By TR Robertson
There are hundred and hundreds of fascinating, unusual and at times forgotten places in every state in the United States. Here are ten more places to add to your list of destinations to visit in the U.S. Some are free, some require registration and an application, several require a bit of physical exertion to see but all will give you a great story to tell friends about your adventure.
House of Eternal Return – Santa Fe, New Mexico – Founded in 2008 by Meow Wolf American Arts & Entertainment, in a former abandoned bowling alley, this fascinating experience has been described as an “immersive art installation that will provide a mind-bending, explorable art experience”. The 20,000 sq. ft. facility also has a concert venue to go along with the main facility. There is a story line for visitors based on the fictional Selig family who disappeared after experimenting with interdimensional travel. Meow Wolf also has arts and entertainment projects that opened in 2021 including Omega Mart Area 15 in Las Vegas and Convergence Station in Denver.
Baha’i Temple – Wilmette, Illinois – This is the second Baha’i House of Worship ever constructed and is one of eight continental temples. This temple is one of the oldest with construction beginning in the 1920’s and completion in 1953. It is open to the public and serves as a devotional space for people of any faith. The domed structure is surrounded by gardens and temples on 6.97 acres of land. This temple is referred to as the “Mother Temple of the West”.
Underground Tunnels of Los Angeles – There are eleven miles of service tunnels beneath the streets of Los Angeles, most built prior to the 1920’s. During the years of Prohibition, they served as a conduit of smuggling and passageways to basement speakeasies. Several are still in use today linking city buildings in the downtown area. Most of the tunnels are blocked off. There are guided tours available to several of the tunnels with access at the L.A. Hall of Records, 320 West Temple. Cart Wheel Art Tours is one tour starting at $85. There are several of the speakeasy basements still around – Townhouse in Venice open since 1915 and King Eddy Saloon open since 1906.
Last Bookstore – Los Angeles – For book and vinyl record lovers this massive bookstore, open since 2005, is a don’t miss stop. Located at 4535 Spring St., this bookstore has over 250,000 different titles in the 2-floor facility. They also have an Arts & Rare Book Annex, tens of thousands of vinyl records and a Graphic novel section. As patrons wander around the store, unusual artwork abounds, much of the art using books for the designs. Tunnels are formed with books and a Labyrinth is in the Last Bookstore.
Hamilton Pool Preserve – Texas Hill County – Located 23 miles wet of Austin, this natural emerald green swimming hole, with a waterfall, is 50 feet deep. It is part of Balcones Canyonlands Preserve next to Dripping Spring, Texas. The preserve is 31,000 acres of protected endangered species habitat. The pool is not chemically treated, and reservations are required with the cost for admission at around $11.00.
City Hall Station (City Hall Loop) – New York City – This National Historic Places building is the former terminal station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. The Station is located under City Hall Park next to the New York City Hall in Civic Center, Manhattan. The Station was built beginning in 1900, opening in 1904. It is one of twenty-eight stations of the New York City Subway. The Station closed on December 31, 1945. Tours are available to see the platform and mezzanine featuring Guastavino tile, skylights, colored glass tile and brass chandeliers. Tours are offered through the NYC Transit Museum when available.
Coyote Buttes Ravine – Arizona – This thin-layered, multi-colored sandstone has eroded into hoodoos (spires), tepees (pointed rock formation), ravines, arches, and waves spread out over an eight-mile section of sandy terrain located about 45 miles from Page, Arizona. The most famous location in the area is known as The Wave. This area is part of Praia Canyon – Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. A permit is required to hike through this area and visitors should be aware of the conditions such as heat and possibility of rain and flash flooding.
The Pirate Tower – Laguna Beach, California – This structure was built in 1926 as an enclosed staircase access to the beach from the cliffs above the beach. It was built for William E. Brown, a senator from Los Angeles who owned the adjacent property. In the 1940’s the property was sold to retired naval captain Harold Kendrick. Kendrick loved pirates and pirate stories, occasionally dressing as a pirate for children’s parties. The 60 ft. tower can be accessed by tours that will lead by Victoria Beach at low tide.
Eastern State Penitentiary – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – This facility served as a prison from 1829-1971. The wheel designed prison was the first to emphasize reform rather than punishment for prisoners. When built it was the largest and most expensive structure built in the U.S. The design became a model for over 300 prisons built around the world. Al Capone once spent time here. It is a National Historic Landmark Museum open seven days a week for tours. The prison is supposedly haunted and has been featured on numerous television broadcasts.
Pier 54 – Little Island, New York – Between 1910-1935 this pier served the British Cunard-White Star line. It served as a point of departure and arrival for ocean liner voyages. The area is part of the Hudson River Park. In 1912 survivors from the Titanic disaster arrived here on the RMS Carpathia. The steel archway at the foot of Little Island’s South Bridge entrance remains from the Cunard-White Star Building.
