15 Hidden Secrets in Monuments Around the World

The world as we know it is filled with unfathomable mystery, and monuments, statues, and memorials are no exception. Throughout history, there have been tricks, traps, and secrets hidden among the world's shrines. The stories behind some have been widely distributed, but others remain a mystery. Here are 15 secrets found in monuments around the world. 1. Mount Rushmore The monument's designer, a Danish-American sculptor named Gudson Borglum, created a 35 by 75 foot room behind Abraham Lincoln's head. Apparently, Borglum anticipated the faces carved into the side of the mountain becoming unrecognizable to future generations, and he didn't want them to become as mysterious as other landmarks, such as Stonehenge. So, he wanted to make sure that a biography about himself, the process of creating the sculptures, and detailed descriptions of former presidents Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, and Roosevelt were available inside. You might as well drop a letter into the world's postal service without an address or signature, as to send that carved mountain into history without identification, Borglum wrote. Each succeeding civilization forgets its predecessor. Civilizations are ghouls. However, the project remained unfinished at the time of his death, but by 1998, his family made sure that his dreams became a reality, and they boarded up the room behind Honest Abe's noggin, with the intended papers hidden away. Some further speculate that the real U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence are also enclosed with those documents in a teakwood box. However, inquiring minds may never know the truth, because the room isn't open to the public, and only the door can be seen. 2. Eiffel Tower Upon completion of the Eiffel Tower's construction in 1889, it was revealed that the main engineer, Gustav Eiffel, constructed a small apartment for himself at the very top. Apparently, it differs from the metallic and brazen nature of the rest of the monument, and it's actually quaint and has a homey feeling to it. It is covered in paisley wallpaper and filled with wooden furniture. He also had a fully functioning laboratory and kept oil paintings, record players, called gramophones at the time, and a grand piano inside. Although many offered small fortunes to stay there, Eiffel was very protective of his little hideaway. However, of the select people, including Thomas Edison, who have been permitted to visit, all have described the amazing view of Paris that it offers. At one time, it was the highest apartment in the entire world. Today, 100 years after Eiffel's death, the public is still kept away. However, he also built himself an office inside, and people can view that room. 3. Grand Central Terminal It was originally an art gallery and later transformed into a CBS recording studio. But when it was taken over by a Hungarian immigrant in 1966, an upper level of Grand Central Station was turned into a tennis facility. Collectively called the Vanderbilt Tennis Club, the court includes one full-sized court, two practice lanes, a junior court, and a fully equipped fitness room. The club is technically open to the public, but it costs hundreds of dollars to reserve the main court for 3-hour increments during regular business hours. However, for night owls who have a penchant for hitting balls with rackets, only need to spend $85 between midnight and 2 a.m. 4. Brooklyn Bridge Underneath the Brooklyn Bridge were two wine cellars on each side, Manhattan and Brooklyn. It's no longer in use, but for 40 years, merchants stored their fancy bottles there because the climate was always dark and cool, which made it the perfect place for storing delicate bottles of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. The vaults were initially created to supplement the huge budget needed to construct the bridge, and the engineers knew that local businesses would pay a pretty penny to house their expensive wine there. However, by the 1910s, because of prohibition, they were converted into a place to buy newspapers. 5. Flinders Street Station This busy Australian railway station is said to see nearly 100,000 travellers every day, but until recently, only a few of those people seemed to know or even believe stories about the abandoned ballroom on its top floor. It was closed off to the public in 1985, but it was designed 11 years before the station was opened in 1910 by James Fawcett and H.P.C. Ashworth. It was built and designed to provide leisure time for the railway workers. It was a lecture hall and had lending libraries, billiard rooms, table tennis, a private gym, and a boxing ring. In recent history, the public has been allowed back in, and artists have been permitted to come in and house their installations or exhibitions there. Of note, the Melbourne street