I live right by Gillette Castle! He also built a narrow-gauge train route all over the property, complete with bridges and tunnels. It makes for a terrific hike!
You might watch the 1916 Sherlock film he stared in (public domain and might be on yt). If I remember correctly Wikipedia says his castle is based off of the set or something.
The train ended up at Lake Compounce Festival Park in Bristol/Southington for a long time. I went on that train ride many times as a kid back in the late 70s
There’s a small park area next to the ferry landing at the base of the hill. The last time I was there, the wreck of his yacht, the Aunt Polly, was still visible just offshore.
Drove cab out of St Louis airport in 1970s. One foggy night we came close enough to see Arch for first time in trip. Passenger asked, "What is that?" I replied, "Don't know, wasn't there yesterday">
I'm glad you spoke about the accuracy needed to join that halves of the Gateway Arch, though you missed one factor that I found different---maybe even unique. Due to its stainless steel cladding and design of the arch itself, the final joining had to be done on a day without bright, and therefore _hot,_ sunshine! Depending on the angle on which it hit the separate arcs, the rate of expansion could force the two ends widely and _wildly_ apart. Nice topic, guys. I never knew the Air Force Academy Chapel was so beautiful. Stay safe, everyone.
Mark Twain moved to Hartford in about 1874. His early years were spent in Hannibal, Missouri. I would not characterize him as a ‘childhood friend’ of Gillette.
I drove from the Midwest to south CO springs, first time seeing mountains/that building/area. It was stunning, almost to the point of stopping for safety.
Agreed. Same with Salk. The view La Jolla Cove & Shores is one of the most gorgeous sites in San Diego. Oh and don’t forget the nude beach just a few miles away too!
You should do a side projects video on the largest earthmoving machinery; The Captain stripping shovel, The Big Muskie dragline and the Bagger 293 bucket wheel.
One you missed (I know it had to be whittled down to 5) is the House on the Rock near Spring Green, Wisconsin. Really cool place. It's also within a half hour of Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio.
Yep, the house on the rock is wonderfully weird,beautiful and amazing. I've only been one time, about 30 yrs ago and I still am affected by all the quirky, strange and entertaining aspects of it. Check it out Simon!
Yes! I’ve been suggesting House on the Rock on other videos too! It could be covered in its own video to be honest! It defies description and photos don’t do it justice, really.
Have been multiple times and I always find something interesting that I missed before. (Still never going in to the section with all the clowns - that part can eff right off.)
The House on the Rock has to be seen to be believed. I just went there for the first time 3 days ago. As Neil Gaiman has said, "I had to tone it down in the book [American Gods], an accurate description of it defies plausibility." I'd love to see Simon's reaction to it.
The story of the guy parachuting to the top of the arch only to be killed parachuting from the top to the ground is like an O. Henry story with that irony.
0:40 - Chapter 1 - The gateway arch 4:10 - Chapter 2 - Air force academy cadet chapel 7:05 - Chapter 3 - The salk institute 9:10 - Chapter 4 - Gillette castle 11:30 - Chapter 5 - New world order
When moving from Canada to Tulsa in 1962 dad threaded the rush hour needle through St Louis with a welding truck pulling our 48' home trailer. THAT'S when I was surprised at age 11 that no one died.
I hated driving my dad's welding truck by itself. The one time I had to pull a trailer with it, I refused to ever drive it again! And this is was on California highways, I cannot imagine how awful rush hour traffic would be in St. Louis.
I'm surprised that House on the Rock and The Winchester Mystery House didn't make an appearance. Both of those have not only unique appearances, but fascinating history behind them.
I worked for the company that built the Gateway Arch, Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel. I spent a year building stainless steel nuclear reactor fuel storage pools for them. When I moved to another contractor, back in the early 80’s, I turned in a tool box with close to 6,000$ worth of specialty tools. They were a great company to work for.
Maybe you've done this (on one of your 2,784 channels, all of which I love!) but I'd love to see the oldest buildings still in use! I'm an American who used to live in New England which had at least a little bit of historical architecture! I miss it terribly!!
The gateway arch is kinda unnerving when you're at the top. You can feel it swaying from the wind and weight of the people in it with you. And the weird step tram feels like it hasn't changed since it was built.
Exactly! I’ve been to the arch twice and both times I was ready to go back down to solid ground. Although the tram did feel smother last year compared to my first trip over a decade ago lol.
I visited the top of the arch back in the 1980s. I was younger and “braver” back then. I would not go up there these days. I no longer have ANY desire to up high in any building!
The interior of that chapel looks like something right out of Star Trek, which I suppose is apt considering the Trek universe (pre-2009) is meant to be all-inclusive and free of the hate and disparity we have today... :)
Star Trek fans also need to check out the TWA Flight Center - a.k.a. Terminal 5 - at JFK in NY. Designed at roughly the same time, the terminal and the Enterprise Bridge have dramatic similarities. The Flight Center is designed by St. Louis Arch architect Eero Saarinen, who also designed the tulip chairs that inspired the chairs on the Enterprise. Too bad he didn't design seatbelts.
When I think of unique American buildings, I think of the Chrysler Building, and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, called the best all-time work of American architecture.
