Washington, D.C.
Lincoln Book Tower
A three-story tower of books about Abraham Lincoln is one of the more unusual monuments to the president.
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Places I've been
Places this traveler has marked as been there.
Washington, D.C.
National Building Museum
Fittingly, America's museum of architecture is itself a magnificently designed old building.
Washington, D.C.
Summerhouse
A hidden gem on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
Washington, D.C.
The Capitol Stones
Enormous piles of historically significant stones, dumped by Congress in a forest, and abandoned for 60 years.
Washington, D.C.
National Bonsai Museum
One of the dwarven trees dates back to 1625 and survived the Hiroshima bombing.
Washington, D.C.
The Exorcist Stairs
The site of the climactic scene from the classic horror film is now a historic landmark.
Washington, D.C.
National Capitol Columns
The Corinthian columns that towered over Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration stand proud.
New York, New York
West Terrace at the Cloisters
This hidden oasis features a stunning view of the Hudson River and the Palisades from a castle-like museum.
Permanently Closed
New York, New York
Site of the Pan Am Helipad
This Manhattan skyscraper is a reminder of the brief but glorious age of urban air taxis.
New York, New York
Wild Bird Fund
New York City's only wildlife rehabilitation center treats more than 3,000 feathered and furry patients each year.
New York, New York
The Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
The home of the first American-born saint is one of the only curved buildings in New York.
Brooklyn, New York
'The Dinner Party'
This enormous banquet-themed artwork honors over 1,000 notable women throughout history.
New York, New York
Sakagura
More than 250 sakes are available in an izakaya hidden in the basement of a Midtown office building.
New York, New York
Survivor Tree
The last living thing to come out of the rubble after 9/11 is now a symbol of hope and resilience.
New York, New York
The Cross at Ground Zero
Pulled from the rubble of one of the worst modern tragedies, a steel crossbeam became a symbol of hope for New Yorkers.
New York, New York
Relics of the IRT 14th Street-Union Square Subway Local Platform
Red frames showcase remnants of one of New York's original subway stations.
New York, New York
New York Cancer Hospital
This castle-like building in Manhattan helped destigmatize cancer in the 19th century.
New York, New York
Gay Liberation
The first piece of public art dedicated to LGBT rights.
Queens, New York
The Noguchi Museum
A self-made museum in Queens, New York continues to display the work of a sculptor known for paving his own way.
New York, New York
The Ziegfeld Head
The front yard of an Upper East Side town house hides the last fragment of one of New York's most famous theatres.
New York, New York
Padre Pio Shrine
Church in Manhattan holds the bloody sock of Padre Pio, among with many other unusual relics.
New York, New York
Museum of Chinese in America
This small New York museum examines Chinese history from its origins right up to its arrival in the city.
New York, New York
41 Cooper Square
This exemplar of modernist architecture is meant to captivate and inspire students of the Cooper Union.
New York, New York
Grand Central Ceiling Dark Patch
A dark patch of the ceiling at Grand Central Terminal which was not restored is still stained brown by tobacco.