artist named Tyrone Roan Wright moved in with an 11-room choose-your-own-adventure experience that was a time capsule of mid-century Melbourne. Each room was themed to evoke a specific part of the city's history, but paying close attention to the working class. For years, I had heard all these stories about the mysterious ballroom above Flinders Street Station, Roan said in a statement. I always wondered how much of it was truth, and how much was urban myth. I was desperate to get in there. Further, he said, the Flinders Street Ballroom was my white whale. The work won't last. It has been designed with a limited lifespan in mind, but I hope the stories will live on. His installation ran until January 29, 2023. It seems uncertain what the future holds for the once-abandoned ballroom. Number 6. The Lincoln Memorial. Most people who have visited the Lincoln Memorial have noticed the typo on the structure's north wall, which reads, future, instead of future, in the etching of Lincoln's second inaugural address. But a less-known basement, known as the Undercroft, is underneath the memorial. It is 43,800 square feet and was mostly forgotten until the 1970s. It has its own plant life, ecosystem, and graffiti from the original workers from 1914. In order to support the large structure, those workers needed to dig a large hole and put a lot of concrete columns underground. For whatever reason, talk seemed limited about the Undercroft until 1975, that is, when bathrooms were being renovated and a crew rediscovered this subterranean cathedral of sorts. And for a short while after that, the National Park Service offered flashlight tours underneath the monument, but the tours were halted after a spectator saw asbestos and reported it to authorities in 1989. In 2022, safety precautions must have been updated because, according to some sources, visitors are allowed back in. Number 7. The Washington Monument. This Egyptian-style obelisk was built to honor the country's first president, George Washington, but it is riddled with mystery. For one thing, the iconography of the monument, which again is Egyptian in nature, chosen to memorialize one of the most notable men in American history, has had many speculating about ties to the Illuminati for years. Second, an aluminum capstone includes several inscriptions, mostly the names of the people who worked on its construction in 1884, but also the Latin phrase Laus Deo, or Praise Be to God. Thirdly, there are a number of items that have been said to be inside the structure, including a Bible, copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, a portrait of George Washington, a map of Washington, D.C., every U.S. coin available in the 1880s, and a random man's memoir about his trip to northern Mexico. And fourthly, there's a miniature version, a 12-foot structure known as Benchmark A, buried underneath a manhole cover just by the feet of the actual monument. Apparently, the smaller one is used as a geodetic control point for surveying purposes, which means that it's a control point that helps the National Geodetic Survey synchronize all of the government's maps. Most recently, it was used in 2011 after an earthquake shook the D.C. area. Number eight, Niagara Falls. A cave carved into the side of the Niagara Gorge was named the Cave of Evil Spirits. It was named that by the indigenous Seneca people, and historian Edward T. Williams recounted its legend in 1936. In 1669, there came to the Niagara River Robert Cavalier de la Salle, who, in the succeeding 18 years, was to the Niagara's most frequent visitor. He was the fifth white man to set foot on Niagara County soil, Williams wrote. As the story goes, la Salle, a Canadian explorer, and his indigenous guide passed by the cave, and when he inquired about it, he was warned to never enter it. He was told that noise of thunder, shrieks, and groans were often heard from the darkened den, which was believed to house the evil spirit. The story of a curious boy who ignored similar warnings and entered the cave just to return to the town as a raving maniac, whose black hair had become white as snow, was also shared. Such is the tradition of our race. Judge then, my white brother, whether you could disturb the evil spirit of this abode, and not suffer the penalty, the guide said. Like the boy from the story, however, la Salle ignored what he was told about the evil among the cave, and he crept inside a few days later. Soon he heard a creepy whisper in his ear say, return to your home in Canada, and wealth, honors, a long life of usefulness shall be yours, and when death comes, generations of your descendants shall follow you to your grave. History shall transmit your name to posterity, as the successful founder of a great empire. Proceed to the west, and although gleams of hope may at times shine in your path, ingratitude and disappointment