This surprising gem is a world-class archeological museum hidden at the University of Chicago.

Each of these gorgeous, intricately decorated rooms is painstakingly crafted to the scale of 1 inch: 1 foot.

This unauthorized stone mermaid was secretly carved out of public stone before being permanently preserved.

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.

A late sculptor's last project was to turn this abandoned cement factory into a castle-themed amusement park.

This museum located in the "Corn Cob Pipe Capital of the World," chronicles the history of cob pipe.

This museum presents a dogged pursuit of 500 years of veterinary history.

Thousands of small machines line the shelves of this personal collection which definitely delivers on its name.

Where the author wrote her beloved "Little House" books.

A big museum full of little worlds.

The red brick house where the father of rock 'n' roll wrote some of his classic hits.

The world's largest collection of fine-scale miniatures and one the nation's largest collections of antique toys.

The maximum security facility was once thought to have "the bloodiest 47 acres in America."

A creepy sculpture of a decapitated head invites viewers to see St. Louis through its empty eyes.

400 million-year old limestone caverns nestled in the Ozarks served as shelter and a hideout for cultures throughout North American history.

This abandoned prison castle has become an imposing gallery of graffiti art.

What appears to be a wizard's lair in Milwaukee actually houses a massive water pipe.

This unique zoo is the only place in the world where you can see all 15 species of crane.

One Austrian's singular yard is now preserved as a folk art garden of concrete wonders.

Whimsical sculptures dot a woodland path surrounding their creator's old summer cottage.

This quirky museum has a collection of more than 15,000 bobblehead dolls.

This supper-club-turned-concert-venue still serves drinks at its original rotating bar.

A circus of light and sound forms a sensory ode to an iconic train that will never pass through town again.

A lovely hidden waterfall right off the highway is well worth a stop.