Seven Architectural Wonders of the

WorldKenny Slaught

1. Empire State Building, New York City, NYOn March 17, 1930, construction of the Empire State Building began. This art deco skyscraper stood as the world’s tallest building for more than forty years (it’s now 12th) and offers incredible views of The Big Apple. Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Empire State Building was again the tallest building in New York, until One World Trade Center reached a greater height in April 2012. The Empire State Building rises to 1,250 ft at the 102nd floor. It has an indoor and outdoor observation deck on the 86th floor.

The Golden Gate Bridge took over four years to build. Construction commenced on January 5, 1933 and the Bridge was open to vehicular traffic on May 28, 1937. Before the bridge was built, the only short route between San Francisco and Marin County was by boat across the San Francisco Bay. Ferry service began around 1920. The Golden Gate Bridge project cost more than $35 million, completing ahead of schedule and under budget.

2. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

3. Kogod Courtyard, Washington D.C.A wavy glass-and-steel roof that appears to be floating over the courtyard, it’s no wonder residents of Washington, D.C. are proud of this magnificent public space. Be sure to check out this beautiful courtyard when visiting the Smithsonian.

4. The Hoover DamThe Hoover Dam was the largest dam in the world at the time of its completion in 1935, taking five years to construct. The dam is capable of irrigating 2 million acres, its 17 turbines generate enough electricity to power 1.3 million homes. These days, the Hoover Dam is the second-tallest dam in the U.S., having been surpassed by the 770-foot-high Oroville Dam in Northern California in 1968.

5. CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The CN Tower (originally referred to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower) is a 1,815.4 ft concrete communications and observation tower in downtown Toronto. It was completed in 1976 and was the world’s tallest tower at the time.

6. The Guggenheim Museum Blibao, Basque Country, SpainThe Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum opened in 1997. The museum features exhibitions organized by the Guggenheim Foundation and by the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, as well as selections from the permanent collection of the Guggenheim Museums. In the first three years, almost 4 million tourists visited the museum, helping to generate about €500 million in economic activity.

7. Panama Canal, PanamaThe Panama Canal is a 48-mile ship canal in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The French first attempted to construct a canal in 1881. The United States took over construction in 1904. The canal was opened in 1914.