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

Landmark Chicago building narrowly avoided destruction.

One-of-a-kind preserved ruins of an abandoned 1880s church in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.

A little-known subterranean street runs under some of the best-known buildings in Chicago's River North.

This cheerfully-named branch of the Chicago River is the fetid result of years of blood, entrails, and meatpacking waste.

A hidden passageway now marks the site of an assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan that some say broke a 140-year-old curse.

This unique museum cafeteria showcases the history and regional diversity of African American cuisine.

Partially submerged Buddha heads freckle Chicago’s neighborhoods.

The palatial McDonald's that inspired Wesley Willis.

In Chicago, a pizza-enthusiast has opened a museum dedicated to the history of pizza.

A serene temple with stunning stained glass hides in downtown Dallas.

This downtown Dallas art installation is always on the lookout.

All of Chicago's wood-paved streets are long gone but two alleys remain.

Located in a Civil War era building, this café is engrained with the spirit of Edgar Allen Poe.

A place for ship-lovers to watch the passage of freighters traversing the Great Lakes while learning about their history.

This small museum is dedicated to making sure the history of the natural ice industry doesn't melt away.

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

A 19th-century horse lover's bequest led to the construction of this unique fountain in Chicago.

A portal into the bricked up canal that runs through the heart of Washington D.C.

Before Nixon, "watergate" meant canals.

The discovery site of the "Capitalsaurus," the official dinosaur of Washington, D.C.

This charming woodland trail is peppered with poetry.

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

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