This New York courthouse cost American taxpayers more than the purchase of Alaska. Even though both events happened around the same time. $11M and $7.2M (roughly $300M and $196M in today's money).

The building was constructed by one of the most unprincipled American politicians — William Tweed — whose name became almost synonymous with corruption in America. The theft during construction was extensively covered by the press, and the leading political cartoonist was offered half a million dollars (an astronomical sum at the time) by the politician to draw about other topics instead.

Ultimately, the official was arrested and, ironically, tried right in the unfinished courthouse building that he himself had overseen.

Today the courthouse still stands and serves its functions. For example, a colleague's daughter got married there. And the building bears the name of that very same corrupt politician — Tweed Courthouse.