# What is your town's "WTC?" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2001, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114 "2001-09-12T18:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Aurora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Aurora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aurora)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/41 "2001-09-13T13:26:15Z")
Here in Köln it would definitely be the Cologne Cathedral!! [http://www.koelner-dom.de/](http://www.koelner-dom.de/) (Site is in German only…) ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/42 "2001-09-13T14:41:21Z")
I live in Champaign, Illinois. While the only really strategic target here would be the NCSA, The University of Illinois or Carle Hospital would probably be more dramatic. There isn’t much else here. I work in a building called Trade Center Plaza, but it’s only 6 floors and obviously isn’t anywhere close to the WTC in scope. But it did make all of us here at work a bit chilly while we were watching the news. ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/43 "2001-09-13T15:54:34Z")
Atlanta, GA Nothing specifically comes to mind on the Atlanta Skyline,and since we have been continuously rebuilding since the Civil War, I doubt anyone would really notice, but prime targets would be the CDC, Dobbins Air Force Base, Lockheed and Hartsfield International Airport. We do have the CNN tower, but terrorists need CNN, and would probably leave it standing. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/44 "2001-09-13T16:57:46Z")
Right now, I live just outside Washington, DC, so take your pick. In my hometown of Cleveland, it would undoubtedly be the [Terminal Tower](http://webs.ii.ca/nalyd/skyscrapers/terminal.htm). It’s a Depression-era monument, it was the tallest building in the world outside of New York at the time of its completion, and it literally defines the Cleveland Skyline, resting right in the middle of the city on Public Square. ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/45 "2001-09-13T19:02:32Z")
Washington DC: first city to go. I guess one fortunate thing is that most of the buildings are low and close to the ground (yeah, much help it did for the Pentagon). If you’re not a good pilot and can’t get real low, you’d have to be a little more creative in your targets. Maybe the Washington Monument on the mall, or the [George Washington Masonic Temple](http://alexandriacity.com/masonicmemorial.htm), just outside Old Town Alexandria, or even the [Mormon Temple](http://www.lofthouse.com/design/photo/temple.html) in Maryland. If you’re going after casualties, I’d guess the [Rosslyn Twin Towers](http://www.beyonddc.com/bldgs/gannett.html)[sup]1[/sup]–the tallest building within the original district diamond, I believe (current headquarters of Gannett and USA Today — future home to WJLA-TV after Gannett moves to Tysons Corner). Of course if you’re a good kamikaze pilot, you have your pick of anything on the Mall. Any of the Smithsonian museums, or any of the smaller monuments; the White House ( which by looking at the flight plan appeared to be the original target for the Pentagon bomber), the Capitol Building, heck any of the federal buildings. Every cause has a target, here! As for my hometown of Detroit, I don’t really know anymore. I haven’t actually travelled around town to note any of the big and important buildings. I’m thinking the Renaissance Center or the headquarters of an automaker. I don’t really know anymore. Would anyone from Motown give me a hand here? * * * [sub]1. Rosslyn is a high density business district in Arlington, across the river from Georgetown. Right across the street from the towers–which are know here as the Gannett buildings–is the [Newseum](http://www.newseum.org), a museum for news. Also there is Freedom Park, which celebrates the fall of the Berlin Wall.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/46 "2001-09-13T20:53:58Z")
When I wrote the above, I failed to remember one important thing. By aircraft, the Mall is about 10 seconds away from National Airport. You don’t need to be a good pilot to pick them off. In fact, there is earlier precedent. [A plane crashed into the 14th Street Bridge back in '82](http://www.roadstothefuture.com/AirFlorida_SubwayDis.html). ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/47 "2001-09-13T21:04:45Z")
The Maurice Bessinger building in Cayce. OK. Just kidding. Honestly, I can’t think of a single building in the entire state that has any special relevance or reverence to the residence. (Oops, make that _residents_). ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/48 "2001-09-13T21:38:47Z")
