Seven architectural wonders of the world

1. 1. Empire State Building, New York City, NY
On 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.

2. 2. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
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.

3. 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. 4. The Hoover Dam
The 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. 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. 6. The Guggenheim Museum Blibao, Basque Country,
Spain
The 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. 7. Panama Canal, Panama
The 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.