My sister lived in a Frank Lloyd Wright. She was in the process of restoring it, while buying on a land contract when the city decided it was better demolished for a parking lot. The same clowns sold the city's Carnegie Library building to a guy selling used furniture. I know all Carnegie Buildings are built under the promise to be only used for Library purposes, but I guess the foundation doesn't check up on that.
Wow, I've never heard of Gillette Castle despite having gone to grad school near there. I shall have to go there sometime! You should do a video about the Mark Twain and Harriette Beecher Stowe houses, which are right next to each other in Hartford, CT.
You know when you live in the US it's easy to forget just how numerous 50 States really is until you realize you forgot Missouri existed. Oh God, Frank gehry, well his style would fit Miami.
@@mbecker163 Aww someone's all grumpy because I forgot Missouri. Let's just say I'm from a state I, and most other residents, wish you would forget but probably won't.
Denver represent! I remember years back seeing a model inside the old DAM for what the new building would look like, and thinking it was kinda weird lookin', but at scale now it's absolutely gorgeous how it stands out from the architecture around it in a modern way without quite clashing. And it's really conducive to fun exploring inside it. Absolutely love that place
Hi Simon, seems you've confused modernist architecture with brutalist. Brutalist style is mostly concrete and with a blocky, heavy appearance. The Cadet Chapel is modernist.
Does anyone remember the... Simon Whistler episode where he suddenly starts fighting a fly?? he's just going on about stuff then Mortal Kombat fight music kicks in and he's swinging at the air with impact graphics superimposed over his swinging... it made me lol =D
I knew in a vague way that the Arch had the gondola thing, but I had never seen any pictures of the inside. Epic, and also terrifying for those of us with any nervousness about height! The rest of these I had never even heard of, so this was a cool episode for me :D
I've been to the Arch in Missouri. What blew me away was that there were elevators you take to the top and can look out windows, it was freaking awesome. About a 2 hour wait in line though, but worth it you guys. If you ever get the chance GO! You won't regret it.
My family and I went there in 2002. I remember riding up in this egg-shaped 'container'. Very interesting to say the least. I thought it was cool how the arch swayed back and forth in the wind. The worker who had to clean up my little sisters mess, not so much.
I love Gillets castle. The seven sisters are on the bends of the river . The views of which are stunning from the balcony. I always thought the inside was kind of meh. But the outside of the building and the grounds I always found wonderful no matter how many times I went there. It was free to wander outside . Only had to pay a fee for the inside tour. Which I always thought was quite generous since there is much poverty in the area.
So many times. . . "We are almost done, just have to put the gutters on." "But the project is already $1.2 M over budget. Lets just see how the building does with out them." 20 years later "The repairs and renovations, plus a set of gutters, will be $16 M."
I noticed it immediately in the thumbnail! Really it's what made me click. The views are great and the narrow gauge trip alongside the river let's you do some sightseeing. (Like nesting bald eagles)
I live pretty close to the Castle; it's even cooler up close. From the outside, it's got this odd unfinished feel. But from the inside, you'll feel like you are in a modern mansion. Locals are proud of it -- in a typical New Englander fashion that is. "A-yup. Pretty enough, I suppose; used local stone an' all. The whole castle thing is a bit odd, but th' fellow was an actor an' all so I figure he got used ta' livin' fancy."
I believe that I'm right in saying that the fellow Gillette was something of a method actor - when playing Sherlock Holmes, Gillette would, on stage, and in character, inject himself with cocaine solution. Every night.
Simon, a study of eminent domain laws in the US would drive you wild if the St. Louis arch neighborhood clearing seemed bad! The construction of the US Interstate highway system has some interesting eminent domain cases.
Many cities have done this for new sports and entertainment venues. I know here in the DFW area, many homes and business were demolished for the AT&T Stadium and the new Globe Life baseball stadium.
I somehow recognize some of these structures because of Red Alert (1 & RA2 ?). The Arch Monument and that Chapel were definitely in the campaign and skirmish maps of the game.
You should do a video on brutalism. It started with Le Corbusier’s comments on his own work. Describing it as be’ton brut or raw concrete. Then the Smithson’s (probably England’s best architects) took be’ton brut and renamed it brutalism.
It’s funny when they talk about how old some places and homes in Europe are, and how relatively young places here in America are. It’s often forgotten about the Mesa Verde cliff dwelling in the Rockies. These are apartment type buildings the Indians made and lived in. I might be wrong , but I’m pretty sure they’re a lil older than most homes in Europe. Maybe I’m wrong.
Thanks Simon, I've been to the Gateway Arch. The view is great, the elevator is cool but demolishing 3 blocks of homes and businesses is a dick move. It's not what the Founding Fathers wanted in property rights.That dick move was very expensive and the taxpayers were on the hook for it.
Friend of mine from Birmingham UK when talking about the differences between the UK and US he said to him the most glaring difference would be that in the US 100 years is a long time in the UK 100 miles is a long way
The interior of Gillette Castle is pure fun as well, with puzzle locks and surprises everywhere. Very much in the Arts and Crafts style. as are the Fonthill Castle and Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA. (Edited) It is tragic when city planners use grand projects to eliminate what they consider 'undesirable' neighborhoods. Not familiar with what was lost along the St. Louis Riverfront, but I wouldn't call the arch useless. Especially these days when St. Louis seems to be struggling to find it's footing again, it seems like the arch single handedly generates the majority of the towns tourist income. Downtown felt eerily empty on my last visit, but there were many good projects, such as the rebirth of Union Station as a hotel/aquarium/tourist center, that all depend on the major draw of the arch.
