Interrupted By History

Some monuments look impressive until you realize something’s missing—like a roof, a second half, or any sense of completion. The result? A strange group of famous landmarks that are stuck in a permanent construction phase. However, tourists still line up to see them, as they offer insight into the intentions, limitations, and priorities of the societies that attempted to build them. So, here are 20 historical monuments that never saw completion.

Lionslayer on Wikimedia

1. National Monument Of Scotland (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Perched on Calton Hill, the National Monument of Scotland began in 1826 with grand intentions—to honor fallen soldiers by replicating the Parthenon. Just three years later, funding dried up, leaving behind only 12 solemn columns. Locals, unimpressed, dubbed it “Edinburgh’s Disgrace,” a name that stuck. 

Colin on Wikimedia

2. Crazy Horse Memorial (Black Hills, USA)

The Crazy Horse Memorial has been under the chisel since 1948, aiming to become the world’s largest mountain carving. Yet progress has been slow; by 1998, only the face had been completed. Still incomplete, the monument stands as both a tribute in progress and evidence of perseverance carved in stone.

Ahzoov on Wikimedia

3. Mausoleum Of Halicarnassus (Bodrum, Turkey)

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, begun around 350 BCE in honor of Mausolus, earned its place as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Before it could be fully completed, a series of earthquakes caused significant damage. Today, several surviving fragments are preserved in the British Museum. 

Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany on Wikimedia

4. Ta Keo Temple (Angkor, Cambodia)

Commissioned by Jayavarman V as his state temple, this temple was envisioned as the first structure made entirely of sandstone. But in the 11th century, construction abruptly ceased—possibly after a lightning strike, which was considered an ominous sign. 

Michael Gunther on Wikimedia

5. National Native American Veterans Memorial (Washington, D.C., USA)

First proposed in 1994, the National Native American Veterans Memorial faced a long and complicated path to realization. Delays rooted in funding issues and design disagreements slowed progress for years. A partial version finally opened in 2020, but key elements remain unfinished. 

Michael Perrin on Wikimedia

6. Hassan Tower (Rabat, Morocco)

Construction of the Hassan Tower began in 1195 under Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour, who envisioned it as the tallest minaret in the world. Work came to a halt just four years later, when the Sultan died, leaving the structure at only 44 of its intended 86 meters. 

OHamama on Wikimedia

7. Cathedral Of St. John The Divine (New York City, USA)

Only two-thirds of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine was ever completed, leaving large sections visibly unfinished. Moreover, work repeatedly paused due to wars and funding shortages, earning it the name “St. John the Unfinished.”

Kripaks on Wikimedia

8. Palace Of The Soviets (Moscow, Russia)

The Palace of the Soviets was set to become a symbol of Soviet power, intended to rise over 400 meters where the demolished Cathedral of Christ the Savior once stood. However, work advanced only to the foundation stage before WWII halted construction in 1941. 

Ilya Ilusenko on Wikimedia

9. Ajanta Cave 26 (Maharashtra, India)

Unlike its neighboring shrines, this one's vihara hall walls remain bare, never receiving the elaborate carvings typical of the site. Despite the abandonment, the cave continues to attract visitors intrigued by its raw, unfinished state.

Dey.sandip on Wikimedia

10. Grand Canal Extension (Paris, France)

The Grand Canal Extension was an ambitious plan by Louis XIV to link the Loire River to Paris. While initial sections were constructed, escalating costs drained resources. Later, the French Revolution led to the project's permanent abandonment.

Bohao Zhao on Wikimedia

11. Ryugyong Hotel (Pyongyang, North Korea)

Rising in Pyongyang’s skyline, the Ryugyong Hotel started its ambitious climb in 1987, only to hit a hard pause by 1992. Although its futuristic exterior was finally wrapped up in 2011, the inside remains untouched and incomplete.

Jan Engelhardt on Wikimedia

12. Sagrada Família (Barcelona, Spain)

The Sagrada Família, dreamt up by the visionary Antoni Gaudí in 1882, has become Barcelona’s most iconic construction site. Over the decades, civil unrest and money woes slowed its progress to a crawl. The finish line now floats somewhere in the 2030s, a goalpost that keeps shifting.

Fred Romero on Wikimedia

13. Monument To The Third International (Moscow, Russia)

Planned in 1920 by constructivist visionary Vladimir Tatlin, this tower aimed to outshine the Eiffel Tower and spin. Each rotating section was meant to echo Marxist ideals in motion. But between a civil war and a brutal shortage of materials, the structure never lifted off the page. 

TobyJ on Wikimedia

14. Petropolis Cathedral Tower (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Construction of the Neo-Gothic Petrópolis Cathedral began in 1884 with plans for a soaring central tower. That vision was cut short when Brazil’s monarchy fell, and funding was pulled. Today, the incomplete tower remains capped, earning the nickname “crowned stump.” 

Rodrigo Soldon from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wikimedia

15. Victorian Tower Of Westminster Cathedral (London, England)

The original design for Westminster Cathedral included a towering Gothic spire that never materialized. Foundations were laid, but funding shifted to finish the nave and sanctuary instead. That’s why the unbuilt tower remains a phantom in architectural plans.

Hammersfan on Wikimedia

16. Colossus Of Prora (Rügen Island, Germany)

The Colossus of Prora was built as a propaganda-fueled resort for 20,000 vacationers. Construction began in 1936, but only the shell was completed before WWII interrupted everything. Though never used as intended, parts are now repurposed for public use.

Ralf Roletschek on Wikimedia

17. Mingun Pahtodawgyi (Mingun, Myanmar)

King Bodawpaya launched the Mingun Pahtodawgyi in 1790. However, work stopped at 50 meters, leaving behind what’s now the world’s largest unfinished brick structure. A prophecy warning that completion would end the king’s life and topple the kingdom sealed its fate.

Movingsaletoday, Rich Torres, Burlingame, California, USA on Wikimedia

18. Lyveden New Bield (Northamptonshire, England)

Lyveden New Bield began taking shape around 1604, designed by Sir Thomas Tresham as an ornate Elizabethan summer lodge. After his death in 1605, progress stopped entirely. No roof was ever added, and the grand hall, buttery, and parlour were left untouched.

Wehha on Wikimedia

19. Bara Kaman (Bijapur, India)

Commissioned in 1672 by Sultan Ali Adil Shah II, Bara Kaman was intended as a striking mausoleum crowned with twelve grand arches arranged in layered symmetry. That vision collapsed when the Sultan was assassinated, halting construction with just two arches in place. 

Sharithab on Wikimedia

20. Sathorn Unique Tower (Bangkok, Thailand)

Rising 49 stories above Bangkok, the Sathorn Unique Tower was meant to be a lavish condominium complex with more than 600 upscale units. Construction reached about 80% completion before the 1997 Asian financial crisis brought everything to a standstill. 

Chainwit. on Wikimedia