An exhibit of items from the mental institution where Mary Todd Lincoln lived after her son conspired to have her committed.

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

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

A 400-foot-tall tall map of Chicago makes this once-ignored building stand out.

People escaping slavery passed through the oldest house in Lombard, Illinois on their northbound journey to freedom.

The original vault that held the president's remains still stands, empty, not far from where he was finally buried.

It was originally part of a "terrible lizards" collection at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.

The clothes-washing king doubles as a community center with some unusual features, including an aviary filled with finches.

This softly rounded mansion was built without corners not to avoid evil spirits, but to make them more comfortable.

One of the few remaining relics of the meatpacking hub that made Chicago the "hog butcher to the world."

The world's third-largest scale model of the planets.

A historic beacon built in the aftermath of the worst maritime disaster on the Great Lakes.

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

A hidden grotto on the grounds of the Kane County Government Center.

The famous author's birthplace is preserved in a town that he once described as narrow-minded.

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

Its eclectic exhibits range from the world’s first motorcycle to Luke Skywalker’s Land Speeder.

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

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

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

Illegal drag racing two stories beneath Chicago’s streets.

Take a break from all the boring business of death at this funeral home mini-golf course.

A sprawling outdoor museum filled with larger-than-life works of art.

To find the "unicorns of the deep" you've got to go downstairs.