From failed port town to Civil War fort, the ruins of this former defense saw their finest day in the television age.

Forget Hollywood, one of the biggest stars in the world can be found in Roanoke, Virginia.

This bright yellow relic is the final survivor of a short burst of seashell-shaped petrol pumps.

The 15-foot-wide, 2-ton pan fries hundreds of chickens once a year.

One of the few surviving original NASCAR dirt-track speedways.

This research center for rare prosimians is studying how they sleep to help prolong human life.

In a pedestrian tunnel on North Carolina State’s campus resides an expressive and artistic free-for-all.

A giant cement churn carries the legacy of American resilience, unity, and greed.

Eighteenth century house of the mysterious "Father of Raleigh."

Formerly the most gerrymandered district in the U.S., it twisted and turned along racial borders.

This historic sunny-yellow building has an unfortunate connection to the sinking of the Titanic.

An early life spent in this "Old Kentucky Home" inspired the writings of North Carolina's most famous novelist.

An annual celebration of the region's successful elk reintroduction program.

A water pumping station disguised as a residential home to assuage concerned neighbors now tricks most passersby.

This winding road of 318 curves is a must-visit for (careful) motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts.

So many migrating birds roost on the bridge, it has a special summer speed limit.

This giant iron playfully pays tribute to an early 20th-century architectural trend.

A museum dedicated to the legacy of Bob Moog and his pioneering synthesizers.

The North Carolina grounds are leased in perpetuity to the British Commonwealth for as long as the WWII sailors are buried there.

A Nessie-like monster supposedly lurks in this lake.

A maritime museum holding the remains of Blackbeard's pirate ship.

This too-low North Carolina railroad trestle is still a notorious big rig executioner.

Rural churches in the middle of nowhere with religious frescoes by famous artist.

This roadside attraction has been serving out its fair share of hearty folklore and chaos since 1858.