The Roman Colosseum, originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, is nearly two thousand years old! It was built to house gladiators in combat, animal hunts, executions, and even mock sea battles, complete with full-sized ships. It was a marvel of engineering and design, and remained in use as an arena for about 500 years.
The Giant’s Causeway is a natural wonder located in Ireland. Scientists say it was formed millions of years ago by volcanic activity – but there’s another theory. According to legend the Giant’s Causeway was built by the giant Finn McCool (Fionn mac Cumhaill) so he could walk from Ireland to Scotland to fight another … Read more
When it was first built, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Although it no longer holds that record, it is still a famous California landmark and recognized around the world.
Stonehenge is an ancient stone circle in England north of Salisbury. Believed to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old (making it older than the pyramids of Giza!) Stonehenge has puzzled visitors for thousands of years. Because no written record exists to tell us about its purpose or construction, what we know about it … Read more
Machu Picchu, sometimes called the Lost City of the Inca, was hidden from history for hundreds of years until its rediscovery in 1911. Built onto a mountainside with impressive and sophisticated engineering, it gives archaeologists a look into the everyday life of the Inca people. Today, it stands as the best surviving example of … Read more
The Great Wall of China is a monumental landmark in China and the longest structure ever built by humans. Construction on it started more than two thousand years ago and continued, off and on, for almost a thousand years until 1644. Did you know the Great Wall cannot actually be seen from the moon? … Read more
Have you ever wondered why Mount Rushmore was built? (To honor American history and get people to visit South Dakota!) Or how Mount Rushmore was built? (Lots and lots of dynamite!) Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a famous American landmark. The faces of four influential presidents were carved into the side of a mountain … Read more
The Taj Mahal is the most famous landmark in India and one of the most romantic landmarks in the world. It was built by the Indian Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal following her death.
It’s commonly known as Big Ben, but this famous landmark is actually named Elizabeth Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. It’s more than 150 years old, 300 feet high, and has four clock faces each 23 feet across. It’s famously accurate, and it’s kept that way by stacking and unstacking pennies on its … Read more
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France is the most popular paid landmark in the world with about 7 million visitors every year! It was designed by Alexandre-Gustav Eiffel and completed in 1889 (making it more than 127 years old).