Places phildzielski Wants to Go

This historic store hides a museum exhibiting a shoe-sizing x-ray machine and a pair of kicks that once belonged to the world's tallest man.

Odd, decrepit fountain honors Chicago author who had mixed feelings about his hometown.

"No writer ever gave more to a city and got back less.”

Built in 1869, this now-retired structure looks more like a medieval fortress than a county lock-up.

This cemetery is all that remains of a school for "wayward" girls.

A tribute to one granddaughter's old apartment which now represents the whims of each visitor.

One of the most powerful computers in the world can be visited by anyone who wants to experience more computing than they can handle.

This abandoned Abraham Lincoln statue has also earned the honorary of "World's Ugliest."

This historic Illinois "Muffler Man" has been converted from axe-touting lumberjack to rocket-wielding space ace.

Fresh wooden posts have been added to ancient holes to recreate a primitive henge clock.

A mythical bird etched into the face of a rock doubles as the mascot for a nearby school.

Man-made geyser that rises to the exact height of the Gateway Arch.

The oldest house in Chicago certainly doesn't look the part and there are some who say it doesn't deserve its title either.

A strange rock in Chicago marks the spot where a tree once stood in honor of the 18th President.

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

A Chicago Movie Palace Lost to Time.

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

Planes, trains, and automobiles have all been sunk as attractions at this Illinois diving spot.

The iconic Chicago sculpture hides a beautiful and easily overlooked plaque on the backside.

A plaque marks a former safe house on the secret route, now hidden next to a McDonald's.

In the loving memory of a tragically deceased role-player this Illinois park is decked out with both dungeons and dragons.

In a grove of fast growing walnut trees outside Paris, Illinois, a marker shares the story of a fictional road building culture.

This life-size bronze statue remembers the tallest recorded human in his Illinois hometown.

The hometown of Popeye's creator is littered with a growing collection of granite cartoon characters.