The 5.5-mile ring of steel posts around the Capitol Building is one of the largest (and most uniform) of its kind in the world.

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

Legend has it that President Grant’s frequent drinking in the lobby gave rise to the term “lobbyist.”

Fittingly, America's museum of architecture is itself a magnificently designed old building.

Fragments of architectural wonders from around the globe are embedded in the newspaper building's walls.

The palatial McDonald's that inspired Wesley Willis.

This historic hotel invented the chocolate brownie.

This cemetery has graves dating back to the 17th century, including the city's oldest carved tombstone and an ominous cryptogram.

This titanic oil company sign is a reminder of the Americana boom of the 1970s and also its commoditization.

The first car-centric shopping plaza in the U.S. brought a little bit of Spain to downtown Kansas City.

Four, 18-foot-tall badminton shuttlecocks lie scattered about the lawn of a Kansas City museum.

The maximum security facility was once thought to have "the bloodiest 47 acres in America."

A geological oddity formed by two rivers carving out a mass of limestone on both sides.

Like Stonehenge, but with boats and oodles more charm.

Curious cave that stays a cool 56 degrees all year long.