# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/141 "2011-09-24T23:01:43Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > The naughty bits of Miss Scarlett Johansson. Not anymore. Cell phone leak. Google 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/142 "2011-09-24T23:09:42Z")
> [@Wheeljack](#): > > I can’t believe this thread got zombified for something besides this. My thoughts exactly. ---
**Author:** ![ecoaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85e7bf/32.png) [@ecoaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecoaster)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/143 "2011-09-25T00:55:41Z")
Ho Chi Minh’s preserved body in Hanoi. I went in college, you get shuffled through the mausoleum really quickly, no pics allowed. Very bizarre. Wikipedia: "Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved in the cooled, central hall of the mausoleum, which is protected by a military honour guard. The body lies in a glass case with dim lights. The mausoleum is closed occasionally while work is done to restore and preserve the body but is normally open daily from 9:00 am to noon to the public. Lines of visitors, including visiting foreign dignitaries, pay their respects at the mausoleum. Rules regarding dress and behavior are strictly enforced by staff and guards. Legs must be covered (no shorts or miniskirts). Visitors must be silent, and walk in two lines. Hands must not be in pockets, nor arms crossed. Smoking, photography, and video taping are also not permitted anywhere inside the mausoleum. " ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/144 "2011-09-25T03:06:36Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Not anymore. Cell phone leak. > > Google 'em. Allah be praised. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/145 "2011-09-25T03:37:16Z")
> [@ecoaster](#): > > Ho Chi Minh’s preserved body in Hanoi. I went in college, you get shuffled through the mausoleum really quickly, no pics allowed. Very bizarre. > > Wikipedia: > > "Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved in the cooled, central hall of the mausoleum, which is protected by a military honour guard. The body lies in a glass case with dim lights. The mausoleum is closed occasionally while work is done to restore and preserve the body but is normally open daily from 9:00 am to noon to the public. Lines of visitors, including visiting foreign dignitaries, pay their respects at the mausoleum. Rules regarding dress and behavior are strictly enforced by staff and guards. Legs must be covered (no shorts or miniskirts). Visitors must be silent, and walk in two lines. Hands must not be in pockets, nor arms crossed. Smoking, photography, and video taping are also not permitted anywhere inside the mausoleum. " As mentioned earlier, we saw him last year. Yes, the guards are very strict. Without thinking about it, my wife put her left arm slightly behind her and was immediately told not to do that. It’s arms straight down at the sides the whole time you’re in there. Not much chance to sneak a secret photo. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/146 "2011-09-25T22:28:10Z")
Some government document, that’s secret as in classified as such, but we’re sure it exists. Nuclear launch codes? Do such things exist on paper? I just pulled the phrase out of my head 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/147 "2011-09-26T00:19:14Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Every night we see things in our dreams that cannot be photographed. No, you don’t actually ‘see’ them. In that they do not travel thru the optic nerves from your eyes to your brain. Things in dreams are merely imaginary objects, created and interpreted entirely within the brain itself. They are more accurately considered hallucinations than objects that you have seen. I don’t think imaginary objects count for the OP’s question. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/148 "2011-09-26T09:18:50Z")
> [@Brainiac5449](#): > > I know there are a lot of museums and art exhibits in Rome and Vatican city that, not only prohibit photography, but have very strict security personell that enforce the policy. This isn’t a money making scheme, or a proprietary matter, but simply due to the entence light emitted from a cameras flash causing fading (from a thousand flashes a day, every day for decades)… I’m sure, though I haven’t googled it, that professional photographers with the right equipment, that is, a tripod for long exposure and a special film, have been allowed to take photos which are then sold, because that’s what museums elsewhere do, catching two flys at once: protecting the sensitive objects from flash light damage and making a bit of money by selling the postcards and photos. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/149 "2011-09-26T09:23:43Z")
During the Expo 2000 in Hannover, one project was a chamber underground only accessible through a water-filled tunnel connected to a deep hole, so any visitors needed to be able to dive 5 m deep (the chamber itself was filled with breathable gas). I couldn’t equalize well enough (lack of training) to get down 5 m (esp. as it was completely dark - weird feeling) so I still don’t know what exactly they showed. Some reports afterwards hinted that the mixture of air in the chamber was not the normal mixture, but with some other gases mixed in that produced a very slight hallucigenic effect, making the pictures/ movies viewed seem much more impressive than outside. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/150 "2011-09-26T11:17:05Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > During the Expo 2000 in Hannover, one project was a chamber underground only accessible through a water-filled tunnel connected to a deep hole, so any visitors needed to be able to dive 5 m deep (the chamber itself was filled with breathable gas). I couldn’t equalize well enough (lack of training) to get down 5 m (esp. as it was completely dark - weird feeling) so I still don’t know what exactly they showed. Some reports afterwards hinted that the mixture of air in the chamber was not the normal mixture, but with some other gases mixed in that produced a very slight hallucigenic effect, making the pictures/ movies viewed seem much more impressive than outside. I’ve been to the exposition, but did not see this. The Expo-Journal in its [last issue](http://www.expomuseum.de/presse/expo_journal/inhalt/1101.htm) (page 13; article in German), however, reported that there was nothing down there after all, just a small, empty space with blue plastic walls. There’s no mention of any gases. The linked article states that no photos were taken, but the OP calls for an “object”, so I’m not sure if this is eligible. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/151 "2011-09-26T14:20:02Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > No, you don’t actually ‘see’ them. > > In that they do not travel thru the optic nerves from your eyes to your brain. Things in dreams are merely imaginary objects, created and interpreted entirely within the brain itself. Semantics. Arguably we don’t “see” colour either: it’s something our brain generates; usually, but not always, coupled to external stimuli. I agree that it doesn’t work for the OP though. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-present-day-object-that-can-be-seen-only-in-person-no-photographs-exist/573973/152 "2011-09-26T16:53:39Z")
I’ll reassert that Kim Il Sung’s mummy is still winning the thread. That picture is definitely Mao, upon closer inspection. 🙂 [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=7)