will be sure to meet and follow you, until treacherous murder shall end your days remote from human habitation, without the shelter of even a wigwam of a friendly red man. The eagles of the desert shall strip the flesh from your bones, which shall lay bleaching under the tropical sun, unburied and unprotected by the cross you now so devotedly cherish. Safe to say, la Salle was really freaked out, and when he emerged from the cave, he saw that his fate was already changing. Many of his men had abandoned him and returned to Montreal, and he later did what the evil spirit told him not to do, he moved out west to establish a colony in Louisiana. Within a decade, his fortune dwindled, and he met his death by the hands of one of his own men. The story of la Salle continues to this day, but judging by the graffiti and empty cans around the cave, not everyone takes the story seriously. Number 9. Empire State Building. There's actually a 103rd floor of the tall building, but it's not open to the public, probably because of the small ledge and low railing. But, celebrities like Taylor Swift, Machine Gun Kelly, Zendaya, and Ariana Grande have had their pictures taken on the highest floor. The metal structure that serves as the floor was said to originally be for passenger airships like the Hindenburg, which were thought to be the future of airships in the 1930s. Of course, the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 changed the industry forever. Some believe this additional floor was added to the plans just so that the now 1250-foot Empire State Building would be taller than the 1,046-foot-high Chrysler Building, which was still under construction in 1930, a year before the Empire State Building was built. But in 1929, Albert E. Smith, the leader of the building's investors, denied that claim in an interview with the New York Times. He said, We are measuring its rise by principles of economic investment rather than spectacular standards. Of the lucky few who have been on the 103rd floor is a journalist named Jen Carlson. She said of the experience, When the wind blows, it feels like it will take you with it, and it probably could if it were strong enough. It really feels like the most special place to be in New York City. 10. The U.S. Supreme Court Like the tennis court above Grand Central Station, there's a basketball court on the fifth floor of the U.S. Supreme Court. It's referred to as the highest court in the land. Before becoming a basketball court, however, it was just a spare room that housed journals. But in the 1940s, it was converted into a workout area for courthouse workers. Then, wooden backboards and baskets were installed later. Now, the court is used by clerks, off-duty officers, and other employees. Supreme Court justices such as Byron White, William Rehnquist, and Sandra Day O'Connor were known for using the court. The last one used it for women-only yoga class, not a good old game of b-ball. There's also a full-service gym and weight room on the fourth floor of the building. A note on the court's entrance states that players should not be active during the day and should not assume that court is not in session. This court is not open to the public. 11. Statue of Liberty In the torch of the Statue of Liberty, there's actually a secret room, although the public cannot access it anymore. In 1916, it was closed after an explosion known as the Black Tom, which was an act of sabotage by the German during World War I, occurred nearby. The Black Tom explosion reached Liberty Island, and it caused minor damage to the statue's exterior. The closure was due to a concern for terrorism and the damage to the statue's right arm that was already occurring due to people climbing up and down it. It was not originally built to hold as much weight as it often did, and people reported feeling its shake as they climbed up. Today, the only people allowed inside are National Park Service staff, aka Keepers of the Flame. They're responsible for maintaining the floodlights on the balcony. However, thanks to modern technology, people can experience the room via live stream, called Torchcam, after a camera was installed in the room in 2011. 