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Lincoln Memorial -

There are numerous supposed hidden messages in this monument. Some claim that Jefferson Davis' image can be seen in Lincoln's hair. Another popular claim is that Lincoln's hands form the initials "A" and "L" in sign language. But these two theories have been debunked. 

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Lincoln Memorial -

There is, however, a concealed message on Lincoln's throne: fasces. These were "bundle[s] of rods ... bound by a leather thong." Fasces were used in ancient Rome to represent "executive authority."

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Washington Monument -

The Washington Monument has been a target of multiple conspiracy theories, namely Masonic ones. The obelisk is topped by an aluminum pyramid, which is reminiscent of monuments of ancient Egypt.

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Washington Monument -

But there's more: engraved notable dates and names can also be found on the top pyramid. On the east face you can read the Latin phrase laus Deo ("Praise be to God").

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial -

This memorial is located at 1964 Independence Ave SW in Washington D.C. Yes, the address is a reference to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial -

The statue is a visual representation of Martin Luther King's 1963 'I Have a Dream' speech.  More specifically, a line that reads, "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." In addition, the statue is also aligned with the statues of Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson.

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Michelangelo's 'David' -

The iconic statue by the equally iconic Renaissance artist also hides a secret.

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Michelangelo's 'David' -

David is holding a weapon (barely visible) in his right hand. This concealed weapon is called a fustibal, which was used to throw objects.

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Michelangelo's 'Pietà' -

Unlike other works, this depiction of Mary holding Jesus was actually signed by Michelangelo. His name can be seen engraved on the strap across Mary's torso.

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Michelangelo's 'Pietà' -

The reason why he signed this specific piece was because it was being attributed to a rival artist.

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Statue of Liberty -

The famous landmark arrived in New York in 1886. This gift from France is not only a celebration of immigrants, but mostly it's a commemoration of the end of slavery.

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Statue of Liberty -

The statue's feet hold the secret: Lady Liberty stands amid broken shackles.

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Christ the Redeemer -

Rio de Janeiro's famous statue was completed in 1931. And while it's made of concrete, it's actually covered in millions of small soapstone tiles.

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Christ the Redeemer -

Some women worked as volunteers at parishes, where they glued these pieces to linen cloth squares. Many of them wrote their names, well wishes, and other messages on the soapstone tiles.

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Nefertiti Bust -

This famous bust of the Egyptian queen is believed to date back to 1345 BCE and was crafted by a sculptor named Thutmose.

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Nefertiti Bust -

The first thing that most people notice is that the left eye is missing. However, scholars believe that the eye is actually not missing, because it was never there to begin with! Whether this was really on purpose and, if so, why remains a mystery.

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Mount Rushmore -

There is a hidden chamber behind Abraham Lincoln's bust on Mount Rushmore. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created a doorway that resembles that of an Egyptian tomb, leading into the "Hall of Records."

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Mount Rushmore -

This Hall of Records was envisioned to hold artifacts pertinent to America's first 150 years of history. Unfortunately, Borglum died before the hall was completed. Works resumed in the 1990s, but the room remains inaccessible.

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The Parthenon Marbles -

These ancient Greek sculptures date back to 447 BCE and were moved to England in 1802. There is one segment that has left many a scholar wondering. It shows a child giving a folded cloth to an adult.

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The Parthenon Marbles -

Some scholars believe the segment depicts the daughter of the king of Athens presenting her burial shroud to her father, before getting sacrificed to the gods.

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Peter the Great Statue -

The Peter the Great monument in Moscow is a famous eyesore. Peter might have a shady history and reportedly hated Moscow, but he also established Russia's navy, hence the statue. Apparently...

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Peter the Great Statue -

As for the secret message, it has been theorized that the statue may not have anything to do with Peter the Great. Instead, it could be a statue paying tribute to Christopher Columbus. Allegedly, sculptor Zurab Tsereteli changed the identity of the man on the statue to find a buyer.

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Michelangelo's 'Moses' -

The Renaissance artist does it again! This depiction of Moses was the fruit of a mistranslation. As you can see, oddly enough Moses has horns.

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Michelangelo's 'Moses' -

Why? The Hebrew word that describes Moses’ face means "rays of light," or "radiance," but it's very similar to a word that means "horns." So that's why we have a bicorned biblical figure.

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'Kryptos' -

This 1990 sculpture by Jim Sanborn can be found at the CIA campus in Langley, Virginia. It contains four different coded passages, but only three have been deciphered so far.

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'Kryptos' -

One passage was actually a line of poetry by the sculptor himself. The second contained coordinates to something that was buried. The third contained the words of the archaeologist (Howard Carter) who discovered King Tut’s tomb. As for the fourth, it remains unknown.

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'Mustangs of Las Colinas' -

Artist Robert Glen achieved a really cool effect with water fountains placed strategically to create the illusion that the horses in his piece 'Mustangs of Las Colinas' are running on water.

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'Mustangs of Las Colinas' -

The monument celebrates Texas' wild horses. Glen studied the history of feral stallions in the West, and went as far as tracing back their roots in southern Spain. The whole process took eight years.

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'Fallen Astronaut' -

The plaque and astronaut created by Paul van Hoeydonck was taken to the Moon by the astronauts of Apollo 15. It contained a plaque with the names of 14 astronauts who died in space missions. They placed it like this and called it 'Fallen Astronaut.' But the artist actually intended the spaceman to be standing and to call the piece 'Space Traveler.'  

Sources: (Grunge) (Reader's Digest)

See also: Classic artworks with hidden messages

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