6 Lock & Co. Hatters in London is the world’s oldest hat shop, and it is still in operation.

Located on St. James’s Street in London, Lock & Co. Hatters is the oldest hat shop in the world. It was established in 1676 by a man named Robert Davis and even kicked off on a high note by catering to the bigwigs of society. Later, the shop was passed on to Charles Davis, the son of Robert Davis. The younger Davis then took on an apprentice named James Lock, who eventually married his daughter, Mary Davis. This, then, is how James Lock inherited the hat shop from his former master. To this day, the shop is run by Lock’s descendants.

Over the years, Lock & Co. Hatters has lived through world wars, recessions, and depressions. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to shut their doors for the first time in years. Thankfully, reports suggest that they were able to bounce back fast enough after businesses began to re-open around the world.

Interestingly, Lock & Co. Hatters is also one of the few hat shops that customize hat sizes and fit for their customers. For this purpose, they use a device called the “conformateur” that is more than a century old. (1, 2, 3)

7 Established in 1909, College Park Airport is the world’s oldest continuously operated airport.

Aviation has had a long and varied history in the US. One of the remnants of this history is the College Park Airport in Maryland which is still in use today. It was established in 1909 when Wilbur Wright visited the field to train two military officers to fly the government’s first airplane. From that day to the present, the airport has remained in operation, making it the world’s oldest continually operated airport.

Aptly named the “Field of Firsts,” this airport has undoubtedly witnessed many aviation firsts throughout its history. Continuing with this legacy, it remains a valuable and active airport that serves the needs of aircraft pilots and history buffs alike. It also operates as a gateway airport to Washington, D.C., and Prince George’s County.

In 1973, the College Park Airport was purchased by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Later, in 1977, the airport was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Given its rich and colorful past, this airport is no doubt deeply cemented in the historical fabrics of the American aviation industry. (1, 2)

8 Sea Life Brighton is believed to be the world’s oldest aquarium still in use.

Nestled in the English city of Briton, Sea Life Briton is home not just to a variety of sea creatures but also to an intriguing past. This aquarium opened in 1872 and was conceived and designed by Eugenius Birch, who also designed the city’s West Pier. Construction of the aquarium began in 1869 and was completed at a cost of £133,000 (equivalent to around £5.5 million/$7 million today).

Birch’s original designs contained archways, stonework, and columns inspired by the Gothic and Pompeian styles. He also incorporated statues made from Bath stone, red Edinburgh granite, and green marble. Unfortunately, the aquarium eventually ran into financial difficulties and was obtained by the Brighton Corporation.

Then, between 1927 and ’29, they carried out extensive reworking in the aquarium and altered many of Birch’s original designs. Years later, in 1991, this aquarium was bought by Sea Life. Each year, Sea Life Brighton spends some £50,000 (about $60,000) on food for its many animals that including octopuses, green sea turtles, and more. (1, 2, 3)

9 The State Theatre in Washington, Iowa, holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest continuously operating movie theater.

The magic of cinema has remained more or less unchanged even years after its inception. This is then accentuated by places like the State Theatre in Washington, Iowa, which still represent the old-world charm of early cinema. As of January 2022, this theater has been in operation for a whopping 124 years, having opened in May 1897. This is also what makes it worthy of the Guinness World Record for the oldest continually operating movie theater.

However, things haven’t always been great for this historical wonder. In 2010, a fire in the projection room caused it to be temporarily shut down. This even led to a full restoration of the theater facilities. More recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the theater also faced some financial strain. Consequently, in a bid to stay afloat, the movie theater began offering curbside popcorn so that movie fans could enjoy it at home. No doubt, if this theater were ever to close down, it would be an irreplaceable loss to its community. (1, 2)

10 Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan is said to be the world’s oldest hotel.

Founded in 705 CE, the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan is a traditionally styled hot spring hotel in the Yamanashi Prefecture of Japan. It was officially recognized as the oldest hotel in the world by Guinness World Records in 2011. Over the past 1,300 years or so, this hotel has been operated by 52 generations of the same family, including adopted heirs. In its early days, it also had some samurai and famed shogun patronizing it. This has then earned the hotel notoriety even in present times.

However, much like any other business, this hotel, too, has had to evolve and adapt to keep up with the times. As a consequence, the hotel’s site is larger than what it used to be thousands of years ago. The hotel has also come to house many modern amenities for the convenience of its guests. But despite these facilities, the surrounding natural mountains still give the hotel the feel and appearance of a bygone era, allowing it to remain trapped in its glorious past. (1, 2)