Much as I like to see my home state of New Jersey get a favorable mention, Fonthill and the Mercer Museum are across the Delaware River in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
As far as the arch goes I am just guessing, but was that a Black neighborhood, did that neighborhood have successful home-owning black people living in it? Who were given less than a fair price for the property they owned, and could not buy homes in other neighborhoods because of redlining. See Rondo in Saint Paul MN.
I hadn't seen the Gateway Arch since it had been finished when I drove from Boston to Los Angeles in 2005. As I negotiated the exits I needed, I noticed that the reflection and arch together looked like a Moebius strip. It was gorgeous.
I visited the St Louis arch last year right before COVID and while the view from above is stunning, I was more interested in the mini history museum about the history of St Louis. Maybe it’s because I’m not a huge fan of heights 🤷🏼♀️
I grew up in Connecticut and I've been to Gillette Castle several times. Really cool crazy place. There's some very out-there architecture on the MIT campus in Cambridge, MA. To be fair, it's very self-consciously weird, so it feels a little forced to me but some of the buildings are cool anyway.
Simon you must now everything????? You can Speak for Everything ???. For Everything You have University degree excellent ????? Yoy Must be Genius ????. Why Simon ??? All Universities Must Shut Down?????
I forgot when British people say "America" they mean the USA. America is literally everything from Alert, Canada, to Puerto Williams, Chile. To say "5 of America's" and only refer to the USA is just misleading and incorrect basic facts. Good vid tho ;)
Words mean whatever most people agree they mean. Language is fluid and ever-changing. If the vast majority of the world says 'America' is the synonymous with the United States, then that is literally just what it is. People will say north America or south America if they want to describe the continents instead of the United States.
I wasn't being overly serious in the first place lol. Though, It's like calling someone from the UK not European or excluding every country but China when you refer to the continent of Asia. It is simply wrong
be sure to take a look into Loveland Castle, in Cincinnatti Ohio. A multi-story castle inside city limits. made from river stones over a 50 year period by one man, with the help of local boyscouts.
The Frank Loyd Wright SC Johnson office building, c.1960?, in Racine, WI is a beautiful and bizarre marvel. It is shaped like the Starship Enterprise & Wright also designed the very impractical furniture for it. Might be an interesting Side Project.
2:52 I'm American, and we do that to "poor" areas, which are disproportionately minority communities, which was and still is abhorrently racist. The time period makes this trend even MORE likely just 20 years after the Civil Rights Movement, to whatever extent the Federal government wanted to do at that time. EDIT: Correct timestamp and confused the manufacturing location (6:00) with where the monument is.
“Most unique”? Unique means ‘one of a kind’. ‘Most unique’ therefore means ‘most one of a kind’. Something is either one of a kind - or isn’t. Perhaps ‘rare’ or ‘unusual’ may be the word you are looking for. Yes, as a matter of fact I do enjoy being pedantic. Someone has to, otherwise we may as well use any combination of words. I am waiting for the day when instead of ‘most unique’, we use the term ‘hideously evaporator’, which while entertaining, does nothing for clearly conveying information. Clearly a clickbaiting title, otherwise a fascinating video.
USAF Academy Chapel: Shortly after it was completed I had the pleasure of visiting, as part of a school trip. Building ages in USA vs England (my country of birth) - on a trip to England several decades ago, at one place we stayed the innkeeper apologized several times for having to give us a room in the "new section", which we found out later was built in the early 1500's!
Brutalist style is not attributed to houses of worship and the AF academy is not brutalist. Brutalist is a style from the 70's and 80's that was very concrete in nature. For example the Boston Mass government building, the Russian embassy in Cuba, that looks like a massive sword stuck in the ground, and Holyoke Community College in Holyoke Mass and park hill flats in the UK. It is descending from the modernist movement There are a number of others throughout the world but they are being destroyed because no one likes the cold war, stoic Russian concrete building style.
Simon. Regarding your remarks about the homes and businesses displaced by the St. Louis Archway, no one lost anything. The term is "imminent domain" and those who "lost" their businesses and homes to the construction of the St. Louis Archway were paid fair-market value for their property. That's standard practice. No one is just "kicked off" their property. And, BTW, you forgot to mention that the purpose of the St. Louis Archway was to commemorate St. Louis' role in the expansion of the west as most pioneers went there owing to the ease of crossing the Mississippi River. In fact, it was practically the reason the city was established.
Excellent coverage of the St Louis Gateway Arch. Another amazing fact is that it was designed in the 1940's, but the architectural lines and visual styling of the building look very 1970's. It was built in the 60's, as you pointed out. The design was visionary and ahead of its time in every way. I question whether the building has no value. You recognized it, and people all over the world recognize it. The St Louis city skyline is unique and identifiable out of all the world's cities. It is a monument recognized the world over and the value inherent in monuments is difficult to quantify, but certainly not 0.
