10 Secret Rooms Inside Famous Landmarks

Track 61, Grand Central Station, New York
Photo: Felix Lipov / Alamy

There's something inherently fascinating about hidden rooms—doubly so when they're hidden inside landmarks visited by thousands of people every day. Take Mount Rushmore, for example. The attraction, visited by more than three million people every year, boasts a secret room behind Abraham Lincoln's head. Gustave Eiffel, the designer of Paris's famous tower, created an apartment at the very top of the landmark. And that's just the beginning. Read on for the coolest secret spaces within monuments.

01 of 10

Club 33 at Disneyland

Member's Only Club, Blue Bayou, Disneyland
Bloomberg/Getty Images

Behind an unmarked door in Disneyland's New Orleans Square you'll find the incredibly exclusive Club 33. It's the only place in Disneyland that you’ll find alcoholic beverages. That perk comes with a price: It costs individual members $25,000 to join, with an annual fee of $12,000.

02 of 10

The 103rd Floor Observation Deck at the Empire State Building

103rd Floor, Empire State Building, New York
Adam Hunger/Stringer/Getty Images

The observation deck on the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building is closed to the public, but Taylor Swift has been photographed on its balcony to promote her single “Welcome to New York.” Of course.

03 of 10

Apartment Inside the Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel's Apartment, Eiffel Tower, Paris
SETE - E.Livinec

Gustave Eiffel—the mastermind behind Paris's most famous attraction—included an apartment at the very top of the tower for himself (and the occasional visitor, like Thomas Edison). HomeAway once set up a pop-up rental in the space for four lucky winners.

04 of 10

The ‘Lucky 7 Lounge’ at Pixar Studios

Secret Room, Pixar Studios Headquarters
Andy Ihnatko via Flickr

Pixar HQ may not be monument, but this space is worth including in this list for couple of reasons. No. 1: Animator Andrew Gordon discovered this space after finding a human-sized hatch in the back wall of his office. Reason No. 2: Celebrities like Steve Jobs were known to frequent the space, and signed their names on the wall to prove it. Tim Allen, Randy Newman, and Roy Disney were also visitors.

05 of 10

Cave of the Evil Spirits at Niagara Falls

Cave of the Evil Spirit, Niagara Falls, New York
Courtesy of Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp.

The Seneca Indians named this cave after the evil spirit said to be trapped inside. Warriors who entered it were deemed ready for a battle. You can find this storied nook just down the road from Niagara Falls.

06 of 10

Hidden Hall of Records at Mount Rushmore

Secret Tunnel, Mount Rushmore
Courtesy of NPS

There’s a small room—only enough space to fit a handful of visitors—located behind the head of Abraham Lincoln. It’s too tough to reach by foot, but inside you’ll find copies of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

07 of 10

Tunnels Underneath Rome’s Colosseum

Secret Tunnels, Colosseum, Rome
SJVictrix/Getty Images

More than 4 million people visit the Colosseum in Rome every year, but not many know about the landmark’s underground tunnels. This space once housed animals (elephants, leopards, panthers) that were lifted to the main arena via a pulley system.

08 of 10

The Room Inside the Statue of Liberty’s Torch

Torch, Statue of Liberty, New York
GBlakeley/Getty Images

On July 30, 1916, during World War I, German agents blew up a connection pier between Black Tom Island and Jersey City. The blast killed and injured hundreds and affected buildings as far as Times Square. The explosion also damaged the Statue of Liberty’s torch, which housed an inner room. It hasn't welcomed visitors since.

09 of 10

Tennis Court at Grand Central

Vanderbilt Tennis and Fitness Club, Grand Central Station, New York
Mark Mainz/Getty Images

Many know about Grand Central's “secret” Campbell’s Apartment, the now-closed speakeasy, but few are aware of the transportation hub's secret tennis court. You can play a game if you’re a member of the Vanderbilt Tennis and Fitness Club.

10 of 10

Track 61 Underneath NYC’s Waldorf Astoria

Track 61, Grand Central Station, New York
Felix Lipov / Alamy

Rumor has it that this abandoned track underneath one of New York City’s most luxurious hotels is still used to transport celebrities and other notable guests to and from the hotel. There's still an antique train car parked inside the tunnel.

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