Internationally known record store and purveyor of "dusties."

A Japanese temple, old German townhouses, and public chess tables offer a peaceful escape from the bustle of the North Side.

Where old school Polish Chicago and young hipster Chicago live side by side.

The faint remains of a Polish news empire still linger.

Odd, decrepit fountain honors Chicago author who had mixed feelings about his hometown.

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

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

In a quiet north Chicago neighborhood rests a stunning relic of the golden age of earthenware design.

One of the last functioning antique elevators in Chicago.

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

The carved remains of a 200-year-old oak tree memorialize the namesake of the iconic "Wizard of Oz" character.

This abandoned 19th century orphanage started as a boarding school for children of Civil War veterans.

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

This cheerfully-named branch of the Chicago River is the fetid result of years of blood, entrails, and meatpacking waste.

These abandoned grain silos and tunnels are an urban exploration dream.

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

What was once the second largest steel mill in the US is now a sprawling complex of modern ruins.

The empty tomb that houses the memories of Roy Bertelli's revenge.

One of the largest carillons in the world, this giant instrument has 67 cast-iron bells played by a keyboard.

The final resting place of the businessman-turned-astronomer who helped discover Pluto stands near his observatory.

Who said a biker bar is no place for a taxidermy squirrel collection?

The red brick house where the father of rock 'n' roll wrote some of his classic hits.

A chessmaster's dream destination.

This is not your typical jungle gym.