On this day in 1969, the Beatles crossed Abbey Road

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If you go to one of the most famous streets in London, you might be surprised by how nondescript it is.

Abbey Road gave its name to the studio where the Beatles recorded their final album, which, of course, they named Abbey Road. And the album cover is a photo of the band crossing the street.

That photo, which appeared unadorned as the album cover, was taken on August 8, 1969.

"He was given about 15 minutes," said Brian Southall, an Abbey Road Studios historian, referring to photographer Iain Macmillan. "He stood up a stepladder while a policeman held up the traffic, the band walked back and forth a few times and that was that."

Seven or eight photos later, Southall had made one of the most famous pictures of all time.

Fans of the Fab Four come from all over the world to make a pilgrimage to the studio. Tourists regularly block traffic trying to imitate the iconic cover of Paul, George, John and Ringo crossing the street in step.

Even Team USA got in on the fun (see slideshow, above).