Year: 2016

Vidin Synagogue

Discover Vidin Synagogue in Vidin, Bulgaria: The second-largest Jewish temple in Bulgaria was deserted after World War II, seized by the communist government and then abandoned again.

Haukadalur Geothermal Field

Discover Haukadalur Geothermal Field in Iceland: This valley of hot springs and boiling mud pots is home to the record-holding "Geysir," which originated the English word.

Cincinnati Yellow Lamps

Discover Cincinnati Yellow Lamps in Cincinnati, Ohio: An obsolete, vanishing traffic device warns Cincinnati drivers away from middle-of-the-road obstructions.

The Legs of Myles Standish

Discover The Legs of Myles Standish in Halifax, Massachusetts: A pair of 7-foot legs belonging to the military man of the Mayflower stand jauntily by the side of the road.

Gas Works Park

Discover Gas Works Park in Seattle, Washington: This former coal gasification plant found a curious second life as a popular public park.

Gotokuji Temple

Discover Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo, Japan: The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

Fort Washington

Discover Fort Washington in Fort Washington, Maryland: This fort down the Potomac from Washington, D.C. was once the only defensive fort protecting the capital.

Phelan Building

Discover Phelan Building in San Francisco, California: The second building of its name to occupy this location might be the finest flatiron building in San Francisco.

Roman Theatre of Cartagena

Discover Roman Theatre of Cartagena in Cartagena, Spain: An ancient Roman theatre restored to its former glory in the Spanish city of Cartegena.

Civil War Nurses Memorial

Discover Civil War Nurses Memorial in Washington, D.C.: A bas relief commemorates the "Nuns of the Battlefield" who cared for soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

The Empty Tomb of Maximilian I

Discover The Empty Tomb of Maximilian I in Innsbruck, Austria: This splendid tomb may look fantastic, but there's nothing in it…

Toad House

Discover Toad House in Ladysmith, Wisconsin: A fairytale art house in the middle of Wisconsin.

‘Cartwheel’ Tower

Discover 'Cartwheel' Tower in Washington, D.C.: Washington's top-secret Cold War-era doomsday communications tower is located in a small neighborhood park.

Bowers Mansion

Discover Bowers Mansion in New Washoe City, Nevada: Historic home to one of the most famous women pioneers of the 19th century.

Memorial to America’s First Circus Elephant

Discover Memorial to America’s First Circus Elephant in Somers, New York: This high-perched pachyderm marks the memory of not one, but two elephants gunned down in small New England towns.

Urban Axes

Discover Urban Axes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The first American axe throwing club.

Falling Car of Bordeaux

Discover Falling Car of Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France: This Bordeaux parking garage has 712 indoor spaces, and one outdoor.

Remington Hot Springs

Discover Remington Hot Springs in Bodfish, California: One of the last free public hot springs is decorated with hippie art.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 260 ii
To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. 474 iii
To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. 499 iv
To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. 633 ix
To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. 135 v
To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change. 167 vi
To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria). 252 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 148 viii
To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. 96 x
To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. 166

PP ToS