Login
login / signup
Government Buildings
The thought of a government building might bring to mind drab, unimaginative hallways and unmarked doors. It does not need to be so! These places represent the opposite of that aesthetic.
Santos, Brazil
Palácio José Bonifácio
Explore the stately home of Santos’ city hall, honoring José Bonifácio—founding father, geologist, poet, and independence hero.
Genova, Italy
Palazzo San Giorgio
No need to yell out the surname of a famous explorer to discover the long history of this harbor side palace.
San Francisco, California, United States
San Francisco City Hall
What do Marilyn Monroe, Beaux-Arts architecture, and Raiders of the Lost Ark all have in common?
From the Community
Los Angeles, California, United States
Los Angeles City Hall
The tallest base-isolated structure in the world.
Seville, Spain
Palace of San Telmo
One of the most beautiful buildings in Seville, and that says a lot.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Al Mussala Post Office
One country's independence led to some peculiar postage.
Budapest, Hungary
Hungarian Parliament Building
The Hungarian Parliament Building was built after the formation of the three cities of Buda, Obuda, and Pest - to create the capital Budapest.
AWA visted here
Hanoi, Vietnam
Presidential Palace
A symbol of when it was a French colony, the presidential palaces offers a glimpse into the storied history of Vietnam.
Grand Junction, Colorado, United States
Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building and Courthouse
A painting removed for a routine cleaning disappeared for decades.
Presented with
Sign up for our Newsletter
The AWA Bulletin: A quick & curated bi-weekly break
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vijećnica
Playing host to the killing that sparked WWI was only the beginning of this heralded hall’s story — it’s one of triumph, tragedy, and a tantalizing return to glory.
Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Fort Langley Community Hall
In 1924, the construction of this town hall was funded for a total of $137.13.
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Rhode Island State House
Most of the tales we hear about America’s early days are led by protagonists named Franklin, Madison, or Adams… but not this time.
AWA visted here
Presented with
Putrajaya, Malaysia
Palace of Justice
A young republic decided to construct a completely new capital city--and this gorgeous building is the star.
Angoulême, France
Angoulême Town Hall
When besieged by Vikings, it was fit to become a castle; when inspired with the republican spirit, it's become a space for public debate and local government.
AWA visted here
Presented with
Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Iowa Judicial Branch Building
Although the Iowa Judicial Branch Building may not be the oldest marble halls in town, the branch’s history is stacked with stories that could fill up a library's worth of bookshelves.
Pécs, Hungary
Pécs County Hall
This building's colorful tile is the work of a local legend, who's technique led to a boom of colorful roofs in late 19th Century Hungary.
Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Iowa Capitol Building
A State Capitol building that provides many reasons why you "Ought to Give Iowa A Try."
London, United Kingdom
Royal Courts of Justice
London's law courts are rife with superstition and rooms with mysterious origins.
Reefton, New Zealand
Reefton Courthouse
Quartz deposits often foretell the nearby presence of gold, as was the case here.
Potsdam, Germany
New Palace
A palatial retreat with over two hundred rooms that served as a hangout used to impress visiting dignitaries.
Berlin, Germany
Schloss Bellevue
The gardens for the primary residence of the president of Germany contained some special buried history.
Zwentendorf, Austria
Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Plant
The power of public resistance remains its most profound exhibit.
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Howard M. Metzenbaum United States Courthouse
An artifact of the "City Beautiful"movement, this courtroom can only be described as "royale."
AWA visted here
Presented with
Bucharest, Romania
Palace of the Parliament
Containing 1.5 billion pounds of steel and bronze, the Palace of Parliament is the heaviest building in the world.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The People’s Committee Building
This luxury hotel has been transformed into HoChiMinh City's city hall building.
From the Community
Pécs, Hungary
City Hall
Since 1871, the melodies of the carillon in the bell tower of City Hall have rung out every hour on the hour, signaling the passing of time.
Bruges, Belgium
Provinciaal Hof
Built in 1892, the Provinciaal Hof was formerly used for provincial government meetings in Bruges.
Tatranská Javorina, Slovakia
Hunting Lodge Hohenlohe
In order to make sure Prince Hohenlohe's lodge would become a Slovakian flagship for Aristocratic game hunting across Europe, he employed dozens of locals to keep it up and assigned other establishments to be constructed in his name.
Melbourne, Australia
Government House
The Ballroom at Government House is larger than the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace.
Minsk, Belarus
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Since its early origins, the organization has been witness to a fair share of major historical events including a rumored assassination attempt.
North Hobart, Australia
North Hobart Post Office
The post office was unfortunately excluded from the pigeon post—a service once relied upon in more remote areas of Australia.