A preserve with 75,000 ancient drawings remains the realm of public – not just scientific – exploration.

A massive underwater sinkhole made famous by Jacques Cousteau.

The museum houses "the most studied meteorite in history," among other geological oddities.

The spectacular subterranean collection includes dazzling minerals, including a piece of "kryptonite."

Shop of curiosities with a dinosaur museum tucked in its basement.

A county library in rural Ohio houses one of the finest mineral collections in the world.

Eclectic collection of rare and beautiful stones in a historic home.

One of the oldest living oak trees in the Southeast.

A once-groundbreaking power plant turned into a hotel and mini-museum of archeological and geological wonders.

Constant erosion has created a surreal landscape of bleached and preserved fallen trees.

400 million-year old limestone caverns nestled in the Ozarks served as shelter and a hideout for cultures throughout North American history.

Incredible miniature towns and buildings created and decorated with thousands of tiny rocks.

This former Texas landfill is flush with 300 million-year-old fossils, all fit for the taking.

In Rickwood Caverns, visitors can travel hundreds of feet underground and see beautiful formations unique to the region.

Since it formed millions of years ago, this cave system has been a sacred burial ground, a Prohibition-era speakeasy, and the center of an amusement park.

148 feet long and in the middle of a verdant forest.

A preserved stretch of ancient fossilized trees with an impressive gem collection to boot.

This New Orleans tree is filled with hidden chimes that produce a carefully tuned melody.

An otherworldly musical haven in The Big Easy.

This historic Victorian mansion is allegedly so haunted that a signed waiver is required to enter.

This former maximum-security prison is creepy, sobering, and supposedly haunted.

This former office building has been transformed into an immersive music venue and art space.

The world's longest known cave system.

Every autumn, this grove of living fossils erupts in a blaze of brilliant golden-yellow leaves and stinky fruit.