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Google Search adds 3D monuments, including Big Ben, Eiffel Tower, Parthenon, & Tokyo Skytree

Google started showing 3D animals in Search last year but has since expanded to a whole host of AR objects covering space, science, and athletes. The latest expansion sees Google Search add 3D monuments.

Like all AR objects in Google Search, these 3D monuments start with a rotating model that can be zoomed into. It isn’t very high-resolution, however, and somewhat analogous to viewing these objects in Google Earth. 

Unlike that app, you can place all the 3D monuments in your environment. Users are still getting a miniature model that’s like a diorama. It would be cool if you could stand inside some of these structures, like the Arc de Triomphe, similar to a 360-degree Photo Sphere panoramic. That would presumably require a lot more work and mapping each location with a Street View backpack.

As such, it’s not as life-like as 3D animals, but that’s understandable given the massive size of these real-world locations. You can still take pictures and short videos with occlusion available.

You can find all 98 3D monuments by searching on Android or iOS and then scrolling through the Knowledge Panel until you find the “View in 3D” card. There are quite a few different panels with the AR model ultimately becoming just another tool. The full list of available locations is below:

Abbaye du Mont-Saint-MichelConservatory of FlowersNeuschwanstein CastleSt. Patrick’s Cathedral
Alcatraz IslandEiffel TowerNiteroi Contemporary Art MuseumSt. Paul’s Cathedral
AlhambraEmpire State BuildingOne World Trade CenterSt. Peter’s Basilica
Amazon TheatreFerry BuildingPalace of VersaillesStatue of Liberty National Monument
Arasaka Imperia ResidenceFlatiron BuildingPalace of WestminsterStonehenge
Arc de TriompheGiotto’s Bell TowerPalais GarnierThe Angel of Independence
Aztec StadiumGolden Gate BridgePalazzo VecchioThe British Museum
Basilica of Our Lady of GuadalupeJapan National StadiumPantheonThe Centre Pompidou
Basilica of Santa Croce in FlorenceKaminarimon GatePanthéonThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
Basilica of Santa Maria NovellaKensington PalaceParthenonThe Painted Ladies
Big BenLa Sagrada FamiliaPiazza della SignoriaThe Palace of Fine Arts
Brooklyn BridgeLeaning Tower of PisaPiazza NavonaTokyo National Museum
Buckingham PalaceLes InvalidesPIER 39Tokyo Skytree
Campidogilo squareLondon EyePitti PalaceTokyo Tower
Capela Curial de São Francisco de AssisLouvre MuseumPlaca de CatalunyaTower of London
Castel Sant’AngeloMagic Fountain of MontjuicPonte VecchioTrafalgar Square
Castle of Good HopeMeiji JinguRhodes MemorialTrevi Fountain
Cathedral of BarcelonaMexico City Metropolitan CathedralRockefeller CenterUnion Buildings
Cathedral of BrasiliaMonument of the Ninos HeroesRoman ForumUshiku Building
Cathedral of Santa Maria del FioreMonument to the RevolutionSacré-CœurVoortrekker Monument
Cathedrale Norte-Dame de ParisMoses Mabhida StadiumSan Francisco – Oakland Bay BridgeWestminster Abbey
Chapultepec CastleMount Rushmore National MemorialSão Paulo CathedralYoyogi National Stadium
Christ the RedeemerMusée d’OrsaySensō-jiZojoji
Coit TowerNational Museum of Nature and Science =Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Columbus MonumentNational PalaceSri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

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Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com