20+ Of The World’s Most Iconic Landmarks Before They Were Finished

You’d probably only have to see a glimpse of the Lincoln Memorial to identify it, and most people recognize the Eiffel Tower without giving it much thought. That’s because buildings and monuments like this are so iconic; they’ve become ingrained in our minds.

But what did these historic structures look like before they were historic?

The world’s most iconic landmarks are a big draw for tourists worldwide. But these historical landmarks are not just tourist attractions; they often serve as a milestone in history or remarkable events in time. Photographers love landmarks, especially the challenge of capturing them differently from all the average angles and classic shots. Even when these iconic landmarks were built, photographers couldn’t resist capturing them forever. We are glad that they did because it gives us extraordinary insights.

Below are 21 of the world’s most famous iconic landmarks, pictured before they became famous. After browsing these photos, you might find it hard to believe that the Statue of Liberty ever used to look like that!

01. The Sydney Opera House was under construction in the 1960s.

Image credits: Cultural Collections

Sydney Opera House – 1966

Image credits: Flickr: oakleystudios

02. Christ the Redeemer is built on a mountaintop in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Christ The Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 1931

Image credits: Creative Commons

03. Manhattan Bridge in New York City, 1909.

Image credits: Library of Congress

The Golden Gate Bridge – 1936

Image credits: Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District

04. The London Tower Bridge without a middle in 1892.

Image credits: Public Domain

05. The beginnings of the Hoover Dam – 1932.

Image credits: Library of Congress

06. The U.S. Capitol Building in 1861.

Image credits: Library Of Congress

07. The Eiffel Tower is under an incredible illusion.

The Eiffel Tower – 1888

Image credits: Public Domain

08. The Atomium in Brussels, Belgium – 1958.

09. Chrysler Building – 1930

The sharp, glistening spire of the Chrysler Building stands revealed as the world’s tallest building sheds its scaffolding on May 26, 1930. (AP Photo)

Image credits: AP

10. Mount Rushmore is missing some key players.

Image credits: National Geographic

Mount Rushmore – 1933

Image credits: U.S. National Park Service

11. The Statue of Liberty reached new heights in 1885.

Image credits: Albert Fernique/New York Public Library

The Statue of Liberty – 1885

Image credits: Wikimedia Commons

12. One World Trade Center in 2012.

Image credits: Mario Tama/Getty Images

World Trade Center – 1970

Image credits: Ed Ford / AP

13. The Lincoln Memorial, pictured during construction, missing the head of Lincoln – 1920.

Image credits: The U.S. National Archives

14. The early stages of the Washington Monument.

15. Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, being completed in 2008.

Image credits: Imre Solt

16. Luxor, Las Vegas – 1993

Image credits: Wikimedia commons

17. New York City’s Flatiron Building, pictured here in 1902.

Image credits: Library Of Congress

18. The Empire State Building in 1931.

Image credits: Lewis Wickes Hine/New York Public Library

19. The layers of the Petronas Towers were built in Malaysia in 1995.

Image credits: C.f. Tham/AP

20. The construction of the Space Needle in Seattle. This photo was taken in 1961.

Image credits: Seattle Municipal Archives

Space Needle, Seattle – 1961

Image credits: Flickr: seattlemunicipalarchives

21. The iconic Gateway Arch, looming large over St. Louis in 1965.

Image credits: AP

Like what you’re reading? Subscribe to our top stories.