6. Palace of the Golden Orbs, Houston, Texas
The address is Overture Drive in Houston, Texas.
Time period: 1990s
Building cost: $6 million
Located on Overture Drive in Houston, Texas, Chong Hua Sheng Mu Holy Place, often referred to as the Palace of the Golden Orbs, is a Taoist building. It stands out from the other suburban areas in the West because of the enormous golden ball that protrudes from its roof. The Palace protrudes over adjacent two-story apartment buildings and strip malls, making it easy to locate.
Houston, TX’s Palace of the Golden Orbs ©Flickr, Robert Kimberly
When the Taoist Palace’s founder ran out of money, he abandoned the building in the 1990s. The work of Kwai Fu Wong has not been touched, despite her great aspirations. The temple still stands as a testament to an unfulfilled dream because no one has destroyed it.
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