122 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Chicago - Atlas Obscura
Our new kids' book is on sale! Shop now.
What's near me?
All   /  United States   /  Illinois   /  Chicago
The Atlas Obscura Guide To

Chicago

122 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Chicago, Illinois

Unusual Attractions in Chicago

Unique Food & Drink in Chicago

Explore Chicago, Illinois

Show More

Upcoming Events Near Chicago

Sep 25
Chicago, Illinois

Architecture of Mysterious Chicago

Curious to know more about Chicago? Author of Mysterious Chicago Adam Selzer highlights the histories and unsolved mysteries of the city's landmarks.
Selected experiences curated by Chase Sapphire®
Resurrectionists in the process of digging up a fresh corpse.
Oct 3
Chicago, Illinois

Grave Robbing 101

Tour relics of the old city cemetery and learn all you need to know to launch YOUR career as a 19th-century body snatcher—today!
Skyscrapers on the river's edge stand upon some of Chicago's earliest history.
Oct 5
Chicago, Illinois

The Hunt for Disaster

A scavenger hunt to find the locations of Chicago's worst downtown disasters.
Charles Hull owned a tavern when he was 12 years old.
Oct 7
Chicago, Illinois

Rosehill Cemetery Walk

Take a stroll through history in Chicago's largest cemetery.
Schoenhofen Monument.
Oct 13
Chicago, Illinois

Graceland Cemetery Walking Tour

Explore both the celebrated and overlooked histories of Graceland Cemetery.
Theosophical Society garden.
Oct 14
Wheaton, IL

The Theosophical Society in America

Explore an oasis of esoteric wisdom in Wheaton, Illinois.
Discover hidden heroes.
Oct 19
Chicago, Illinois

Ghouls, Gargoyles and Ghost Signs: A Historic and Haunted Scavenger Hunt

Our newest Google-proof scavenger hunt isn’t for the faint of heart.
George Streeter and his lovely bride.
Oct 20
Chicago, Illinois

SCANDAL! A Pearl-Clutching Tour of Chicago's Historic Drama

Discover the juicy past of Chicago's high society on this decidedly fabulous walking tour.
Fire codes all around the country can be attributed to the terrible theatre fire that engulfed a playhouse on this alley.
Oct 21
Chicago, Illinois

Horror History: Untimely Deaths from Vintage Chicago

Explore the gruesome and surprising ways Chicagoans have met their maker over the years.
Captivating sights await you on the river.
Oct 25
Chicago, Illinois

The Curious Cruise: Haunted History on the Chicago River

Enjoy a scenic yacht cruise along the Chicago River while listening to the strangest (yet true!) stories from the city's past.
Fire codes all around the country can be attributed to the terrible theatre fire that engulfed a playhouse on this alley.
Oct 31
Chicago, Illinois

Horror History: Untimely Deaths from Vintage Chicago

Explore the gruesome and surprising ways Chicagoans have met their maker over the years.
The meeting location for the scavenger hunt, the legendary Uptown Theatre.
Nov 3
Chicago, Illinois

Movies, Mystery, and History in Uptown

Discover the fantastic past of Uptown through a scavenger hunt.

Chicago Leaderboard

Recent Chicago Activity

grammarpanda wants to go to Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium
grammarpanda wants to go to Stained Glass at Navy Pier
grammarpanda wants to go to Rosehill Cemetery
grammarpanda wants to go to International Museum of Surgical Science
baileylovesart wants to go to Willis Tower Glass Platform

Stories About Chicago

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.
by Cara Giaimo
July 18, 2018

Lists Featuring Chicago

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets
View from inside the cave
The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah’s Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

Unique Cemeteries in Chicago
Palmer Tomb
Entrance to Bohemian National Cemetery. (Wikimedia Commons)
Confederate Mound.

Unique Cemeteries in Chicago

Strange and fascinating graveyards to visit in the Second City.

7

Including Rosehill Cemetery, Graceland Cemetery, and Bohemian National Cemetery