The Head Office and Garden of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation are easily visitable from the nearby metro station: São Sebastião. Arriving mid-evening, numerous locals were enjoying this green space with …
Kyle Magnuson
United States of America \ Member since March 2010
#503 104 41 3
I live and work in Los Angeles, California, though I am originally from the Midwest. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in History at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and a Master's degree in Teaching (Social Studies) from the University of Southern California (USC). As an undergraduate I completed coursework in China, Scotland, and Korea. As a member of AmeriCorps in my 20's, I provided educational services to communities throughout Los Angeles, which led to a career in Education. Today, I am a founding teacher at a middle school, where I teach United States History.
I have contributed an overabundance of information to the country page and forum for the Republic of Korea. I consider Korea to be one the great rewards for world heritage travelers. Firstly, a high number of accessible WHS reachable by efficient public transport. Secondly, excellent interpretation and management of each site, including translation. Lastly, the public awareness and domestic interest in world heritage in Korea is exceptional, including world heritage themed festivals and campaigns for aspiring nominations.
I often travel plan and create lists/goals regarding future trips. While I'm not a completist World Heritage traveller, I certainly focus on World Heritage sites when planning. Listed below are the sites I hope to visit during the next few years.
My Flickr
Next Trip December 2025: The Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda
Next Trip March 2026: La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico
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World Heritage Planning 2025-2035
Argentina/Uruguay/Brazil (9 WHS)
- The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Argentina)
- ESMA Museum and Site of Memory (Argentina)
- Cordoba (Argentina)
- Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay)
- Iguazu National Park (Argentina) *Top 100
- Iguacu (Brazil) *Top 100
- Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
- Valongo Wharf (Brazil)
- Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (Brazil)
Australia (7 WHS)
- K’gari Fraser Island (Queensland)
- Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (Queensland)
- Sydney Opera House (New South Wales)
- Greater Blue Mountains Area (New South Wales)
- Australian Convict Sites (New South Wales)
- Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens (Victoria)
- Budj Bim Cultural Landscape (Victoria)
Azores Portugal (1 WHS)
- Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores
Baja California Mexico (1 WHS)
- Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino
Botswana/Namibia (3 WHS)
- Okavango Delta *Top 100
- Namib Sand Sea *Top 100
- Twyfelfontein
Canada - East (9 WHS)
- Grand Pré
- Gros Morne National Park *Top 100
- Joggins Fossil Cliffs
- L'Anse aux Meadows
- Mistaken Point
- Old Québec
- Old Town Lunenburg
- Red Bay Basque Whaling Station
- Rideau Canal
Canadian Prairie Provinces (4 WHS)
- Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi
- Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
- Dinosaur Provincial Park
- The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks *Top 100
Caribbean (3 WHS)
- Historic Bridgetown (Barbados)
- Morne Trois Pitons (Dominica)
- Volcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern Martinique (France)
China via Shanghai (3 WHS)
- Classical Gardens of Suzhou
- The Grand Canal
- Migratory Bird Sanctuaries
China via Shenyang (1 WHS)
- Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom
France (9 WHS)
- The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier
- Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
- Chartres Cathedral
- The Palace and Park of Fontainebleau
- Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange
- Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge
- Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)
- Maison Carrée de Nîmes
- Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments
Ghana/South Africa via Cape Town (2 WHS)
- Forts and Castles, Central Region (Ghana) *Cape Coast/Elmina
