Controversially claiming the title of world's biggest bass drum, UT's Big Bertha was once made radioactive by the Manhattan Project.

This simple frog painting created by musician Daniel Johnston embodies the spirit of Austin.

The world's tallest statue of an American hero.

A high-octane shrine to the greatest Texans who ever lived.

Witness to many historic moments in early Texas history.

Locals dubbed it the "Owl Building" because of its bird-like appearance.

A small island hides in plain sight on Austin's Lady Bird Lake.

A "Texanic" (gigantic Texas) collection of Art Deco architecture at Dallas' historic Fair Park.

The upstairs reading room is packed with millions of rare books, literary manuscripts, and historical treasures.

Some islands... they come, they go, especially on Lake Travis.

The peaceful space is adorned by paintings by the famed abstract artist Mark Rothko.

255 feet of suds, scrubbers, and blow dryers.

A 131-year-old wunderkammer of Texas history.

A health museum containing a 27’’½-foot intestine.

An abandoned quicksilver mining town surrounded by the Big Bend parks.

Free public park and gardens filled with peacocks and peahens.

An enormous pink granite batholith, long attributed with spiritual powers by the Tonkawa Indians.

Mysterious glowing orbs float through the desert night.

One part antique store, one part curiosities hodge-podge.

Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, estimated at 1.5 million bats.

Legend has it the commander of the defenders drew a fateful line in the dirt with his sword just before the final battle.

This former coal gasification plant found a curious second life as a popular public park.

A museum dedicated to the history and exploration of both popular music and science fiction.

A 100-year-old purveyor of curiosities, curios, and kitsch featuring mummies, shrunken heads, and a Fiji Mermaid.