Don M. Casto and Don M. Casto, Jr., Developers, who pioneered the development of shopping centers in America, and Mr. Joe Skilken, Associate, one of the nation’s leading General Contractors, are responsible for the beautiful replicas of the “Wonders of the Modern World”, which are reproduced here at Great Western Shoppers Mart.
Don M. Casto has had the opportunity to visit the Seven Wonders during his worldwide travels and as early as 1953, conceived the idea to bring this magnificent cultural display of the “Wonders of the Modern World” to people everywhere and to serve as an educational exhibit for all school children.
Don M. Casto preferred to build the” Walk-O-Wonders” in Columbus, Ohio. When the land for the Great Western Shoppers Mart was acquired, the Castos and Mr. Skilken designed the Shopping Center so the “Walk-O-Wonders” would form a central motif of the huge center. The “Walk-O-Wonders” connects the north and south wing of the Center and is 700 feet long and 60 feet wide.
Mr. Joe Skilken was in direct charge of construction and engineering for the “Walk-O-Wonders”. The project had to be built without blueprints, since there were no plans in existence for the development of this character, The thousands of features going into this project as is was being built, were determined only after long hours of study and research by the entire staff.
Mr. Ivan E. Pusecker, noted artist and designer, who is known nationally, was placed in charge of construction. He is the originator of the famous “Smiling Christ” painting. Mr. Pusecker made several trips to the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and Carlsbad Caverns. He also did a tremendous amount of research for the type and color of the various stone and material used in the construction of each and every Wonder. Mr. Pusecker commissioned Mr. Louis Mori, sculptor and mold maker, who was born in Barga, Italy, and who has a renowned reputation in sculpturing and mold making, to assist him in the completion of the “Walk-O-Wonders”.
Landscaping for the beautiful gardens was designed by Charles M. Frank, Landscape Architect.
The winning combination of Don M. Casto, Sr., Don M. Casto, Jr., Joe Skilken, Ivan Pusecker, his assistant, Louis Mori, Charles M. Frank, and the many craftsmen and tradesmen finally produced the Wonders you are about to behold.
Pictured here:
Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy (“Three Coins in the Fountain”)
Niagara Falls, New York
Pyramic of Cheops and Sphinx, Egypt
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Also (not pictured)
Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, New Mexico
The Parthenon, Acropolis, Greece
Size of exhibit - 700’ x 60’
Construction cost - $165,000-$250,000 (estimated about $5 million to build today)
Exhibit built in the late 1950s
Eiffel Tower – 22’ high
Grand Canyon – 40’ long x 8’ deep
Ivan E. Pusecker, noted artist and designer, oversaw construction of exhibit. He commissioned Louis Mori, an Italian sculptor and mold maker, to help complete exhibit.
Landscape architect was Charles M. Frank.
Thousands of children visited the exhibit on school field trips.
Also, popular stop for tour bus groups.
Exhibit deteriorated by late 1960’s. Exorbitant maintenance costs.
Eiffel Tower, the last remaining exhibit, was moved to one of the owner’s property in 1979.
Pranksters would regularly put soap powder in Niagara Falls display
In 1985, a portion of the parking lot collapsed into the basin of the Niagara Falls exhibit. Scale models of tiny railings and houses were found by maintenance worker.