The largest stadium in history, the Circus Maximus, built in 6BC Rome, it had a capacity of 300,000 spectators. The largest modern stadium, Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, holds a mere 150,000 spectators.
Bermuda has no natural water source…
Bermuda has no natural water source. Each house collects rainwater using white, stepped roofs.
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In 1925 William Randolph Hearst…
In 1925 William Randolph Hearst purchased the cloisters of a Spanish monastery, had it dismantled brick by brick, and shipped it all to the US. The pieces sat in a Brooklyn, NY warehouse for 26 years until two entrepreneurs bought them and rebuilt the structure in North Miami, FL.
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During WW II, Allies suspected that…
During WW II, Allies suspected that the Germans were using the Leaning Tower of Pisa as an observation post. Leon Weckstein, a U.S. Army sergeant sent to confirm this. But he was impressed by the beauty of Tower and thus refrained from ordering an artillery strike, sparing it from destruction.
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Houses in Bermuda have white stepped roofs…
Houses in Bermuda have white stepped roofs to harvest rain water and store it, as the island has no fresh-water springs, rivers or lakes.
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New Orleans architectural historian Samuel…
New Orleans architectural historian Samuel Wilson, Jr. stated that the term “shotgun” house is a reference to the idea that if all the doors are opened, a shotgun blast fired into the house from the front doorway will fly cleanly to the other end and out at the back.
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American Destinations That Make You Feel Like You’re in Europe
The pandemic is still in full swing in the United States. As a result, many countries, including those that are part of the European Union, have imposed travel bans or restrictions against US citizens.
Thankfully, if you’re dead-set on taking that vacation this year, there are at least 10 U.S destinations that will make you feel as if you’ve journeyed across the pond, without ever leaving American soil. And each of these U.S cities is rich with the history and culture of the settlers who founded them.
Let’s take a look!
1. Leavenworth, Washington
Image Credit: iStock
It’s no accident that Leavenworth, WA looks so charming and inviting.
In the 1960s, after thirty years of economic struggle, town leaders agreed to adopt a Bavarian theme and give the city a makeover in order to attract tourists.
They instituted a series of festivals, including the Autumn Leaf Festival, Maifest, and Christmas Lighting Festival.
Be sure to visit the Bavarian village for bratwurst & sauerkraut and enjoy a daily morning alp horn saerenade.
2. Frankenmuth, Michigan
Image Credit: iStock
Michigan’s “little Bavaria” is known for it’s world-famous chicken dinners but it’s that German pride that really makes Frankenmuth special.
Enjoy German-inspired architecture, craft-beer and wine, and don’t forget to visit Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store, open 361 days a year.
3. Helen, Georgia
Image Credit: iStock
Here you’ll find a touch of Bavaria tucked in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
This charming little alpine village makes the perfect backdrop for a relaxing getaway.
Tour local vineyards, enjoy scenic water falls and hiking trails, or even scout out the perfect location for your upcoming nuptials.
4. St. Augustine, Florida
Image Credit: iStock
As the oldest city in the nation, St. Augustine has much to offer.
Gaze upon stately castles, enjoy historic reenactments, and even take a ghost tour.
Originally a busy port town for merchants, it’s also a great place for those who enjoy shopping or romantic water-side dinners.
5. Santa Barbara, California
Image Credit: iStock
With its stunning natural landscape and classic Spanish heritage, The American Riviera is hard to beat.
Its distinct architectural style comes from the early Spanish settlers who built Old Mission Santa Barbara, now the County Courthouse.
Soak in the sun and the culture with a walk down Santa Barbara’s Museum Mile or take yourself on the Red Tile Walking Tour.
6. Holland, Michigan
Image Credit: iStock
This quaint but colorful city is picture-perfect for a relaxing vacation.
Tour Windmill Island Gardens or make your way downtown for authentic Dutch architecture and cuisine.
