Mental Floss

ARCHITECTURE









A sunny day at the White House.

The White House looks lovely against the lush green lawn, but that’s not why it was originally painted white.

Ellen Gutoskey








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From its humble beginnings as an island monastery, Westminster Abbey has grown into the cultural and spiritual heart of London, as well as the final resting place of kings, queens, and poets.

Kat Long
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Animal crossings, also known as animal bridges or wildlife overpasses, protect animals from traffic and promote genetic diversity.

Michele Debczak


Historian Liz Hallam Smith shows off the a-door-able opening in the wall of Westminster Hall.

Earlier this week, England’s Parliament announced that a secret door had been discovered in the walls of Westminster Hall. Inside, historians found “graffiti” left in 1851 by a bricklayer who was “fond of Ould Ale.”

Ellen Gutoskey