**Milwaukee:** **First Star Building** Tallest building in Wisconsin, major banking center, image of Milwaukee **Miller Park** brand new stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers. Just opened this year. **Stately Beitz Manor** Home to yours truely. Come and get me you cowardly terrorist bastards!:mad: I’m armed to the teeth! Fucking cowards! ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/49 "2001-09-13T21:50:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\* > I’m originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, and there it’d be the Golden Gate Bridge. \*\* I’d also say that the Transamerica building would be a good target - famous building, next to the Treasury. **Dallas** : Probably the BofA building - the one with the lighted green border, or maybe the Hyatt hotel’s big lighted globe-thingy. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/50 "2001-09-13T21:54:26Z")
Here in Colorado Springs, we have three military bases along with the Air Force Academy and of course NORAD. I assume that if NORAD were somehow infiltrated and a bomb went off it would be a world event. I doubt that would ever happen but think about the enormous consequences if NORAD were taken out. It would probably take a nuclear bomb to take it out as it’s pretty damn deep in the mountain. If they ever let civilians back in there, I recommend it as a tourist stop. It’s nothing like the movie “War Games” at all. It’s pretty weird though. Most of the buildings inside rest on these huge springs. They have a water pool that holds water that has been running from the mountain. The main situation room is manned by about two people with two big screens with a theater like area for those high up in the Air Forces. In short it’s a freakin weird place to be. Anyhow, in my city NORAD would be the one. Other than that we aren’t that important to the world. ---
**Author:** ![CLedet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@CLedet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CLedet)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/51 "2001-09-13T22:57:01Z")
In New Orleans, the Superdome. ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/52 "2001-09-14T00:56:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SterlingNorth \* > When I wrote the above, I failed to remember one important thing. By aircraft, the Mall is about 10 seconds away from National Airport. Well, someone else realized this point. [National Airport has been closed INDEFINATELY!!!](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24033-2001Sep13.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/53 "2001-09-14T02:10:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*Here in the Twin Cities, it’d be a close race between the IDS Tower, the Mall of America, or the Metrodome as to which one would cause the greatest trauma. \*\* I agree with you about the IDS Tower and the Mall of America. However, I think some people (especially some major league sports owners) would be secretly joyous if the Metrodome were destroyed–that would mean that a new stadium would have to be built–they’ve been trying to cajole taxpayers into paying for a new stadium (or even more than one!) for a long time now. I really hope that this doesn’t give them any ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Intrinsic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e9a140/32.png) [@Intrinsic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intrinsic)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/54 "2001-09-14T17:26:02Z")
Living in downtown Boston (which was the origin of 2 of the hijacked flights) this topic has actually come up in a few conversations. Our consensus would be the John Hancock Building, which is a beautiful looming structure in the Back Bay. I walk by it every day and for the past couple of days it seemed as if people were looking upwards and thinking these very same thoughts… ---
**Author:** ![cervixvictim2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@cervixvictim2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cervixvictim2009)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/55 "2015-01-03T23:41:21Z")
Most probably my town’s local steelworks. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/56 "2015-01-04T00:11:50Z")
Here in Topeka it would be the state capitol building. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/57 "2015-01-04T01:12:00Z")
Tulsa, OK would be the BOK Tower. A half-as-tall version of the the 2 WTC Towers, designed by the same architectural firm. > [@](#): > > It was built in 1975 and designed by Minoru Yamasaki & Associates, the same architect who designed the World Trade Center in New York. This structure is very similar to the WTC towers in appearance and construction.[4] BOK Tower’s lobby has marble walls and wall hangings which have a noted similarity to the decor in the former WTC. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/58 "2015-01-04T01:14:32Z")
This is a 13 year old thread, bumped today. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/59 "2015-01-04T01:54:21Z")
Well, I knew that. But I _had_ to post my town’s. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114/60 "2015-01-04T02:26:09Z")
Portland, Maine In the area I imagine targets would be: Time & Temp building: One of the tallest buildings in town, right in the heart of the city Bath Iron Works: A very large shipyard that primarily builds ships for the Navy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-towns-wtc/81114.md?page=4)