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The Most Impressive Structure You’ve Ever Entered

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 10:51 am
by Dave N.
I’ve been thinking about all of the capitols, cliff dwellings, cathedrals, courthouses, and castles I’ve entered over the course of my lifetime. None has blown my mind like Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. I was completely awestruck. Everyone should take time out of their life to go check that place out.

Here at home, the honor goes to the Texas State Capitol. Always a pleasure to stand beneath that dome, regardless of the legislation happening in its chambers. I used to love going there at night when there was no one around and wander the corridors like a ghost. Not sure if that’s still permitted.

What’s the most awe-inspiring structure you’ve visited?

Re: The Most Impressive Structure You’ve Ever Entered

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 11:00 am
by jfv
Ooh, good question!

I have also been to Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.. and for now, that is also my answer.

But I need to think about this more. Will report back.

Re: The Most Impressive Structure You’ve Ever Entered

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 11:47 am
by Teacher's Pet
Cathedral of St. John The Divine, NYC
I don't consider myself a religious person but I do believe that just entering that big ass room will make you feel stuff.

Then again, I also once visited a friend's place where he had his own personal surf/dive bar installed in an old shed off the barn, that was fucking impressive too.

Re: The Most Impressive Structure You’ve Ever Entered

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 12:42 pm
by enframed
Dave N. wrote: Thu Sep 18, 2025 10:51 am Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Been there, pretty cool.

Others:

Statue of Liberty
World Trade Center
Sears Tower (or whatever it is called now)

I don't have a favorite I've been, but I have plenty I want to visit.

Re: The Most Impressive Structure You’ve Ever Entered

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 12:43 pm
by Lu Zwei
My ex wife's vagina!!!!

BOOYAA

Re: The Most Impressive Structure You’ve Ever Entered

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 12:45 pm
by Lu Zwei
But seriously...

Shanghai World Financial Center

The view from up there is breathtaking. China is pretty!

Re: The Most Impressive Structure You’ve Ever Entered

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 12:47 pm
by Lu Zwei
enframed wrote: Thu Sep 18, 2025 12:42 pm Sears Tower (or whatever it is called now)
Amazon Tower!?

Re: The Most Impressive Structure You’ve Ever Entered

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 1:25 pm
by jfv
Lu Zwei wrote: Thu Sep 18, 2025 12:47 pm
enframed wrote: Thu Sep 18, 2025 12:42 pm Sears Tower (or whatever it is called now)
Amazon Tower!?
LOL.. Willis Tower (yuck)

I have another candidate: Hangar One in Mountain View, CA - a gigantic airship hangar. The structure covers 8 acres of land.

Had a chance to visit it a few years ago when I was at Moffet Airfield for an unrelated reason.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangar_On ... irfield%29

Re: The Most Impressive Structure You’ve Ever Entered

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 2:18 pm
by jfv
Honorable mention, though not completely in the scope of this thread:

Carlsbad Caverns

Re: The Most Impressive Structure You’ve Ever Entered

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 3:56 pm
by W.L.Weller
Lot of good picks in this thread so far. I came to say the Hagia Sophia, and then I found out that Erdoğan's government decided it would no longer be a museum (as it was from 1935 - 2020) but be converted back into a mosque.

Apparently non-Muslims are still allowed to enter outside of prayer times. I don't have a particular religious axe to grind here, I think it's an incredible architectural achievement, full of incredible art. In a similar vein as FM Teacher's Pet's post about St. John the Divine, it's the kind of building that makes you think about humanity and history and time and space.