What places, structures or geographic features should be (inter)nationally famous?

[ThePhun1]

I pass over the Fred Hartman Bridge between La Porte and Baytown, Texas (Houston area) almost every day and it is one of the most impressive bridges that almost no one knows about.

Ken Rudine

http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasBridges/Fred-Hartman-Bridge.htm

Trudy

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8448/7842315586_45538f7a34_z.jpg

If not for all of the plants/refineries that dominate the region immediately surrounding it, the view from it would look something like the Golden Gate of San Francisco, with the San Jacinto Monument plopped in the middle of it (and given the amount of plant facilities in the region, the SJM definitely looks out of place). If built in nearby Kemah or in place of the Galveston Causeway, I think it'd get a lot more run nationally.

[dc_denizen]

Cool idea!

The ship channel itself is a pretty incredible industrial conglomeration. Not a tourist attraction per se, but something that is pretty amazing to see.

[dc_denizen]

I would submit, the Pulaski Skyway, NJ (1932):



link



link

[Chef]

The interior of the Ramsey County Courthouse in St Paul is an art deco masterpiece in black and gold:

[hudkina]

I think the Walmart by my house is a good candidate.

[Double L]

Originally Posted by hudkina

I think the Walmart by my house is a good candidate.

Is it a Super Wal Mart?

[pdxtex]

alternate title thread title, underrated structures? for north america, id say many great lodges and hotels, timberline lodge, oregon, banff hotel, alberta, chateau frontennac, quebec, the grand hotel, mackinac island, michigan. there are lots but i like those the most.....oh wait, and the empress in victoria, bc and mark hopkins hotel, SF.

[ThePhun1]

Originally Posted by pdxtex

alternate title thread title, underrated structures? for north america, id say many great lodges and hotels, timberline lodge, oregon, banff hotel, alberta, chateau frontennac, quebec, the grand hotel, mackinac island, michigan. there are lots but i like those the most.....oh wait, and the empress in victoria, bc and mark hopkins hotel, SF.

That could lead to a number of structures (or other landmarks) that are already famous being included. That said, I should have written "landmarks" and I think I'll edit it.

[Double L]

Personally, I would love to see the Williams Tower be internationally famous. It's in Houston and it is more than twice the height of any of the buildings around it and at night there is a beacon on top that can be seen through huge swaths of the city. Very impressive site in its context. I think it deserves to be internationally known.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_Tower



http://www.infoplease.com/us/history/williams-transco-tower.html



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_Tower

[chris08876]

^^^

I agree 100%. Possibly it has to do with its location (Probably if it was near the main downtown, it would get more attention I feel). Great design, and honestly, I wish it was taller. It has the type of design that would look fantastic as a 400m +. The design looks like it would complement Atlanta better IMO. It just feels like an Atlanta tower for some reason. Although at 900 feet or so, it dominates its surroundings for sure.

Originally Posted by Double L

Is it a Super Wal Mart?

The Super Walmart in Kissimmee, Florida should get some attention. Probably the nicest looking Wal-Mart I've ever been in.

[dc_denizen]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_in_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_in_Canada

I think we could compile a better list. The North American sites are all national parks, for christ's sake--where are the cultural centers besides Quebec city and independence hall? obviously this is not the oldest continent from the standpoint of long-standing civilizations, but I think it would be interesting to list some additional human-built monuments in North America, besides the obvious ones (CN tower, ESB, Salk center etc)

[Crawford]

The problem is that "most famous" does not mean "best" or "greatest". Fame is kind of subjective and an accident of location, history and circumstance.

Take Notre Dame. Probably the most famous cathedral in the world (excepting maybe St. Peters). Is it the biggest, grandest or most beautiful in the world? In France? Even in Paris? Nope.

Or ESB. Is it the tallest tower in the world? The most admired architecture? Nope, not even within NYC. But it's almost certainly the most iconic tower on earth.

[tdawg]

ha, the Pulaski Skyway post made me guffaw. That thing is terrifying to drive-on. I white-knuckle it over that and the Goethals Bridge every time.

[mhays]

The world is full of cool looking bridges and office towers. Being internationally famous is really difficult, and it's getting harder as a lot of sculptural stuff is getting built.

It's easier if the city is a center for tourism or emblematic in popular culture. From there, a few landmarks in that city might be well-known. But even then it's tough...for example Miami has a big profile but has no major landmarks at least in my mind.

[Double L]

I'd like to add that a lot of it has to do with pop culture.

There are some world landmarks that probably shouldn't be; like The Capitol Tower in Los Angeles or Radio City Music Hall. (They are both great places but wouldn't be famous if it weren't for their pop culture influence).

At the same time, there are buildings that deserve to be well known and probably would be if they were seen in popular culture here, like the buildings already shown.

[AviationGuy]

Originally Posted by Double L

Personally, I would love to see the Williams Tower be internationally famous. It's in Houston and it is more than twice the height of any of the buildings around it and at night there is a beacon on top that can be seen through huge swaths of the city. Very impressive site in its context. I think it deserves to be internationally known.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_Tower



http://www.infoplease.com/us/history/williams-transco-tower.html



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_Tower

I agree about Williams Tower. The closer up to it you are, the better it is.

Incidentally, the second Williams Tower photo above, supplied by the link, appears to be way outdated. Several significant talls (and some mids) are missing. I see a pair of towers on the right side of 610 that received a new facade years ago, but the old facade is visible in the photo. Still, WT towers above all else in Uptown.

[JManc]

Iconic for Houston due to its size and location, certainly but (inter)nationally, not really out of the ordinary architecturally. The Eiffel Tower is hundred years older and is 83' taller is even taller in relation to it's respective neighbors...and it also has a similar rotating beacon/

[KevinFromTexas]

Please remember to properly credit the photos you post with a link to the page you found them.

[Double L]

The Williams Tower had a beacon on it long before The Eiffel Tower and just because there are buildings that share some of its characteristics doesn't change its impact on the city or its beauty. The Empire State building isn't the only building with setbacks but there is a lot more at play that makes it look very impressive.

I can't think of anything else in the world like The Williams Tower.

[Crawford]

What is unique about the Williams Tower? I'm not getting it at all. Typical Sunbelt postmodern building next to a freeway. Looks like one of those Johnson/Burgee developments you see all over Houston and Dallas.