Places Mortuarism Wants to Go

A frozen oasis lies beneath the scorching New Mexico desert.

A museum devoted entirely to the rattlesnakes and snake-related art.

All that remains of this abandoned coal town is a beautiful, haunting cemetery.

A saloon and inn that served the Wild West's most iconic figures—and is still haunted by some of them today.

The winter home of thousands of beautiful snow geese and sandhill cranes.

One of the American Southwest's most extensive collections of Navajo rock art.

The official atomic museum of the United States explores the explosive and productive history of a much maligned energy source.

Eat like pre-Columbian Native Americans in this New Mexico restaurant within the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

A multi-storied adobe complex has been inhabited for more than a thousand years.

A phenomenal assembly of pueblos in New Mexico is the most complete example of ancient ruins north of the border.

This fast-food outlet is the only space and UFO-themed McDonalds in the world.

An immersive environment that is part haunted house, part choose-your-own-adventure, and part jungle gym.

All that remains of a 17th-century hamlet is a sprawling non-denominational cemetery.

Memorial to the 137 lives lost on a ship fire, the whole hulk of which washed up on the Asbury Park shore.

Family-run for more than a century, this pizzeria makes a unique mustard pie.

The way these carnivorous dinosaurs are posed is an homage to a classic work of paleoart.

This exoskeleton was gifted to Rutgers University by Japan for its role in educating some of the first Japanese citizens to study outside the country.

A billionaire heiress' menagerie of animals were lovingly laid to rest on the grounds of her former estate.

The final resting place of many of New Jersey's most famous residents, including U.S. history's most in-vogue antagonist, Aaron Burr.

The first partially complete dinosaur skeleton was discovered here, forever changing the world's view of the ruling reptiles.

A "Bugseum" dedicated to all things insect-related resides behind a pest control company.

The final resting place of one of the United States's greatest poets.

One man's lifelong obsession with death.

The remains of an old sawmill, gristmill and the surrounding industry dating back to the 18th century.