A tiny town in an empty lot was the work of a local eight-year-old.

In 1958, an MIT fraternity pledge laid down on this bridge and instituted a new, unique unit of measurement.

Each of these gorgeous, intricately decorated rooms is painstakingly crafted to the scale of 1 inch: 1 foot.

A 400-foot-tall tall map of Chicago makes this once-ignored building stand out.

The last masonry skyscraper ever built reveals a transitional moment in architectural history.

A lush green oasis in the middle of Chicago.

Not to be confused with the iconic New York City skyscraper, this Chicago building is a vibrant hub for artists.

Partially submerged Buddha heads freckle Chicago’s neighborhoods.

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.

A gothic church spire sits atop this skyscraper, the tallest church in the world.

An enormous park-like oasis, full of famous Chicagoans’ graves.

A haunting statue called "Eternal Silence" has quite the reputation among visitors with active imaginations.

From bench to vandalism to art, this silly prank seat was funny enough to become permanent.

The only remaining historic maritime signal station in the United States.

This propitious plastic porcine has been petitioning park visitors to pick up after themselves for more than 50 years.

This small glass cube is a peaceful out-of-the-way sanctuary at the busy airport.

A historic bridge with a lovely acoustic anomaly.

The unluckiest U-boat in the entire German fleet is now on display in a Chicago museum.

Finally, you don't have to be a pious Swedish seaman to relax like one.

Whimsical cookie-themed plaques mark the birthplace of the Fig Newton.

Solar powered Spectacle Island features all-green facilities.

Hill-like structures formed by glaciers and sandy spits of land.

Trash escaped from a landfill to fill beaches with all kinds of treasure.

This evocatively named natural crevasse was created by a torrent of water that smashed right through a granite deposit.