Seven architectural wonders that have left indelible marks on recent history.

1. Seven Architectural
Wonders of the World
Kenny Slaught

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.