This local gem houses the largest collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings outside of the U.K.

A grotesque Fiji merman dwells within this traditional Dutch-style building.

A desiccated merman and a walrus penis bone are among the oddities in this eclectic collection of shipwreck treasures.

A blend of art, antiquities, and Americana fill this museum, surrounded by whimsical, enchanting gardens.

A wrecked ship dating back to the American Revolution was only recently discovered off the Delaware coast.

What began as an art installation is now the private drinkhaüs for a brewery's employees.

This splendid Versailles-inspired mansion has the largest French-style formal gardens in North America.

Enchanting gardens surround a derelict mansion, all hidden in plain sight behind a stone wall.

An astounding collection of medical specimens, including bits of President Lincoln.

A suburban museum tells the story of a historic transportation network and even provides rides in antique trolley cars.

A haunting exhibit in a wildlife refuge center highlights threatened species and the conservation efforts needed to save them.

This dig site outside D.C. is known for its exceptionally high density of baby dinosaur fossils and dinosaur eggs.

It's not hard to see why the historic Peabody Conservatory of Music's library has been described as a "cathedral of books."

Once part of a dam servicing an early 19th century grist mill, the tucked-way falls are a tricky-to-find urban oasis.

A lone tower rises above the cliffs in a city park, offering fantastic views of the Connecticut landscape.

These Benedictine nuns have been making artisanal cheeses since before it was cool.

A castle inspired by medieval architecture is hidden in the woods of Connecticut.

A museum designed by and dedicated to P.T. Barnum in the town where he is buried.

The intriguing personal collection of a professional demon-chaser.

A wunderkammer hidden on the top floor of the Hartford statehouse.

An Escher-inspired library dedicated to the wonders of the human mind, yet closed to the public.

The former home of Samuel Clemens and family remembers the happiest period of the author's life.