The iconic remains of the original Academic Hall that burned down in 1892.

This life-size bronze statue remembers the tallest recorded human in his Illinois hometown.

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

University City's quirkiest resident lives in a park named after its first.

Four, 18-foot-tall badminton shuttlecocks lie scattered about the lawn of a Kansas City museum.

This titanic oil company sign is a reminder of the Americana boom of the 1970s and also its commoditization.

A chessmaster's dream destination.

What was meant to be a temporary exhibit is now a permanent fixture at the St. Louis Zoo filled with beautiful birds.

A creepy sculpture of a decapitated head invites viewers to see St. Louis through its empty eyes.

What was once a presidential estate is now an exotic menagerie and home to the Budweiser Clydesdales.

This is not your typical jungle gym.

Less a museum than a bizarre fantasy world created by artists and engineers.

The Magic House provides a beautiful and creative environment for curious youngsters to get their knowledge on.

A kitschy, creepy St. Louis mainstay.

The palatial McDonald's that inspired Wesley Willis.

Known as the "Cross At The Crossroads," this massive metal cross is just short enough to avoid the FAA.

Chicago's Navy Pier on Lake Michigan was a training hub for aircraft carrier pilots during WWII.

This awkward aquarium sculpture is one of the strangest statues in Chicago.

Oversized statues are just the tip of this nostalgic Americana roadside attraction.

To find the "unicorns of the deep" you've got to go downstairs.

First known as the "Sample House," this construction mash-up was meant to be a living catalogue of building styles.

The world's largest collection of the world's largest objects is in one small Illinois town.

When you visit his grave, be sure to rub the Great Emancipator's nose for good luck.

The twin towers in this Chicago fountain use 50 foot tall video screens to spit on people.