The Tower of London is perhaps the single most famous London landmark, best known for its history as a jail. Today, the tower, which dates to 1078, is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions and is home to the Crown Jewels. The tower, which sits on the north bank of the River Thames, has been besieged at various times and controlling the edifice has been critical to control of England. Its peak use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries. Among the many prominent people “sent to the Tower” are Anne Boleyn, Sir Walter Raleigh and Elizabeth Throckmorton.
Historic Union Station opened in 1927 and is today the busiest rail station in Canada. GO Transit, UP Express, intercity trains, subways and streetcars all pass through the station. Chances are anyone exploring Toronto will step foot in the station at least once.
Urquhart Castle, located on a headland overlooking Loch Ness 13 miles southwest of Inverness, is home to ruins that date back to the 13th to the 16th centuries. It was built on an early medieval fortification site and was critical in the Wars of Scottish Independence during the 14th century. Throughout history, it was raided on several occasions by the MacDonald Earls of Ross and was subsequently granted to the Clan Grant in 1509. Despite additional raids, the castle was strengthened, only to be mostly abandoned by the middle of the 17th century. In the 20th century, it became a scheduled monument placed in state care and opened to the public. Today, Urquhart Castle is one of the largest castles in Scotland and one of the country’s most-visited historical sites.
The Vandalia State House is the fourth statehouse of Illinois and is the oldest surviving capitol building in the state. The structure served as the capital from 1836 until 1839, when it moved to Springfield. The two-story painted brick structure later served as a courthouse and was converted into a state monument in 1933.
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Wellington railway station is the main railway station serving Wellington, New Zealand, and is the southern terminus of the North Island Main Trunk, Wairarapa Line and Johnsonville Line. The station opened in June 1937, replacing the previous Wellington termini, Lambton and Thorndon.
Windsor Castle, dating to the 11th century, has long been associated with the English and British royal families. Since Henry I, who ruled from 1100-1135, reigning monarchs have used the castle, making it the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The castle’s original purpose was to protect Norman dominance around London’s outskirts. It also oversaw a strategically important part of the River Thames. Royals have used Windsor Castle for refuge, including during World War II’s Luftwaffe bombing campaigns. Today it is a favorite weekend retreat for Queen Elizabeth II. The castle sits on 13 acres and is accessible from London by train.
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Wrigley Field is the home of the Chicago Cubs, one of two Major League Baseball franchises in the Windy City. The stadium opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman’s Chicago Whales of the Federal League. The team folded after the 1915 season.
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