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

A goddess-topped water fountain in Chicago was created thanks to the dreams of a thirsty newsboy.

This awkward aquarium sculpture is one of the strangest statues in Chicago.

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

Once called the "Polish Gold Coast" it is an icon of the neighborhood that bears its same name.

Home to a protest movement, a bombing, and a dramatic change in labor history.

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

This historic hotel invented the chocolate brownie.

A hollow cement depiction of time's inexorable effect on the human body.

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

A dark patch of the ceiling at Grand Central Terminal which was not restored is still stained brown by tobacco.

A historic 1890s architectural masterpiece with an iconic clock tower that, once open to the public, now faces an uncertain future.

This sculpture by artist Fritz Keonig survived the 9/11 attacks and now stands as a monument to the victims.

Whisper secrets in a busy station only to be heard on the other side of this acoustic arch.

Boise State's stadium was the first non-green football field in the world.

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

The largest outdoor art gallery in the Northwest United States.

This pop-culture shop also offers the chance to become part of their favorite tv show or movie.

A bygone village occupation lives on via this quaint public chalkboard.

A flamboyantly decorated bridge signals diversity and fellowship at the entry to Indianapolis' Broad Ripple Village.

You thought Santa Claus didn't exist, but it turns out you were wrong.

The lecture hall where Alexander Graham Bell first demonstrated the long-distance phone call.

The author's beautiful and historic home is also a fully functioning goat farm.

A petroglyph map of the upper Snake River carved by prehistoric hunter-gatherers.