Mount Rushmore
While presenting a list of the most important monuments in the world is impossible because so many factors are subjective, there are monuments most people agree are incredible examples of engineering, architecture and art. There are monuments all over the world commemorating historical events, political and cultural heroes and in memorial of those lost in disasters or at war. They remind people of their history and culture and let visitors learn more about the events or people the monument represents or pays tribute to.
Mount Rushmore
According to the Travel Channel, this sculpture located in the Black Hills of South Dakota is one of the most important man-made creations in the United States. The mountain itself was named after Charles Rushmore, an American businessman involved in the mining industry.
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial was carved by Gutzon Borglum and completed in 1941. Sculpter Borglum said the purpose of Mount Rushmore is to "communicate the founding, expansion, preservation and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt."
The Travel Channel reports more than 2.5 million people visit Mount Rushmore every year.
Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza
Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza is often mentioned as one of the seven wonders of the world. According to the Travel Channel, it is the oldest of the pyramids located in the Giza Necropolis that borders Cairo.
It is reported the Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed over the course of 20 years as a burial tomb for Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu and was finished in 2560 B.C.
The Great Pyramid stands among other buildings including three smaller pyramids dedicated to wives of Pharaoh Khufu and other mortuary-type buildings. The Travel Channel reports that Pharaoh Khufu's chief adviser Hemon, also known as Hemiunu, may have been the architect who designed the monument.
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Another monument commonly mentioned as one of the seven wonders of the world is the Taj Mahal, located in Agra, India. The building was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan as a tribute to his wife Mumatz Mahal. The building is considered to be a classic example of Muslim architecture and is made of intricately carved white marble and red sandstone. The monument was constructed between 1630 and 1653. The designer of the Taj Mahal has not been confirmed, though Istad Usa, Ustad Ahmad Lahori, Isa Muhammad Effendi and Geronimo Veroneo are given credit by differing sources.
Tags: Great Pyramid, Mount Rushmore, Great Pyramid Giza, Pyramid Giza, Travel Channel
