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Union Station, Washington, D.C.

Image: Caleb Fisher

Washington Union Station, opened in 1907, is a fine example of Beaux-Arts architecture. Built to serve as one of the busiest transit hubs in the country, no expense was spared. The architect was inspired by ancient Roman baths. The main hall is guarded by rows of marble centurions, and the coffered ceiling is laced with gold leaf. If you want to contemplate marvellous architecture while having lunch alongside city workers and members of Congress, this is the place!

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Penn Station, New York City

Image: c

Probably one of the world’s greatest railway stations was built in New York in 1910. And we are not talking about the famous Grand Central Terminal. The original Beaux-Arts building that was once home to Penn Station in Manhattan was an architectural masterpiece. It boasted grandiose interiors, huge waiting areas, and granite Doric columns. Unfortunately, in 1963, it was demolished to make room for Madison Square Garden, forcing the station to go underground.

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Penn Station, Newark

Image: Pixabay

Penn Station in New York may not have survived, but a smaller-scale version still stands in Newark. New Jersey’s Neoclassical and Art Deco marvel was built in 1935 by the same architectural firm as the one in Manhattan. Featuring ornate archways, red terrazzo flooring, and green terracotta decorations, it may be less grandiose than its predecessor, but it still maintains much of its glamour.

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30th Street Station, Philadelphia

Image: Nils Huenerfuerst

Completed in 1933, 30th Street Station in Philadelphia features a Neoclassical facade framed by 70-foot Corinthian columns. Inside, a spectacular Art Deco main concourse with a coffered ceiling adds to the station’s opulence. Fortunately, this terminal managed to preserve its former glory, and it is still in use today.

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Main Street Station, Richmond

Image: Tangie Bodden

Main Street Station’s second Renaissance Revival architecture lights up the capital city of Virginia. Built at the turn of the century, it stands out mainly for its 110-foot brick clock tower. Past its glory days, it was neglected and suffered several damages, such as floods and fires. Fortunately, in 2003 it was restored, and today it is once again a major transit hub.

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Birmingham Terminal Station

Image: Self-scanned, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Meant to be travelers' first impression of the city, Birmingham Terminal Station once managed to astonish and amaze. Built in a Byzantine, Beaux-Arts style, it operated from 1909 to the 1950s. As automobile and air travel flourished, the station fell into disuse and was ultimately demolished in 1969 to make way for a new highway. A huge loss for the Magic City.

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King Street Station, Seattle

Image: Zoshua Colah

King Street Station in Seattle was built at the beginning of the 20th century with a mix of architectural styles. Its main feature is a 242-foot tower modeled after the grand Campanile di San Marco in Venice. King Street Station also boasts intricate terrazzo and mosaic floors and ornamental plaster ceilings that were restored in 2010 to their former splendor.

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Cincinnati Union Terminal

Image: Sean Foster

Cincinnati Union Terminal in Ohio is one of the boldest examples of Art Deco architecture in the United States. Its ten-story, half-domed entrance, green terrazzo, and the large rotunda decorated with industrial murals by Winold Reiss make this station a true architectural masterpiece. In fact, it is considered the greatest work of Alfred T. Fellheimer, who had previously designed Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

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Union Station, Los Angeles

Image: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

With a unique "Mission Moderne" style, Los Angeles’ main railroad station blends Spanish Colonial and Art Deco influences. Opened in 1939, it was built with a mix of terracotta and marble. It also features intricate tilework, beautiful courtyards, and a prominent 125-foot clock tower. Certainly a fine example of Southern California’s glamour.

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Grand Central Terminal, New York City

Image: Robert Bye

One of the nation’s busiest stations, New York City’s Grand Central, is famous for its magnificent Beaux-Arts style. The terminal, located in Midtown Manhattan, opened in 1913. It features a signature four-faced Tiffany clock and a celestial dome above the main concourse that draws the sighs of travelers from all over the world.

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87 steps

In case you haven't counted them, there are exactly 87 steps leading up to the Lincoln Memorial. But why does that number matter? Although the National Park Service says it wasn’t intentional, many people connect it to the opening line of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: "Four score and seven years ago...", a coincidence that's hard to ignore.

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Hidden underground chamber

The Lincoln Memorial is more than what you see at first glance; there’s an entire hidden world beneath it. That’s right! Underground lies a large chamber built as part of the monument’s foundation. Giant concrete columns support the structure above, and there are also narrow corridors where workers once walked. You can even find graffiti and markings left by those builders in the early 1900s. Although the public can’t visit this space yet, the National Park Service has said it hopes to open it in the future.

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A pyramid?

Can you imagine a giant pyramid rising over the landscape of Washington, DC? It’s hard to picture, but it could have happened. Among the many design proposals for the Lincoln Memorial were some extravagant ideas, including a huge pyramid. In the end, the Greek temple design we know today won out.

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The typo

To err is human, and the Lincoln Memorial is no exception. As you may know, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address are engraved on the interior walls. But the carver made a small mistake when transcribing the Second Inaugural Address, writing "euture" instead of "future" in the line "high hopes for the future." Although the error was corrected, people say that if you look closely enough, you can still see it.