I don't know if I should find it hilarious or sad that when people talk about old buildings in the US they completely forget there were people in the Americas BEFORE Europeans showed up. FFS, Mesa Verde was built by the Pablo over a 1000 years ago.
1972 NDT Debate qualifier was at Air Force Academy. What you don't see in the video is the chapels' juxtaposed to the large square buildings, esp. from the ground. Since the Academy is the only OPEN installation you can visit it as a civilian. We had a cadet as escort the entire three days.
William Gillette made a silent film showcasing his performance as Sherlock Holmes. He made it in 1916 and it was rediscovered in 2014. Quite good, too.
The Saarinins did many iconic buildings in Columbus, Indiana. Just saying they weren’t one-hit wonders. Plus, I’m a chicken-shit bc I’ve been in that wonderful construction twice. Hated it both times.
Gehry's building at MIT is a lot more interesting than the Miami project - it looks straight out of Dr. Suess. And no list of unique US architecture would be complete without the Heart Castle in California...
I'm disappointed you didn't continue the pattern you started in the first two buildings. The Gateway Arch was built in Missouri with materials shipped in from Pennsylvania. The Air Force Chapel was built in Colorado with materials shipped in from Missouri. You should have found a way to say the Salk Institute in California to have been built from materials from Colorado and so on!
"Isn't it that big, arch-thing? See, even *I* recognize it.(as a non-american)" D'aw. Look at Simon acting like he hasn't done hours of research on it. * psh * Pretending like he was barely familiar with it.
Oh wow I never would have attributed that building to Gehry... Especially considering I drive by The Lou Ruvo Center almost every day & thought that was indicative of his style!
What the fuck Simon, seriously, how many god damn channels do you have? Do you just enjoy making me subscribe to every single one?! You have so many channels I’m still discovering them. I think I’ve officially got them all. I believe this is the 9th if I’m not mistaken
What do you know, I'm five for five in visiting these buildings. With four decades' architectural experience, I might select a different five, but these were a good slice of American Architectural History.
I live right by Gillette Castle! He also built a narrow-gauge train route all over the property, complete with bridges and tunnels. It makes for a terrific hike!
Dude. Hike? Really? Why don't you just, er, take the train?
You might watch the 1916 Sherlock film he stared in (public domain and might be on yt). If I remember correctly Wikipedia says his castle is based off of the set or something.
@@davidanderson_surrey_bc trains gone
The train ended up at Lake Compounce Festival Park in Bristol/Southington for a long time. I went on that train ride many times as a kid back in the late 70s
There’s a small park area next to the ferry landing at the base of the hill. The last time I was there, the wreck of his yacht, the Aunt Polly, was still visible just offshore.
Drove cab out of St Louis airport in 1970s. One foggy night we came close enough to see Arch for first time in trip. Passenger asked, "What is that?" I replied, "Don't know, wasn't there yesterday">
Badass 😂
Perfect ad lib! LOL
Lol 😂
You sir, are the hero the internet needs. That was brilliant.
Most disappointing moment if my life driving out west and get to St. Louis and they didn't build it over the river...gay.
And they weren't used as the lairs of horrific killers? Oh wait, that would be ANOTHER of Simon's three hundred and ninety four TH-cam channels 🤔
;D
Guys gotta eat.
I'm glad you spoke about the accuracy needed to join that halves of the Gateway Arch, though you missed one factor that I found different---maybe even unique. Due to its stainless steel cladding and design of the arch itself, the final joining had to be done on a day without bright, and therefore _hot,_ sunshine! Depending on the angle on which it hit the separate arcs, the rate of expansion could force the two ends widely and _wildly_ apart. Nice topic, guys. I never knew the Air Force Academy Chapel was so beautiful. Stay safe, everyone.
Mark Twain moved to Hartford in about 1874. His early years were spent in Hannibal, Missouri. I would not characterize him as a ‘childhood friend’ of Gillette.
The Cadet Chapel is an amazing work of architecture. Pictures don't do it justice.
I drove from the Midwest to south CO springs, first time seeing mountains/that building/area. It was stunning, almost to the point of stopping for safety.
Been to a couple weddings in Air Force Academy Chapel
They do better than the first time I saw it as a low-res rendering of a destructible building in Red Alert 2 lmao
@@JohnnyTromboner ha!!! I lied in my previous comment. You are correct. Great game
Agreed. Same with Salk. The view La Jolla Cove & Shores is one of the most gorgeous sites in San Diego. Oh and don’t forget the nude beach just a few miles away too!
You should do a side projects video on the largest earthmoving machinery; The Captain stripping shovel, The Big Muskie dragline and the Bagger 293 bucket wheel.
One you missed (I know it had to be whittled down to 5) is the House on the Rock near Spring Green, Wisconsin. Really cool place. It's also within a half hour of Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio.
Yep, the house on the rock is wonderfully weird,beautiful and amazing. I've only been one time, about 30 yrs ago and I still am affected by all the quirky, strange and entertaining aspects of it. Check it out Simon!
Yes! I’ve been suggesting House on the Rock on other videos too! It could be covered in its own video to be honest! It defies description and photos don’t do it justice, really.
