Monuments

This cuddly rodent has a place of honor at a Russian institute for genetic research.

A Norwegian-born sculptor created these soaring guardian angels at the entrance to Hoover Dam.

After covering almost 1.5 billion acres, the survey's still not finished.

A gigantic statue of a Russian soldier watches over the ancient city of Plovdiv, a prominent reminder of the Soviet period in Bulgaria.

The great polar explorer is remembered in this far northern town, where he embarked on his final expedition.

Ninety feet off the valley floor is an ancient dwelling put under protection of the U.S. government by Teddy Roosevelt.

There's a 12-foot-tall replica of the Washington Monument hidden under a manhole nearby.

A boulder carved into the shape of the cosmonaut's head.

The monument's pointy aluminum tip has been melted down by repeated lightning strikes.

Walk through Czech history in Prague's largest graveyard.

High in the Rockies the third largest statue in the U.S. opens her welcoming arms, and lights up the night sky.

Hidden behind Lincoln's head is a chamber containing enamel plates documenting American history, sealed in a teakwood box in a titanium vault.

This spot memorializes one of the greatest plays in NFL history, unless you happen to be a Raiders fan.

A chain of bells connect the California Missions and honor the legend of the "King’s Highway."

This space-age looking obelisk rises over a city in the rainforest, meant to resemble the local castaña tree.

True to his word, George Swanson is buried in his white 1984 Corvette.