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Lincoln's friends made it happen

For years, several proposals to build a memorial to Abraham Lincoln failed in Congress. Fortunately, Senator Shelby Collum and Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon joined forces to get the final bill approved. These men had known Lincoln and felt that a memorial to Honest Abe was both fitting and necessary.

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Who is Thomas Jefferson looking at?

It’s well known that the statue of Thomas Jefferson inside his memorial faces north toward the White House and the Washington Monument. But there’s another interesting interpretation. Also to the north is the statue of Alexander Hamilton on the south side of the US Treasury Building. Since Jefferson and Hamilton were once colleagues who later became political rivals, some like to imagine that Jefferson’s bronze likeness is keeping a cautious, almost "watchful eye" on Hamilton.

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FDR specifically requested the Jefferson Memorial

Since the early 20th century, there had been talk of building a memorial to honor Thomas Jefferson. But nothing moved forward until Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933. An admirer of Jefferson, FDR pushed tirelessly for the project until Congress approved it. But he was not only the one who requested it; he even delivered the dedication speech when the memorial was completed in 1943.

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10,000 pounds

We all know Jefferson was a great man, but do you know how big his statue is? It stands around 19 feet tall and weighs an astonishing 10,000 pounds; that’s a lot of bronze! Originally, the statue was a painted plaster model because, when it was dedicated in 1943, metal shortages from World War II made bronze unavailable. Four years later, in 1947, the bronze statue we see today was installed.

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Once a popular beach

Before becoming the site of the Jefferson Memorial, the Tidal Basin Beach was a popular beach in Washington. That's right; at the beginning of the 20th century, the area was used for swimming, boating, and picnics. This, coupled with the need to cut down some cherry blossom trees for construction, sparked controversy and turned some people against the project.

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Created by a landfill

Before the Jefferson Memorial could be built, the area had to be transformed. The Tidal Basin was originally shallow and surrounded by marshland, so workers filled it with material dredged from the Potomac River to create a stable foundation. Definitely a big effort.

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Clue #1

Image: Hybrid Storytellers

A nationwide ban on alcohol gave rise to speakeasies and bootlegging . Dance halls were alive with new rhythms, and women in shorter skirts shocked traditional society. Cities buzzed with fresh art, literature, and music. Affordable cars began filling the streets, changing how people lived and traveled.

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Clue #2

Image: Tim Mossholder

The sound of distorted guitars and flannel shirts became the uniform of youth culture. At the same time, toy shops were filled with collectible plush animals and tiny digital pets. Computers were shrinking, and the world was just learning what "online" really meant. Sitcoms about groups of friends or quirky families topped the TV charts, while early cell phones were starting to appear in everyday life.

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Clue #3

Image: Dominik Mecko

This period glittered with light-up dance floors and pulsing rhythms. Movie theaters drew crowds to see epic space battles and summer blockbusters . Fads like mood rings and quirky pet rocks had their moment in the spotlight. On the flip side, fuel shortages tested patience, and quick-service burger joints began appearing on more street corners.

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Clue #4

Image: Cesira Alvarado

Families grew larger, and shiny new suburbs began to sprawl outside cities. Teenagers tuned in to a fresh sound that worried parents but captivated youth. Cars rolled into drive-ins for movies or burgers, while living rooms glowed with the latest entertainment gadget: the television set.

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Clue #5

Image: Mitchell Orr

Television expanded with channels devoted to sports and 24-hour news. Music fans were glued to screens watching flashy new music videos . Young professionals embraced big paychecks, bold fashion, and an appetite for luxury. Arcades buzzed with electronic sounds, and living rooms welcomed the first home gaming systems.

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Answer #1: The 1920s

Image: Marvin Meyer

Known as the Roaring Twenties, this decade was defined by Prohibition, flappers, and the Harlem Renaissance . Jazz poured out of clubs, while the Model T made road trips possible for everyday families. It was a time of innovation, rebellion, and cultural change.

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Answer #2: The 1990s

Image: Dasha Zhytanska

The internet emerged, fueling the dot-com boom. Grunge bands from Seattle reshaped the music scene, while sitcoms like Friends and Seinfeld ruled TV. Kids collected Beanie Babies and fed Tamagotchis, while cell phones gradually became a part of daily life.

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Answer #3: The 1970s

Image: Matthew LeJune

Disco fever ruled the nightclubs, and blockbusters like Star Wars rewrote movie history. Quirky fads, such as Pet Rocks, had short but memorable lifespans. Rising gas prices caused long lines at fuel stations, while fast food giants spread across the country.

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Answer #4: The 1950s

Image: Elizabeth Smith

Suburbs such as Levittown expanded rapidly as families grew during the Baby Boom. Rock ‘n’ roll stars like Elvis lit up radios . TV ownership soared, transforming family routines, while drive-ins and diners became favorite hangouts for teenagers.

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Answer #5: The 1980s

Image: National Cancer Institute

The launch of MTV sparked the music video explosion , while arcades buzzed with hits like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong . Yuppies pursued ambitious careers and embraced neon fashion. Cable television expanded viewing options, and home consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System brought gaming into millions of households.