14 Times Tourists Ruined Iconic Landmarks
Tourist Vandalism On Cultural Landmarks
Our beloved planet is home to countless natural wonders to marvel. But if climate change doesn’t pose enough threat to them, humans certainly do.
From carving their names into historical monuments and deliberately knocking down statues to crashing into irreplaceable natural wonders, here’s 14 specific times tourists actually ruined iconic landmarks—and the prices they paid for doing so.
Duckbill, Oregon
Oregon’s Duckbill was a sandstone hoodoo rock formation at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area. It was a common tourist attraction for many, many years.
Sadly, in 2016, the 18-million-year-old iconic rock formation was destroyed by a group of vandals who crossed the roped off area and deliberately pushed it over. The rock broke into pieces.
Their reason for the destruction was unbelievable.
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The Duckbill Vandals
Apparently, one of the vandals told a witness that they were destroying it was a “public service,” as they personally deemed the formation to be a safety hazard after a friend of theirs broke a leg climbing it.
The group fled the scene after noticing they were being recorded, and believe it or not, they were never caught.
The Tree Of Ténéré, Sahara
The Tree of Ténéré was a single acacia (Vachellia tortilis) that stood alone in the Sahara Desert. It was once considered the most isolated tree on Earth, and was believed to be about 300 years old—before a tragic event took it out for good.
The Tree Of Ténéré Accident
In 1973, a Libyan truck driver—who had way too much to drink—drove his truck right into the tree, completely destroying the tree. The driver was most definitely charged with a number of offenses that night.
The government quickly scooped up what was left and put it in a museum. The tree was the last of a group of trees that grew in the desert back when it was less parched than it is today.
