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

The palatial McDonald's that inspired Wesley Willis.

A spectacular remnant of an Adler and Sullivan masterpiece that was destroyed in 1972.

The last masonry skyscraper ever built reveals a transitional moment in architectural history.

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

Huge abstract sculptures of the Puerto Rican Flag.

Once at the center of U.S. finance, the historic Trading Room was meticulously recreated piece by piece and rebuilt in the Art Institute.

An actual 1957 Cadillac De Ville, encased in 15 cubic yards of concrete.

Illegal drag racing two stories beneath Chicago’s streets.

Orthodox church partially financed by Tsar Nicolas II.

This surprising gem is a world-class archeological museum hidden at the University of Chicago.

Once called the "Polish Gold Coast" it is an icon of the neighborhood that bears its same name.

These mansions date back to Chicago's days as a brewer's paradise.

You can take a class, browse the library, or visit the lavish lair of an international men's humor society.

Where old school Polish Chicago and young hipster Chicago live side by side.

Where Cusack's record store from the film "High Fidelity" was located.

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

Beloved bar home to musicians of all eras and reputations.

Former meatpacking facility turned vertical farm and sustainable business complex.

The only Bahá'í house of worship in North America and one of only a handful worldwide.

An antiquated German apothecary on Chicago's North Side.

A lush green oasis in the middle of Chicago.

A giant bronze coil of feces is both a tribute to doggie defecation and a reminder to pick it up.

This shop for all your super spy needs hides an educational secret.