Blue stop signs in private parking lots are intentionally designed to look different from official red signs. This distinction clarifies they are not maintained or enforced by the government, similar to how a mall cop is not a state police officer. It's a visual cue about jurisdiction and liability.
Bermuda's iconic white, stepped roofs are a vernacular architecture masterpiece. The steep pitch combats hurricane wind-lift, the steps slow rainwater for efficient collection into cisterns on a water-scarce island, and a lime wash coating purifies the water while reflecting heat to cool the home.
The economic crash of the 1930s paradoxically created ideal conditions for a miniature golf craze. Plunging real estate prices opened up vacant urban lots for entrepreneurs, while widespread unemployment fueled immense public demand for cheap, accessible forms of entertainment and distraction.
The entrepreneurs behind the 1930s mini golf boom demonstrated extreme resourcefulness. Some strategically located their courses directly underneath large, illuminated billboards. This scrappy tactic allowed them to operate their businesses at night without incurring any costs for electricity, maximizing their slim profit margins.
In 1923, highway officials standardized road signs with a theory that more sides signaled greater danger. A circle, having infinite sides, was for the most dangerous areas like railroad crossings. The eight-sided octagon denoted the second-highest risk level, creating an intuitive, shape-based safety hierarchy.
A peace treaty from the War of 1812 mandates that Peace Arch Park on the U.S.-Canada border remain open. Legally, neither country can fully close it. Violating this treaty could reportedly allow the other nation to lay claim to significant territory, such as parts of Ontario, Quebec, Maine, or Michigan.