On this day: St Isaac’s Cathedral Was Inaugurated
On August 19, 1768, St Isaac's Cathedral in St Petersburg was inaugurated. An estimated ten thousand tree trunks were embedded in the swampy ground to provide a stable base for the immense structure. Unfortunately the primitive spray-painting method used to…
On this day: The Last Day of Woodstock
On this day 45 years ago, the Woodstock festival wrapped up on Max Yasgur's farm, with bands playing through the night, including Crosby, Still, Nash and Young. Although the crowd had peaked at around 400,000 during the weekend, when Jimi…
The New Seven(ish) Wonders of the World
At the turn of the millennium, an effort was launched by a Swiss foundation to identify the 'New 7 Wonders of the World', through a "decidedly unscientific" polling method allowing the public to vote - online or by phone -…
On this day: Tivoli Gardens Opened
On August 15, 1843, Tivoli Gardens opened in Copenhagen. One of the oldest surviving theme parks in the world, this lovely enclave from a bustling city has something for everyone - rollercoasters and fairground attractions, gardens and restaurants, theatres and…
On this day: Cologne Cathedral Was Completed
Construction of Cologne Cathedral was completed on August 14, 1880 - finishing a process which started over 600 years earlier! It claims to have the largest Church façade in the world, and the largest free-swinging bell in the world -…
On this day: Canso Causeway Opened
On August 13, 1955, the Canso Causeway was officially opened with a ceremony involving parades and speeches, meaning that the island of Cape Breton was connected to mainland Canada, so technically no longer an island. (Rail and road traffic had…
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