Be sure to visit in the spring, during the Tulip Time Festival for the true Dutch experience, as millions of tulips burst into bloom.
7. Solvang, California
Image Credit: iStock
Visiting Solvang is like stepping into a storybook.
Enjoy this “little slice of Denmark” by strolling through the village, Danish pastry in hand.
Or maybe hop a ride on a historic, wooden, horse-drawn streetcar!
Be sure to take your picture with Danish icons, including the Little Mermaid Fountain, five windmills, the giant red clog Round Tower.
8. Calistoga, California
Image Credit: iStock
You’ll find this European-influenced city Nestled in California’s Napa Valley.
Home to wineries, geysers, and plenty of natural beauty, Calistoga is the perfect spot for endless outdoor adventures.
Take it all in during your hot-air balloon tour.
9. Vail, Colorado
Image Credit: iStock
Modeled after the ski districts of European Switzerland, Vail is the perfect spot for the adventurous vacationer.
Take advantage of the country’s largest free transportation system and visit the cobble-stoned, Bavarian-inspired village of Lionshead.
In the summer, come prepared to hike, bike, and enjoy the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens; be sure to bring your snowboard or skis if you’re visiting in the winter.
10. New Orleans, Louisiana
Image Credit: iStock
A pillar of community and resilience, this French-influenced city is a must-see.
While Mardi Gras always draws a crowd, there are so many other reasons to visit this city, including its whimsical architecture.
Enjoy mouthwatering beignets and Creole cuisine as you take in the romantic and jazzy vibe of French Quarter.
Now you know! You can enjoy the experience of visiting Europe, without the overseas flight. Visit each city’s websites to learn about the safety measures in place keeping both locals and tourists healthy and happy.
Even if you don’t feel safe traveling right now, it doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for the future.
I don’t know about you, but Santa Barbara is calling my name. Which city would you like to visit first? Let us know in the comments!
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In 1978 an architectural student…
In 1978 an architectural student discovered that a skyscraper in NY could topple if strong winds hit the building. The engineer that is credited for designing the building then made secret nightly repairs in collaboration with the NYPD, without alerting the general public to the danger.
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A New Jersey City Hall Renovated and Found Awesome Hidden Details Within
Renovation projects can be a nuisance, but that’s why the Jersey City took advantage of shelter-in-place orders to renovate their city hall.
The city’s government probably expected to make some repairs, but they found some cool things along the way. Mayor Steven Fulop explains:
We used Covid-19 shutdown to do projects that would’ve been inconvenient for residents regularly (street paving, park renovations etc). One project was ripping up the 1960s vinyl floor at city hall. We thought we’d find garbage but instead we found the original from 100 yrs ago pic.twitter.com/tZdASc8JOb
— Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) May 3, 2020
Let’s take a closer look at what people had to walk on in Jersey City’s city hall.
Photo Credit: Steven Fulop
This grey linoleum floor does the job all right, but it’s kinda meh. Workers removed it and obviously had to get the glue off.
Photo Credit: Steven Fulop
At first glance, this looks sloppy. But a nice polish revealed a hidden treasure!
Photo Credit: Steve Fulop
This beautiful floor looks like a work of art and gives the city hall a more regal touch. Many tweeted replies in response to this new finding.
The 1960s, a time of very bad ideas – including this one.
Well done. But why stop there. Time to demolish the eyesores which were erected in that era.
— ArchitecturalRevival (@Arch_Revival_) May 4, 2020
Many rightfully criticized the decision to cover up this amazing floor.
You have to wonder who The Brainiac was to cover up that beautiful floor.
— 5D Justice (@5D_Justice) May 5, 2020
One person shed some light as to why some gorgeous architectural accents have been covered up over time.
Gorgeous floor!
Gonna drop a bomb now: bacteria can build up on the mortar between the tiles and holds on to things like Covid-19. Mold too.
One of the reasons why they cover up Victorian floors.
Re-grout it with anti-bacterial grout, or paint with PVCU bond.
