A sprawling outdoor museum filled with larger-than-life works of art.

This national park dedicated to the tallgrass prairie ecosystem still displays its military past.

A historic and oft-filmed prison stands in a Chicago suburb.

What was once the second largest steel mill in the US is now a sprawling complex of modern ruins.

The palatial McDonald's that inspired Wesley Willis.

Partially submerged Buddha heads freckle Chicago’s neighborhoods.

This titanic Catholic church in Chicago is also a refuge of the fictional cult-favorite wizard detective Harry Dresden.

These chunky stone towers out in Lake Michigan are the key to Chicago’s drinking water.

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

No one knows how many bodies are in this vault in a Chicago public park.

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.

Former bath house turns gastropub.

The 30,000-volume library is one of the world's most impressive poetry collections.

The 606 is a decade in the making.

A beloved Chicago music venue offering cold beer and lots of “Friendly."

A hot dog stand where the heads are just as hot as the dogs.

Beloved bar home to musicians of all eras and reputations.

This historic hotel invented the chocolate brownie.

A Bibliophile's Dream.

A giant bronze coil of feces is both a tribute to doggie defecation and a reminder to pick it up.

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.

This shop for all your super spy needs hides an educational secret.

This morbid, delightful curiosity shop offers everything from animal bones to human teeth.