I've been a couple times when i was young. Was hoping to see it on here but oh well. At least it's only a few hours away
Have been multiple times and I always find something interesting that I missed before.
(Still never going in to the section with all the clowns - that part can eff right off.)
The House on the Rock has to be seen to be believed. I just went there for the first time 3 days ago. As Neil Gaiman has said, "I had to tone it down in the book [American Gods], an accurate description of it defies plausibility." I'd love to see Simon's reaction to it.
The story of the guy parachuting to the top of the arch only to be killed parachuting from the top to the ground is like an O. Henry story with that irony.
0:40 - Chapter 1 - The gateway arch
4:10 - Chapter 2 - Air force academy cadet chapel
7:05 - Chapter 3 - The salk institute
9:10 - Chapter 4 - Gillette castle
11:30 - Chapter 5 - New world order
*New World Center
Thank you for this Haha
I'd like to see a video of castles in the USA.
When moving from Canada to Tulsa in 1962 dad threaded the rush hour needle through St Louis with a welding truck pulling our 48' home trailer. THAT'S when I was surprised at age 11 that no one died.
I hated driving my dad's welding truck by itself. The one time I had to pull a trailer with it, I refused to ever drive it again! And this is was on California highways, I cannot imagine how awful rush hour traffic would be in St. Louis.
5:30, cadet chapel, ooh, ahh.... meanwhile Black Forest is burning in the background... I'd bet that photo was taken in 2013?
I always thought that Arch in Missouri was just half of a massive McDonald's Sign.
They sell a postcard in the gift shop showing the below ground portion . It is a clothes hanger with just one side sticking out.
I'm surprised that House on the Rock and The Winchester Mystery House didn't make an appearance. Both of those have not only unique appearances, but fascinating history behind them.
I've been to both, absolutely fascinating buildings.
Seeing the title of the video, I thought that the Winchester House would certainly be on it.
0:15 The problem with British people. The obsession with how old things are while their country is sliding into disrepair.
France is even worse in that regard
Love how commenting on the script with his own tangents has spread pretty consistently to the non-Blaze channels :D
I worked for the company that built the Gateway Arch, Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel. I spent a year building stainless steel nuclear reactor fuel storage pools for them. When I moved to another contractor, back in the early 80’s, I turned in a tool box with close to 6,000$ worth of specialty tools. They were a great company to work for.
Maybe you've done this (on one of your 2,784 channels, all of which I love!) but I'd love to see the oldest buildings still in use! I'm an American who used to live in New England which had at least a little bit of historical architecture! I miss it terribly!!
The gateway arch is kinda unnerving when you're at the top. You can feel it swaying from the wind and weight of the people in it with you. And the weird step tram feels like it hasn't changed since it was built.
Exactly! I’ve been to the arch twice and both times I was ready to go back down to solid ground. Although the tram did feel smother last year compared to my first trip over a decade ago lol.
I'm not prone to motion sickness but wow, yes, got it big time at the top of this one.
I visited the top of the arch back in the 1980s. I was younger and “braver” back then. I would not go up there these days. I no longer have ANY desire to up high in any building!
The interior of that chapel looks like something right out of Star Trek, which I suppose is apt considering the Trek universe (pre-2009) is meant to be all-inclusive and free of the hate and disparity we have today... :)
Star Trek fans also need to check out the TWA Flight Center - a.k.a. Terminal 5 - at JFK in NY. Designed at roughly the same time, the terminal and the Enterprise Bridge have dramatic similarities. The Flight Center is designed by St. Louis Arch architect Eero Saarinen, who also designed the tulip chairs that inspired the chairs on the Enterprise. Too bad he didn't design seatbelts.
When I think of unique American buildings, I think of the Chrysler Building, and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, called the best all-time work of American architecture.
@@The_Other_Ghost That's my point. They are on every other list, so why not be included here?
My sister lived in a Frank Lloyd Wright. She was in the process of restoring it, while buying on a land contract when the city decided it was better demolished for a parking lot.
The same clowns sold the city's Carnegie Library building to a guy selling used furniture.
I know all Carnegie Buildings are built under the promise to be only used for Library purposes, but I guess the foundation doesn't check up on that.
@@drzarkov39 why would we want to see the same places that, as you just said, are in every other similar video? I'm glad it's not the same old stuff
That awkward moment you’ve been to the first two, and didn’t realize how architecturally important the chapel was till now.
The cadet chapel is in the video game Horizon Zero Dawn, destroyed of course after hundreds of years, but still .... lol
@@latenighter1965 Ok. That's cool!
Project request: Cable powered street railways.
Wow, I've never heard of Gillette Castle despite having gone to grad school near there. I shall have to go there sometime!
You should do a video about the Mark Twain and Harriette Beecher Stowe houses, which are right next to each other in Hartford, CT.
There was a joke awhile back that the Arch was actually a space needle that was built too thin and bent over.
" The House on the Rock" is an interesting eccentric building..
The Cadet Chapel is also visually striking far in the future when surrounded by scrappers
You know when you live in the US it's easy to forget just how numerous 50 States really is until you realize you forgot Missouri existed.
Oh God, Frank gehry, well his style would fit Miami.
