Monuments

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier A national monument honoring unidentified fallen military personnel; symbolic site for mourning, remembrance ceremonies, and recognition of sacrifice when identity cannot be establ…

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington) A monument at Arlington National Cemetery honoring unidentified U.S. service members; known for its white marble sarcophagus, perpetual sentinel guard, and role in national remembr…

Tomb of Zechariah (Ben Jehoiada) A prominent rock-cut funerary monument on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, traditionally associated with Zechariah son of Jehoiada; noted for its monolithic form and Hellenistic-i…

Topkapı Palace: Ottoman imperial residence and museum in Istanbul Topkapı Palace Topkapı Palace, built after 1453 for the Ottoman sultans at Istanbul's historic peninsula, served as court and administration; now a museum preserving imperial collections, archite…

Tower Bridge — design, history, and visitor information Tower Bridge Victorian bascule and suspension bridge in London spanning the River Thames near the Tower of London; notable for its twin towers, raising bascules, exhibition and vantage walkways…

Tower of David (Jerusalem): Citadel, History and Museum Tower of David Ancient citadel by Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. Known as Migdal David/Burj Daud, it combines archaeological remains from multiple eras and now houses the History of Jerusale…

Tower of Hercules Ancient Roman lighthouse in A Coruña, Spain. The Tower of Hercules is the oldest Roman lighthouse still in use, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Galicia's maritime heri…

Tower of London Historic fortified complex on the north bank of the River Thames in central London: a Norman stone fortress, royal palace, prison and home of the Crown Jewels, protected as a UNESC…

Trajan's Column: Roman triumphal monument commemorating the Dacian Wars Trajan's Column Trajan's Column is a monumental Roman column in Rome, completed about AD 113 to celebrate Emperor Trajan's victories in the Dacian Wars. It is famous for its continuous spiral reli…

Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) — Rome's Baroque landmark Trevi fountain A comprehensive overview of the Trevi Fountain in Rome: its design, sculptures, history, cultural traditions, restorations and what to know when visiting this famous Baroque monume…

Tribute in Light — New York City memorial to the September 11 attacks Tribute in Light An annual temporary memorial in Lower Manhattan comprising twin beams of light that honor the victims of September 11. Installed by the Municipal Art Society, visible across the re…

Tribute to Jerusalem — Alexander Calder's red stabile Tribute to Jerusalem A prominent red outdoor sculpture by Alexander Calder, installed in 1977 at Holland Square near Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Known locally as the "red sculpture," it overlooks Ein Ker…

Trump Tower (721–725 Fifth Avenue, New York City) Trump Tower Mixed-use skyscraper on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, known for its retail atrium, offices, residences and role as the Trump Organization headquarters.

Trumpeldor Cemetery (Tel Aviv Old Cemetery) Trumpeldor Cemetery Historic cemetery in central Tel Aviv, founded in 1902. It contains graves of early Zionist leaders, cultural figures and politicians, including Moshe Sharett and Max Nordau.

Truro Cathedral: Gothic Revival Church and City Landmark Truro Cathedral Truro Cathedral is the Church of England cathedral in Truro, Cornwall. Built 1880–1910 in the Gothic Revival style by J. L. Pearson, it is notable for its three spires and incorpor…

Turkish State Cemetery — national memorial park in Ankara Turkish State Cemetery National cemetery and commemorative park in Ankara established to honor senior Turkish statesmen and military leaders; opened in 1988 and intended as a focal site for state burials…

Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort (Tiruchirapalli) Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar Temple is a historic hilltop shrine to Lord Ganesha on the Rockfort outcrop in Tiruchirapalli, India, noted for its rock-cut architecture, panoramic views and Ramaya…

Umayyad Mosque (Grand Mosque of Damascus) Umayyad Mosque Early 8th‑century congregational mosque in Damascus noted for its monumental mosaics, historic shrine of John the Baptist, influential Umayyad architecture and long continuity of s…

Unisphere (Flushing Meadows–Corona Park globe) Unisphere A large stainless-steel globe in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, built for the 1964–65 New York World's Fair; an enduring landmark, symbol of global unity and Queens identity…

Unity Chapel (Wyoming, Wisconsin) Unity Chapel Historic rural chapel in Wyoming, Iowa County, Wisconsin, noted for its local cultural role and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Usa-jinjū (Usa Hachiman-gū) — Hachiman shrine in Ōita, Kyushu Usa-jinjū Usa-jinjū, commonly called Usa Hachiman-gū, is the principal Shinto shrine of Hachiman in Usa, Ōita Prefecture, Kyushu. It played a central role in medieval religious life and samu…

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial A national memorial built above the sunken USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor honoring those killed in the December 7, 1941 attack and serving as a site of remembrance and history.

