Did you know that the lottery does more than make people rich? It helps charity projects to grow from an idea to reality. It also has created some very well-known landmarks that would not be here today without the lottery.
Find out which global landmarks have benefited from the worldwide lottery below. Some may surprise you!
The Lottery and The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is one of the biggest monuments in the modern world. Surprisingly, over four million tourists arrive there each year, making it one of the top 50 tourist destinations on the planet. It isn’t easy to assume that the monument wouldn’t be here without lottery cash.
The endeavour to construct the enormous statue was exceedingly costly and hampered by logistical issues. The Statue of Liberty was built in two stages: the statue itself in France, then the foundations in America. The French began fundraising in 1875, but by 1880, the planned cost of the plan had more than doubled, reaching one million francs! Fearing they as a country that couldn’t keep its commitments, the French urgently launched new fundraising drives, including presenting the statue’s head at the Universal Exhibition in Paris.
Developing a National Lottery salvaged the project and allowed it to travel to the United States. The French lottery offered expensive paintings and other fine art pieces as rewards. The cost of constructing the base equals that of the stunning landmark itself.
London’s Millennium Bridge
The iconic Millennium Bridge in London was built with a spectacular steel art design to commemorate the year 2000. The Heritage Lottery Fund, part of the National Lottery, provided funding for the project. Unfortunately, the bridge became infamous when it opened because it kept bouncing about, earning it the moniker “Wobbly Bridge” for a while. Thankfully, it was re-engineered to ensure structural stability and is now a modern-era London monument worth a visit.
The Lottery and the Colosseum of Rome
The Colosseum is a spectacular landmark that has remained one of the New Seven Wonders of the World because of this financing. Indeed, Augustus, the Roman Emperor, is known to have instituted a lottery to acquire money from the “plebeians” following costly civil wars: money that was documented in building new roads and the Colosseum.
With an estimated 18 million euro financial injection, Italy’s ailing economy sent taxes and lottery revenue back towards the Colosseum to save the ancient structure from crumbling.
Landmarks of Colonial America
Much of New World America was created using lottery money. The Jamestown Colony, the first English colony in the Americas, was funded by one set by King James I. A Grand National Lottery was used to renew most of Washington, D.C., in 1823. However, there was one minor setback: when the winner went to claim the $100.000 jackpot, the organisers fled with the money, forcing the Federal Government to pay the reward.
Thanks to lottery financing, thousands of modern and historical sites throughout the world exist today. When you play games like the Lotto, you may not only be in with a chance of becoming a millionaire, but you may also be helping long-term historical initiatives.
There you have it. Thanks to past and present players, you are all helping to create a legacy for generations to come. So next time you have a losing ticket, try not to be too downhearted. Instead, think of the great causes you are helping!
Why not join a lottery syndicate today, and be a part of something big?