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All the United States Illinois Chicago

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Chicago

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

Updated May 14, 2026

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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Unusual Attractions in Chicago

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.
The newly restored Tiffany Dome.

Chicago, Illinois

Tiffany Dome

This massive stained-glass masterpiece is thought to be the largest Tiffany dome in existence.
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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.
This is what Myopic books looks like.

Chicago, Illinois

Myopic Books

A Bibliophile's Dream.
See All 169 Things To Do in Chicago

Upcoming Events in Chicago

Bloodrave

Concert

Bloodrave

Industrial beats, live guitars, and immersive visuals collide for a night where techno and darkness pulse in every corner.

Sat, Oct 17

Sleeping Village — Chicago

Sat, Oct 17
Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park — University Park

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Sat, Oct 17
133 W 13th St — Lockport

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Fri, Oct 23
Lincoln Park Zoo — Chicago

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Chicago

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.

Discover your next hidden gem with the Gastro Obscura
Newsletter—your guide to extraordinary food and drink.

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See all 13 Places to Eat in Chicago
In partnership with GetYourGuide

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

Architecture 25
Museums 19
Shops 17
Architectural Oddities 17
Art 14
History 13
Sculptures 13
Statues 11
Collections 11
Unique Restaurants & Bars 11
Monuments 10
Cemeteries 7
Abandoned 7
Film 7
Parks 7
Aletrail 6
Ecosystems 6
Intriguing Environs 6
Plants 6
Ruins 5
Places To Stay 2

Chicago Leaderboard

Places Added

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    7
  2. Elliot Carter profile photo
    Elliot Carter
    6
  3. Paul Dailing profile photo
    Paul Dailing
    5
  4. Tim Stafford profile photo
    Tim Stafford
    5
  5. Anthony Settipani profile photo
    Anthony Settipani
    4

Places Edited

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    28
  2. B Blue Jay Away profile photo
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    25
  3. Collector of Experiences profile photo
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    20
  4. Gerard Nolan profile photo
    Gerard Nolan
    19
  5. IronQueen profile photo
    IronQueen
    19

Places Visited

  1. kevbot profile photo
    kevbot
    156
  2. S sheilacostelloe profile photo
    sheilacostelloe
    143
  3. Collector of Experiences profile photo
    Collector of Experiences
    139
  4. apbreuhan profile photo
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    138
  5. E eliaszafrane profile photo
    eliaszafrane
    136

Recent Chicago Activity

  • F followme3223 profile photo

    followme3223

    wants to go to Bohemian National Cemetery

  • F followme3223 profile photo

    followme3223

    wants to go to Rosehill Cemetery

  • F followme3223 profile photo

    followme3223

    wants to go to Essanay Studios

  • F followme3223 profile photo

    followme3223

    wants to go to Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities

  • E emilyyarbrough01 profile photo

    emilyyarbrough01

    wants to go to Medieval Torture Museum

Stories About Chicago

Graceland Cemetery.

Prowling for Coyotes in Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery

After losing her childhood dog to a pack of coyotes, Radiolab’s Lulu Miller sets out to learn more about their true nature.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
June 17, 2025
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, Atlas Obscura
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, Atlas Obscura
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, Atlas Obscura
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, Atlas Obscura
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, Atlas Obscura
June 5, 2023

Podcast: The Hampton House

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

Podcast: Green Mill Jazz Club

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

Lists Featuring Chicago

The fern garden.
The newly restored Tiffany Dome.
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

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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