12. Leonardo da Vinci Statue The 60-foot statue of the famous Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci was unveiled in 1960, and it calls the Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport home. This bronze statue with a marble base was the work of a Hungarian artist named Asen Peikov, who moved to Italy during World War II, and Peikov made it for a competition the airport announced would take place for art to be installed near it. Obviously, Peikov won. It wasn't until 2006, however, that a secret compartment was found. During renovation, one of the workers noticed a small hatch located about 30 feet up the statue, approximately in the middle of it. When it was opened, two parchments, still in perfect condition, were found. One of them, written in classical Latin, tells the history of the area around the airport going back to ancient times, and the landscape that predated human development. The other lists people who attended the unveiling, including Giovanni Gronci, President of the Italian Republic in 1960, and Giulio Andreotti, Minister of Defense in 1960, who later became Prime Minister. Logically, the parchments are thought to be the work of Peikov, but confirmation of that, and the reason why he created the small compartment in the first place, will never be revealed, because Peikov died in 1973. However, independent work is being done to verify the information on them. Number 13. The Gateway Arch The tallest man-made monument, the Gateway Arch, is found in St. Louis, Missouri. It was designed by a Finnish-American architect named Eero Sarnanen in 1947, but it was actually constructed between 1963 and 1965. But many wonder what, if anything, is at the center of the arch. According to St. Louis Magazine, on October 27, 1965, a time capsule was lifted into place, and St. Louis Public Radio said that the capsule includes the signatures of 762,000 residents, a newspaper, stories by local writers, and other items. The majority of the signatures are from schoolchildren, and written on seven bundles wrapped in foil and tiled with ribbon. The idea was that throughout the kids' lives, they could point up at the arch and say that their names were inside of it. But, as the very purpose of a time capsule, it should be opened and examined by future generations to reflect on the lives of others in the past. However, there is no known designated date or time for the capsule in the Gateway Arch to be removed and opened. Number 14. Big Cypress National Reserve Most people have heard about the legends around Sasquatch or Bigfoot, but what about the Great Floridian Skunk Ape, also known as the Swamp Ape and Florida Bigfoot? He is thought to live among the Big Cypress National Reserve, which was one of the first national preserves in the U.S. National Park System. Big Cypress is in South Florida, near the Everglades, according to Dave Sheely, the owner and operator of the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee. The Skunk Ape is the smellier cousin of Sasquatch and a hairy, bipedal man who stinks of swamp gas. Sheely's headquarters are located in the Trail Lakes Campground in Ochopee and has obtained vital information about the Skunk Ape, such as its height, 6 to 7 feet, weight, up to 450 pounds, its amount of toes, 4 on each foot, and contents of its stool, wild hogs, berries, and baby birds. Further, Sheely said that the best way to catch a Skunk Ape is to lure it with wet lima beans. Evidence of their existence include anecdotal sightings, mostly in the 1950s and 1970s, disputed photographs, audio and video recordings, and footprint discoveries. The majority of mainstream scientists and the United States National Park System have claimed that the Skunk Ape does not actually exist, but the stance of Sheely and other believers are unwavering, and they think that there are at least seven or nine of these creatures living around Big Cypress and the Everglades, and sightings of a Skunk Ape continue to this day. Since 2010, there have been reports in 48 out of 67 counties in Florida. Whether or not it's a hoax, the creature has been adopted as the unofficial mascot for the wilderness and rural culture in Florida. In fact, roadside businesses, attractions, television commercials, and signs throughout the state involve a Skunk Ape. Number 15. CIA Grounds in Langley, Virginia. While technically not a monument, Kryptos is a sculpture kept on the grounds of the CIA in Langley, Virginia, and it holds a seemingly uncrackable secret. It displays four encrypted messages, the last of which has never been solved. The first three sections were cracked by crypto-analysts of the NSA and CIA, along with a random computer scientist in the mid-1990s, but the fourth has been an obsession for professionals and amateurs alike for decades since. The sculpture itself was created by an American artist named Jim Sanborn, and he dedicated it to the CIA in 1990. It is said that the fourth section is essential in understanding the entire puzzle, which according to Sanborn, is a riddle within a riddle. In 2006, he provided the clue that some of the 97 words in the unsolved section stood for the word Berlin, and in 2014, he gave another hint that the next word in the sequence was clock, but in providing these answers, he also added a little more mystery when he said there are several interesting clocks in Berlin. Sanborn is currently in his late 70s, but he confirmed that if at the time of his passing, if the code remains uncracked, he will provide the answer to someone through his will.