Corn-inthian columns with a uniquely American take on neoclassical architecture.

One critic described it as "middle Mussolini, early Ramses, and late Neiman-Marcus." Another called it an architectural "natural disaster."

A Looff creation in Santa Monica best described as “a California-Byzantine-Moorish-style fantasy.”

A derelict bit of infrastructure from the canal that once ran through D.C. is landlocked in the heart of the city.

With its peeling paint and faded sign, this theater-turned-recycling plant is a nostalgic relic of 1950s Americana.

An overlooked memorial honoring the local Washington residents who died in World War I.

The little-known, 300-year history of the area includes former lives as a bustling tobacco port, parking lot, and industrial dump.

Senators used to relax in the nearly forgotten marble tubs now hidden in the U.S. Capitol Building's basement.

Before it was abandoned and left to rust alongside the road, this riverboat starred in a John Wayne movie.

While most wind tunnels test scale models, the "Cave of Winds" was large enough for actual airplanes.

A dry lake is what remains of a community founded on a real estate scam.

A second generation sun-powered marvel lights up the night.

This futuristic bridge is one of the longest self-anchored pedestrian bridges in the world.

A reminder to choose water over wine since 1888.

Hidden beneath a lake for decades, this brutalist mine has now emerged from beneath the receding waters.

A lighthouse built to save lives that took quite a few with its treacherous location.

Seven ceramic sculptures are scattered around this California college campus.

This robust fence in front of a historic Georgetown home is likely made from hundreds of recycled Revolutionary War firearms.

The awe-inspiring ship from the golden era of cruising has an incomparable history and a reputation as one of the world’s most haunted places.

The home of aviation trailblazers, in a remote corner of the big city.

These four islands right offshore have waterfalls, colorful lights, fancy buildings, and a secret purpose.

This castle-like building in Manhattan helped destigmatize cancer in the 19th century.

Those with a sharp eye can find the hidden image of a German Shepherd on the memorial's Mural Wall.

This anonymous businessman sculpted in bronze became an enduring memorial after 9/11, and had been mistaken by rescue workers for a survivor in the rubble.