Probably from one of the states who always run in a deficit and always looking for handouts
@@mbecker163
Aww someone's all grumpy because I forgot Missouri. Let's just say I'm from a state I, and most other residents, wish you would forget but probably won't.
The Denver Art Museum: Both the old and new buildings are interesting.
Denver represent! I remember years back seeing a model inside the old DAM for what the new building would look like, and thinking it was kinda weird lookin', but at scale now it's absolutely gorgeous how it stands out from the architecture around it in a modern way without quite clashing. And it's really conducive to fun exploring inside it. Absolutely love that place
Milwaukee art museum has moving wings
Hi Simon, seems you've confused modernist architecture with brutalist. Brutalist style is mostly concrete and with a blocky, heavy appearance. The Cadet Chapel is modernist.
Agreed it’s a highly regarded example of modernist architecture. I would add that it does have brutalist elements in the materials used.
Does anyone remember the... Simon Whistler episode where he suddenly starts fighting a fly?? he's just going on about stuff then Mortal Kombat fight music kicks in and he's swinging at the air with impact graphics superimposed over his swinging... it made me lol =D
Please tell me I'm not the only one who can see a face in the background at 5:28
I knew in a vague way that the Arch had the gondola thing, but I had never seen any pictures of the inside. Epic, and also terrifying for those of us with any nervousness about height!
The rest of these I had never even heard of, so this was a cool episode for me :D
The Gateway Arch is as iconic to me as any European monument would be to Simon. But that’s probably because I grew up in St. Louis.
I've been to the Arch in Missouri. What blew me away was that there were elevators you take to the top and can look out windows, it was freaking awesome. About a 2 hour wait in line though, but worth it you guys. If you ever get the chance GO! You won't regret it.
I love the Gateway Arch and park. Amazing.
My family and I went there in 2002. I remember riding up in this egg-shaped 'container'. Very interesting to say the least. I thought it was cool how the arch swayed back and forth in the wind. The worker who had to clean up my little sisters mess, not so much.
Been there as well, highly recommend.
My parents used to take me to Gillette castle when I was a kid. Still one of my favorite places to go
I've been there many times in my 65 years. I was hoping Simon would show some of the interior, or talk about the train.
I love Gillets castle. The seven sisters are on the bends of the river . The views of which are stunning from the balcony. I always thought the inside was kind of meh. But the outside of the building and the grounds I always found wonderful no matter how many times I went there. It was free to wander outside . Only had to pay a fee for the inside tour. Which I always thought was quite generous since there is much poverty in the area.
Love it there! The interior is simple but beautiful.
So many times. . . "We are almost done, just have to put the gutters on."
"But the project is already $1.2 M over budget. Lets just see how the building does with out them."
20 years later
"The repairs and renovations, plus a set of gutters, will be $16 M."
That Gillette castle is really cool-looking!
I noticed it immediately in the thumbnail!
Really it's what made me click.
The views are great and the narrow gauge trip alongside the river let's you do some sightseeing.
(Like nesting bald eagles)
The best a man can get.
You ought to hear the doorbell at the Mennin mansion
Back in the day it had a miniature train that he rode around the property.
I live near this
I live pretty close to the Castle; it's even cooler up close. From the outside, it's got this odd unfinished feel. But from the inside, you'll feel like you are in a modern mansion.
Locals are proud of it -- in a typical New Englander fashion that is. "A-yup. Pretty enough, I suppose; used local stone an' all. The whole castle thing is a bit odd, but th' fellow was an actor an' all so I figure he got used ta' livin' fancy."
America has so much weird architecture that if this video does well, I fully expect Simon to launch a new TH-cam channel devoted to it.
The Winchester Mansion might deserve a look...clearly bizarre design driven by wealthy psychosis.
5:30 - What the heck is that massive area burning in the background?
Forest fire
Colorado was a tinderbox with all the pine beetles.
Happy easter 🍻
Same to you!
Happy Passover.
@@deemariedubois4916 same to you :)
@@Adam-lc6mk Thank you.
The Denver Art Museum was part of a project that also included the Denver Public Library.
I believe that I'm right in saying that the fellow Gillette was something of a method actor - when playing Sherlock Holmes, Gillette would, on stage, and in character, inject himself with cocaine solution. Every night.
Simon, a study of eminent domain laws in the US would drive you wild if the St. Louis arch neighborhood clearing seemed bad! The construction of the US Interstate highway system has some interesting eminent domain cases.
Many cities have done this for new sports and entertainment venues. I know here in the DFW area, many homes and business were demolished for the AT&T Stadium and the new Globe Life baseball stadium.
I somehow recognize some of these structures because of Red Alert (1 & RA2 ?). The Arch Monument and that Chapel were definitely in the campaign and skirmish maps of the game.
So you guys should do an episode of this segment but for Canada simply for the sake of covering trash castle
🏰🏰
You should do a video on brutalism.
It started with Le Corbusier’s comments on his own work. Describing it as be’ton brut or raw concrete. Then the Smithson’s (probably England’s best architects) took be’ton brut and renamed it brutalism.
