ARCHITECTURE

It might not look like much, but this Neolithic door is as old as Stonehenge.

The Secrets of 8 Amazing Historic Doors

Historic doors can reveal a lot about their times—like the medieval trend of covering doors in (allegedly) human skin.

15 Monumental Facts About the Eiffel Tower

On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower—which was built as an entrance arch for the World's Fair—opened to the public.

The Man Who Saved the Skyscraper

Fazlur Khan and the idea that would turn architecture on its head.

Notre-Dame de Paris in a 19th-century illustration.

13 Facts About Notre-Dame Cathedral

The 800-plus-year-old Parisian cathedral has centuries of French history built into its stone. Here are 13 things you might not know about it.

These innovative playgrounds are captivating for kids and adults alike.

11 of the Most Unique Playgrounds in the U.S.

From St. Louis’s City Museum to the Little Debbie Park in Collegedale, Tennessee, discover the most unique playgrounds for kids across the United States.

Arenas and stadiums have some key differences.

What’s the Difference Between an Arena and a Stadium?

Seating capacity is just one part of it.

100 Things We Learned in 2023

From record-breaking plants and incredible animal news to space superlatives and the awesome power of Taylor Swift fans, here’s the long list of things we learned in 2023.

Why Is the Space Needle Shaped Like That?

Seattle’s iconic Space Needle debuted at the 1962 World’s Fair—and was inspired by America's Space Race with the Soviet Union.

Why Wendy's Quietly Got Rid of Its Elegant Sunrooms

Solariums are nostalgic for many customers, but Wendy's thinks they’re dated.

A freaky downspout carved in the form of a gargoyle on the Church of Saint Severin in Paris, France.

10 Fanciful Facts about Gargoyles

Technically, only the figures that function as water spouts are actual gargoyles.

A Cathedral in England Is Home to One of the World's Oldest Cat Doors

Exeter Cathedral in England has had cats on the payroll since the 14th century.

These Are the 20 Tallest Skylines on Earth

From Dubai to New York City, these cities boast the world's tallest skyscrapers.

14 Fascinating Facts About the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Here's everything you need to know about Italy's most beloved architectural accident.

Trosky Castle was built atop volcanic plugs in the Czech Republic.

10 Wondrously Unusual Castles From Around the World

From Europe's smallest castle to a fortress built into a cliff, these unique castles all break the mold.

WTC UnClimbable - George Willig, Human Fly

George Willig, the ‘Human Fly’ Who Climbed the World Trade Center

In 1977, climber George Willig decided his next great challenge would be scaling 110 stories in lower Manhattan.

Big Poo-Tential: Researchers in Japan Built a House Using Old Diapers

Civil engineer Siswanti Zuraida built a concrete structure using diapers that would otherwise sit in a landfill for decades, making for a literal brick sh-t house.

How Do Water Towers Work?

Let’s go inside the mysterious infrastructure that stores our water.

15 Facts About the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest, largest, and most celebrated achievements of human ingenuity, but there are still a few things you might not know about China’s ancient landmark.

The Most Beautiful Buildings in the World, Mapped

One of them is still under construction.

Petritoli, Italy, is waiting for your group.

You Can Rent The Entire Italian Village of Petritoli For You and 199 of Your Closest Friends

Looking for the perfect Italian vacation for you and 199 of your closest friends?

10 Unusual Libraries From Around the World

While there are many beautiful libraries in the world, there are also a number of more unique ones—from creative architectural wonders to libraries that aren’t housed within buildings at all.

Koalas might be cute, but they're definitely not bears.

34 Misleading Misnomers Explained

From Chinese checkers and Panama hats to koala bears and king crabs, and beyond, these names aren't quite what they seem.

The entrance to the 1939 World's Fair in New York City.

Why Don't We Have World's Fairs Anymore?

Once celebrated by millions, these events were later derided as "architectural beauty pageants" and have largely fallen out of favor. What happened?

The Eiffel Tower displays the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

The Eiffel Tower Is Going Dark Over an Hour Earlier—Here’s Why

The war in Ukraine is having more unintended consequences, including a new lights-out policy at one of the world's most famous attractions.