Less a museum than a bizarre fantasy world created by artists and engineers.

European castle ruins in an American state park are actually the product of death and grief.

Even with its slightly risible name this colossal cross is still able to inspire awe.

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

A massive bur oak tree believed to be some 500 years old is the centerpiece of this quiet urban greenspace.

A mythical bird etched into the face of a rock doubles as the mascot for a nearby school.

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

It was originally part of a "terrible lizards" collection at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.

This life-size bronze statue remembers the tallest recorded human in his Illinois hometown.

Man-made geyser that rises to the exact height of the Gateway Arch.

Its eclectic exhibits range from the world’s first motorcycle to Luke Skywalker’s Land Speeder.

To find the "unicorns of the deep" you've got to go downstairs.

In the loving memory of a tragically deceased role-player this Illinois park is decked out with both dungeons and dragons.

In the Shawnee National Forest, amazing rock formations peer through the treeline.

You have to love a museum with a truly dedicated focus. A focus on Superman, for example.

You can take a class, browse the library, or visit the lavish lair of an international men's humor society.

Buy a token from the liquor store and you can make this beast spew flames on command.

A notorious Route 66 eatery once frequented by Al Capone.

When you visit his grave, be sure to rub the Great Emancipator's nose for good luck.

The world's largest collection of the world's largest objects is in one small Illinois town.

Once one of the world's great cities, Cahokia was a place of religious worship, trade and mass human sacrifice before being mysteriously abandoned.

This modest post office sits on the site of H.H. Holmes' famous murder castle.

River pirates, murderous bandits, and serial killers used this Illinois cave as their debauched hideout.

Chicago's largest cemetery is full of beautiful Victorian monuments and more than a few ghost stories.