Salem, OR

Once an old industrial storage tank for storage of acid at a paper mill, the 26-foot diameter tank has been turned into a globe of planet Earth. Covered in more than 88,000 ceramic tiles, the globe also shows various animals and historic cultural icons.

Known locally as "acidball," the tank stands on its original spot in the former plywood processing plant which closed in 1982, which is now a city park. The acid sphere makeover was a volunteer community art project that started in 1999; Eco-Earth was completed in 2003.

Unfortunately, the tiles have begun to fall off. Signs indicate a move is on to restore the globe.