Uxmal: Major Maya city of the Puuc region in Yucatán Uxmal Uxmal is a pre-Columbian Maya city in Yucatán, Mexico, noted for its Puuc-style architecture, monumental complexes such as the Pyramid of the Magician and Nunnery Quadrangle, and i…

Valley of the Kings — The Theban necropolis in Egypt Valley of the Kings Ancient New Kingdom burial ground on the Nile’s west bank near Luxor, famed for its rock-cut royal tombs, decorated chambers, the discovery of Tutankhamun, and ongoing excavation a…

Valley of the Queens Ancient Egyptian necropolis for royal women near Thebes, known as Ta-Set-Neferu. Site of richly decorated tombs, a Hathor grotto, and roughly 110 known burial chambers; part of the…

Västerås Cathedral Medieval cathedral in Västerås, Sweden; seat of the Diocese of Västerås with origins in the 13th century and a long history of architectural change, religious function, and civic s…

Vauxhall Bridge Road and footbridge in central London spanning the River Thames between Vauxhall (south) and Westminster (north), notable for its steel arches and granite facing and its role in th…

Vellore Fort: history, architecture, and significance Vellore Fort A comprehensive overview of Vellore Fort in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, covering its origins, architecture, key events, religious structures, and modern conservation.

Victims of Acts of Terror Memorial (Mount Herzl, Israel) Victims of Acts of Terror Memorial in Israel National memorial at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem honoring all victims of terrorism in Israel from 1851 onward; lists Jewish and non‑Jewish names and serves as a site for public rememb…

Vietnam Veterans Memorial A national memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring U.S. service members who died or went missing in the Vietnam War; noted for its black granite walls, inscribed names, and reflecti…

Voortrekker Monument — Pretoria memorial to the Great Trek Voortrekker Monument A monumental granite memorial in Pretoria commemorating the Voortrekker migrations from the Cape (1835–1854), noted for its large frieze panels, central cenotaph and role in Afrika…

Wall of Tolerance A public installation by the Southern Poverty Law Center that displays the names of people who pledged to oppose hate and promote justice, located in the Civil Rights Memorial Cent…

Walls of Ávila: medieval fortifications enclosing Ávila, Spain Walls of Ávila The Walls of Ávila are a largely intact medieval circuit of granite fortifications built in the 11th–12th centuries around Ávila, Spain. They are a major historic landmark and UNES…

Walter Pyramid — Long Beach State University arena Walter Pyramid The Walter Pyramid is a distinctive 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Long Beach State University, used for sports, ceremonies and community events and notable for it…

Wartburg Castle Medieval hilltop fortress near Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany, noted for its well-preserved medieval architecture, links to Saint Elizabeth and Martin Luther, and inscription on the…

Warwick Castle Medieval castle in Warwick, England. Built after the Norman Conquest and long associated with the Earls of Warwick, it combines historic architecture, state rooms, dungeons and liv…

Washington Monument Tall white obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to honor George Washington. Completed in the 1880s, it is a major U.S. landmark with an observation deck and ongo…

Washington National Cathedral Gothic Revival Episcopal cathedral in Washington, D.C., built 1907–1990; major national ceremonial site, noted for architecture, conservation needs and damage from the 2011 earthqu…

Wat Pho — Temple of the Reclining Buddha in Bangkok Wat Pho Wat Pho (Wat Phracheatupon Vimonmungkraram) is Bangkok’s largest and oldest temple complex, famed for its 46 m reclining Buddha, extensive chedi field, and as the historic center f…

Wat Phrasri Rattana Sasadaram (Wat Phra Kaew) — Temple of the Emerald Buddha Wat Phrasri Rattana Sasadaram Wat Phrasri Rattana Sasadaram, called Wat Phra Kaew, is Thailand’s most revered royal temple in the Grand Palace, known for the dark-green Emerald Buddha image, richly decorated ar…

Waterloo Bridge (London) Waterloo Bridge A road and pedestrian bridge across the River Thames in central London, known for its views, mid-20th‑century structure that replaced an earlier 1817 bridge, and wartime constructi…

Wellington Monument, Phoenix Park — Dublin's obelisk tribute Wellington Monument, Dublin A large 62 m obelisk in Dublin's Phoenix Park commemorating Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington; an early‑to‑mid 19th‑century testimonial and prominent city landmark.

Wells Cathedral: history, architecture and significance Wells Cathedral Wells Cathedral in Somerset is a largely Early English Gothic Anglican cathedral, begun in the late 12th century and dedicated in 1239; noted for its sculptured west front, scissor…

Weserstadion — Bremen’s riverside football stadium Weserstadion Weserstadion is the home stadium of SV Werder Bremen, located on the right bank of the Weser in Bremen, Germany. Known for its riverside setting, fan atmosphere and modernized mult…

Western Wall (Kotel) — Jerusalem's historic prayer wall Western Wall The Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem is a surviving section of the ancient Temple Mount retaining wall and a central site of Jewish prayer, history, archaeology and contemporary r…

Westminster Abbey: history, architecture, and national role Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey is a historic Gothic church in Westminster, London—site of coronations, royal ceremonies, burials of national figures, and a UNESCO World Heritage location.

Westminster Bridge — road and foot crossing of the River Thames in central London Westminster Bridge A road and pedestrian bridge linking Westminster and Lambeth across the River Thames, noted for its Gothic detailing, proximity to the Palace of Westminster, and role in London tra…

Westminster Cathedral (London) — Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral Westminster Cathedral Westminster Cathedral is the mother church of Roman Catholics in England and Wales. Built in the Byzantine style by J. F. Bentley and opened in 1903, it is noted for its mosaics, c…