Over the course of history, a multitude of impressive architectural wonders have been built worldwide. Ranging from sacred houses of worship to breathtaking bridges, railway stations, and complete historical towns, these structures have mesmerized observers throughout history. Sadly, many of these impressive architectural wonders have succumbed to the ravages of time and can now only be admired through photographs. While some lost architecture is due to public demand for demolition and development, much of it can also be due to war, natural disasters, or neglect.
Explore with us some of the most stellar examples of lost architecture from around the world.
Related: Stunning Architectural Masterpieces That No Longer Exist
1. San Francisco’s Cliff House (1896–1907). It escaped the 1906 earthquake with little damage, but burned down on September 7, 1907.
2. Salzhaus and Frauenstein. Built around 1600 in Frankfurt, Germany. Both were destroyed in 1944 by an RAF raid.
3. St. Peter's Hospital, Bristol, England. Built as a merchant's house in the late 14th century, it was destroyed during the Bristol Blitz in 1940.
4. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was located in Borki, near Kharkiv in the Russian Empire (modern-day Kharkiv, Ukraine). Pictured in 1894. It was destroyed during WWII.
5. The Old Times Square (1904)
6. The Park Hotel in Bremen, Germany, was constructed in 1890 and tragically destroyed by a fire in 1907
7. Buhen, an ancient Egyptian fortress built during the reigns of Senwosret I and Senwosret III during the 12th Dynasty, was lost due to the construction of the Aswan Dam (Lake Nasser)
8. Pennsylvania Station (1910–1963). Seeking alternative sources of income, Pennsylvania Railroad executives chose in 1961 to dismantle their remarkable terminal and generate revenue by leasing its airspace. Penn Station's three-year dismantling began on October 28, 1963.
9. Świnoujście/Swinemünde Pier, Poland (formerly Germany). The place existed between 1890s and 1920s
10. Sioux City Corn Palace, Iowa, 1890. From 1887 through 1891, Sioux City residents celebrated the autumn harvest with a festival that included the construction of a large building downtown known as the Corn Palace, which was covered in corn and other grains. Between 1887 and 1930, at least thirty-four corn palaces were built in the Midwest of the United States, with just the Mitchell Corn Palace remaining standing.
11. A 1905 photo of the Park Avenue Hotel (A.k.a. Working Women's Hotel) at 32nd and Park Avenue in New York City. Opened in 1878, demolished in 1925.
12. The Leaning tower of Zaragoza, also known as "Torre Nueva". It was the first large building completed in the Spanish city during the 16th century. This tower was demolished in 1892, much to the chagrin of the public. Its bricks were recycled and used in the foundations of new buildings.
13. The Old Tripe House, Digbeth, Birmingham, U.K. (1533-1893)
14. Park Terrace, Duluth, Minnesota. Built in 1890 and demolished in 1936
15. The Paleis voor Volksvlijt (Dutch, meaning Palace of Popular Diligence), Amsterdam, was completed in 1864 but was destroyed by fire in 1929
16. The Baths of Diocletian were public baths in ancient Rome. They were built in only eight years, between 298 and 306 AD, and cover an area of 13 hectares between the Viminal and Quirinal Hills. The Baths were in ruins after the Goths demolished the Aqua Marcia in 537 AD. Only a couple of walls remain today.
