20 obscure U.S. landmarks visitors say are worth seeing (2024)

Madonna InnShutterstock

The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California, is absolutely worth a visit. There are dining opportunities if you don’t want to stay the night, but you’ll want to stay the night to see one of the 110 rooms, each uniquely decorated according to an outrageous theme. Get more than one room if you can.

Dole Plantation MazeShutterstock

Out in Oahu, Hawaii is the Dole Pineapple Plantation. And on the plantation is a maze for visitors to walk through. An aerial view shows that in the middle of the maze is a pineapple shape, and most visitors report taking about an hour to get through the unique labyrinth.

Big Things in a Small TownShutterstock

If you make your way to Casey, Illinois, a small town between Springfield and Indianapolis, you’ll find Big Things in a Small Town, an exhibit throughout the city with oversized items. Among the items are a giant chair and an enormous mailbox.

Witch HouseShutterstock

If you love Halloween, Salem, Massachusetts, is the place to be. There are multiple obscure landmarks all over the city, including filming sites from the movie Hocus Pocus, but one of the must-sees is the Witch House, one of the only buildings preserved from the Witch Trials of 1692.

Area 51Shutterstock

We’ve all heard of Area 51, but what exactly happens there? Well, there’s still lots of mystery and conspiracy surrounding the place, but visitors are welcome to poke their heads around and see the Alien Research Center, which is a big hit among tourists.

Museum of the WeirdYouTube

Austin, Texas, really cares about keeping its city weird. It’s so dedicated that it has an entire museum dedicated to oddities called the Museum of the Weird. Locals love the museum, and tourists have noted that it was a fun stop, too.

Abandoned Igloo HotelShutterstock

If you’re one of many with a morbid fascination with abandoned structures, check out the Abandoned Igloo Hotel in Cantwell, Alaska. Per the name, the building is shaped like an igloo and was originally intended to be a hotel, but it was never finished.

Bridges of Madison CountyShutterstock

No, Bridges of Madison County isn’t just a romantic classic. The covered bridges in the background of Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood’s steamy affair are actual landmarks in Madison County, Iowa, located southwest of Des Moines, the capital city. It’s a beautiful place to visit in the fall.

Wall DrugShutterstock

The Midwest has obscure landmarks, but none has been advertised as heavily as Wall Drug. What started as a pharmacy known for offering free ice water has turned into a must-stop location on the way to the Black Hills of South Dakota. There’s food, shopping, history, and more at Wall Drug — and there’s still free ice water.

Spoonbridge and CherryShutterstock

Another funny Midwestern landmark, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is home to the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture. Alone, it’s a quirky piece of art that’s fun to drive by, but alongside the rest of the pieces at the Walker Art Center, it’s a landmark worth stopping at.

The World’s Largest ForkYouTube

The United States loves oversized items. Not too far from the Big Things in a Small Town exhibit in Casey, Illinois, is a giant fork in Springfield, Missouri, dubbed The World’s Largest Fork. There’s also a giant noodle outside the Kraft factory and a giant golf club at a local driving range.

The Coffee PotShutterstock

Another oversized item to love, Bedford, Pennsylvania, is the home of the world’s largest coffee pot. What’s unique about this particular item is that it’s also a building. Pennsylvania has you covered if you’ve ever wanted to step inside a coffee pot.

Wave OrganShutterstock

There’s lots to see and do in San Francisco, but if you’re looking for something unique, check out the Wave Organ. It’s a one-of-a-kind sculpture that enhances the sounds made by crashing waves. It’s a must-see for anyone who loves ocean sounds.

Singing OakYouTube

A similar idea to the Wave Organ, the Singing Oak in New Orleans is a huge oak tree filled with wind chimes that envelop visitors in stunning harmonies. And don’t be alarmed. The chimes are tuned to play specific notes, so it’s not just random noises.

Monkey IslandYouTube

Monkey Island in hom*osassa, Florida, is a small plot of land surrounded by water and containing spider monkeys. You can’t step onto the island itself, but you can get close enough to observe the monkeys for a while, which many visitors have shared is worthwhile.

YouTube

Maybe oversized items aren’t your thing, and that’s okay. If you’re more fond of smaller things, check out The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things in Lucas, Kansas. It takes a while to wrap your mind around it, but it’s miniature versions of oversized items.

Wild Blueberry LandYouTube

Wild Blueberry Land is a blueberry theme park in Columbia Falls, Maine. You can eat blueberries, learn about blueberries, mini golf, and more. If you love blue fruit, this is the obscure landmark for you.

Enchanted ForestShutterstock

The Enchanted Forest in Salem, Oregon, is a unique theme park with a storybook lane, a Western town, a European village, and more. It’s got rides and a haunted house and visitors love its oddities and otherworldly charm.

The Fantastic Umbrella FactoryYouTube

Nestled in Charlestown, Rhode Island, is The Fantastic Umbrella Factory. No, it does not manufacture umbrellas. It doesn’t even sell them. But it has animals, gardens, a general store, toys, henna, and almost anything else you could want in a fun road-trip stop.

Market Theater Gum WallShutterstock

If you want to become part of the DNA of an obscure landmark, visit the Market Theater Gum Wall in Seattle. Per its name, the exhibition is a wall covered completely in chewed gum. The wall was cleaned once to help preserve it, but since then, it has continued on strong, collecting chewed piece after chewed piece of gum.