Everything has a start

Few people know that these landmarks had very different original purposes

Many of the world’s most famous landmarks were never meant to become tourist attractions. Some started as military structures, others as advertisements, royal retreats, or industrial buildings. Over time, their original purposes faded while their fame grew worldwide. Today, millions visit these places without realizing what they were first designed to do. Did you know about any of these stories?

Before becoming a notorious federal prison, Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay served as a military site. In the 1850s, the U.S. Army fortified the island to help defend the harbor during California’s Gold Rush era and installed some of the West Coast’s earliest lighthouse equipment.

The island later became a military prison before reopening as the federal penitentiary in 1934. Famous inmates included Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. Today, Alcatraz is one of San Francisco’s most visited historic attractions.

The pyramids of Giza were built around 4,500 years ago as massive tombs for Egyptian pharaohs. The Great Pyramid was constructed for Pharaoh Khufu during Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty and originally stood about 481 feet tall.

These structures were filled with burial chambers, treasures, and religious objects meant to prepare rulers for the afterlife. Today, the pyramids attract millions of visitors, but their original purpose was deeply spiritual rather than public.

Machu Picchu, high in Peru’s Andes Mountains, was likely built in the 15th century as a royal estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti. Historians believe it functioned as a seasonal retreat for nobles and members of the royal court.

The site was not originally intended as a large public city. After the Spanish conquest, it was eventually abandoned and remained largely unknown to the outside world until American explorer Hiram Bingham brought international attention to it in 1911.

Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa began in 1173 in Pisa, Italy. It was designed as the freestanding bell tower for the nearby cathedral complex, officially known as the Piazza del Duomo.

The tower’s famous lean began during construction because the soft ground beneath it could not properly support the heavy marble structure. Despite the unintended tilt, builders continued working on it for nearly two centuries until it became one of Italy’s most famous landmarks.

When the Hollywood sign was installed in Los Angeles in 1923, it actually read "Hollywoodland." The giant letters were created as an enormous advertisement for a local real estate development in the hills above the city.

The original sign included thousands of light bulbs and was only supposed to stand temporarily. Over time, however, it became closely linked to the American film industry. The final four letters were removed in 1949, creating today’s famous "Hollywood" sign.

The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, the iron structure shocked many critics who considered it unattractive and unnecessary.

The tower was initially expected to stand for only about 20 years. However, its popularity and usefulness for scientific experiments and radio transmissions helped save it from demolition. Today, it is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.

Long before housing masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, the Louvre began as a medieval fortress in Paris during the late 12th century. King Philip II ordered its construction to help defend the city against possible invasions.

Over the centuries, the fortress gradually transformed into a royal palace. After the French Revolution, the building officially became a public museum in 1793. Visitors can still see remains of the original medieval fortress beneath the museum today.

New York City’s High Line first opened in 1933 as an elevated freight railway running through Manhattan’s West Side. Trains carried meat, dairy products, and industrial goods directly into warehouses and factories.

After freight traffic declined, the railway fell into disuse and faced possible demolition. Instead, the abandoned tracks were transformed into a public park that opened in stages beginning in 2009. Today, the High Line is one of New York’s most popular urban attractions.

London’s Tate Modern occupies the former Bankside Power Station along the River Thames. Designed by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the massive industrial building operated as an oil-fired power station during the mid-20th century.

The station closed in 1981 and stood mostly unused for years. Architects Herzog & de Meuron later converted it into a modern art museum, which opened in 2000. Its enormous turbine hall became one of the museum’s most distinctive spaces.

Rome’s Colosseum was originally built around 70-80 CE as a giant amphitheater for gladiator contests and public spectacles. Tens of thousands of spectators once gathered there to watch games, mock battles, and dramatic performances.

After the Roman Empire declined, the Colosseum took on completely different roles. Parts of it were used for housing, workshops, religious spaces, and even a fortress controlled by powerful Roman families. Stone from the structure was also reused in other buildings across Rome.