Wurd!— Gedi Gedye (@GedyeGedi) May 4, 2020
Here’s yet another great explanation that can help us understand what people in the 1960s were thinking.
Cleaning. Back then, solvents and cleaners were harsh & difficult/dangerous. Stripping & reapplying wax to a marble/stone floor took hours while a mop to linoleum/vinyl was easy. Same reason we painted wood panels & ripped out wooden blinds. Now, cleaners are more user friendly.
— Sometimes. Why? (@johnny_sd) May 4, 2020
But others in social media chimed in with findings of their own.
Gorgeous 'encaustic' tiles, not unlike these ones uncovered last month in a private house in #Limerick, #Ireland. Hidden treasure under the linoleum. Late 19th century tiles were fired twice, the ceramic pigment going all the way through the tile, allowing it to wear down evenly. pic.twitter.com/sw51s2gVYO
— Brian Nolan (@bgnolan) May 4, 2020
Check out this vivid description.
Stuff like that is so neat.
When we first bought this house, my dad tore up the floors in the living room cause the main part of the house is from the 1800s and has no foundation.
Under the hardwood, we found a different wood floor *and* this area rug sized sheet of linoleum.
— Just_a_fangirl (@Eternity24601) May 4, 2020
And here’s yet another treasure found after removing some carpet.
Same here! Ripped up carpet to find these 1890 beauties! pic.twitter.com/FTXO0pKXeC
— Christina Thomas Mazaheri (@LadyLaborLawyer) May 4, 2020
This person replied with another story about what they found as well.
My puppy peed on my carpet already in my home. When I pulled it up expecting to find plywood underneath I found *perfectly finished* hardwood floors – not even a buffing was required. Why in the world do people cover beautiful flooring to put ugly flooring on top of it?
— Paul Gundlach (@PaulSGundlach) May 4, 2020
One person summed up this find nicely:
When you dig for garbage, but find gold
—
Quinn zykir
Looks like Jersey City has a popular new find. Architecture fans are probably clamoring with the city already.
Have you found anything interesting when doing home or business renovations? Our comments section is a great place to share your findings!
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15 Cleverly Converted Buildings
I love seeing repurposed buildings and structures. I used to live down the street from a Walgreens (#8 on this list) that was previously a bank, and they kept some very cool touches from the original structure.
Take a look at these clever conversions. I think you’ll be impressed.
1. A little different now…
My college used to be a shopping mall from mildlyinteresting
2. That is very cool.
My apartment building used to be a school. from mildlyinteresting
3. Pump iron where the tellers used to work.
4. I’d love to live in a place like that.
My house used to be a police station and my bathroom is an old jail cell, the original window is still in place from mildlyinteresting
5. Feel the history come alive.
Supermarket in Venice used to be a theatre from mildlyinteresting
6. Love the floors.
This thrift store used to be a bowling alley. from mildlyinteresting
7. Leave the bucket up!
This Jamba used used to be a KFC so they painted over the bucket from mildlyinteresting
8. Walked by here many times.
This Walgreens in Chicago used to be a bank, and now it has a vitamin vault from mildlyinteresting
9. Have a seat inside the vault.
The Subway I went to today used to be a bank. Instead of removing the vault they just added more seating inside from mildlyinteresting
10. Spooooooooky, isn’t it?
11. This is amazing!
This grocery store used to be a hockey stadium from mildlyinteresting
12. Just go ahead and repurpose that.
Local Mexican restaurant used to be a Chinese restaurant. Instead of painting over a mural, they just put sombreros on the pandas. from mildlyinteresting
13. Love that marquee.
14. Another great awning.
This Walgreens built on an old movie theatre from mildlyinteresting
15. Drive on through!
My local Dunkin’ Donuts used to be a car wash so the drive thru is inside the building. from mildlyinteresting
Do you have any cool converted buildings in your town?
Tell us about them and share some photos in the comments, please!
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