A mountaintop space observatory that is certified dark.

From golden eagles to peregrine falcons, this rehabilitation and education center is a haven for birds of prey.

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

A tiny museum housed in a New York freight elevator specializes in the "overlooked, dismissed, or ignored."

A terrific purveyor of natural history objects and curios.

Walking around West Harlem reveals a scavenger hunt of beautiful bird murals.

This giant boulder is sandwiched between apartment complexes in upper Manhattan.

This Manhattan museum houses one of the largest collections of Spanish art and manuscripts outside of Spain.

Imagine having a street run right through your home, or better yet, a historic bridge three stories high.

Beautiful mosaics cover the first stations opened on New York City's newest subway line.

In the back of a nondescript sports bar is a museum-worthy mural by legendary cartoonists.

New York City's only radical feminist independent bookstore.

The highest point on the island known for buildings that touch the sky.

Phil Mortillaro uses keys to bring art back to the Village.

This exemplar of modernist architecture is meant to captivate and inspire students of the Cooper Union.

The first museum in the United States dedicated entirely to posters.

More than 300,000 historical artifacts from the famous music venue, from Duke Ellington's handwritten score to The Beatles' booking slip.

The most confusing clock in New York.

A Manhattan office building is home to the world's largest chess board.

Little Red Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge.

This lavish room at NYC's French Embassy is a rare relic from the end of the Gilded Age.

Though its celestial ceiling is impressive, the true star is the vast collection of French books.

A little lighthouse in New York City, surrounded by mysterious stories of insanity-driven construction.

Finally, you don't have to be a pious Swedish seaman to relax like one.