The Atomium in Brussels Belgium was built for the 1958 Worlds Fair.  It seemed a natural place for me to visit on my Brussels shopping adventure, being from St. Louis, Mo.  The Atomium has similarities to our Gateway Arch here in St. Louis.  Not only is it clad in bright shinny stainless steel as is the arch, it can also be seen from many vantage points in the city, just like the Arch.  The Arch and the Atomium were also symbols of modernity for their time.    They are just as modern, fresh and exciting to the eye as they were in the 1960s.  If you would like to check out the Atomium’s website click here.  Click on images to enlarge.

This is a great vintage photo of the Atomium as it was being built.  The monument is actually the visual representation of the concept of an “atom.”  It symbolizes an elementary iron crystal with its 9 atoms and magnified 150 billion times. It honored the metal and iron industry and the belief in the atomic power. The architect was André WATERKEYN. Most of the pavilions built at the Worlds Fair had a very modern futuristic architectural style to them, with the “Atom” towering over them all.

I thought this was an interesting vernacular image of a mother and child in front of the Atomium.  It looks like the image could have been taken at the Fair in 1958.

Just like the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, you can go up into the Atomium to various levels.

This image is of the interior of one of the spheres, very futuristic, furnished with Verner Panton chairs.  It also has a “snack shop” with the most startlingly tasty Belgium Waffles.  I had to sample one, being in Belgium.  They serve them all day, not just for breakfast, what a great idea.

Futuristic escalator tube, going up.

Looks like a set from 2001 A Space Odyssey.

Like the St. Louis Arch, the Atomium is fun to photograph.

I found this cool image on the web.  Great reflections captured in the car mirror.

Interesting how something so large can look so small from a different perspective.

Repelling from the top of the Atomium, in the rain.  Not my idea of a vacation activity.  However, maybe it’s something we could think about doing here in St. Louis. Repelling from the top of the Arch.  It just might catch on.  Click on images to enlarge.