Half-sized replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa built to honor Galileo.

An amazing collection of scale model ships.

A river with some unusual, and occasionally dangerous, habits.

A mini Wrigley Field for mini baseball players.

One of the first historical sites of an alternative universe was installed in the town of Paris, Illinois—which is now home to an annual spelling bee of Kcymaerxthaereal words.

A onetime gangsters' hideaway where you can dine on steaks, fine wines, and cigars just like they once did.

World's second largest particle accelerator, where nature reveals its secrets.

Quirky water tower advertises the long-gone Brooks Tomato Products Co.

Once one of the world's great cities, Cahokia was a place of religious worship, trade and mass human sacrifice before being mysteriously abandoned.

Moving, mind-blowing metal sculpture work of an outsider artist.

You were once able to challenge a chicken to tic-tac-toe at this park, which is now converted into the Aikman Wildlife Adventure.

You have to love a museum with a truly dedicated focus. A focus on Superman, for example.

Recognized the world over as the home of the McCallisters in the 1990 movie "Home Alone."

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

This simple gravestone remembers a pig who single-hoofedly raised $19,000,000 for the Navy.

This family driveway also serves as the highest point in Illinois.

The face of a woman pushes its way through the earth.

Arguably the best example of an authentic Dutch windmill in the United States, rivaling its counterparts in the Netherlands.

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

This elaborate Hindu temple is located in a Chicago suburb, but looks like it was transported directly from India.

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

This Mediterranean castle was built for a millionaire and his giant dog.

Cold War missile launch site which has been converted to a public park.

The final resting place of the world's first nuclear reactor.