America is famous for many things: Hollywood movies, towering skyscrapers, and vast national parks. But there’s another side to the U.S. that’s often overlooked—roadside attractions. Iconic and fun, they’re spread across the nation’s highways, offering travelers a surprise at every turn.

The Facebook group ‘Roadside America - Offbeat Quirky Tourist Attractions’ is where people share these unusual landmarks—everything from a giant buffalo statue to a whimsical Dr. Seuss museum. We’ve sifted through their posts to bring you some of the best and most eccentric tourist spots. Check them out below and don’t forget to upvote your favorites!

#1 South Main Plaza Fountain In Mt Vernon, Oh. Some Of The Dogs Have Been Sponsored And Each One Has A Plaque That Tells What It Is. There's One Cat And 3 Birds Also

Image credits: Sunny L. Skaggs

#2 Bronze Statue Of Albert Einstein In Washington DC…. They Welcome You To Come Sit On His Lap… In Fact, There Is A Worn Off Area On His Lap From All The Sitters… He Is Awesome!

Image credits: Robin Borden Luberski

A roadside attraction is just what it says on the tin: an interesting spot built alongside the road to catch the attention of travelers. Generally speaking, they’re meant to be places one might stop on the way to somewhere rather than being a destination. But to the followers of ‘Roadside America,’ they might as well be the main event—the page has almost 500K members who are dedicated to capturing the country’s weirdest landmarks.

In fact, “the weirder the better,” the group insists. A UFO-shaped house? Brilliant. A miniature Taco Bell? Absolutely. The world’s tallest barber pole? What could be more fitting? Perhaps an enormous rubber duck—you’ll find it in Indiana, by the way. It seems the imagination of Americans knows no limits when it comes to these curious roadside attractions.

#3 Mr Rogers Museum Latrobe, PA

Image credits: Ashley Hutchinson

#4 Vashon Island, Washington

Image credits: Taylor Burroughs

Roadside attractions first appeared in America in the late 19th century, but they really took off in the 1920s and 1930s when more people started owning cars and long-distance road travel became easier.

As the number of passenger cars in the U.S. grew—between 1919 and 1929 it jumped from 6.5 million to 23 million—the existing infrastructure became overwhelmed. To accommodate this boom, the government undertook massive road construction projects, completing over 10,000 miles of roadway improvements in 1922 alone.

Highways spread across the country, including the famous Route 66 built in 1929, and small towns needed a way to catch the eyes of passing motorists. They responded by building restaurants, motels, coffee shops, and unique attractions to stand out and draw travelers in.

#5 A Replica Of The Up House In The Up Movie. Built In Herriman, Utah

Image credits: Linda Cook Schoss

#6 Outside The Dr. Seuss Museum, Springfield, Massachusetts

Image credits: Emilie Vardaman

#7 We Did A Scavenger Hunt For The 22 Goose Statues In Goose Creek Sc Today. Fun Time And We Found Them All!!!

Image credits: Tracy Hoffman Kratzer

In many instances, people relied on mimetic architecture—buildings designed to look like the products they were selling—to promote their roadside businesses. In California, vendors sold oranges out of orange-shaped buildings. In Washington and Pennsylvania, coffee was served in coffee pot-shaped buildings. And on Long Island, eggs were sold out of a building famously known as the Big Duck (not to be confused with Indiana’s Giant Rubber Ducky).

#8 When I Had Visited Over 10 Years Ago, Little Did I Know That The Official Mascot Of Seattle & Its Pike Market Is The Pig. There Are Over 90 Pigs Scattered Around Town. Here's A Few

Image credits: Mike Oleskie

#9 The Rock Garden’s Version Of The Colosseum, In Calhoun, GA

Image credits: Alan Vickers

#10 Has Anyone Been To The Whale Statue In The 9th And 9th District In Salt Lake City, Utah. Very Colorful

Image credits: Linda Cook Schoss

Some of these attractions were named “the world’s largest” and became renowned just for that ambitious title alone. For example, West Virginia boasted the World’s Largest Teapot, built in the 1930s, while Alabama had the World’s Largest Bottle, built in 1924, although it sadly burnt down in 1936.

