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All United States Illinois

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Illinois

323 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Illinois

Updated March 9, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
Chicago
Peoria
Evanston
Springfield
Rockford
Urbana
All Cities
  1. Alton
  2. Alto Pass
  3. Arcola
  4. Ashmore
  5. Batavia
  6. Bloomington
  7. Brookfield
  8. Cairo
  9. Chester
  10. Chicago
  11. Collinsville
  12. Des Plaines
  13. East St. Louis
  14. Evanston
  15. Freeport
  16. Galena
  17. Geneva
  18. Joliet
  19. Lincoln
  20. Lombard
  21. Mattoon
  22. Maywood
  23. Oak Park
  24. Paris
  25. Park Ridge
  26. Peoria
  27. Rockford
  28. Springfield
  29. Urbana
  30. Wilmington
  31. Woodstock
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Oz Park

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

Chicago, Illinois

Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities

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

Chicago, Illinois

Tiffany Dome

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

Chicago, Illinois

Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co.

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

Chicago, Illinois

Garfield Park Conservatory

A lush green oasis in the middle of Chicago.

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

Shit Fountain

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

Chicago, Illinois

The Violet Hour

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.
See All 323 Things To Do in Illinois

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

The Violet Hour

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.

Chicago, Illinois

Alinea Restaurant

The subtle science of a master molecular gastronomist.

Chicago, Illinois

Palmer House Hilton

This historic hotel invented the chocolate brownie.

Chicago, Illinois

Rainbo Club

Beloved bar home to musicians of all eras and reputations.
See all 10 Places to Eat in Illinois
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

A Feminist Road Trip Across the U.S.

Over the past month, Atlas Obscura has been exploring the stories of women who changed the world, from wildlife biologists and mountain climbers to Civil War spies and tattoo artists. To celebrate these daring women who struck out on their own, we’ve put together a cross-country road trip. Over 12 stops and more than 3,000 miles, this route will give you a front-row seat to women’s history in America.

View Itinerary

Explore Illinois

Architectural Oddities 27
Statues 25
Museums And Collections 25
Shops 25
History 23
Art 23
Sculptures 21
Monuments 20
Collections 20
Abandoned 17
Cemeteries 14
Illinois Obscura Society 14
Unique Restaurants & Bars 13
Places To Stay 3

Illinois Leaderboard

Places Added

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    11
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    Rebekah Otto
    10
  3. S
    smfishel
    7
  4. L
    lizzieboyle
    7
  5. Avatar image for Elliot Carter
    Elliot Carter
    6

Places Edited

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    Patron Editor
    25
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    Rachel
    25
  3. M
    Martin
    25
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    joevalesh
    23
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    Collector of Experiences
    20
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Places Visited

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    kevsheb
    214
  2. S
    sheilacostelloe
    206
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    kevinpb
    195
  4. Avatar image for doptroutman
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    172
  5. Avatar image for kitschgirl
    kitschgirl
    162

Recent Illinois Activity

  • S

    swimgeek427

    has been to Haymarket Square

  • S

    swimgeek427

    has been to Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room

  • S

    swimgeek427

    has been to Thorne Miniature Rooms

  • S

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    has been to Heald Square Monument's Statue of Liberty

  • S

    swimgeek427

    has been to Couch Place (The Alley of Death)

Stories About Illinois

Podcast: Phone Booth on a Roof

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
June 7, 2022

Podcast: Leaning Tower of Niles

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
May 23, 2022

How a Globemaker Navigates a Digital World

“It’s kind of a joke, but in some sense, I almost feel like I could start a war.”
by Lauren Vespoli
April 6, 2020

How a 70-Year-Old Dino-Size Mystery May Have Finally Been Solved

Was it a teenage T. rex or another species entirely?
by Isaac Schultz
January 3, 2020

The Glittery Legacy of Lead at a Historic Native American Site

A shiny mineral called galena, once prized by the Mississippian people, left its mark on the soil.
by Sabrina Imbler
November 7, 2019

The Grandeur of Old Masonic Temples Also Makes Them Vulnerable to Fires

They're hard to reuse, and can be quick to burn.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
October 22, 2019

Found: 15 Wallets From the 1940s, Stolen and Stashed Behind a Bathroom Wall

The cash is gone, but a lot of memories remain.
by Matthew Taub
July 10, 2019

Why Physicists Tried to Put a Ferret in a Particle Accelerator

Felicia had a job to do.
by Jen Pinkowski
April 2, 2019

Lists Featuring Illinois

Rats of Karni Mata Temple
Paxton Gate Exterior
Albino Squirrels of Olney, Illinois

A Rat Lover's Tour of the World

15 places where rodents are celebrated, feared, preserved, and studied.

15

Including Karni Mata Temple, Nutty Narrows Bridge, and Paxton Gate

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