Landmarks With Massive Secrets Hiding Right Under Your Nose
Some of us have seen postcards, watched movies, and maybe even taken a selfie in front of iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty. And although it’s easy to be deceived by their famous faces, many of the world’s most recognizable structures are guarding spectacular secrets. We explore 10 of the most famous sites that contain hidden luxury apartments, abandoned transportation hubs, and a trove of secrets.
A Presidential Hiding Spot
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As if carving four massive presidential faces into a mountain wasn’t ambitious enough, the team behind the job made space for a secret room. At least that was the plan for Mount Rushmore. Behind Abraham Lincoln’s giant stone head, there’s an unfinished chamber, originally designed to house foundational documents. Unfortunately, the government withdrew funding, which left the vault incomplete and permanently off-limits to tourists.
The Original Sky-High Airport
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Decades before JFK Airport changed air travel, the Empire State Building’s famous spire had a different purpose. It was designed as a mooring mast for trans-Atlantic airships, so that passengers would disembark onto the 86th floor. However, high winds and practical difficulties made docking a terrifying task. In 1931, the Navy and another private blimp made unsuccessful docking attempts before the idea was scrapped.
Paris’s Underground Bone Collector
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If you find yourself wandering the romantic streets of Paris, you might actually be standing above millions of former residents. Deep beneath the city lies a vast network of Catacombs. Originally used as stone quarries, these tunnels became a repository for human bones when the city’s cemeteries were overflowing. Now, only a skeletal section of this underground maze is open to brave tourists.
London’s Micro Police Box
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Next time you’re navigating the crowds in London’s Trafalgar Square, look closely at that ornamental light fitting. In the 1920s, that innocuous lamp post concealed the city’s smallest police station. It was designed as a lookout point and telephone box so that an officer could keep an eye on the frequent protests and rallies in the square, with a direct phone line back to Scotland Yard in case of trouble.
The Statue’s Forbidden View
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Lady Liberty has been holding something back for over a century. A hidden ladder inside her raised arm once led visitors all the way into the torch for a 360-degree panoramic view of New York Harbor. Sadly, an explosion during World War I damaged the structure, forcing a permanent closure of the torch in 1916. Luckily, a camera installed in 2011 at least offers a virtual glimpse from the copper-flamed tip.
A Volcanic Trio
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Mount Fuji, that snow-capped peak symbolizing Japan, is much more crowded than it looks. Far from being a single mountain, Fuji is a geological “triple threat,” composed of three distinct volcanoes stacked perfectly on top of one another. The modern, active volcano we recognize, dubbed “New Fuji,” grew over thousands of years, enveloping two older peaks, known as “Komitake” and “Old Fuji.”
The Pope’s Private Escape Route
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The Passetto di Borgo is an unassuming, elevated stone walkway stretching nearly half a mile. While it resembles an ordinary fortified wall, it contains a secure corridor used exclusively by popes seeking an emergency escape during times of danger. This secret passage has been used at least twice in history, notably allowing Pope Clement VII to flee disguised as a servant when Rome was sacked in 1527.
The Artist’s Penthouse Suite
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If you purchased a ticket to the top of the Eiffel Tower, you might find yourself close to someone’s cozy living room. Gustave Eiffel, the tower’s brilliant designer, created a fully furnished apartment for himself right near the summit. He famously used the sky-high space to entertain distinguished guests. While it’s not for rent, today’s visitors can peek inside to see mannequins of Eiffel and Thomas Edison deep in conversation.
Mismatched Monument Stones
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The Washington Monument is the world’s tallest stone structure, standing as a seamless obelisk against the sky until you look at it closely. There is a distinct color change about one-third of the way up the shaft. The difference marks where construction abruptly halted for over 25 years because the project ran out of funds. When work finally resumed with government money, builders had to use stone from different quarries.
The High-Rise Tennis Court
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Dubai’s Burj Al Arab is famous for its sail-like silhouette, but its most woozy secret is several feet above the Persian Gulf. The building features a platform that usually serves as a high-altitude helipad for wealthy guests. In 2005, however, workers temporarily transformed the concrete disc into the world’s highest grass tennis court for an exhibition match between Andre Agassi and Roger Federer. It has since returned to its function as a landing pad.