This massive statue of John Muir on the side of a California highway was carved from a redwood tree.

Etched into a dry lake bed, this massive directional indicator is accurate without magnets.

This large pile of traveler-curated rocks by the dry lakebed is a longstanding tradition on the Old Mojave Road.

Masterful ceramic fountain and map of the Pacific Basin.

Hidden above a drug store on a nondescript corner of Lincoln Heights is a private clubhouse for intrepid explorers.

One of the most well-preserved mammoth specimens in the world.

Here be dragons.

Spinning silently in the lobby of an Art Deco masterwork is a massive vintage model of the Earth.

Unique antiquarian shop specializing in globes, maps, and prints.

This unmarked and unloved Manhattan subway grate created one of the most iconic images in American cinema.

A dilapidated dock tells the story of Titanic's missed arrival.

A treasure trove of artifacts, books, and artwork from the "golden age" of exploration.

The world's largest statue of Mao Zedong looks out over the city where he discovered Communism.

What better way to honor a pioneering anatomist than by preserving his severed head like a specimen?

Legend has it that this bronze orb, which sat atop an ancient Egyptian obelisk, once held the ashes of Julius Caesar.

One Italian taxi driver covered his entire house in small seashells creating a weird bit of architecture that is preserved to this day.

This collection of Japanese luck idols beckons visitors with over 2,000 waving paws.

The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

A museum dedicated to the alleged Roswell Incident.