Civilization IV has 41 World Wonders (including the seven religious shrines) and 14 National Wonders. Like in Civ3, World Wonders may be built by only one civilization and National Wonders (also known as small wonders) may be built by every civilization. The effects of small wonders are usually more city-specific and you can build at most two small wonders per city. There is no restriction on the number of World Wonders you can build in a city. Each time you finish building a World Wonder, there is a short movie clip showing the wonder being built.
Civilization IV also introduced a new class of buildings called Projects. A few examples are the Apollo Program and The Internet. The main difference between projects and wonders is that projects cannot be rushed in any way, while wonders can be rushed (by forest chopping, gold, etc). Projects are classified into World Projects and Team Projects.
NOTE: Clicking on the thumbnail for a wonder will display a larger picture. The wonder costs assume normal game speed. Information in this section is correct as of Beyond the Sword, version 3.13.
Great Wonders (41):
| Graphic | Great Wonder | Effects |
|---|---|---|
 |
Angkor Wat Cost: 500 (Double Production Speed w/ Stone) Culture: 8 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Philosophy Expires: Computers |
+1 hammer from Priest in all cities. Can turn 3 citizens into PriestCity more likely to generate Great Prophet Can only be built on Medieval and earlier starts |
 |
Apostolic Palace Cost: 400 Culture: 4 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Theology and State Religion in City Expires: Mass Media |
Allows Apostolic Palace elections Guarantees eligibility for votingCity more likely to generate Great Prophet Requires Diplomatic Victory and 3 or more teams Can only be built on Industrial and earlier starts |
 |
BroadwayCost: 800 Culture: none Great People Points: 2 Requires: Electricity |
+50% culture in this city; +1  Provides Hit MusicalsCity more likely to generate Great Artist |
 |
Chichen Itza Cost: 500 (Double Production Speed w/ Stone) Culture: 6 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Code of Laws Expires: Rifling |
+25% defense in all your citiesCity more likely to generate Great Prophet Can only be built on Medieval and earlier starts |
 |
Cristo Redentor Cost: 1000 (Double Production Speed for Spiritual Leaders) Culture: 5 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Radio |
No anarchy when changing civics and religion.City more likely to generate Great Engineer |
 |
HollywoodCost: 1000 Culture: none Great People Points: 2 Requires: Mass Media |
+50% culture in this city; +1 Provides Hit MoviesCity more likely to generate Great Artist |
 |
Shwedagon Paya Cost: 450 (Double Production Speed w/ Gold) Culture: 8 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Aesthetics and Meditation |
Enables all Religion civics.City more likely to generate Great Prophet Can only be built on Renaissance and earlier starts |
 |
Rock N Roll Cost: 800 Culture: none Great People Points: 2 Requires: Radio |
+50% culture in this city +1 Provides Hit SinglesCity more likely to generate Great Artist |
 |
Notre Dame Cost: 550 (Double Production Speed w/ Stone) Culture: 10 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Engineering |
+1 in all cities on this continentCity more likely to generate Great Artist Can only be built on Medieval and earlier starts |
 |
StonehengeCost: 120 (Double Production Speed w/ Stone) Culture: 8 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Mysticism Expires: Astronomy |
Free Monument in every city Centers world mapCity more likely to generate Great Prophet Can only be built on Medieval and earlier starts |
 |
The Church of the Nativity Culture: 4 Great People Points: 1 Requires: Christian Holy City and Great Prophet |
+1 gold per city with Christianity Spreads Christianity Can turn 3 citizens into PriestCity more likely to generate Great Prophet |
 |
The Colossus Cost: 250 (Double Production Speed w/ Copper) Culture: 6 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Metal Casting, Forge, and coastal city Expires: Astronomy |
+1 commerce for water tiles in all citiesCity more likely to generate Great Merchant Can only be built on Classical and earlier starts |
 |
The Dai Miao Culture: 4 Great People Points: 1 Requires: Taoist Holy City and Great Prophet |
+1 gold per city with Taoism Spreads Taoism Can turn 3 citizens into PriestCity more likely to generate Great Prophet |
 |
The Eiffel Tower Cost: 1250 (Double Production Speed w/ Iron) Culture: 6 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Radio, forge |
Free Broadcast Tower in every cityCity more likely to generate Great Merchant |
 |
The Great Library Cost: 350 (Double Production Speed w/ Marble) Culture: 8 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Literature and library Expires: Scientific Method |
+2 Free ScientistsCity more likely to generate Great Scientist Can only be built on Classical and earlier starts |
 |
The Great Lighthouse Cost: 200 Culture: 6 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Sailing, Masonry, Lighthouse, and coastal city Expires: Corporation |
+2 trade routes in all coastal citiesCity more likely to generate Great Merchant Can only be built on Classical and earlier starts |
 |
The Great WallCost: 150 (Double Production Speed w/ Stone) Culture: 2 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Masonry |
Prevents barbarians from entering borders on the continent. +100% Great General emergence inside borders.City more likely to generate Great Spy Can only be built on Classical and earlier starts |
 |
The Hagia Sophia Cost: 550 (Double Production Speed w/ Marble) Culture: 8 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Theology Expires: Steam Power |
Workers build improvements 50% fasterCity more likely to generate Great Engineer Can only be built on Medieval and earlier starts |
 |
The Hanging Gardens Cost: 300 (Double Production Speed w/ Stone) Culture: 6 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Mathematics and Aqueduct |
