They Built a 105-Story Hotel. It Has Never Had a Guest
A 105-story hotel has dominated the skyline of Pyongyang since 1987. It was supposed to become a spectacular destination for international visitors, yet decades later it still…
They Put This Island on Maps for 400 Years. Then Scientists Went Looking for It
For centuries, maps showed a small island sitting in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. It had a name, a location and…
History Says This City Existed. No One Has Ever Found It
Deep in the tropical forests of southern Malaysia lies the legend of a city that may have disappeared more completely than almost any other ancient settlement. Kota…
The $18 Million House That Almost Disappears Into the California Desert
A house worth $18 million would normally be designed to make sure everyone notices it. This one does the opposite. Built in Joshua Tree, California, the Invisible…
Sunlight Turned This Pacific Island Into a Giant Silver Mirror
From space, this remote Pacific island looked as if someone had poured liquid metal across the ocean. The water around Rennell Island had turned silver. So had…
Americans by Citizenship, But Not by State: The Strange Status of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is one of the strangest places on the American map. Its people are U.S. citizens. They carry American passports, use American money and can serve…
Before the Motor City: 11 Remarkable Homes From Old Detroit
Long before Detroit became the Motor City, the city was already home to wealthy businessmen, industrialists and influential families who built remarkable residences along its most prestigious…
Hawaii Was Once an Independent Kingdom—So How Did It Become America’s 50th State?
Hawaii did not begin as part of the United States. Long before the 50th star appeared on the American flag, the islands were home to an independent…
They Didn’t Demolish This Old Slaughterhouse—They Gave It Giant Rotating Walls Instead
At first glance, PLATO Contemporary Art Gallery in Ostrava looks like an old industrial building that somehow survived the city’s past. Its soot-darkened brick walls, damaged masonry…
Built to Show the Future, These Five Houses Became a 90-Year Engineering Experiment
In 1933, America invited the public to step inside the future. At the Chicago World’s Fair, experimental houses showcased bold ideas involving steel panels, nearly transparent glass…