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Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
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The 2,653-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail spans the entire West Coast from Canada to Mexico.
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All the United States Illinois Evanston

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Evanston

8 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Evanston, Illinois

Updated May 27, 2025

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Unusual Attractions in Evanston

The front of the store. (Dave’s Down to Earth Rock Shop)

Evanston, Illinois

Dave's Down to Earth Rock Shop

Shop of curiosities with a dinosaur museum tucked in its basement.

Evanston, Illinois

Halim Time & Glass Museum

The first and only museum dedicated to stained glass and horology opened outside of Chicago in 2017.
Northwestern University Shakespeare Garden.

Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University Shakespeare Garden

Roses and other fascinating flora fill this garden built to commemorate Britain's immortal Bard.
Grosse Point Lighthouse

Evanston, Illinois

Grosse Point Lighthouse

A historic beacon built in the aftermath of the worst maritime disaster on the Great Lakes.
Evanston Garage Door Gallery.

Evanston, Illinois

Evanston Garage Door Gallery

The murals have transformed a residential alley into a vibrant drive-through gallery.
Just a small section of the museum’s vast collection

Evanston, Illinois

The American Toby Jug Museum

More than 8,000 drinking jugs say “Cheers!” to a guy named Toby.

Evanston, Illinois

Josie Lyon Statue and Grave

In the middle of Calvary Cemetery stands this singular memorial to a small boy who died too young.

Evanston, Illinois

Little Northwestern

A student designed this 3D-printed scale replica of the entire university campus.
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9 Stunning Scientific Sites in Illinois

When you think about Illinois, what are the first things that come to mind? Maybe it's the environment, with its vast prairies and cold winters. Maybe it's someone from the state, like Abraham Lincoln, or something, like Chicago-style hot dogs or deep dish pizza. What you might not realize, though, is that there's a lot of fascinating science happening in Illinois. (There was even a settlement named Science along the Illinois River in the early 19th century.) From some of the world's most powerful computers and particle-smashers to horological oddities, these are a few of the laboratories and collections that the 21st state has to offer.

View Itinerary
Fermilab’s bubble chamber, a device used to detect and study subatomic particles, looks like it’s straight out of science fiction.

Explore Evanston, Illinois

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8
Museums 2
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Visit a place in Evanston.

Recent Evanston Activity

  • melissajohnson0528

    wants to go to Dave's Down to Earth Rock Shop

    3 days ago
  • melissajohnson0528

    wants to go to Halim Time & Glass Museum

    3 days ago
  • melissajohnson0528

    wants to go to Josie Lyon Statue and Grave

    3 days ago
  • joshthewitch

    wants to go to Dave's Down to Earth Rock Shop

    1 day ago
  • lisafarnitano

    wants to go to Grosse Point Lighthouse

    1 day ago

Stories About Evanston

A listener in Toronto explored Casa Loma, and a nearby park that made the city disappear.

How the Pandemic Helped Our Listeners Rediscover Their Own Neighborhoods

Atlas Obscura Podcast listeners called us to share their stories about the places they explored during the COVID-19 pandemic.
by The Podcast Team
May 27, 2025

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