Most historians agree that the so-called "Gentleman Pirate" wasn't much of either of those things.

Thirteen pastel palaces in downtown Charleston add a gorgeous splash of color to the city.

A stack of stones steeped in Irish folklore, much like the hero they're connected to, hide in plain sight.

Oldest unrestored plantation house in America that is open to the public.

Charleston's historic city jail once held everyone from pirates to Civil War POWs.

South Carolina's last remaining slavery auction house is now a museum devoted to its own tragic history.

Partially submerged Buddha heads freckle Chicago’s neighborhoods.

A disconnected rotary phone for "calling" lost loved ones offered a unique way of dealing with grief in disaster-stricken Japan.

One of the few remaining casualties of the London Blitz, this destroyed church has become an enchanting public garden.

The world's largest collection of the world's largest objects is in one small Illinois town.

America's smallest town is run by its single citizen/mayor/librarian/bartender.

An avant garde art museum at the University of Chicago.

An antiquated German apothecary on Chicago's North Side.

A beloved Chicago music venue offering cold beer and lots of “Friendly."

Not to be confused with the iconic New York City skyscraper, this Chicago building is a vibrant hub for artists.

One of the last functioning antique elevators in Chicago.

Beloved bar home to musicians of all eras and reputations.

A bloodstain from "the wound of the transverberation of the heart."

Combination beer garden and music venue in the heart of Wicker Park.

Nonprofit art center that promotes outsider, intuitive, and self-taught art.

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.

The palatial McDonald's that inspired Wesley Willis.

This urban drawbridge gained eternal pop culture fame when the Blues Brothers jumped it while it was raised.

What was once one of the country's largest confectionary plants is now an abandoned ruin, but is still pretty sweet.