Constructed between 1788 and 1791 by Prussian King Frederick William II, the Brandenburg Gate was originally intended to serve as a key point of entry to the city of Berlin. The sculpture of a four-horsed chariot driven by the goddess Victoria was inspired by the legendary Greek Acropolis in Athens, the Quadriga. It is considered the gate’s most distinctive feature and was even stolen by Napoleon Bonaparte in October of 1806.
The Gate’s most prominent feature was later reclaimed and restored and went on to remain and endure throughout much of Germany’s toughest times, including the nation’s Nazi rule during World War II. This statue would go on to survive not only World War II but also later The Cold War.
The Golden Gate Bridge Then
The iconic Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge was initially created to connect the bustling cosmopolitan city of San Francisco, to its northern, more isolated suburban neighbors. According to the History Channel, prior to the construction of the bridge, the only way to travel between these two locations was by ferry boat. In 1919, a Chicago engineer and Ohio native by the name of Joseph Strauss was appointed and hired as the bridge’s chief engineer. This was no easy feat.
Not only did it cost millions of dollars but there was also a lot of resistance from people like city officials, environmentalists, and of course many ferry operators who feared the future of their businesses. Additionally, those in opposition were also adamantly concerned that no bridge would be unable to withstand major natural disasters that were somewhat common in the area, like the earthquake that shook up San Francisco in 1906.
The Golden Gate Bridge Today
Despite all the structural issues and opposition surrounding the Golden Gate Bridge, the iconic art deco-designed stands strong. Indeed, throughout the bridges’ building, workers were faced with various dangerous obstacles, but with the placement of one sturdy supporting net, many workers were saved from accidentally plunging to their deaths. But tragedy struck in 1937, after a piece of scaffold unluckily and unexpectedly plummeted straight through the safety net.
As a result, 10 construction workers fatally fell through the net, and to their eventual deaths. Despite these devastating fatalities, after only four years, the bridge was completed on March 6, 1933. In February of 1986, the 1 billionth car would cross the Golden Gate Bridge. Today, nearly 2 billion vehicles have passed over the bridge. On average, over 41 million vehicles cross the bridge every year.
The Brandenberg Gate Today
Of the myriad of historical moments that this symbol of German unification, perhaps the most profound of its history was its purpose as a part of the Berlin Wall during the Cold War of the late ‘40s to ‘90s. It became the point of much contention when in 1963, former President John F. Kennedy’s visited Germany and Soviet authorities hung red banners in order to obstruct the president’s views of East Germany.
Though the Bradenburg would close for restoration purposes in late 2000, it was officially reopened to pedestrians in 2009, while remaining closed to all ongoing vehicle traffic. According to Britannica, today, the Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most visited landmarks and tourist attractions.
The City of Dubai Then
When thinking about the progressive city of Dubai today, it is hard to believe that this major, international oil city was nothing more than a near barren desert at the turn of this millennia. With the major discovery of oil in the 1950s and ‘60s, the oil trade industry in Dubai would eventually grow to become the city’s primary source of revenue. It was the oil industry that fueled the city of Dubai to develop and grow to become the modern and developed city it is today.
Today, the oil trade is still considered the city’s main source of revenue and has lent itself to many of the city’s major architectural developments, most famously being the Burj Khalifa, aka the world’s tallest building, as seen in the photo above. Taken in 2005, this photo illustrates the early beginnings of this iconic skyscraper.