125 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Chicago - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Oz Park

This whimsical Oz-themed park had a wonderful impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

rdb

Chicago, Illinois

Tiffany Dome

This massive stained-glass masterpiece is thought to be the largest Tiffany dome in existence.

Added by zackofalltrades

Chicago, Illinois

Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co.

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

HJHausman

Added by HJHausman

Chicago, Illinois

Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities

This morbid, delightful curiosity shop offers everything from animal bones to human teeth.

Added by dmholtz

Chicago, Illinois

Willis Tower Glass Platform

Four glass boxes hover over 1,000 feet in the air to give visitors an unparalleled view of Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois

International Museum of Surgical Science

A monument to the art of slicing people open.

Added by mbison

Chicago, Illinois

The Violet Hour

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.

Added by lizzieboyle

Chicago, Illinois

Shit Fountain

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

Josh

See All 125 Things to Do in Chicago See All 125 Places

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Chicago: A Weekend Guide for the Curious Traveler

Just when you thought you knew the Windy City, it finds new ways to surprise you.

Unique
Food & Drink
in Chicago

Atomic Cake

Gastro Obscura

Atomic Cake

This Chicago specialty stacks three cakes into one monster dessert.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

Gym Shoe Sandwich

Gastro Obscura

Gym Shoe Sandwich

The South Side favorite is a cross between a meat-lover's sub and a gyro.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

Jeppson's Malört

Gastro Obscura

Jeppson's Malört

One of the world's least-loved liquors calls Chicago home.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

The Toleen

Gastro Obscura

The Toleen

Thai red beans and rum combine in a winter warmer inspired by a South American specialty.

Gastro Obscura

ximenalarkin

Added by ximenalarkin

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Explore Chicago, Illinois

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Stories
About Chicago

October 1951: The inner court with a glass roof is a feature of each wing of the U-shaped Mecca apartment building.

Rediscovering Mecca Flats, a Legendary Chicago Apartment Building

It was destroyed in 1952, but this storied residence was once a gathering spot for the Chicago Black Renaissance.

by Hannah Steinkopf-Frank

November 08, 2018

Unboxing the World's Largest Lizard

The Field Museum preserves its Komodo dragon specimens in Everclear, which they buy in 55 gallon drums.

by Lizzie Philip

October 10, 2018

Unboxing a Roly-Poly the Size of Your Head

A close-up look at giant isopod specimens.

by Lizzie Philip

September 27, 2018

Coach Stagg and the 1907 University of Chicago Football Team.

How a Football Team Became Mascots for Vegetarianism

In 1907, a championship squad changed what it meant to eat meat-free.

by Tal McThenia

August 20, 2018

Chicago’s Last Waterfall Is About to Disappear

It's four feet high and bad for fish.

A young boy enjoys the Chicago summer in 1979.

The Lost Newspaper Archives of Black Chicago Are Now at Your Fingertips

The Obsidian Collection and Google are bringing historic African-American media outlets online.

"A Map of Chicago's Gangland," from 1931, is full of morbid jokes and facts. Click to zoom in.

How Many Liquor Bottles Can You Find in This 1931 Map of Chicago?

The "Gangland Map" features drunken fish and goofy jokes alongside descriptions of brutal murders.

A debaucherous night at The Mirage.

How a Chicago Dive Bar Exposed Corruption and Changed Journalism

In the 1970s, the Chicago Sun-Times used the Mirage as a front.

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