although not completed before the war ended), the SS Palo Alto is an oil tanker unusually built using concrete. After sitting in dock for years doing nothing Palo Alto was permanently grounded at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, California in 1929 to serve as an amusement ship. Connected to the shore by a long pier, Palo Alto boasted an arcade, dining room, dance hall and swimming pool.

Unfortunately, the owners soon went out of business and Palo Alto was stripped down and turned into a fishing pier. Over time the ship has been battered by the waves and is now in a bit of a state. Hooey History has ground level photos showing how Palo Alto once looked, and how she looks now.

Thanks: John King & Steve S

This is Berlin’s world famous triumphal arch, The Brandenburg Gate, which these days symbolises the freedom and unity of the city. Built in 1771, it is the only remaining one of a series of eighteen gates through which people originally had access to the city. The gate is topped by the Quadriga, a statue of the goddess of peace driving a four-horse chariot, which I think you can see right in the middle of our thumbnail. Ironically the gate was incorporated into the Berlin wall during the Cold War.

Thanks to Carl Russmann, Salinga, merien_took, Caius Toneriko, Roland, Andy Steffen, Kristian, Rick Herrmann, Frank Castle, JensMinor, Bodo, Chris, Thomas van Longerich and finally Blou.

This is Wohnanlage Moabiter Werder (Moabiter island housing?) which sits just to the west of the main government district in Berlin, and although I believe it’s residential housing for parliamentary staff, Google’s automatic translation doesn’t help much.

But never mind that… it looks like a ginormous snake! How cool is that!?

Vielen Dank Vince L.