Structures
On this day: The Arc de Triomphe Was Inaugurated
On July 29, 1836, the Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated after a lengthy construction process. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and an eternal flame are found beneath the arch. With twelve roads radiating from the monument, the traffic around…
On this day: Fire at Weston-Super-Mare’s Grand Pier
On July 28, 2008, the Grand Pier at Weston-Super-Mare burned down. This classic seaside icon dates from 1904 but had first burned and was rebuilt in the 1930s. When the newly reconstructed pier opened in October 2010, more than 100,000…
Top Ten World’s Tallest Statues
The roster of the world's tallest statues is dominated by Buddhist figures, with most of the top ten (actually 11 because of a tie) being representations of the Buddha or Guanyin. While we've looked at Very Large Buddhas twice before…
On this day: The Menin Gate Was Unveiled
On July 24, 1927, the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing was unveiled in Ypres, Belgium. The Gate commemorates soldiers from Britain and the Commonwealth who were killed in the region during WWI, but whose graves are unknown.
On this day: Jacques-Germain Soufflot Was Born
On July 22, 1713, French architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot was born. He is best known for designing a Church originally dedicated to St Genevieve, but which later became the Panthéon, a secular temple where distinguished French citizens are interred. Residents include…
On this day: The Hollywood Bowl Opened
On July 11, 1922, the Hollywood Bowl opened. Although less formal performances had been held in this natural amphitheatre for a few years (Wikipedia has a photo of a female duo playing on a stage consisting of a barn door),…
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