- Cape Floral Region
- Robben Island
Gulf States (7 WHS)
- Qal'at al-Bahrain (Bahrain)
- Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy (Bahrain)
- Dilmun Burial Mounds (Bahrain)
- Aflaj Irrigation System (Oman)
- Bahla Fort (Oman)
- Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn (Oman)
- Al Zubarah Archaeological Site (Qatar)
India - Western Coast, Sri Lanka & Seychelles (12 WHS)
- Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (India)
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (India)
- Elephanta Caves (India)
- Churches and Convents of Goa (India)
- Valley de Mai Nature Reserve (Seychelles)
- Sacred City of Kandy (Sri Lanka)
- Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (Sri Lanka)
- Central Highlands (Sri Lanka)
- Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple (Sri Lanka)
- Ancient City of Sigiriya (Sri Lanka)
- Ancient City of Polonnaruwa (Sri Lanka)
- Sacred City of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka)
Japan (9 WHS)
ICN Flight to Tokyo
- National Museum of Western Art (Le Corbusier)
- Shrines and Temples of Nikko
- Mount Fuji
- Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
- Hiraizumi Temples and Gardens
Busan to Fukuoka Ferry
- Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region
- Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution
- Yakushima
ICN Flight to Hokkaido
- Shiretoko
Jordan (4 WHS)
- Petra *Top 100
- Umm al-Jimal
- Um er-Rasas (Kastron Mefa'a)
- Wadi Rum Protected Area
Mongolia (2 WHS)
- Deer Stone Monuments
- Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape
Nordic/Baltic Nations (9 WHS)
- Visby (Sweden)
- Karlskrona (Sweden)
- Birka and Hovgarden (Sweden)
- Fortress of Suomenlinna (Finland)
- Tallinn (Estonia) *ferry from Helsinki
- Struve Geodetic Arc - Tartu Observatory (Estonia)
Sweden via driving *Malmö to Oslo
- Grimeton Radio Station (Sweden)
- Rock Carvings in Tanum (Sweden)
Train from Oslo
- Bryggen (Norway)
Northern Mexico via driving (1 WHS)
- Nuevo Casas Grandes: Archaeological Zone of Paquimé
Rwanda/Zambia (3 WHS)
- Memorial sites of the Genocide (Rwanda)
- Nyungwe National Park (Rwanda)
- Victoria Falls *Top 100
Sicily - Malta - Tunisia (11 WHS)
- Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (Italy)
- Mount Etna (Italy)
- Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica (Italy)
- Villa Romana del Casale (Italy)
- City of Valletta (Malta)
- Megalithic Temples (Malta)
- Hal Saflieni Hypogeum (Malta)
- Isole Eolie (Italy)
- Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale (Italy)
- Medina of Tunis (Tunisia)
- Archaeological Site of Carthage (Tunisia)
Slovenia/Italy (3 WHS)
- The Works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana (Slovenia)
- Škocjan Caves (Slovenia)
- Venice (Italy) *Top 100
Southern Spain (4 WHS)
- Historic Centre of Cordoba *Top 100
- Caliphate City of Medina Azahara
- Cathedral, Alcazar and Archivo de Indias in Seville *Top 100
- Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin, Granada *Top 100
Thailand/Cambodia (5 WHS)
- Historic City of Ayutthaya (Thailand)
- The Ancient Town of Si Thep (Thailand)
- Dong Phayayen - Khao Yai Forest Complex (Thailand)
- Angkor (Cambodia) *Top 100
- Koh Ker (Cambodia)
United Kingdom (12 WHS)
- Flow Country
- The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire
- Durham Castle and Cathedral
- City of Bath
- Great Spa Towns of Europe
- Stonehenge
- Kew Gardens
- Westminster
- Tower of London
- Maritime Greenwich
- Blenheim Palace
United States/Canada (2 WHS)
- Alaska: Glacier Parks / Wrangell-St. *Top 100
- Canada: Tr’ondëk-Klondike
Yucatán Peninsula Mexico via train (6 WHS)
- Sian Ka'an
- Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza *Top 100
- Pre-Hispanic Town of Uxmal
- Historic Fortified Town of Campeche
- Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque *Top 100
- Ancient Maya City of Calakmul, Campeche *Top 100
My most impressive site: Yellowstone, Machu Picchu
Recent Visits
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96July 10, 2025Korea - Summer 2025: Ancient Mountain Fortresses in Central Korea, Capital Fortifications of Hanyang, Changdeokgung …
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41June 19, 2025Southeast Asia - Summer 2025: Bali Subak system, FRIM Selangor, Melaka and George Town ...
