monuments
Structures honoring history
Monuments are structures built to commemorate a person, event, or achievement—statues, obelisks, arches, or buildings designed to preserve memory: The Lincoln Monument draws millions of visitors each year.
By extension, anything that serves as a lasting tribute or evidence can be a monument: Her body of work stands as a monument to her genius.
Natural landmarks may also be designated monuments for protection: a national monument.
Tomb without a body
- commemorationAct of honoring memory
- remembranceAct of holding something in mind
- wreathDecorative foliage circle
- plaqueInscribed memorial tablet
veterans · sacrifice · heroes · fallen · honor · valor · cemetery · tombstone
Vertical structural element
- domeRounded vault forming roof
- archCurved spanning structure
- obeliskTapering stone monument
- spireTapering architectural peak
facade · pediment · portico · frieze · buttress · balustrade · cornice · keystone
Maintaining something's condition
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- UNESCOCultural arm of UN
- antiquityGreat age, ancient era
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
relics · archaeology · ruins · excavation · inscription · restoration · patina · weathering
Widely recognized, enduring
- skylineUrban profile against atmosphere
- touristTraveler visiting attractions
- sightseeingVisiting places of interest
- attractionPull toward something
destination · famous · recognizable · panorama · symbol · emblem · postcard · photography
cenotaph
Tomb without a body
- commemorationAct of honoring memory
- remembranceAct of holding something in mind
- wreathDecorative foliage circle
plaque · veterans · sacrifice · heroes · fallen · honor · valor · cemetery · tombstone · grave
column
Vertical structural element
spire · facade · pediment · portico · frieze · buttress · balustrade · cornice · keystone · masonry
preservation
Maintaining something's condition
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- UNESCOCultural arm of UN
- antiquityGreat age, ancient era
artifacts · relics · archaeology · ruins · excavation · inscription · restoration · patina · weathering · erosion
iconic
Widely recognized, enduring
- skylineUrban profile against atmosphere
- touristTraveler visiting attractions
- sightseeingVisiting places of interest
attraction · destination · famous · recognizable · panorama · symbol · emblem · postcard · photography · viewpoint
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- cultural heritagefolklore, traditions, customs, folk music revival, museum collections
- cultural interestart, music, dance, theater, film
- cultural traditionsflamenco, tango, kabuki, hula, capoeira
- sculpturesstatues, busts, classical sculptures, bronze sculptures, marble sculptures
- ancient thingsruins, relics, artifacts, fossils, megaliths
monumentsephemera
Disposables preserved as collectibles
temporary structures · disposables · plaques · gravestones · perishables
monumentsunmarked graves
Burial sites without identification
oblivion · erasure · forgetting · damnatio memoriae · demolitions
monumentsoblivion
Complete erasure from memory
erasure · forgetting · damnatio memoriae · demolitions · ruins
- war monumentsStructures honoring combat dead
- ancient monumentsHistoric structures from antiquity
- national monumentLegally protected landmark
- Washington MonumentCommemorative stone tower, D.C.
- historic monumentsPreserved structures of significance
- stone monumentsLasting rock tributes