One of the last surviving C-97s sits in a field in front of a Wisconsin inn.

This cave holds a surprisingly colorful variety of geological oddities.

A bypass decorated with large wooden troll carvings.

A strange and haunting monument of unknown origin in the historic Graceland Cemetery.

A haunting statue called "Eternal Silence" has quite the reputation among visitors with active imaginations.

An enormous park-like oasis, full of famous Chicagoans' graves.

This whimsical Oz-themed park had a wonderful impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

The house is an iconic pilgrimage site for fans of the Illinois-based emo band.

A science teacher's dream.

This cemetery is all that remains of a school for "wayward" girls.

World's second largest particle accelerator, where nature reveals its secrets.

A tribute to one granddaughter's old apartment which now represents the whims of each visitor.

This monolithic statue was erected in honor of Chief Black Hawk (even if it wasn't made to look like him).

This lush 12-acre site was once named the finest Japanese garden in North America.

The city of Rockford, Illinois is symbolically protected by a quartet of fittingly stony sentinels.

This unassuming city park is home to three different types of Native American mounds.

This small-town opera house has appeared much more in national culture and history than its charming setting might suggest.

At Chicago's revered Field Museum, visitors are invited to learn about and literally explore DNA.

Years of archaeology, just chillin' by the water cooler.

This awkward aquarium sculpture is one of the strangest statues in Chicago.

These pretty kitties killed and ate as many as 135 railway workers.

Huge abstract sculptures of the Puerto Rican Flag.

Not to be confused with the iconic New York City skyscraper, this Chicago building is a vibrant hub for artists.

Once called the "Polish Gold Coast" it is an icon of the neighborhood that bears its same name.