257 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Illinois - Atlas Obscura
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The Atlas Obscura Guide To

Illinois

257 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Illinois

Cities

Unusual Attractions in Illinois

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Chicago: A Weekend Guide for the Curious Traveler

Just when you thought you knew the Windy City, it finds new ways to surprise you.

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Unique Food & Drink in Illinois

Explore Illinois

Launch Map

Upcoming Illinois Events

The organist at work.
Jan 24
Chicago, Illinois

The Mighty Wurlitzer: A History of the Theatre Organ

Join us for a rare demonstration of the Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ at the Chicago Theatre as part of the 2019 Movie Palace Series.
The Chicago Coliseum, original home of the First Ward Ball.
Jan 25
Chicago, Illinois

Atlas Obscura Presents: The First Ward Ball

Party like it's 1890 with a night of music, vice district history, burlesque performances, casino games, and more!
Nelson Algren.
Jan 26
Chicago, Illinois

A Pop-up Theater Performance: The Life and Death of Nelson Algren

A theatrical account of the life of underappreciated writer, Nelson Algren, alongside a seance in the neighborhood in which he spent his final years.
Jim Holstein with Rock Samples
Feb 3
Chicago, Illinois

Rocks that Rock! An Afternoon With a Field Museum Geologist

An exclusive opportunity to handle rock samples from the geology department of The Field Museum in a unique rock climbing gym in the West Loop.
One of the many entrances to the Pedway.
Feb 9
Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's Underground: The Pedway Scavenger Hunt

Let this weatherproof, indoor scavenger hunt take you down into the depths of the city.
I ♥ Beer and Buttons.
Feb 13
Chicago, Illinois

All Buttoned Up!

A singular after-hours experience at the nation’s only museum dedicated to pinback buttons, housed within a bustling modern day button-making factory.
A 1907 postcard of the Conservatory's original building.
Mar 2
Chicago, Illinois

Discover and Draw: Garfield Park Conservatory

A private tour of Chicago’s “landscape art under glass,” followed by a quick lesson in drawing plantlife.
Roller Skates.
Mar 10
Summit, Illinois

Roller Skating in the Movies

Learn about Hollywood's history of roller skating, and then lace up a pair of skates for a few loops around the rink yourself.

Illinois Leaderboard

Recent Illinois Activity

ygudeko wants to go to Northwestern University Shakespeare Garden
kate1986 has been to Cahokia Mounds
sscholefield wants to go to Rainbo Club
sscholefield wants to go to Green Mill Jazz Club
stefanmarquart wants to go to Cosmic Ray Detectors

Stories About Illinois

Jim Westerfield working in his Illinois garden during the summer.

The Plant Breeder Who Minted a New World of Flavor

Jim Westerfield created dozens of new culinary mints in his Illinois garden.
by Samantha Nobles-Block
July 27, 2018
The Route 66 record holder was bested by a bigger rocking chair in Illinois.

How the U.S. Lost the Title for the World's Largest Chair

After a century of states battling it out for the honor, the current record holder is in... Austria.
by Kavya Ram Mohan
June 22, 2017

Lists Featuring Illinois

A Rat Lover's Tour of the World
Rats of Karni Mata Temple
Paxton Gate Exterior
Albino Squirrels of Olney, Illinois

A Rat Lover’s Tour of the World

15 places where rodents are celebrated, feared, preserved, and studied.

15

Including Karni Mata Temple, Nutty Narrows Bridge, and Paxton Gate