Famous Landmarks

With a missing nose and weather-beaten body, the Sphinx really shows its age. Or does it? Some archaeologists have evidence that the Sphinx is older than the ancient Egyptians.

By Cristen Conger

Tacky is in the eye of the beholder. But trap is pretty straightforward. And when the two get tied up together, there's a good chance you're going to spend money on something absurd at a gift shop.

By Charles W. Bryant

It's nature's light show, and we'd all like a front-row seat. But these mysterious flashes of pseudo-dawn can only be seen in certain parts of the world at certain times. Where and when?

By Debra Ronca

The Parthenon was constructed thousands of years ago, but with so much pollution and so many visitors, it may not last for long. Take a look at the Parthenon in Athens, Greece.

This futuristic Ferris wheel was only supposed to stay put for five years. But with millions of tourists boarding its capsules, the city decided to keep it around. How was it built?

By Debra Ronca

It kept the Huns out for centuries, but today it draws 10 million visitors annually. The Great Wall winds across deserts, mountains and grasslands in even the most remote reaches of China. So why has it fallen into disrepair?

By Alia Hoyt

The forbidding slopes of Mount Everest have captivated mountain climbers for decades ... though you can never really conquer Everest, merely survive it.

People say that the Congo river is murky brown, but for centuries now, historians have written about the Congo's bloody waters. Fantastic tales of death and near misses have corroborated the Congo's reputation as the heart of darkness.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Like the imposing white marble of many Greek monuments, the impact of ancient Greek culture is still alive and well today. See and learn more about the ancient Greeks in this image gallery.

The next time you're pondering a big trip around the world, you might want to think about visiting a World Heritage site. Hundreds of them exist, and they're in some pretty cool spots.

By Jennifer Horton

Lighthouses kept sailors safe from crashing their ships on rocky coasts -- until modern technology left them obsolete. Now many of them serve as museums or lodges.

It flows south to north and it helped build Ancient Egypt. How does the mighty Nile affect the people and animals that live nearby?

By Alia Hoyt

For most of us, hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances seem like nice upgrades. But the world's most expensive houses have heated driveways, private gyms and movie theaters. Jealous yet?

By Josh Clark & Dave Roos

When Thomas Jefferson inherited 5,000 acres of land in Charlottesville, Va., he set out to build a house with more conveniences and European influences. How long did it take him to build it, and what did he include in the plans?

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

There are the seven wonders of the medieval world and the modern world, as well as the seven wonders of the natural world and underwater world. But what about the original seven wonders of the world.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Much of Easter Island's haunting past remains a mystery, though clues have surfaced about the people, their culture and their fateful decline. What's the real story?

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

From corn palaces to giant balls of twine, this world has plenty of strange, quirky tourist attractions. Some of our favorites are on this list.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Route 66 the mother road is dotted with saloons motels and kitschy pit stops. Learn about the vintage businesses along historic Route 66 including the Cozy Dog Drive-In and the Buckingham Fountain.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

They're the anti-museums: roadside attractions so puzzling we ask "why was this created?" But that's exactly what so many tourists are looking for in the Information Age: things that boggle the mind not enrich it.

By Eric Peterson

Roadside statues are delightful vacation diversions. These larger-than-life creations were known for putting small unknown towns on the maps of every highway traveler. Learn about some of America's most popular roadside statues.

By Eric Peterson

Disneyland means pure magic to people all over the world. Learn about the opening of Disneyland and how a theme park grew to be an essential part of American childhood.

By Marshall Brain

America’s national historic sites range from miniscule to massive, and simple to spectacular. They commemorate events, people, and places from our nation’s history. Learn more about national historic sites in the United States.

By Eric Peterson

In 1777, General George Washington chose the small village of Springfield as the site of the first United States arsenal to keep weapons and ammunition safe from the British. Learn more about Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

By Eric Peterson

One of the world's most recognizable buildings is surely the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Check it out, if you're so inclined....

By Jerry Camarillo Dunn, Jr

The Acropolis is the hill where the graceful, white structure of the Parthenon temple rises against the blue sky of Greece. Read more about the Parthenon and the Acropolis.

By Jerry Camarillo Dunn, Jr