This lighthouse was witness to the end of WWII hostilities and now collects creepy cairns.

As state highpoints go, this spot is one of the lowest, but for years it was also the hardest to climb.

In all of the 29 years it was in operation, no prisoners ever escaped successfully... or so they claim.

These old stone ruins in the Oregon wilderness were once bathrooms and are steeped in legends of murder.

A working miniature city designed to teach kids about safety and presumably city planning.

Elevated freight railway turned wildly successful urban park.

The installation’s official name, “You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies,” says it all.

Pillars made of 700 pieces of luggage climb to the ceiling of Sacramento Airport's baggage claim.

Wedding chapel's mysterious spiral staircase said to be miraculously constructed.

A sprawling collection of over 106,000 toys from around the world.

Jail from the 19th century that was built by inmates.

A small section of Boise, Idaho maintains the unique culture and traditions of the Basque people.

Pyramid home to an obscure religious group that practices modern mummification.

The location along the shores of the Great Salt Lake of what was once called, "The Coney Island of the West", now sits barren due to arson and time.

An earthwork sculpture built by Robert Smithson in the Great Salt Lake only reemerges during drought.

A former gold rush boomtown has managed to stay in business for over 100 ramshackle years.

These black pillars of volcanic basalt seem to call mountain climbers with an unbreakable siren song.

The oldest continually used church in Minneapolis also sells great meat pies.

Downtown Minneapolis mixed art and function by turning some of their sewer covers into works of art.

A bronze statue on a downtown corner honors Minneapolis's favorite career gal.

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

Eight "Guardians of Health" protect this art deco water tower from pollutants and bacteria.

This iconic water tower and failed bandstand is open for panoramic views once a year.

The Midwest's reigning king of surplus stores is full of nothing you need and everything you want.