It’s impossible to call a tour of Copenhagen complete without visiting the famous Carlsberg Brewery and seeing its famous Elephant Gates. It has four life-sized elephant statues, and each one of them is adorned with a symbol that represents the regime of the 1930s in Germany. The elephants were originally built in 1901, back when the former German chancellor was still a young boy.
When the buildings were first sketched in 1882, their owner, Carl Jacobson, wanted to put a symbol of good luck and prosperity on his elephants. Unfortunately, he picked that symbol years before it became a symbol of hatred. The brewery closed its doors a few decades later in 1940, but the symbols remain to this day.
This 1939 Vehicle Was One of the 20th Century's Most Ambitious
Duesenberg Motors Company closed its doors in 1937 after Cord's financial empire went bankrupt. However, before retiring, he had one last project to complete. The 1939 Duesenberg Coupe Simone Midnight Ghost took a full three years to complete and was entirely custom-made. It’s considered by many the most beautiful car ever made.
The Midnight Ghost was inspired by the Art Deco movement and captures the romance and grandeur of that era. It was made by American car designer Emmet-Armand and was based on the Duesenberg Type J. The car was ordered by the French cosmetics mogul Gui De LaRouche. Many believe the car was lost in World War II.
The Statue of Liberty When It Was Still in Paris and Covered in Copper
We've covered the Statue of Liberty in multiple entries already, as it is one of the most important monuments in American history. This landmark is a welcome sign to all new immigrants and inspires values of freedom in everyone. It was originally built in Paris and sent as a gift to America in the late 19th century.
The statue can be seen here in its final form, back when it was still in Paris. Lady Liberty was originally made of copper, and this can be quite clearly seen in the picture. It has since lost its glossiness and turned green due to oxidation. It took years to construct the structure and many more years to transport and assemble it on Ellis Island.
This Restaurant Owner Offered to Open a $10,000 Bottle of Wine as a Prize for Osama Bin Laden’s Capture
Osama Bin Laden became the world’s most notorious and hunted man after 9/11. He was blamed for over 3,000 deaths that occurred that day, and the entire U.S. Army was hot on his tail. A few years later, Ted Balestreri, a restaurant owner from California, made a costly joke that turned into a reality.
He suggested that if Leon Panetta, the U.S. Defense Secretary, were to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden, he would open a bottle of his 141-year-old Chateau Lafite Rothschild, estimated at roughly $10,000. Once Bin Laden was taken down in 2011, Panetta told his wife, 'Tell Ted to get that bottle ready.’ The former Secretary of Defense enjoyed the bottle with several of his friends in CIA shot glasses, which they were allowed to keep.
The Arm and Torch of the Statue of Liberty
As we mentioned earlier on, the Statue of Liberty was originally imported from France. Many people don’t know this, but it took several pieces to make it work. This massive statue was designed in parts to be assembled later, as its French designer and metalworker knew that this kind of project couldn’t be done in one go.
The statue's hand lived on top of this building in New York City’s Madison Square Park from 1876 to 1882 before moving on to its current iconic location. This was quite an expensive project to complete, as the actual cost to build the Statue of Liberty was the equivalent of $250,000, or about $6 million when adjusted for inflation.