Sphinxwick's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Loading map...
Washington, D.C.

National Museum of Crime and Punishment

America's Most Wanted's set resides in this tribute to the history of crime and punishment.
Washington, D.C.

Washington Mini Monument

There's a 12-foot-tall replica of the Washington Monument hidden under a manhole nearby.
Washington, D.C.

International Spy Museum

Home to items never before seen by the public.
Alexandria, Virginia

South Boundary Stone of Washington, DC

America's first federal monument.
Alexandria, Virginia

Torpedo Factory Art Center

A former major munitions plant that has been converted into a sprawling art space.
Alexandria, Virginia

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

An original apothecary from 1792.
St. Louis, Missouri

World Chess Hall of Fame

A chessmaster's dream destination.
Ollantaytambo, Peru

Ollantaytambo Ruins

Preserved Inca city and site of the last Inca stronghold against the Spanish conquistadors.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Gettysburg Cyclorama

A dramatic, 360-degree recreation of Pickett's Charge in the Civil War.
Washington, D.C.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Largest Roman Catholic church in North America.
Washington, D.C.

The Exorcist Stairs

The site of the climactic scene from the classic horror film is now a historic landmark.
Clayton, Georgia

"Eye of God" Rapid, Chattooga River

A curious whirlpool formation supposedly capable of entangling or engulfing branches, tree trunks, or whole rafts full of hapless tourists.
Batavia, Illinois

Fabyan Windmill

Arguably the best example of an authentic Dutch windmill in the United States, rivaling its counterparts in the Netherlands.
Arlington, Virginia

Rosslyn Metro Escalator

At 207 feet, one of the world's longest continuous escalators.
Alton, Illinois

Piasa Bird

A mythical bird etched into the face of a rock doubles as the mascot for a nearby school.
Istanbul, Turkey

Miniaturk

Large miniature theme park with 100-plus models.
Batavia, Illinois

Fermilab

World's second largest particle accelerator, where nature reveals its secrets.
Arcola, Illinois

Rockome Gardens - An Amish Themepark

You were once able to challenge a chicken to tic-tac-toe at this park, which is now converted into the Aikman Wildlife Adventure.
Collinsville, Illinois

World's Largest Catsup Bottle

Quirky water tower advertises the long-gone Brooks Tomato Products Co.
Collinsville, Illinois

Cahokia Mounds

Once one of the world's great cities, Cahokia was a place of religious worship, trade and mass human sacrifice before being mysteriously abandoned.
St. Louis, Missouri

Old St. Louis County Courthouse

The Old Courthouse takes visitors on a captivating trip through St. Louis' timeline.
St. Louis, Missouri

Lemp Mansion

A historic house in St. Louis was plagued by a series of suicides committed by family members involved in a successful brewery.
Florissant, Missouri

Old St. Ferdinand Shrine

A wax effigy of St. Valentine hides one of the saint's relics.
St. Louis, Missouri

Grant's Farm

What was once a presidential estate is now an exotic menagerie and home to the Budweiser Clydesdales.