11 Bizarre Places In The US That You Need To Know About

The strangest places are always the most memorable.

1. The Cushing Brain Collection — Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

techbint / CC by 2.0 / Via flic.kr

These brains — which formerly served as resources for Harvey Cushing, a man who's been called "the father of effective neurosurgery" — have been on display for the public since 2010. Some of them date back to as early as 1900, and while they represent a time when neurosurgery often was fatal, the collection also symbolizes how far science has come in this life-saving field.

2. Glass Beach — Fort Bragg, California

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The former site of a trash dump, this beach gets its name from the colorful shards of bottles and cans that now adorn the scenery.

3. Albino Squirrels — Olney, Illinois

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The town of Olney, Illinois, has the odd distinction of having a large population of gray and albino squirrels. The city holds an annual count to make sure the population is thriving, and it is against the law to harm a squirrel in the town.

4. Thor's Well — Yachats, Oregon

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This natural phenomenon located along Oregon's Pacific coast is filled and emptied by the tide, giving the impression that it is a bottomless chasm. While awesome to look at, waves have been known to sneak up on people if they get too close.

5. Dinosaur World — Cave City, Kentucky

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While the idea of a dinosaur theme park might not inspire the most confidence, these steel and fiberglass re-creations are harmless. Visitors can wander around these life-sized replicas, and there are fossil digs too. It's even dog-friendly!

6. Holy Land USA — Waterbury, Connecticut

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Holy Land USA was a Christian-themed amusement park that opened in the 1950s and closed in the early '80s. While it has little hope of returning to its former glory, it still attracts a few sightseers who want photos of its creepy beauty.

7. Haʻikū Stairs — Honolulu, Hawaii

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The Hai'kū Stairs were installed during World War II so that the military could access a mountaintop radio tower. The stairs were made off limits some time after a nearby Coast Guard navigation station closed in the 1980s, but intrepid explorers still managed to climb them. Unfortunately, a large chunk of the stairs was destroyed recently during a storm, and their fate is still undecided.

8. Neptune Memorial Reef — Key Biscayne, Florida

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The Neptune Memorial Reef is an artificial reef built as an artistic representation of the lost city of Atlantis. Those interested in being part of the display for eternity can have their cremated remains placed within the exhibit.

9. Duck March — Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee

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For almost 90 years, the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, has held a duck march to its lobby fountain. The ducks originally ended up there as a prank by local hunters (one of whom was the general manager of the Peabody at that time), but the unexpected guests were embraced enthusiastically by the entire hotel. A bellman later taught them their signature march. This odd but adorable tradition happens daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

10. Winchester Mystery House — San Jose, California

Julie Markee / CC by 2.0 / Via Flickr: bella731

Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester fortune, had this mammoth house constructed to appease bad spirits. The home is so massive that people were still discovering rooms as recently as last year. If you're keeping score, the house has 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, 40 staircases, 13 bathrooms, and nine kitchens.

11. Cadillac Ranch — Amarillo, Texas

Keith Yahl / CC by 2.0 / Via flic.kr

This art exhibit was constructed in 1974 because an eccentric billionaire wanted to "baffle the locals" of Amarillo, Texas. It is now a popular roadside stop that continues to flummox both the surrounding community and the tourists who venture to see it.

Let us know your favorite strange and fascinating US location in the comments below!

And the best part is that if you visit any of these spots, you can instantly share the experience with friends and family — all thanks to T-Mobile 4G LTE, the fastest*, most advanced LTE network nationwide.

*Fastest claim based on download speeds.