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50Dec. 15, 2024Spain - Christmas Season 2024: Mudejar Architecture of Aragon, Palau de la Musica Catalana & …
Top 10 Missing
About Kyle Magnuson
- Member since
- March 2010
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
Visits
- Rank
- #503
- WHS
- 104
- Tentative Sites
- 41
Website Participation
- Reviews
- 151
-
Ratings
Ratings
World Heritage Sites
- Yellowstone 5.0
- Machu Picchu 5.0
- Great Wall 5.0
- Yosemite National Park 4.5
- Chaco Culture 4.5
- Hawaii Volcanoes 4.5
- Palau de la Musica Catalana & Hospital de Sant Pau 4.5
- El Pinacate 4.5
- Works of Antoni Gaudí 4.5
- Grand Canyon 4.5
- Mesa Verde 4.5
- Istanbul 4.5
- Redwood 4.5
- Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing 4.5
- Gulf of California 4.5
- Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings 4.5
- Gyeongju 4.5
- Taos Pueblo 4.0
- Teotihuacan 4.0
- Sintra 4.0
- Segovia 4.0
- Everglades 4.0
- Olympic National Park 4.0
- Great Smoky Mountains 4.0
- Toledo 4.0
- Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor 4.0
- Edinburgh 4.0
- Guanacaste 4.0
- Mexico City and Xochimilco 4.0
- Guanajuato 4.0
- Paris, Banks of the Seine 4.0
- Waterton Glacier International Peace Park 4.0
- Jeju 4.0
- Bali Subak system 4.0
- University of Coimbra 4.0
- Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries 4.0
- Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats 3.5
- Macao 3.5
- Vizcaya Bridge 3.5
- South China Karst 3.5
- Beijing Central Axis 3.5
- Central University City Campus of the UNAM 3.5
- Melaka and George Town 3.5
- San Miguel de Allende 3.5
- Royal Joseon Tombs 3.5
- Hahoe and Yangdong 3.5
- Al Ain 3.5
- Temple of Heaven 3.5
- Southern Öland 3.5
- Cuzco 3.5
- Mammoth Cave 3.5
- Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple 3.5
- Mount Taishan 3.5
- Statue of Liberty 3.5
- Haeinsa Temple 3.5
- Monastery of Batalha 3.5
- Convent of Christ in Tomar 3.5
- Monastery of Alcobaça 3.5
- Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius 3.5
- Versailles 3.5
- Changdeokgung Palace Complex 3.5
- El Escurial 3.5
- Willemstad 3.5
- Summer Palace 3.5
- Namhansanseong 3.5
- Cahokia Mounds 3.0
- Roskilde Cathedral 3.0
- Jongmyo Shrine 3.0
- Hwaseong Fortress 3.0
- Gaya Tumuli 3.0
- Independence Hall 3.0
- Lima 3.0
- Querétaro 3.0
- Baroque Churches 3.0
- Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro 3.0
- Aranjuez 3.0
- Belem 3.0
- Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream 3.0
- Par force hunting landscape 3.0
- Baekje Historic Areas 3.0
- Singapore Botanic Gardens 3.0
- Forth Bridge 3.0
- Seowon, Neo-Confucian Academies 3.0
- Carlsbad Caverns 3.0
- Mudejar Architecture of Aragon 3.0
- Monticello 3.0
- Kronborg Castle 3.0
- Imperial Tombs 3.0
- Grand Canal 3.0
- San Antonio Missions 3.0
- Moravian Church Settlements 3.0
- Faya Palaeolandscape 2.5
- New Lanark 2.5
- Hopewell 2.5
- Poverty Point 2.5
- Drottningholm 2.5
- Skogskyrkogarden 2.5
- Nice 2.5
- Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen 2.5
- FRIM Selangor 2.5
- Mafra 2.5
Tentative Sites
- Sites of the Busan Wartime Capital
- Pombaline Lisbon
- Rural Temples of Cusco
- Ellis Island
- Lake Titicaca
- Sites of fossilized dinosaurs
- Civil Rights Movement Sites
- Capital Fortifications of Hanyang
- City of York
- Sharjah: the Gate to Trucial States
- Hoeamsa Temple
- Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats (Extension)
- Stone Buddhas and Pagodas at Hwasun Unjusa Temple
- The Padang Civic Ensemble
- Naganeupseong
- Rade de Marseille
- Brooklyn Bridge
- California Current Conservation Complex
- Central Park
- Early Chicago Skyscrapers
- Petrified Forest National Park
- White Sands National Monument
- El Nido-Taytay Protected Area
- Mt. Soraksan Nature Reserve
- Upo Wetland
- Nuruosmaniye Complex
- Amalienborg and its district
- Plantations in West Curacao
- Mount Vernon
- Chapultepec Woods, Hill and Castle
- Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
- Kangjingun Kiln Sites
- Walled City of Manila
- Thomas Jefferson Buildings
- The Rise of Systematic Biology
- D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy, 1944
- Khor Dubai
- Ancient Mountain Fortresses in Central Korea
- Mleiha
- Oeam Village
- 101 40
- Locations
- 92
- Zones
- 0
Reviews by Kyle Magnuson
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (On tentative list)
Blended Interior and Exterior Landscapes
Mafra (Inscribed)
Gigantism Architecture
