World history has many heroes. In an effort to preserve the memory of these great men and women of the past, society often memorializes them with statues or other types of markers. Frequently these commemorative tributes are high on the list of attractions for tourists to a particular city or country.

        Be sure to notice them in your travels and try to ascertain the reason or reasons for their immortalization.

               Anne Frank House* — Amsterdam, Netherlands (the house in which the author of the famous diary hid, at Prinsengracht 263, has become a museum detailing her plight as well as the entire holocaust)

                  Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum* — Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China (the Communist leader has lain in state since 1976 where he has been visited by thousands each day)

              Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum — Hanoi, Vietnam (the “father” of modern Vietnam is revered and his tomb is visited by thousands each day) 

              Jan Hus Memorial* — Old Town Square, Prague, Czech Republic (this large sculpture is dedicated to a Czech martyr who was burned at the stake by the Catholic Church in 1415 — he has come to symbolize dissidence)

              Lenin’s Mausoleum — Moscow, Russia (the leader of the Russian Revolution still lies in state, since his death in 1924, in Red Square, just outside the Kremlin)

               The Little Mermaid — Copenhagen, Denmark (this symbol of Copenhagen was erected in 1913 in memory of children’s author Hans Christian Anderson)

                 Nelson’s Column* — Trafalgar Square, London, England (commemorates the naval victory at Trafalgar over Napoleon’s forces, under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson, who perished in the battle)  

              Padrao dos Descobrimentos — Belem District, Lisbon, Portugal (this massive ship-shaped monuments remembers Portugal great explorers, such as, Henry the Navigator, Magellan, and Vasco de Gama)

               Peter the Great Statue — Decembrist Square, St Petersburg, Russia (this equestrian statue memorializes one of Russia’s most influential tsars).

                    Pyramids of Giza — Near Cairo, Egypt (these tombs of Egyptian pharoahs, Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, are some of the most impressive of man’s constructions)

                    Sir Walter Scott Memorial* — Edinburgh, Scotland (this tribute to one of Scotland’s greatest literary figures was erected in 1844)

                  Statue of Dante Alighieri* — Florence, Italy (commemorates the contributions to literature of this native of Florence)

                  Statue of Johann Strauss II* — Stadtpark, Vienna, Austria (dedicated to the “Waltz King”)

                  Statue of Mozart* — Mozartplatz, Salzburg, Vienna (a tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who was born here in 1765)

                   Statue of Ramses II — Giza, Egypt (this 3200 year old statue will be moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum when it opens in 2013)

                  Taj Mahal — Agra, India (dedicated by Shah Jahan to his beloved and favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, when she died during childbirth in 1631 — it is considered the greatest tribute to the power of love in human history)

              Victor Emmanuel II Monument* — Rome, Italy (dedicated to modern Italy’s first king and hero of Italian Reunification)

              Vigeland Scupture Park — Oslo, Norway (this tribute to Norway’s greatest sculptor, Gustav Vigeland, contains 212 sculptures by the artist)

               Wallace Monument* — Near Stirling, Scotland (commemorates the contributions of William Wallace, immortalized in the movie “Braveheart,” who was one of the leaders in the Wars of Scottish Independence)

     Total = 19 (I have seen 10 — not too bad).