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Ruth Fremson

A flag made from chewed gum once hung on the frequently cleaned Gum Wall in Seattle, which has been a popular tourist spot since the tradition began in the 1990s. Like other “germy” tourist sites around the world, it faces an uncertain future.

In 2015, the Gum Wall was cleaned for the first time in 20 years—removing about 2,200 pounds of gum from the 115-year-old bricks. Since there’s no law or regulation against putting gum on the wall, visitors continue the tradition, necessitating regular cleanings.

Desks are arranged lined up side by side, or "benching," in the Seattle office of B+H Architects on April 1, 2020.

Mummies of more than 2,000 individuals lie within the catacombs of this Sicilian monastery, many dressed to reflect the station they held in life. Initially reserved exclusively for the burial of religious officials, it was later expanded to include noblemen and the families of wealthy benefactors—like the young Rosalia Lombardo, called the 'Sleeping Beauty' for her impeccably-preserved remains.