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The fading padded walls on dispay in a cell of the prison.
National Human Rights Museum
Hammering Man
The beef, Guinness, and oyster pie sports a rich, flaky crust.
The Guinea
Herzgruft 'Heart Crypt'
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The beef, Guinness, and oyster pie sports a rich, flaky crust.
The Guinea
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Tamesis Dock
This may be the oldest pie in the world.
St Helens 'Oldest Pie' at The Turks Head
The Southampton Arms focuses on small beer and cider producers in the U.K.
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The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
5 days ago
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In Norway, Easter Means Tucking Into Crime Stories
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From left to right: krachai, galangal, ginger.
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All the United States Illinois Chicago

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Chicago

159 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Chicago, Illinois

Updated April 14, 2025

Thereʼs more than wind in the metropolis of the Midwest. Fascinating foods, marvelous museums, and an actual 1957 Cadillac De Ville encased in 15 cubic yards of concrete. This place has everything.

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Attractions
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Unusual Attractions in Chicago

Tin Man at Oz Park.

Chicago, Illinois

Oz Park

This whimsical Oz-themed park had a wonderful impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities

Chicago, Illinois

Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities

This morbid, delightful curiosity shop offers everything from animal bones to human teeth.

Chicago, Illinois

Tiffany Dome

This massive stained-glass masterpiece is thought to be the largest Tiffany dome in existence.
The fern garden.

Chicago, Illinois

Garfield Park Conservatory

A lush green oasis in the middle of Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois

Willis Tower Glass Platform

Four glass boxes hover over 1,000 feet in the air to give visitors an unparalleled view of Chicago.
Shit Fountain

Chicago, Illinois

Shit Fountain

A giant bronze coil of feces is both a tribute to doggie defecation and a reminder to pick it up.

Chicago, Illinois

The Violet Hour

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.
This is what Myopic books looks like.

Chicago, Illinois

Myopic Books

A Bibliophile's Dream.
See All 159 Things To Do in Chicago

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

The Violet Hour

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.
Frozen strawberry with wasabi

Chicago, Illinois

Alinea Restaurant

The subtle science of a master molecular gastronomist.
The hotel lobby

Chicago, Illinois

Palmer House Hilton

This historic hotel invented the chocolate brownie.

Chicago, Illinois

Rainbo Club

Beloved bar home to musicians of all eras and reputations.
See all 12 Places to Eat in Chicago
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

A Feminist Road Trip Across the U.S.

Atlas Obscura has a tradition of exploring the stories of women who changed the world, from wildlife biologists and mountain climbers to Civil War spies and tattoo artists. To celebrate these daring women who struck out on their own, we’ve put together a cross-country road trip. Over 12 stops and more than 3,000 miles, this route will give you a front-row seat to women’s history in America.

View Itinerary

Explore Chicago, Illinois

159
Architecture 24
Museums 17
Shops 17
Architectural Oddities 16
Art 14
History 13
Statues 11
Collections 11
Unique Restaurants & Bars 11
Sculptures 10
Monuments 10
Film 7
Places To Stay 2

Chicago Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Rebekah Otto
    8
  2. lizzieboyle
    7
  3. Elliot Carter
    6
  4. Paul Dailing
    5
  5. Tim Stafford
    5

Places Edited

  1. mocchiatto
    25
  2. Blue Jay Away
    25
  3. Gerard Nolan
    19
  4. IronQueen
    19
  5. Collector of Experiences
    17
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. kevbot
    145
  2. apbreuhan
    133
  3. eliaszafrane
    131
  4. sheilacostelloe
    126
  5. doptroutman
    124

Recent Chicago Activity

  • knottyscholar

    has been to 'Nuclear Energy'

    about 22 hours ago
  • knottyscholar

    has been to Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures

    about 22 hours ago
  • sburgess8576

    wants to go to Myopic Books

    about 22 hours ago
  • johansson999

    has been to Bob Newhart Statue

    about 20 hours ago
  • johansson999

    has been to Aircraft Carriers of Navy Pier

    about 20 hours ago

Stories About Chicago

One of the many stands vending orange cider at the fair.

The Hottest Drink of the 1893 World's Fair Was an Artificial Orange 'Cider'

"You're drinking something that some guy just cobbled together out of Lake Michigan water and food dye.”
by Anne Ewbank
March 25, 2024
Taken at West Lawn Park, near Chicago’s Midway International Airport, this photo shows one of the city’s many “Astronomer Joe” fan bases.

‘Astro Joe’ Invites Chicagoans To Gaze at the Night Sky

Self-taught astronomer, Joe Guzman has been educating Chicago residents about space for decades.
by Jonathan Feakins
March 15, 2024
Nicknamed the “Christmas Tree Boat,” the evergreen-laden Rouse Simmons disappeared beneath Lake Michigan waters in November 1912.

The ‘Christmas Tree Boat’ Shipwreck That Devastated 1912 Chicagoans

Marine archaeologists are beginning to understand what really happened to Captain Santa's ill-fated ship.
by Jonathan Feakins
December 13, 2023
This 1962 cover of Official Detective features a Halloween candy poisoner at work.

Why Halloween’s ‘Poison Candy’ Myth Endures

Even though we know better.
by Jennifer Byrne
October 19, 2023

Podcast: Fairy Castle

A famous 1920s actress left the world a lasting piece of art: a remarkable miniature home.
by The Podcast Team
June 5, 2023

Podcast: The Hampton House

Inside the childhood home of a civil rights icon.
by The Podcast Team
February 28, 2023

Podcast: Green Mill Jazz Club

Home to more than a century of music history and unlimited stories.
by The Podcast Team
January 16, 2023

Podcast: Chicago Bridge Houses

Where the Windy City's drawbridge operators nestled in, at the bases of their places of work.
by The Podcast Team
January 10, 2023

Lists Featuring Chicago

The fern garden.
The Henry Rokham House

14 Surprisingly Romantic Places in Chicago

The most interesting spots to spend Valentine's Day in the Windy City.

15

Including Garfield Park Conservatory, Tiffany Dome, and The Violet Hour

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

Palmer Tomb
Entrance to Bohemian National Cemetery. (Wikimedia Commons)
Confederate Mound.

Unique Cemeteries in Chicago

Strange and fascinating graveyards to visit in the Second City.

7

Including Rosehill Cemetery, Graceland Cemetery, and Bohemian National Cemetery

Shop window of Merz Apothecary.
Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities
This is what Myopic books looks like.

7 Cool Shops in Chicago

Wonderfully unique stores to visit in the Second City.

7

Including Merz Apothecary, Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities, and Myopic Books

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