Mafra Palace is pleasant enough, but like other visitors I wondered how this contributes to the UNESCO? Sure, it seems like most of us did not opt to visit Cerco …
Segovia (Inscribed)
Segovia's Kaleidoscope of History
Along with Toledo, Segovia is routinely ranked as one of Spain's best world heritage cities. There is so much to explore here, it would be a mistake to not allocate …
El Escurial (Inscribed)
Largest Renaissance Building in the World
Arriving as it opened, we largely had this massive complex to ourselves. Not that there weren't other visitors, but the structure swallows you in its vastness and you quickly find …
Aranjuez (Inscribed)
Aranjuez, the Garden City
Previous reviews left me not expecting much from Aranjuez. However, when the sky is perfectly blue, the gardens are a lush green, and my only alternative was to join my …
Pombaline Lisbon (On tentative list)
Baixa Pombalina
Pombaline refers to a Portuguese architectural style developed in the 18th century following a devastating earthquake. That said, what is experienced by any visitor to central Lisbon is a well-laid …
University of Coimbra (Inscribed)
University Town: Upper (Alta) and Lower (Sofia)
Coimbra is a city in two parts. Indeed, the upper section was a city unto itself. One of the aristocracy and clergy, while the lower section was inhabited by merchants, …
Southwest Alentejo and Costa … (Removed from tentat…)
Southern Coastline of Portugal
Suggestion for an updated nomination: future tentative list
I would like to see an even more ambitious nomination titled the Southern Coastline of Portugal. This could be a …
Paseo del Prado and Buen Reti… (Inscribed)
A Landscape of Arts and Sciences Indeed
There are 3 world class museums on the Paseo del Prado which form an integral part of this property. Referred to as the "Golden Triangle of Art" these museums are …
Brooklyn Bridge (On tentative list)
Go to Brooklyn!
Completed and opened without the use of electricity, the Brooklyn Bridge was used primarily for horse-drawn carriage, pedestrians/bicycle, and railcar. It is an American icon and one of the most …
Early Chicago Skyscrapers (On tentative list)
Chicago School of Architecture
All nine sites of this serial nomination can be covered in a 30 minute walk, in fact several of these iconic early skyscrapers are adjacent to each other. I visited …
Drottningholm (Inscribed)
The Chinese Pavilion - Circa 1760's
Drottingholm is a very easy and (weather permitting) enjoyable half-day trip from Stockholm. After visiting several palaces and castles during my time in Denmark and Sweden, the main interior (however …
Kronborg Castle (Inscribed)
Renaissance Castle Associated with Hamlet
I tried my best to really enjoy this castle, I achieved middling success. After already visiting Frederiksborg and Rosenborg, my efforts to visit even more castles were not filled with …
Roskilde Cathedral (Inscribed)
Mausoleum of the Danish Royal Family
Roskilde, as a former capital is well-worth the excursion from Copenhagen. The dizzying cathedral is a towering structure that should be admired by a full 360 degree exploration of the …
The Rise of Systematic Biology (On tentative list)
Linnaeus & Bartram Garden
This nomination will have to overcome some major challenges to be inscribed. Number one is OUV, and I could not shake the feeling that this serial nomination is of regional …
Skogskyrkogarden (Inscribed)
The Woodland Cemetery
Taking the metro train to the easily accessed Skogskyrkogarden, I was immediately confronted by the awkward dynamic of being a tourist amongst grieving families. There were 2 different funeral parties …
Southern Öland (Inscribed)
Searching Southern Öland's Evolving Landscape
I had one full week in Öland, so I knew I would have ample time to fully explore and comprehend this somewhat elusive WHS. My ancestors are from two small …
Amalienborg and its district (On tentative list)
Danish Royalty
Since I was visiting Copenhagen for 3 days, I decided a ten minute walk to Amalienborg would be worth the effort! Actually, since sunrise and sunset was at approximately 4am …
Par force hunting landscape (Inscribed)
The Ermitage Tour in Danish
This site was inscribed in 2015 and I am positive I was not the only one wondering why? Based on the subsequent lackluster reviews, my conclusion was I would visit …
Olympic National Park (Inscribed)
3 National Parks in One
Olympic National Park offers a diverse landscape that includes glaciers, rainforest, and tide pools. With a rental car and early starts beginning at 5:45 AM, my wife and I explored …