+1 health in all cities +1 population in all citiesCity more likely to generate Great Engineer Can only be built on Classical and earlier starts |
 |
The Kashi Vishwanath Culture: 4 Great People Points: 1 Requires: Hindu Holy City and Great Prophet |
+1 gold per city with Hinduism Spreads Hinduism Can turn 3 citizens into PriestCity more likely to generate Great Prophet |
 |
The Kong Miao Culture: 4 Great People Points: 1 Requires: Confucian Holy City and Great Prophet |
+1 gold per city with Confucianism Spreads Confucianism Can turn 3 citizens into PriestCity more likely to generate Great Prophet |
 |
The Kremlin Cost: 800 (Double Production Speed w/ Stone) Culture: none Great People Points: 2 Requires: Communism Expires: Fiber Optics |
-33% hurry production cost Can turn 2 citizens into SpiesCity more likely to generate Great Spy |
 |
The Mahabodhi Culture: 4 Great People Points: 1 Requires: Buddhist Holy City and Great Prophet |
+1 gold per city with Buddhism Spreads Buddhism Can turn 3 citizens into PriestCity more likely to generate Great Prophet |
 |
The Masjid Al-Haram Culture: 4 Great People Points: 1 Requires: Islamic Holy City and Great Prophet |
+1 gold per city with Islam Spreads Islam Can turn 3 citizens into PriestCity more likely to generate Great Prophet |
 |
The Mausoleum of MaussollosCost: 450 (Double Production Speed w/ Marble) Culture: 10 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Calendar |
Increases length of Golden Ages by 50%.City more likely to generate Great Artist Can only be built on Medieval and earlier starts |
 |
The Oracle Cost: 150 (Double Production Speed w/ Marble) Culture: 8 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Priesthood |
1 free technologyCity more likely to generate Great Prophet Can only be built on Classical and earlier starts |
 |
The Parthenon Cost: 400 (Double Production Speed w/ Marble) Culture: 10 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Polytheism and Aesthetics Expires: Scientific Method |
+50% Great People birth rate in all cities.City more likely to generate Great Artist Can only be built on Classical and earlier starts |
 |
The Pentagon Cost: 1250 Culture: none Great People Points: 2 Requires: Assembly Line |
New units receive +2 experience points in all citiesCity more likely to generate Great Spy |
 |
The PyramidsCost: 500 (Double Production Speed w/ Stone) Culture: 6 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Masonry |
Enables all government civicsCity more likely to generate Great Engineer Can only be built on Classical and earlier starts |
 |
The Sistine Chapel Cost: 600 (Double Production Speed w/ Marble) Culture: 10 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Music |
+2 culture per specialist in all cities +5 culture from all State Religion buildingsCity more likely to generate Great Artist Can only be built on Renaissance and earlier starts |
 |
The Space Elevator Cost: 2000 (Double Production Speed w/ Aluminum) Culture: none Great People Points: 2 Requires: Satellites, Robotics, Space Race victory enabled, and maximum latitude of 30 degrees |
+50% spaceship production in all cities.City more likely to generate Great Scientist |
 |
The Spiral Minaret Cost: 550 (Double Production Speed w/ Stone) Culture: 8 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Divine Right Expires: Computers |
+1 gold from all state religion buildingsCity more likely to generate Great Prophet Can only be built on Medieval and earlier starts |
 |
The Statue of Liberty Cost: 1500 (Double Production Speed w/ Copper) Culture: 6 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Democracy and Forge |
+1 free specialist in all cities on this continentCity more likely to generate Great Merchant Can only be built on Renaissance and earlier starts |
 |
The Statue of ZeusCost: 300 (Double Production Speed w/ Ivory) Culture: 10 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Aesthetics and 3 Monuments |
Enemies suffer +100% war wearinessCity more likely to generate Great Artist Can only be built on Ancient starts |
 |
The Taj MahalCost: 700 (Double Production Speed w/ Marble) Culture: 10 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Nationalism |
Starts a Golden AgeCity more likely to generate Great Artist Can only be built on Renaissance and earlier starts |
 |
The Temple of Solomon Culture: 4 Great People Points: 1 Requires: Jewish Holy City and Great Prophet |
+1 gold per city with Judaism Spreads Judaism Can turn 3 citizens into PriestCity more likely to generate Great Prophet |
 |
The Three Gorges Dam Cost: 1750 Culture: none Great People Points: 2 Requires: Plastics and a city on a river |
Provides power for all cities on this continentCity more likely to generate Great Engineer |
 |
The Temple of ArtemisCost: 350 (Double Production Speed w/ Marble) Culture: 8 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Polytheism Expires: Scientific Method |
1 free priest +100% yield for trade routesCity more likely to generate Great Merchant. Can only be built on Classical and earlier starts. |
 |
The United Nations Cost: 1000 Culture: none Great People Points: 2 Requires: Mass Media, at least 3 teams, and Diplomatic Victory enabled |
Triggers United Nations elections Guarantees eligibility for diplomatic votesCity more likely to generate Great Merchant |
 |
University of SankoreCost: 550 (Double Production Speed w/ Stone) Culture: 8 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Paper Expires: Computers |
+2 beakers from all State Religion buildingsCity more likely to generate Great Scientist. Can only be built on Renaissance and earlier starts. |
 |
VersaillesCost: 800 (Double Production Speed w/ Marble) Culture: 10 Great People Points: 2 Requires: Divine Right |
Reduces maintenance in nearby citiesCity more likely to generate Great Merchant Can only be built on Industrial and earlier starts |
NOTE: All seven religious shrines have a similar effect.
Related Links:
- City Improvements in Civ4
- More info about Wonders of the World is available in the Civilization IV Info Center.