31 Surprising Facts About World’s Most Popular Tourist Destinations

Thanks to the U.S. version of the sitcom “The Office”, Scranton, Pennsylvania has gone from a former coal city into a major tourist attraction, revitalizing its downtown area.

27. The Ceremony of the Keys which is carried out every night at exactly 9:53 pm at the Tower of London, is believed to be the oldest military ceremony in the world. Originating in the Middle Ages, it has never once been canceled though it was delayed once during World War 2 due to enemy action.

28. Westminster Abbey has been rebuilt 4 times. The original structure was built in 960 and it was finally rebuilt in 1517. For comparison, the original predates Machu Picchu built-in 1450 by nearly 500 years, yet the final build was completed less than 60 years after.

29. The Christmas tree that is annually set up in Trafalgar Square is donated by Norway as a token of gratitude for British support to Norway during World War 2.

30. About half of the Lincoln Memorial is hidden underground. The 43,800-square-foot basement was built with dozens of concrete columns to support the weight of the marble structure.

Roughly half of the Americans will at some point in their lives visit the National Mall in Washington D.C.