Kwanu'sila the Thunderbird has been silently watching over Chicago for more than 100 years (kind of).

Partially submerged Buddha heads freckle Chicago’s neighborhoods.

A relic of the Cold War in Chicago.

A journey begins with a single step, and for many, the road-trip of a lifetime started at this Chicago intersection.

This art gallery and oddities boutique bewitches visitors with a trove of occult trinkets and eccentric antiques, work by an ever-changing roster of underground artists, and classes in tarot and other mystic arts.

Fans of vintage Vegas, kitsch, and toy pony-based gambling now flock to a casino called The D.

“Live hard, ride fast, eat pizza” at this joint filled with Evel Knievel memorabilia.

This incredible collection of vintage pinball machines can be played at 25 cents a pop.

Assemble a masterpiece at the first and only North American school exclusively dedicated to mosaic art.

The young Black revolutionary was killed before getting to see a non-segregated pool in his hometown.

A plaque marks a former safe house on the secret route, now hidden next to a McDonald's.

The sign to a demolished amusement park now stands in front of a local library.

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

A historic beacon built in the aftermath of the worst maritime disaster on the Great Lakes.

The murals have transformed a residential alley into a vibrant drive-through gallery.

A century-old hotspot for jazz, frequented by everyone from Charlie Chaplin to Al Capone.

This 36-foot-tall bronze Lady Liberty holds a real flaming torch.

A miniature city built by a single hunchbacked monk.

Once one of the largest producers of pig iron in the world.

A unique book shop with a collection of rare tomes and a nostalgia museum.

A 56-foot tall statue of the god of fire looks out over Birmingham, Alabama.

The metal spire on the roof of this tower was intended as an airship docking station, but it was never actually used.

These ruins are all that's left of the former Alabama State Capitol.

The whimsical construction on the roof has given rise to many a Montgomery myth about its contents.