# What is the most famous present-day object that can be seen only in person (no photographs exist)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 8, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973 "2011-03-08T23:04:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/21 "2011-03-09T09:40:24Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > When I was in Xian in 1985, photographing the buried terracotta soldiers was prohibited. One could go inside the structure to look at them, but you’d have your camera confiscated if the guards saw you take a picture. > > Things might be different now over 25 years later Markedly, it was the location of a task on The Amazing Race a couple of seasons ago. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/22 "2011-03-09T10:46:12Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I think there are films that are shown to the public, but no reproductions have been released. Does that count? The 2010 restoration of [Metropolis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_(film)), for example. Or the [short films shown in the Ghibli Museum](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghibli_Museum#Short_films). The _Metropolis_ restoration has been released on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 16, 2010. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/23 "2011-03-09T10:52:11Z")
Obama’s birth certificate? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/24 "2011-03-09T11:22:56Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Every night we see things in our dreams that cannot be photographed. So the contents of your dreams are famous? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/25 "2011-03-09T14:11:04Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > What makes you think an average person would be allowed to see him in person? I assume he walks about among us, incognito. Perhaps using another name. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/26 "2011-03-09T14:43:38Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > So the contents of your dreams are famous? :dubious: Suppose I dream of someone painting a moustache on the famous Mona Lisa painting. This cannot be photographed. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/27 "2011-03-09T14:47:17Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Suppose I dream of someone painting a moustache on the famous Mona Lisa painting. This cannot be photographed. Marcel Duchamp beat you to [that dream](http://www.marcelduchamp.net/L.H.O.O.Q.php)… ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/28 "2011-03-09T14:47:30Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > One could purchase photos in the gift shop taken by official government photographers, but you could take your own pictures. Sorry, you COULDN’T take you own photos. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/29 "2011-03-09T15:00:43Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > It doesn’t quite fit the bill as a single object, but sometimes you get viewings of dead celebrities that are open casket and open to the public. Any old schlub can show up and gawk all they like, but they usually have goons on hand to make sure nobody takes any pictures. > > Although, along similar lines, Kim Il Sung’s embalmed body might fit the bill. His mausoleum is the biggest tourist attraction in North Korea-- supposedly most North Koreans are expected to visit a few times a year and if you do one of the very-guided tours it’s pretty much a mandatory stop. But it is definitely not a spot you are allowed to take pictures and security is insanely tight, even by North Korean standards. Perhaps there are some official pictures somewhere but, other than some grainy shots from his funeral, they’re not on the internet. Kim Il Sung may be the best bet, then. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/30 "2011-03-09T15:40:17Z")
Do photographs exist of the _interior_ of the [Kaaba](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba)? ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/31 "2011-03-09T15:58:00Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Although, along similar lines, Kim Il Sung’s embalmed body might fit the bill. His mausoleum is the biggest tourist attraction in North Korea-- supposedly most North Koreans are expected to visit a few times a year and if you do one of the very-guided tours it’s pretty much a mandatory stop. But it is definitely not a spot you are allowed to take pictures and security is insanely tight, even by North Korean standards. Perhaps there are some official pictures somewhere but, other than some grainy shots from his funeral, they’re not on the internet. Good point. Lenin’s embalmed body is similar - you can go in, but no cameras are allowed (you leave them at the desk, then pick them back up after). Unlike Kim Il Sung however, I think that pictures of Lenin in his glass casket do exist. What about Mao Zedong? Interesting funny about Lenin’s casket: to get to it, you go down a flight of stairs, then make a sharp right-hand turn into the viewing area. But the granite walls are so highly polished, and the whole area rather dark (except for the casket, \*that’s \*got some amazing theatre style lighting, let me tell you) that it’s kind of difficult to see where you’re supposed to go. When Mom and I went through, two older ladies directly in front of us ran straight into the wall. Which was kind of helpful, actually; saved me and Mom from doing the exact same thing. After they collected themselves, much giggling was had, by both the ladies and everyone who’d seen the “bump.” Which aggravated the somber guards a bit; they all frowned at us. Which led to more giggles. Not exactly the atmosphere they wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Frisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Frisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frisco)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/32 "2011-03-09T15:59:10Z")
Isn’t this a photo of Kim Il Sung’s body? [http://www.everseradio.com/top-five-people-embalmed-for-display-not-all-totalitarian-dictators-but-mostly/](http://www.everseradio.com/top-five-people-embalmed-for-display-not-all-totalitarian-dictators-but-mostly/) ---
**Author:** ![TerpBE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@TerpBE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TerpBE)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/33 "2011-03-09T16:14:04Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Do photographs exist of the _interior_ of the [Kaaba](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba)? [Yes. (and video)](http://www.tohir.co.za/2009/03/06/ever-wondered-how-the-kaaba-looked-inside/) ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/34 "2011-03-09T16:54:15Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Suppose I dream of someone painting a moustache on the famous Mona Lisa painting. This cannot be photographed. \ Unless you believe Inception was a documentary, the average joe could not see your moustached Mona Lisa in person. Nor is a dream an object. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/35 "2011-03-09T17:43:55Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Unless you believe Inception was a documentary, the average joe could not see your moustached Mona Lisa in person. Nor is a dream an object. Everyone is theoretically capable of seeing their own version of a moustached Mona Lisa in their dreams. The Mona Lisa is an object within a dream. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/36 "2011-03-09T17:56:28Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Everyone is theoretically capable of seeing their own version of a moustached Mona Lisa in their dreams. Ah, I see what you mean, but I’m afraid I’m going to make the buzzer sound again. \ Everyone’s version of the moustache in their dream would be different, so it’s not the same object. Handlebar or Salvidor Dali? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/37 "2011-03-09T17:56:31Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > with the advent of camera-phones someone out there probably does have a photo. This is pretty much going to cover the whole question. Things that can be seen by an average member of the general public generally don’t have enough access restrictions to prevent at least a few of them from taking photographs, and the average member of the general public now carries a camera at all times. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/38 "2011-03-09T18:15:26Z")
No limits on photography in the 3 pits of the terracotta warriors nowadays. They ask for “no flash” IIRC but don’t seem to care. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/39 "2011-03-09T18:16:43Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > The naughty bits of Miss Scarlett Johansson. Or Barack Obama, or Queen Elizabeth II, or Muammar Qaddafi, or… ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/40 "2011-03-09T18:19:29Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > \ > > Unless you believe Inception was a documentary, the average joe could not see your moustached Mona Lisa in person. Nor is a dream an object. I think you meant [this](http://inception.davepedu.com/). BRRRRRRRAAAAAWWWWRWRRRMRMRMMRMRMMMMM! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973.md?page=3)