13 Awe-Inspiring Places That We'll Never Get To Visit (Because They've Been Destroyed)
![13 Awe-Inspiring Places That We'll Never Get To Visit (Because They've Been Destroyed)](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/0/1/890801_320x180.jpg)
Ah, the fickleness of fate! It seems that no matter how grand, beautiful, or beloved a structure is, it can be taken away in an instant. Throughout history, many of the world's most iconic sites have been destroyed by fire, earthquake, or even human intervention. From the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to the Crystal Palace in London, these buildings and monuments have been lost forever, leaving us with only memories and stories.
This list is a tribute to some of the most famous buildings and monuments that have been lost over time. From the Beverly Hills Supper Club to the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, these sites have been destroyed by natural disasters, political upheaval, or even war. It's a heartbreaking reminder of the fragility of the structures we build, and a reminder of the importance of preserving our history. So let us take a moment to remember these lost places, and to thank those who have worked to ensure that their stories live on.
Gone in a jiffy.
![CRACKED THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES The Colossus of Rhodes was a huge bronze statue that stood 110 feet tall, built to honor the gods for a victory over Demetrius Poliorcetes in 305 ВСЕ. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/0/5/890405.jpg)
Catherine's legacy: ashes.
![CRACKED THE TUILERIES PALACE The Tuileries Palace was built in Paris, France in 1564, thanks to Queen Catherine de Medici. Unfortunately, it was burned down in 1871 during the Paris Commune.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/0/4/890404.jpg)
Royal horses survive all, apparently.
![CRACKED CHRISTIANSBORG PALACE In Copenhagen, Denmark, Christiansborg Palace has been rebuilt three times after fires destroyed it. The only part that survived the first two fires is the stable complex, which still houses the royal horses.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/0/0/890400.jpg)
Round and expensive.
![CRACKED THE ROUND CITY OF BAGHDAD In 762 AD, the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur created the world's first round city, Baghdad. It was a huge undertaking, with an estimated 100,000 workers involved. It was designed with four gates and two walls, all spaced evenly apart.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/0/2/890402.jpg)
Divisive destruction.
![CRACKED THE BABRI MASJID In 1992, a group of Hindu activists tore down the Babri Masjid, a 16th century mosque in Ayodhya, India. This caused a lot of violence and death, and now the area is a fenced-off, empty lot the size of a football field.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/0/1/890401.jpg)
Destroyed by imperialism.
![CRACKED THE OLD SUMMER PALACE The Old Summer Palace in Beijing, China was a huge garden with over 600 buildings, covering 850 acres. It was built for the Qing emperors to enjoy, but it was destroyed by an army of 18,000 French and British soldiers in 1860.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/0/3/890403.jpg)
History repeats itself?
![CRACKED HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE BATE THE LONDON CHARTERED BANK Her Majesty's Theatre was built in Sydney, Australia in 1887, but unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in 1902. Thankfully, it was rebuilt and opened again in 1903, but sadly it was shut down forever in 1933.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/9/890399.jpg)
RIP.
![CRACKED ANTONOV AN-225 GOVERNATIONAL CAN ANTONOV 225 MPIR In February 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine destroyed the world's biggest plane, the Antonov AN-225. It had been used to carry the Soviet Union's version of the Space Shuttle, as well as to deliver aid and medical supplies.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/8/890398.jpg)
Grandeur, then gone.
![CRACKED PENN STATION Penn Station in NYC was an amazing sight. It was a huge building with a 148 foot ceiling and glass and iron canopy that let in natural light. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in 1964.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/7/890397.jpg)
London
![CRACKED THE CRYSTAL PALACE IN LONDON The Crystal Palace in London was a huge building, built between 1836-40 and nicknamed 'The Great Stove' because of its system of tunnels and railway tracks that heated up seven miles of water pipes.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/6/890396.jpg)
Historic tourist trap.
![CRACKED THE OLD LONDON BRIDGE Billingegare LONDON London Bridge was built in 1209 and was a popular landmark for over 600 years. It was full of shops, homes, churches and a gatehouse, making it a recognisable part of London, but they had to tear it down in the 1800s.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/3/890393.jpg)
Gardening for love.
![CRACKED THE HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON King Nebuchadnezzar II of the Neo-Babylonian Empire built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Не did this to cheer up his wife, Amytis, who was from a hilly and green area and was feeling homesick.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/5/890395.jpg)
Celebrity hotspot: gone in flames.
![CRACKED THE BEVERLY HILLS SUPPER CLUB In the 1940s and 1950s, the Beverly Hills Supper Club was the most popular spot for celebrities to hang out, with stars like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Steve Lawrence all making appearances. It burned down in a massive fire that killed 165.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/4/890394.jpg)