Cities and Cultural Landmarks

The first murder in The Da Vinci Code is Jacques Saunière's killing in the Louvre Museum's Grand Gallery in Paris. This is the inciting incident that launches Robert Langdon into the mystery.

Las Vegas, USA is home to the world's largest hotel by certain metrics like room count or floor area. Properties like the MGM Grand or The Venetian are among the largest hotels globally.

Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958. His family lived in a small house at 2300 Jackson Street in Gary, an industrial city near Chicago, before moving to Los Angeles when the Jackson 5 gained fame. Los Angeles is where he spent much of his adult career, not his birthplace.

New York City's nickname is "The Big Apple." This nickname became popular in the 1920s and was revitalized in the 1970s through a tourism campaign. It symbolizes the city's status as the premier prize for success.

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the Palace of Westminster in London. The tower was officially renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, but 'Big Ben' remains the popular name for the entire clock tower. It is one of London's most iconic landmarks.

The first Baskin-Robbins store opened in 1953 in California (specifically in Glendale, CA). The chain was founded by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins and grew from its California roots.

New York City was originally called New Amsterdam when it was a Dutch colony established in 1624. The English captured the colony in 1664 and renamed it New York in honor of the Duke of York. This historical naming reflects the colonial heritage and transfer of power between European powers in North America.

London Bridge was purchased by Robert McCulloch in 1968, dismantled, and shipped to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where it was reconstructed and still stands today. This is often confused with Tower Bridge, which remains in London. The bridge was sold because it was sinking into the Thames River.

Madrid is the capital of Spain, not England. Fenchurch Street, Liverpool Street, and Kings Cross are all railway stations located in London, England.

Madrid is the capital of Spain, not England. Fenchurch Street, Kings Cross, and Liverpool Street are all railway stations in London, England.

Chess originated in ancient India around the 6th century CE as Chaturanga, meaning 'four limbs' representing the four divisions of the military: infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. It spread to Persia and evolved into modern chess.

Microsoft's headquarters is located in Redmond, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. The company moved its headquarters from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Redmond in 1986, where it established its main corporate campus.

Air France Flight 447 originated from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 1, 2009, bound for Paris before crashing into the Atlantic Ocean. The tragedy claimed all 228 lives and led to major changes in aviation safety protocols regarding pitot tubes and airspeed sensors.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in Pisa, Italy. It is the campanile (bell tower) of the city's cathedral and is famous for its nearly 4-degree lean caused by unstable foundation soil. The tower is one of Italy's most recognizable landmarks and a major tourist attraction.