The city of Rockford, Illinois is symbolically protected by a quartet of fittingly stony sentinels.

Once known as the Illinois Asylum for the Incurable Insane.

The world's third-largest scale model of the planets.

A tribute to the twin ideals of religion and patriotism, built by a Catholic priest from rocks, glass, and innumerable found items.

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

The farm toy capital of the world hosts a museum filled with toy tractors dating back to the late 1800s.

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

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

Remnants of a quarry company town still stand on the banks of the Wapsipinicon River.

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

While there are no actual snakes in the history of this crooked road, there may be a number of dead horses.

The oldest university museum west of the Mississippi retains its 19th century feel.

A mysteriously dark cemetery monument fuels stories and legends galore.

The dream home of an iconoclastic renaissance man still stands as a monument to his domestically mundane vision.

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

A 30-foot man on a penny-farthing bicycle rides along the banks of the Mississippi.