Gateway of India, Mumbai, MaharashtraIncredible India!
Whether they’re welcoming visitors to a new city, commemorating a military victory or acting as a practical portal between geographical areas, gates and entranceways can be incredibly significant. Often beautifully designed and carefully maintained, these evocative sites mark the end of one journey and the start of another.
Statue of Liberty in New York bay (1887) by J.S. JohnstonMusée des arts et métiers
The Statue of Liberty
While not technically a gate, the Statue of Liberty has been a de facto entranceway to the US since it was first installed at the end of the 19th century. Standing around 46 meters high, the copper figure was gifted to the people of America by the people of France. It’s become emblematic of the ideals of the United States and has come to represent freedom, independence and the American Dream.
Statue of Liberty
For over a hundred years, the Statue of Liberty has welcomed visitors to the US as well as immigrants traveling to the country in search of a new life. At the base of the statue is a tablet inscribed with the words ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.’
Kaminarimon Gate
Kaminarimon Gate
The Kaminarimon Gate is one of the large entranceways that lead to the beautiful Sensō-ji temple, the oldest in Tokyo. The original gate was built in 941 AD. However, this ancient portal was destroyed by fire in 1865 and the current gate built in 1960. Standing 11.7m high and 11.4m wide, it’s a suitably impressive starting point for a visit to this sacred site.
The Kaminarimon Gate houses four statues. The Shinto gods of wind and thunder are located either side of the main gate while two further statues, those of the goddess Kinryū and the god Tenryū sit on the other side of the entranceway. A huge red lantern hangs from the underside of the gate and its sides are painted in a deep red hue.
Spectacular New York City (1948) by Andreas FeiningerLIFE Photo Collection
The Brooklyn Bridge
One of the most iconic bridges in the world, the Brooklyn Bridge is another important entranceway to New York City. Opened in 1883, it was the first fixed crossing on the East River and the largest suspension bridge in the world at the time. Every day, around 100,000 cars, 4,000 cyclists and 10,000 pedestrians cross the bridge, making it an essential artery for Manhattan and the surrounding area.
Brooklyn Bridge
Building the Brooklyn Bridge was a family affair. It was designed by German-born civil engineer John A. Roebling and the chief engineer on the project was his son Washington Roebling. When the latter fell ill, his wife Emily Warren Roebling stepped in to manage the build, making her an early female pioneer in the world of engineering.
Berlin: Brandenburg Gate (Pariser Platz) (1798) by Carl Gotthard LanghansZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
The Brandenburg Gate
Completed in 1791, the Brandenburg Gate is one of the most famous sights in Germany. The gate forms the entrance to Unter den Linden, a tree-lined boulevard that once led directly to the City Palace of the Prussian kings. Built in the neoclassical style, its design was based on the Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens.
3D model of Brandenburg Gate by CyArkCyArk
When Berlin was divided at the end of WWII, the Brandenburg Gate was in the Soviet controlled area, just on the other side of the Berlin Wall from the western part of the city. Thanks to its prominent position, the gate was a symbol of the capital’s division until 1989 when the Wall was pulled down and it became an icon of German unity.
Brandenburg Gate (1966-05-01) by John WatermanGetty Images
Find out more about the Brandenburg Gate here.