It’s funny when they talk about how old some places and homes in Europe are, and how relatively young places here in America are. It’s often forgotten about the Mesa Verde cliff dwelling in the Rockies. These are apartment type buildings the Indians made and lived in. I might be wrong , but I’m pretty sure they’re a lil older than most homes in Europe. Maybe I’m wrong.
Thanks Simon, I've been to the Gateway Arch. The view is great, the elevator is cool but demolishing 3 blocks of homes and businesses is a dick move. It's not what the Founding Fathers wanted in property rights.That dick move was very expensive and the taxpayers were on the hook for it.
This has rapidly become my favorite channel
Why are you incapable of using the metric system?
Also, a lot more visuals of these architectural wonders. We know what you look like.
The Gillette mansion looks like a sandcastle at high tide
Friend of mine from Birmingham UK when talking about the differences between the UK and US he said to him the most glaring difference would be that in the US 100 years is a long time in the UK 100 miles is a long way
The St Louis arch is closely replicated in Tijuana, a few meters south of the border between the United States and Mexico.
The interior of Gillette Castle is pure fun as well, with puzzle locks and surprises everywhere. Very much in the Arts and Crafts style. as are the Fonthill Castle and Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA. (Edited)
It is tragic when city planners use grand projects to eliminate what they consider 'undesirable' neighborhoods. Not familiar with what was lost along the St. Louis Riverfront, but I wouldn't call the arch useless. Especially these days when St. Louis seems to be struggling to find it's footing again, it seems like the arch single handedly generates the majority of the towns tourist income. Downtown felt eerily empty on my last visit, but there were many good projects, such as the rebirth of Union Station as a hotel/aquarium/tourist center, that all depend on the major draw of the arch.
Much as I like to see my home state of New Jersey get a favorable mention, Fonthill and the Mercer Museum are across the Delaware River in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
@@jamesclendon4811 correct. I should have remembered. I'll edit my comment is I can.
Thanks
Are these bot comments?
Is your channel alright?
What's happening here?
[Solo]
I think that the Catholic chapel, which is also beneath the Protestant chapel, seats 500, while the Jewish chapel seats 100
The Gateway Arch, supported by MacDonald's.
FIRST 🥇🥇🥇🥇
I was married at Gillette Castle!
As far as the arch goes I am just guessing, but was that a Black neighborhood, did that neighborhood have successful home-owning black people living in it? Who were given less than a fair price for the property they owned, and could not buy homes in other neighborhoods because of redlining. See Rondo in Saint Paul MN.
If I remember correctly, the existing grounds were pretty much all warehouses. It began a revitalization of the entire downtown and riverfront.
I hadn't seen the Gateway Arch since it had been finished when I drove from Boston to Los Angeles in 2005. As I negotiated the exits I needed, I noticed that the reflection and arch together looked like a Moebius strip. It was gorgeous.
Some of those pics of the cadet chapel make it look like the interior of the Death Star.
I've been to Gillette castle before, very cool place.
How the hell can you have neglected the train at Gilette Castle?!
I would have included the Elephant Hotel in Margate City NJ.
I love Lucy!
My great aunt & uncle live quite close to the USAFA in Colorado Springs.
Awesome name ,
Deer God , so epic!
Can't believe the fort from Waco wasn't on this list lol 😂 🤣
"Most unique" ??????
Really, Simon?
How about Bishops Castle fact boi?
I visited the St Louis arch last year right before COVID and while the view from above is stunning, I was more interested in the mini history museum about the history of St Louis. Maybe it’s because I’m not a huge fan of heights 🤷🏼♀️
The dollar homes for sale are interesting
as well ..☘️🌹🤠🌹☘️
@@overthenever4262 CORRUPT MARKETING & INSURANCE POLICY THEFT
I always hit like on a Simon video before watching because Simon has never failed to produce a terrific show
I grew up in Connecticut and I've been to Gillette Castle several times. Really cool crazy place.
There's some very out-there architecture on the MIT campus in Cambridge, MA. To be fair, it's very self-consciously weird, so it feels a little forced to me but some of the buildings are cool anyway.
Simon you must now everything????? You can Speak for Everything ???. For Everything You have University degree excellent ????? Yoy Must be Genius ????. Why Simon ??? All Universities Must Shut Down?????
I bet someone will say they’re not diverse enough….
My friends got married at Gillete Castle! A beautiful venue and park. I miss living nearby.
I forgot when British people say "America" they mean the USA. America is literally everything from Alert, Canada, to Puerto Williams, Chile. To say "5 of America's" and only refer to the USA is just misleading and incorrect basic facts. Good vid tho ;)
Words mean whatever most people agree they mean. Language is fluid and ever-changing. If the vast majority of the world says 'America' is the synonymous with the United States, then that is literally just what it is. People will say north America or south America if they want to describe the continents instead of the United States.
Give it up, God. That battle was lost a long time ago. Listen to Jay.
I wasn't being overly serious in the first place lol. Though, It's like calling someone from the UK not European or excluding every country but China when you refer to the continent of Asia. It is simply wrong
be sure to take a look into Loveland Castle, in Cincinnatti Ohio. A multi-story castle inside city limits. made from river stones over a 50 year period by one man, with the help of local boyscouts.
