For just a few bucks, this Iowa funicular will let you feel like an 1800s fat cat.

The oldest house in Galena, Illinois, now is a reminder of when this city was the world's lead mining capital.

The oldest operating hotel in Illinois enjoys a historic (and some say haunted) past.

When you visit his grave, be sure to rub the Great Emancipator's nose for good luck.

While he no longer has an eatery to give him context, this off-brand Paul Bunyan still holds his giant hot dog with pride.

Just off I-55 in McLean, Illinois, is a place where you can play over 100 arcade and pinball machines for 25-75 cents a pop.

Eclectic collection of rare and beautiful stones in a historic home.

Illegal drag racing two stories beneath Chicago’s streets.

Fragments of architectural wonders from around the globe are embedded in the newspaper building's walls.

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

Honoring the star of the “The Bob Newhart Show” which took place in the city of Chicago in the 1970s.

A display of magnificent stained glass windows is the first exhibit of its kind.

Chicago's Navy Pier on Lake Michigan was a training hub for aircraft carrier pilots during WWII.

A hot dog stand where the heads are just as hot as the dogs.

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

A historic 1929 art-house cinema that features independent, classic, cult, and foreign films in an atmospheric setting.

This quirky museum has a collection of more than 15,000 bobblehead dolls.

This lush 12-acre site was once named the finest Japanese garden in North America.

The only thing these street signs will help you navigate is your imagination.

More than 5,000 contemporary and "historic" mustards from around the world.

Do you think your job stinks? Welcome to the only Limburger cheese plant in America.

The name is a dubious distinction for the man who ordered a full retreat during what is considered the first engagement of the Black Hawk War.

This monolithic statue was erected in honor of Chief Black Hawk (even if it wasn't made to look like him).

This 4,000-acre restored grassland in northern Illinois is home to a range of native flora and fauna, from clovers to plovers to a herd of bison.