Places bryanwoerner Wants to Go

Decades' worth of lost and forgotten objects make up the collection of this tantalizingly odd little museum.

Charlie Smith was almost certainly not 137 years old when he died, but why let that get in the way of a great story?

This site in Caldwell County is the location where the Cherokee and Catawba are said to have entered a peace treaty.

This cave system allegedly holds the "metallic library" of a lost ancient civilization.

A memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives working in what is now a massive tourist attraction.

Somewhat controversial when first unveiled, this gathering of sea creatures has become a hidden gem.

In the city forest of Augsburg are oval, artificial ponds formed from a World War II bombing campaign.

Spectacular mineral formations fill these caves, which have been used for everything from smoking meat to stashing illicit liquor.

A toweringly silly piece of modern art has been delighting locals since the 1980s.

This iconic L.A. bookshop is housed in an abandoned bank—both symbolic and chic.

A frozen oasis lies beneath the scorching New Mexico desert.

This general store is more than a century old and home to various oddities and antiques.

A pre-Industrial Age iron furnace and the site of a nearly-forgotten piece of Black history.

A pyramid commemorates the birthplace of James Buchanan, the 15th president of the United States

A retired firefighter created this contraption so he and his family wouldn't die if accidentally buried alive.

A creek tumbles over a series of step-like rocks to create this scenic water feature.

In the town of Åtvidaberg, the midday sun sets off a loud cannon boom.

A museum entirely dedicated to the evolution of mining lamps.

Metal water storage tank turned ethereal concert hall.

This fantastical house shaped like a seashell brings aquatic design to architecture.

This stimulating sex toy museum is sure to arouse the interest of its visitors.

A monument to Lenin has been transformed into a statue of everyone's favorite black-helmeted, fool-choking Sith Lord.

When it was built in 1929, this historic bridge was the only place to cross the Colorado River for 600 miles.

A museum dedicated to linguistics, from how babies learn to talk to endangered and extinct languages.