A little marble compass above George Washington's (empty) tomb in the Capitol marks where D.C.'s four quadrants intersect.

Corn-inthian columns with a uniquely American take on neoclassical architecture.

Members of Congress have traveled between the buildings on Capitol Hill for a century hidden from tourists, press, and storm clouds.

A museum cafe showcases Native American dishes and indigenous ingredients from across the Western Hemisphere.

This stunning blue and gold room changed cities twice before becoming part of the Smithsonian.

The story behind this beloved toy—named for Theodore Roosevelt and owned by his grandson—is more complicated than you might guess.

Look closely and you’ll notice that the color changes a third of the way up the tower.

A derelict bit of infrastructure from the canal that once ran through D.C. is landlocked in the heart of the city.

The 80-foot tire that looms over Michigan's I-94 was once a Ferris wheel in the New York World Fair.

In 2004, a Dave Matthews Band tour bus dumped 800 pounds of waste off a bridge and onto an unsuspecting tour boat below.

Four glass boxes hover over 1,000 feet in the air to give visitors an unparalleled view of Chicago.

This bronze sculpture on a former squash court marks the secret origins of the Atomic Age.

If astronomy had a ghost, it would look like this observatory.

Odd castle-like structures for collecting water sticking out of the Mississippi River.

The Old Courthouse takes visitors on a captivating trip through St. Louis' timeline.

Less a museum than a bizarre fantasy world created by artists and engineers.

The oldest soda fountain in St. Louis has been serving up treats for more than a century.

This is not your typical jungle gym.

What was meant to be a temporary exhibit is now a permanent fixture at the St. Louis Zoo filled with beautiful birds.

This titanic oil company sign is a reminder of the Americana boom of the 1970s and also its commoditization.

A commemoration of over 150 of St. Louis's favorite sons and daughters.

One of few surviving standpipe water towers in the U.S.

The Magic House provides a beautiful and creative environment for curious youngsters to get their knowledge on.

What was once a presidential estate is now an exotic menagerie and home to the Budweiser Clydesdales.