This lab's maddening silence is good for business but bad for sanity.

A massive bur oak tree believed to be some 500 years old is the centerpiece of this quiet urban greenspace.

In the Shawnee National Forest, amazing rock formations peer through the treeline.

This titanic Catholic church in Chicago is also a refuge of the fictional cult-favorite wizard detective Harry Dresden.

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

A historic and oft-filmed prison stands in a Chicago suburb.

Built in 1869, this now-retired structure looks more like a medieval fortress than a county lock-up.

Roses and other fascinating flora fill this garden built to commemorate Britain's immortal Bard.

In a grove of fast growing walnut trees outside Paris, Illinois, a marker shares the story of a fictional road building culture.

One of the most powerful computers in the world can be visited by anyone who wants to experience more computing than they can handle.

A hidden grotto on the grounds of the Kane County Government Center.

This cemetery is all that remains of a school for "wayward" girls.

A historic beacon built in the aftermath of the worst maritime disaster on the Great Lakes.

An actual 1957 Cadillac De Ville, encased in 15 cubic yards of concrete.

This tiny historic jail along Route 66 is the perfect fit for exactly one criminal and their partner-in-crime.

No one knows how many bodies are in this vault in a Chicago public park.

In the loving memory of a tragically deceased role-player this Illinois park is decked out with both dungeons and dragons.

Man-made geyser that rises to the exact height of the Gateway Arch.

Today this bizarre rooftop phone booth seems like a piece of kitsch but it was once used to spot disastrous storms.

This bronze sculpture on a former squash court marks the secret origins of the Atomic Age.

First known as the "Sample House," this construction mash-up was meant to be a living catalogue of building styles.

This landmark of the Chicago silent film industry may not be in the picture business anymore but it still stands proudly.

One-of-a-kind preserved ruins of an abandoned 1880s church in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.

A plaque marks a former safe house on the secret route, now hidden next to a McDonald's.