melissaraemarzen's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Washington, D.C.

Rayburn House Office Building

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

Washington Monument Marble Stripe

Look closely and you’ll notice that the color changes a third of the way up the tower.
Washington, D.C.

D.C. War Memorial

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

National Cathedral Bell Tower

There’s a special club house at the top for the bell ringers.
Washington, D.C.

The K-9 of the Korean War Veterans Memorial

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

International Spy Museum

Home to items never before seen by the public.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro Cathedral

This massive Brazilian church is built like an angular, technicolor pyramid left by Mayans from the future.
Council Bluffs, Iowa

Lincoln Monument of Council Bluffs

An obelisk commemorating Lincoln's role in connecting the coasts.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Cedar Rapids Municipal Island

One of just a few cities in the world to base their center of government on an island. Others: Paris and Osaka.
Anamosa, Iowa

Stone City

Remnants of a quarry company town still stand on the banks of the Wapsipinicon River.
What Cheer, Iowa

What Cheer

No one knows the origin of this small town’s unique name.
Pella, Iowa

Vermeer Windmill

An Iowa town celebrates its heritage with the tallest working Dutch windmill in North America.
Dubuque, Iowa

Dubuque Shot Tower

This long unused shot tower on the Mississippi remains a point of pride for a small city in Iowa.
Winterset, Iowa

John Wayne's Birthplace

This simple home was the beginning of a long journey for the iconic Western film star.
Sac City, Iowa

World's Largest Popcorn Ball

Eight feet in diameter and more than 24 feet around.
Adair, Iowa

Site of the First Train Robbery in the West

Lured here by the promise of tens of thousands in gold, Jesse James started a quintessentially American trend of robbing trains in-motion.
Brandon, Iowa

Iowa's Largest Frying Pan

The Iowa state contender for largest pan in the world oddly only comes in second or so.
Audubon, Iowa

Albert The Bull

The World's Largest Bull.
Ida Grove, Iowa

Castles of Ida Grove

An eclectic assortment of medieval architecture in a small Iowa town.
Mount Vernon, Iowa

American Gothic Barn

A hidden barn-sized rendition of Grant Wood's most famous, and most parodied, painting.
Dyersville, Iowa

Field of Dreams Movie Site

A pop-culture attraction outside of Dyersville, Iowa, hits a home run.
Walcott, Iowa

Iowa 80 Truck Stop

The world’s largest truck stop includes a barber shop, chiropractor, and a huge museum with antique trucks.
West Bend, Iowa

Father Paul Dobberstein's Grotto of the Redemption

A four story, football field-sized, nine-grotto creation made of shells, minerals, and rare stones.
Ames, Iowa

Elwood, the World's Tallest Concrete Gnome

Beating out all other concrete competitors, this massive garden feature's pointy hat has earned it a world record.