The City of Dubai Then
When thinking about the progressive city of Dubai today, it is hard to believe that this major, international oil city was nothing more than a near barren desert at the turn of this millennia. With the major discovery of oil in the 1950s and ‘60s, the oil trade industry in Dubai would eventually grow to become the city’s primary source of revenue. It was the oil industry that fueled the city of Dubai to develop and grow to become the modern and developed city it is today.
Today, the oil trade is still considered the city’s main source of revenue and has lent itself to many of the city’s major architectural developments, most famously being the Burj Khalifa, aka the world’s tallest building, as seen in the photo above. Taken in 2005, this photo illustrates the early beginnings of this iconic skyscraper.
The Brandenburg Gate Then
Constructed between 1788 and 1791 by Prussian King Frederick William II, the Brandenburg Gate was originally intended to serve as a key point of entry to the city of Berlin. The sculpture of a four-horsed chariot driven by the goddess Victoria was inspired by the legendary Greek Acropolis in Athens, the Quadriga. It is considered the gate’s most distinctive feature and was even stolen by Napoleon Bonaparte in October of 1806.
The Gate’s most prominent feature was later reclaimed and restored and went on to remain and endure throughout much of Germany’s toughest times, including the nation’s Nazi rule during World War II. This statue would go on to survive not only World War II but also later The Cold War.
The Brandenberg Gate Today
Of the myriad of historical moments that this symbol of German unification, perhaps the most profound of its history was its purpose as a part of the Berlin Wall during the Cold War of the late ‘40s to ‘90s. It became the point of much contention when in 1963, former President John F. Kennedy’s visited Germany and Soviet authorities hung red banners in order to obstruct the president’s views of East Germany.
Though the Bradenburg would close for restoration purposes in late 2000, it was officially reopened to pedestrians in 2009, while remaining closed to all ongoing vehicle traffic. According to Britannica, today, the Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most visited landmarks and tourist attractions.
The City of Dubai Today
Presently, at 2,717 feet, this massive skyscraper holds the illustrious title of the tallest tower in the world. Nowadays, Dubai is not just the home of the world’s tallest building, but now also holds claim to the world’s tallest hotel, the world’s largest shopping center, the world’s largest indoor theme park, as well as the world’s longest fully automated metro network. The city’s most recent estimate counts 1,344 completed skyscrapers in the skyline of Dubai.
It's no surprise that in 2006, a quarter of the world’s cranes were designated for Dubai construction sites. While it slowed down a little in 2008, the city grows strong and is able to support and sustain much of its economy from its now bustling tourism industry. Additionally, in this middle eastern location, the number of men that comprise the population greatly outnumbers the number of women—69 percent to 31 percent, to be exact.
Disneyland Then
Moved and inspired by Los Angeles’ Griffith Park, as well as a number of other theme parks he visited with his daughters, Walt Disney decided to build his second Disney theme park for those on the west coast. Having had so much success the first time around, Disney was surprisingly having trouble getting funds. But he found a solution, a Disney television show.
Appropriately titled, Disneyland TV, this hour-long, weekly television show provided Disney with the funds necessary to carry on the construction of Disneyland and also enabled him to promote his new park. Finally, on July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened its doors for the very first time. Within just ten weeks of opening, this new Disney amusement park would attract a staggering one million visitors alone!