# Iconic structures **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 12, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346 "2009-11-12T18:55:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/41 "2009-11-14T00:30:55Z")
> [@Godinama](#): > > Beijing - The Forbidden City The [Temple of Heaven](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TempleofHeaven-HallofPrayer.jpg), one of my favorite buildings, is commonly considered the symbol of Beijing. It’s always shown on travel-agency posters when they’re trying to show a montage: The Eiffel Tower, the Temple of Heaven, the Statue of Liberty etc. For Bangkok, it’s usually Wat Arun, or Temple of the Dawn. Two shots [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wat_Arun_from_Chao_Phraya_River.jpg) and [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wat_Arun_and_Sunset.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/42 "2009-11-14T00:45:51Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > For Bangkok, it’s usually Wat Arun, or Temple of the Dawn. Two shots [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wat_Arun_from_Chao_Phraya_River.jpg) and [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wat_Arun_and_Sunset.jpg). More good shots of it [here](http://www.watarun.net/) and [here](http://www.google.co.th/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thai-software.com/ThaiPostcardImages/WatArun.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thai-software.com/ThaiPostcardPages/WatArun.htm&h=600&w=800&sz=63&tbnid=NIQiLNVHL1jttM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522wat%2Barun%2522&hl=en&usg=__1-Dx8svkEfGok70SsmWwHM-4d0I=&ei=MPv9SsXoF4KQkQXl8L2BDA&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=7&ct=image&ved=0CBoQ9QEwBg). The [Temple of the Emerald Buddha](http://www.destination360.com/asia/thailand/images/s/emerald-buddha-temple.jpg) gets the most visitors and is also seen on travel posters, but Wat Arun tends to make it on more. Compact and stately. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/43 "2009-11-14T00:51:46Z")
Athens: The Acropolis, or more specifically the Parthenon. Moscow: St. Basil’s Cathedral ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/44 "2009-11-14T01:27:06Z")
Trenton, NJ - The [Trenton Bridge](http://stanglpottery.org/trentonbridge.htm) over the Delaware. The slogan “Trenton Makes, the World Takes” dates from 1910 and the current bridge from 1928. To most people it means thank God, we’re practically in Pennsylvania, as well as spawning parodies like “Trenton Uses, the World Refuses”. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/45 "2009-11-14T03:41:38Z")
Rio de Janairo - the big Jesus statue (dude…common) London - Tower Bridge (not London Bridge), Buckingham Palace, Big Ben/Parliament or the “Ghurkin” building Kuala Lumpur - Patronas Towers Amsterdamn - Centrale Station or the Rikesmuseum Hong Kong - Bank of China Tower Taipei - Taipei 101 US: Boston - The Pru, the Handcock building, the Citgo sign behind Fenway’s Green Monster Los Angeles - Capital Records building Seatle - Space Needle or Columbia Center Las Vegas - the MGM Grand or Luxor Casinos ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/46 "2009-11-14T04:02:44Z")
Los Angeles - not a structure, really, but a palm tree next to a freeway. The Hollywood sign. Griffith Observatory. Long Beach - the Queen Mary. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/47 "2009-11-16T04:24:27Z")
Some that haven’t been mentioned already (unless I missed them)… Kuala Lumpur: [The Petronas Towers](http://www.fi.edu/winners/2003/Petronis.jpg) Kyoto: any of the [famous pagodas and temples](http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1148493-Kinkaku_Temple_Kyoto-Kyoto.jpg) Rome: [The Colosseum](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1068/704344507_8a11daf0a5.jpg) Saint Petersburg: [the Winter Palace](http://www.jackspipe.com/wp-content/WinterPalace.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/48 "2009-11-16T16:35:25Z")
Nashville has the Parthenon, and theirs is in much better shape than the one in Athens. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/49 "2009-11-16T16:47:28Z")
> [@bartleby](#): > > [Cincinnati](http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/images/1562.jpg) You’re not fooling me. That’s the headquarters of the Justice League of America. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/50 "2009-11-16T16:52:48Z")
Maybe it’s a good thing if you don’t have any iconic structures where you live. Have you ever seen a disaster movie? The cities with landmarks are always first to get flattened 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/51 "2009-11-16T16:55:26Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Maybe it’s a good thing if you don’t have any iconic structures where you live. > > Have you ever seen a disaster movie? The cities with landmarks are always first to get flattened 😉 I have never seen the CN Tower get flattened in a disaster movie. Toronto’s luck is holding. On the other hand, [Toronto City Hall](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_City_Hall), the city’s _other_ iconic structure, gets exploded in one of the Resident Evil movies. But it’s playing the headquarters of an evil corporation, so that doesn’t quite count. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/52 "2009-11-16T21:17:05Z")
Honolulu: Diamond Head If I were to pick a structure, perhaps Aloha Tower or Iolani Palace, or perhaps the Kamehameha statue. But none have the instant recognition of Diamond Head. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/53 "2009-11-16T21:26:09Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I have never seen the CN Tower get flattened in a disaster movie. It came close in _Canadian Bacon_, until Rhea Perlman saved the day. Lessee, where else is missing? Rio - Christ the Redeemer statue Agra - Taj Mahal Cairo - Pyramids Atlanta - Airport terminal LA - the Theme Building at LAX Miami - Biscayne Bay causeways Houston - Astrodome Seattle - Space Needle Hiroshima - Peace Memorial St. Louis - Gateway Arch ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/54 "2009-11-17T02:35:06Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I have never seen the CN Tower get flattened in a disaster movie. Toronto’s luck is holding. Well, of course not. Canadians are the ones secretly orchestrating the conspiracy/megalomaniacal plot/alien invasion. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/55 "2009-11-17T03:23:43Z")
Face-centered cubic. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346/56 "2009-11-17T03:30:00Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Well, of course not. Canadians are the ones secretly orchestrating the conspiracy/megalomaniacal plot/alien invasion. Nonsense. We’re much too polite for that. We don’t have any iconic giant monsters either. (That whole moose thing didn’t quite take off.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-structures/517346.md?page=2)