One of the most dazzling dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History is also one of the oldest.

This subterranean oyster house has been the pearl of Grand Central Station since 1913.

This hidden oasis features a stunning view of the Hudson River and the Palisades from a castle-like museum.

This unique house, the only one of its kind in Brooklyn, was built as part of a real estate developer's showcase.

Amid skyscrapers and traffic exists this unique aquatic ecosystem.

The only subway station in the city that still makes use of gap fillers.

Established in 1937, the oldest candy shop in New York City boasts a rainbow-colored inventory that would make Willy Wonka envious.

This lavish room in a New York City mansion is a rare relic from the end of the Gilded Age.

Though its celestial ceiling is impressive, the true star is the vast collection of French books.

Just your average Marie Antoinette–themed speakeasy in an abandoned 19th-century subway tunnel.

This abandoned seaside fortress is now simply an imposing ruin being taken back by nature.

A former seaside jewel built for the everyman is now simply a neglected art deco fortress.

The oldest Dutch colonial stone house in New York City is a hidden gem on the border of Brooklyn and Queens.

A Gothic-style abode built to accommodate the church's three resident peacocks.

An eerie diorama that captures the majestic nature of a few prehistoric-looking beasts.

A series of fish plaques that are embedded in the malls of Ocean Parkway.

Now owned by the National Park Service, this location was once home to illegal boxing matches.

Final resting place of the immigrant who brought artificial seltzer water to America.

The home of aviation trailblazers, in a remote corner of the big city.

In Little Caribbean, an ice-cream shop serves up regional flavors, including soursop, Irish moss, and "greatnut."

This interactive gallery makes you feel like you've stepped into a fantasy world filled with whimsical monsters.

Volunteer-run library dedicated to exploring five decades of activism history.

Thomas Jefferson's estate is home to hundreds of varieties of historic fruits and vegetables.

This Manhattan museum houses one of the largest collections of Spanish art and manuscripts outside of Spain.