The Most Unusual Buildings in Every State Across America
Consider this list your reason for an epic cross-country road trip.
Not only are these peculiar buildings interesting to look at, but they're also full of fascinating facts. We've rounded up the most interesting historical structures in every single state that you'll have to see to believe.
Alabama: Rosenbaum House
The L-shaped Rosenbaum House in Florence, Alabama is the only home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the Southeast that the public can visit. The Usonian-style home was built in 1939 as an efficient, low-cost dwelling for a middle-class family.
Alaska: Dr. Seuss House
This wacky 12-story private home located between Talkeetna and Willow, Alaska has been nicknamed the "Dr. Seuss House." The home, which was built by Anchorage attorney Phil Weidner, has remained unfinished for years.
Arizona: Chapel of the Holy Cross
No matter what belief system you subscribe to, it would be hard not to have a spiritual experience while gazing out of the stained glass windows of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona. Marked by a 90-foot cross and nestled among the red rocks nearly 200 feet above ground level, it was the Empire State Building that inspired sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude to build the cathedral, completed in 1955.
Arkansas: Crescent Hotel
On the edge of downtown Eureka Springs, Arkansas you'll find the Crescent Hotel, which has been welcoming guests to the beautiful Ozark Mountains since 1886. Because of its rich history, the quirky spot has also earned the nickname of "America's Most Haunted Hotel"—guests can even take ghost tours of the property.
California: Winchester House
The true story behind the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California inspired the 2018 movie Winchester: The House That Ghosts Built. When rifle heiress Sarah Winchester's husband died in 1881, she mysteriously spent decades transforming the original eight-room farmhouse into a sprawling 160-room mansion, complete with doors and stairways to nowhere.
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Colorado: Bishop Castle
Jim Bishop has been constructing the quirky Bishop Castle in Rye, Colorado for nearly 60 years. The monument is built from stone and iron and features dozens of rooms, including an impressive grand ballroom.
Connecticut: Gillette Castle
Once you step inside Gillette Castle in East Haddam, Connecticut, you'll find more than just a medieval-style fortress. Built in 1919, the 24-room castle has built-in couches, moveable tables on tracks, and beautiful wood carvings designed by actor and playwright William Gillette.
Delaware: Grand Opera House
The Grand Opera House in Wilmington has been a landmark for more than 140 years. In 1871, it originally opened as a a home for the Grand Lodge of the Masons. Today, the Grand hosts more than 80 rock, classical, and jazz shows each season.
Florida: Singing Tower
When visiting the 250-foot neo-Gothic Singing Tower at the Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, make sure to stick around for the 60-bell carillon concerts at 1 and 3 p.m. daily.
Georgia: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta, Georgia (a place of Hindu worship) is made up of three types of stone: Turkish limestone, Italian marble, and Indian pink sandstone. But what makes the building so exquisite is that the more than 34,000 individual pieces were all carved by hand in India.
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Hawaii: Iolani Palace
Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii is the only official royal residence in the U.S. Built in 1882, Iolani Palace was home to Hawaii's last reigning kings and queens until the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.
Idaho: The Dog Bark Park Inn
Dog lovers can book a stay at this beagle-shaped inn through Airbnb. Built and run by artists Dennis Sullivan and Frances Conklin, the Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho features a loft bedroom and additional sleeping space above the dog's muzzle.
Illinois: Aqua Tower
Soaring 82 stories above Chicago, Illinois, the sculptural Aqua Tower is the tallest building in the U.S. to have been built by a female architect, Jeanne Gang. The apartment building's eccentric terraces are designed to increase neighborly interactions.
Indiana: West Baden Springs Hotel
Referred to as the unofficial "Eighth Wonder of the World" by some, the highlight of the West Baden Springs Hotel in Indiana is definitely its breathtaking 200-foot-wide atrium.
Iowa: Iowa State Capitol Building
Located in Des Moines, the most significant feature of the Iowa State Capitol building, built in 1884, is its dome, which was constructed of steel and stone before being covered with 23-carat gold leafing.
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Kansas: The Big Well
You'll find the Big Well in Greenburg, Kansas, where it was hand-dug in 1888 as the town's original water supply. The 109-foot-deep well now functions as a history museum.
Kentucky: Bondurant's Pharmacy
The Bondurant's Pharmacy building in Lexington, Kentucky is just 32 feet wide and 30 feet tall, but its quirky shape (it was originally designed to look like a mortar and pestle) has made it famous. Opened in 1974 as a pharmacy, today the building houses a liquor store and has been made over to resemble a cocktail.
Louisiana: The Pontalba Buildings
When you think of New Orleans' famous French Quarter, you probably conjure up images of buildings that look something along the lines of the exquisite Pontalba Buildings. Completed in 1851, the two row houses on Jackson Square are a mix of French, American, Creole, and Greek Revival styles.
Maine: Portland Head Light
Just after the U.S. government took control of all lighthouse upkeep and construction in 1790, ground was broken on the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. It was completed in 1791; today you'll find a museum inside the former keepers' house, which dates back to 1891.
Maryland: The American Visionary Art Museum
Not only does the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland have an intriguing exterior (the mosaics were were created by juvenile delinquents), the museum features offbeat works of art by "intuitive, self-taught" artists.
Madison Alcedo was the Assistant Editor at WomansDay.com and Redbookmag.com.
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