The Frank Loyd Wright SC Johnson office building, c.1960?, in Racine, WI is a beautiful and bizarre marvel. It is shaped like the Starship Enterprise & Wright also designed the very impractical furniture for it. Might be an interesting Side Project.
2:52 I'm American, and we do that to "poor" areas, which are disproportionately minority communities, which was and still is abhorrently racist. The time period makes this trend even MORE likely just 20 years after the Civil Rights Movement, to whatever extent the Federal government wanted to do at that time.
EDIT: Correct timestamp and confused the manufacturing location (6:00) with where the monument is.
Happy Easter Simon
“Most unique”? Unique means ‘one of a kind’. ‘Most unique’ therefore means ‘most one of a kind’.
Something is either one of a kind - or isn’t. Perhaps ‘rare’ or ‘unusual’ may be the word you are looking for. Yes, as a matter of fact I do enjoy being pedantic. Someone has to, otherwise we may as well use any combination of words. I am waiting for the day when instead of ‘most unique’, we use the term ‘hideously evaporator’, which while entertaining, does nothing for clearly conveying information.
Clearly a clickbaiting title, otherwise a fascinating video.
USAF Academy Chapel: Shortly after it was completed I had the pleasure of visiting, as part of a school trip.
Building ages in USA vs England (my country of birth) - on a trip to England several decades ago, at one place we stayed the innkeeper apologized several times for having to give us a room in the "new section", which we found out later was built in the early 1500's!
Brutalist style is not attributed to houses of worship and the AF academy is not brutalist. Brutalist is a style from the 70's and 80's that was very concrete in nature. For example the Boston Mass government building, the Russian embassy in Cuba, that looks like a massive sword stuck in the ground, and Holyoke Community College in Holyoke Mass and park hill flats in the UK. It is descending from the modernist movement
There are a number of others throughout the world but they are being destroyed because no one likes the cold war, stoic Russian concrete building style.
Simon. Regarding your remarks about the homes and businesses displaced by the St. Louis Archway, no one lost anything. The term is "imminent domain" and those who "lost" their businesses and homes to the construction of the St. Louis Archway were paid fair-market value for their property. That's standard practice. No one is just "kicked off" their property. And, BTW, you forgot to mention that the purpose of the St. Louis Archway was to commemorate St. Louis' role in the expansion of the west as most pioneers went there owing to the ease of crossing the Mississippi River. In fact, it was practically the reason the city was established.
Excellent coverage of the St Louis Gateway Arch. Another amazing fact is that it was designed in the 1940's, but the architectural lines and visual styling of the building look very 1970's. It was built in the 60's, as you pointed out. The design was visionary and ahead of its time in every way.
I question whether the building has no value. You recognized it, and people all over the world recognize it. The St Louis city skyline is unique and identifiable out of all the world's cities. It is a monument recognized the world over and the value inherent in monuments is difficult to quantify, but certainly not 0.
I don't know if I should find it hilarious or sad that when people talk about old buildings in the US they completely forget there were people in the Americas BEFORE Europeans showed up. FFS, Mesa Verde was built by the Pablo over a 1000 years ago.
1972 NDT Debate qualifier was at Air Force Academy. What you don't see in the video is the chapels' juxtaposed to the large square buildings, esp. from the ground. Since the Academy is the only OPEN installation you can visit it as a civilian. We had a cadet as escort the entire three days.
William Gillette made a silent film showcasing his performance as Sherlock Holmes. He made it in 1916 and it was rediscovered in 2014. Quite good, too.
The Saarinins did many iconic buildings in Columbus, Indiana. Just saying they weren’t one-hit wonders. Plus, I’m a chicken-shit bc I’ve been in that wonderful construction twice. Hated it both times.
Gehry's building at MIT is a lot more interesting than the Miami project - it looks straight out of Dr. Suess.
And no list of unique US architecture would be complete without the Heart Castle in California...
I'm disappointed you didn't continue the pattern you started in the first two buildings. The Gateway Arch was built in Missouri with materials shipped in from Pennsylvania. The Air Force Chapel was built in Colorado with materials shipped in from Missouri. You should have found a way to say the Salk Institute in California to have been built from materials from Colorado and so on!
"Isn't it that big, arch-thing? See, even *I* recognize it.(as a non-american)"
D'aw. Look at Simon acting like he hasn't done hours of research on it. * psh * Pretending like he was barely familiar with it.
Oh wow I never would have attributed that building to Gehry... Especially considering I drive by The Lou Ruvo Center almost every day & thought that was indicative of his style!
What the fuck Simon, seriously, how many god damn channels do you have? Do you just enjoy making me subscribe to every single one?! You have so many channels I’m still discovering them. I think I’ve officially got them all. I believe this is the 9th if I’m not mistaken
Oh dear, Protestant chapel, synagogue, space for Moslems, Buddhists and even pagans and druids, but no Catholics (the only actual religion 😊).
Did I hear that right? The Missouri Arch was manufactured in Pennsylvania, and the Colorado Cadet Chapel was manufactured in Missouri?
What do you know, I'm five for five in visiting these buildings. With four decades' architectural experience, I might select a different five, but these were a good slice of American Architectural History.
I am shocked SHOCKED that a monument to manifest destiny destroyed homes in black communities to exist.
SHOCKED I tell you!