These days, the latest construction development is something akin to a super thin glass skyscraper or train that travels at the speed of light. But we can't forget about the iconic landmarks that truly make our American landscape.
At the time, many of these landmarks were record-setting engineering feats, built without the technology that we have today. (Cough, drones.)
From coast to coast, we gathered pictures of some of the most historical American landmarks while under construction.
1. Woolworth Building, New York
Years under construction: 1910 to 1913
Cost: $13.5M
Designer: Cass Gilbert
During the time of its completion, the Woolworth Building was the tallest in the world. The 60-story neo-Gothic office building was initiated by President Woodrow Wilson, who turned the lights on by way of a button in DC.
2. Brooklyn Bridge, New York City
Years under construction: 1869 to 1883
Cost: $15.5M
Designer: John Augustus Roebling
In order to fund the cost of its construction, the city rented out the large vaults under the bridge. The vaults were always a chill 60 degrees Fahrenheit—perfect for the wine they often stored.
3. Hoover Dam, Arizona and Nevada
Years under construction: 1931 to 1936
Cost: $49M
Designer: Henry J. Kaiser and Gordon Kaufmann
The massive dam was built to tame the Colorado River, and despite it being the Great Depression, was the most expensive engineering project in US history at the time.
4. Mount Rushmore, Keystone, South Dakota
Years under construction: 1927 to 1941
Cost: $1M
Designer: Lincoln Borglum and Gutzon Borglum
It took 14 years, over 400 men and lots of dynamite to carve the mountain into its iconic new face. Not one person died during the project.
5. The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Years under construction: 1933 to 1937
Cost: $35M
Designer: Joseph Strauss, Irving Morro, Charles Alton Ellis
Possibly the West Coast's most famous bridge is the ninth-longest suspension bridge in the world. It was chosen to be painted orange vermilion (deemed "International Orange") by Irving because he thought it blended in well with the surrounding landscape. Good eye, Irving.
6. The Statue of Liberty, New York City
Years under construction: 1865 to 1996
Cost: $250k
Designer: Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
Upon landing in the US from France, Lady Liberty was constructed by a crew of mostly new immigrants. Her full name is "Liberty Enlightening the World," and those seven points on her crown represent the seven oceans and seven continents. (May we point out that seven's also a lucky number.)
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