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Completing a building, landmark, or monument often requires decades of relentless effort and billions of dollars. Yet, despite such dedication, some landmarks remain incomplete due to insufficient manpower, funding shortages, or the passing of key individuals involved in their construction.
Many of the world’s unfinished landmarks possess a unique charm in their incomplete state, making them worth visiting. Sometimes, the reality of what exists can be just as captivating as the original vision. Below are ten renowned unfinished landmarks from around the globe.
10. Crazy Horse Memorial
When people envision a massive mountain carving in South Dakota, the renowned Mount Rushmore often comes to mind. However, another monumental carving in the region, the Crazy Horse Memorial, is set to surpass Mount Rushmore in scale—if it is ever finished. Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, this ambitious project remains a work in progress.
Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began the project in 1948, dedicating his life to it until his death in 1982. Chief Henry Standing Bear, an Oglala Lakota leader, commissioned the memorial to honor all Native North Americans. The carving is intended to depict the legendary Lakota warrior Crazy Horse.
By the 1990s, the head of Crazy Horse had started to take shape from the Black Hills. The majority of the work so far has focused on the head, which towers at 22 stories high. Over the past 70 years, workers have removed millions of tons of rock from the site. When completed, the entire sculpture will stand over 64 stories tall, with Crazy Horse’s eyes alone measuring 5 meters (17 feet) wide. Funding for the project relies solely on admission fees and donations, and completing even his arm could take many more years.
9. Mingun Pahtodawgyi
In the quaint town of Mingun, located in the Sagaing region of Northwestern Burma, lies the Mingun Pahtodawgyi. King Bodawpaya envisioned constructing the world’s largest pagoda. The massive project commenced in 1790 but was ultimately left unfinished.
King Bodawpaya enlisted thousands of prisoners and slaves from his military campaigns to labor on this grand project. However, the construction strained the kingdom’s finances, leading to the emergence of a prophecy foretelling that the kingdom would fall once the pagoda was completed. Some versions of the prophecy also predicted the king’s demise alongside his realm.
The pagoda, unfinished, stands at 50 meters (164 feet), only a third of its intended height, with a base spanning approximately 42 square meters (450 square feet). Visible cracks, caused by an earthquake in 1839, mar its structure. Despite its incomplete state, it remains one of the largest brick and stone constructions globally.
8. Hassan Tower
The Hassan Tower, or Tour Hassan, is an imposing minaret located in Rabat, Morocco’s capital. Commissioned by Yaqub al-Mansur in the 12th century, it was envisioned as the world’s tallest minaret, part of what would have been the largest mosque. However, construction halted four years after al-Mansur’s death, leaving the project incomplete.
The grand mosque was intended to be the centerpiece of the new capital, symbolizing the sultan’s triumph over Spanish Christians. Today, the tower reaches 44 meters (144 feet), just over half its planned height. Around 200 columns scattered across the marble floor hint at the mosque’s intended scale, which would have accommodated 20,000 worshippers. In 2012, the Hassan Tower was designated a World Heritage Site.
7. Cathedral Of St. John The Divine
Among the largest churches globally, this structure remains an unfinished marvel. A 1921 guide to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine suggested that completing it could take 700 years, owing to its authentic Gothic construction techniques and insufficient financial backing.
The initiative to build the cathedral was spearheaded by Right Reverend Horatio Potter, who passed away in 1887 before construction began. His nephew, Henry Codman Potter, took up the cause, securing funds and purchasing a 13-acre site. The cornerstone was laid in 1892, the first service held in 1899, and work on the nave commenced in 1916.
Situated on Amsterdam Avenue in New York City, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is over a century old and remains under construction. With no set completion date, current funding is directed toward community services, ensuring the cathedral continues to serve its purpose while slowly progressing toward its final form.
6. Ta Keo
Ta Keo, a temple-mountain in the ancient city of Angkor, features five sanctuary towers arranged in a pyramidal formation. Though never completed, it had the potential to be one of the most impressive and largest temples ever built. Despite its unfinished state, the structure is massive enough to be visible from a distance. The main temple rises five tiers high, with the final pyramid towering 14 meters (46 feet) above the second terrace. The five towers are arranged in a quincunx pattern, surrounded by outer walls and a moat.
Built entirely of sandstone, the reason for Ta Keo’s incompletion remains a mystery. Inscriptions suggest construction ceased after lightning struck the temple, an event interpreted as a bad omen. Some historians speculate that the young ruler Jayavarman V faced challenges in maintaining his throne, leading to the project’s abandonment. Even unfinished, the temple remains a breathtaking sight.
5. Pyramid Of Neferefre
The ancient Egyptian pharaoh Neferefre commissioned a pyramid in Abusir’s necropolis. However, his untimely death led to its conversion into a mastaba and mortuary temple. The pyramid’s foundation mirrored the size of the Pyramid of Sahure, with a central pit dug for the burial chamber.
An entrance corridor was built on the northern side, connecting to the burial pit via a trench. Minimal remains of the pharaoh’s body suggest he died young, around 22 or 23 years old. Only the first step of the pyramid’s core was finished, leaving it resembling a mastaba. The mortuary temple, completed in three phases, included an open vestibule and three chambers.
4. National Monument Of Scotland
Perched atop Calton Hill in Edinburgh, the National Monument of Scotland is often dubbed “Scotland’s shame” due to its incomplete state. Intended as a tribute to Scottish soldiers and sailors who perished in the Napoleonic Wars, it was never finished.
Construction began in 1824 but stalled in 1829 when public funding dried up. Despite multiple efforts to complete the monument, it remains unfinished. Designed to resemble Athens’ Parthenon, the structure currently consists of only 12 pillars.
3. Ryugyong Hotel
The Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea was slated to open in 1989 but remains unfinished. At the time, it was poised to become the world’s tallest hotel and the seventh-largest skyscraper. Construction began in 1987 but was halted due to an economic downturn. The hotel was designed to feature 3,000 rooms, seven revolving restaurants, casinos, nightclubs, and lounges.
This pyramid-shaped hotel has never welcomed a single guest, though there are signs that construction might resume on its 105-story structure. Over the years, sporadic work has been done, but the hotel remains unopened. Recent images showing cranes and construction vehicles suggest that efforts to complete the project may soon restart. If finished, the Ryugyong Hotel would undoubtedly become one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations.
2. Bara Kaman
Bara Kaman is the incomplete mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah II, the eighth and penultimate ruler of the Adil Shah dynasty in Bijapur (Vijayapura), India. The vision was to create a mausoleum more magnificent and grand than any ever built. The name Bara Kaman translates to “12 arches,” reflecting the design of 12 arches arranged horizontally and vertically around Ali Adil Shah II’s tomb.
Construction of the mausoleum started in 1672 but was never finished. Ali Adil Shah was murdered by his father before the project could be completed. Legend has it that the mausoleum’s shadow would have reached Gol Gumbaz once finished. To prevent Bara Kaman from overshadowing Gol Gumbaz, Ali’s father allegedly killed him, halting the project.
Today, the Archaeological Survey of India maintains the site. The garden in front is meticulously cared for, allowing visitors to admire the architectural brilliance of the arches and pillars that define the monument.
1. La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia, inspired by nature and faith, has been under construction since 1882. Currently 70% complete, efforts are focused on erecting the six central towers. After over 130 years of work, the basilica may be less than a decade away from final completion.
The construction costs for the massive Roman Catholic church in Barcelona are nearly incalculable, though the current annual budget stands at approximately $27 million, funded by entry fees and private contributions. The tallest new tower will reach 172 meters (564 feet), positioning it among the tallest religious edifices in Europe. While the structure is projected for completion by 2026, additional time may be required for finishing decorative details.