In the 1950s, the Guinness World Records began publishing its books, sparking a wave of competition among towns to create the largest ball-shaped attractions. Nebraskans built the world’s largest ball of stamps, while Kansans and Minnesotans engaged in a decades-long battle over who could create the world’s largest ball of twine. In later years, similar competitions emerged over the world’s largest ball of rubber bands, tape, and even barbed wire.

#11 Cadillac Ranch Near Amarillo, Texas. I Shot This At Sunrise On Christmas Day, 2019

Image credits: Bush Bernard

#12 Coffee Pot In Bedford PA. Built In 1925 As Part Of A Gas Station

Image credits: Lisa Johnson

#13 Largest Cowboy Boots In San Antonio TX

Image credits: Kevin Waterhouse

However, one of the most famous “largest” attractions in America is Lucy the Elephant, considered to be the oldest roadside landmark. Constructed in 1882 by James V. Lafferty in Margate City, New Jersey, Lucy is a six-story elephant-shaped building that has captivated travelers for over a century.

Initially named Elephant Bazaar, the structure was built to attract real estate customers who could view the city’s skyline from the elephant’s carriage, which now serves as an observation deck for modern-day visitors during tours.

Lucy supposedly got her name in 1902. The structure was sold to Anton Gertzen of Philadelphia in 1887 and remained in his family until 1970. It is believed that Anton’s daughter-in-law, Sophia Gertzen, renamed it Lucy.

#14 Giant Grasshopper, On The Enchanted Highway North Dakota. Near Gladstone Nd

Image credits: Fred Kleindenst

#15 Just Went This Awesome House In York, PA

Image credits: Robin Borden Luberski

#16 Wigwam Teepee Motel Along Route 66 In San Bernardino, CA

Image credits: Jaime Rubalcaba

Over the years, Lucy the Elephant served various purposes, including a restaurant, business office, cottage, and tavern. She was even depicted on many souvenir postcards, often referred to as “The Elephant Hotel of Atlantic City.” (The actual hotel was in a nearby building, not inside the elephant.)

By the 1960s, Lucy was in a very poor state and was scheduled for demolition. However, the local community rallied to save her, and she was renovated in the 1970s. Lucy’s birthday is celebrated each year on July 20 with a fundraising event, keeping this beloved roadside attraction alive.

#17 Jerome, Missouri On Rt. 66. Found This As We Were Out Driving Around

Image credits: Sherry Johnson

#18 Ladybirds On The Side Of An Office Building In Milwaukee Wi

Image credits: Alan Vickers

#19 A Giant Pencil On An Office Supply Store In Wytheville, VA

Image credits: Kevin Findlay

Even though roadside attractions are often seen as relics of the past and symbols of America’s transformation into a car-loving country, the tradition of building them continues, especially those aiming to be the largest in their category. In Alabama, you can find the World’s Largest Office Chair, standing around 33 feet tall (about 10 meters), built in 2008. Traveling further north to Illinois, you’ll discover a 42-foot (12.8 meters) long Windchime, which made its way into the Guinness World Records in 2012 as, you guessed it, the world’s largest windchime.

#20 Underground Kayaking In Red River Gorge, Ky

Image credits: Shannon Sims Grogan

#21 W.C. Handy “Singing River” Sculpture In Florence, Alabama

Image credits: Monica Barker

#22 The Big Rubber Stamp With The Word "Free" On It Is A Creation Of Artist Claes Oldenburg (1929-2022), Who Sculpted Giant Versions Of Everyday Objects That Turn Up In Public Parks And On City Sidewalks. Located In Cleveland, OH

Image credits: Tony Reynolds

While considered originally American, the trend of building the world’s largest roadside attractions made its way to other countries like Australia and New Zealand in the 1960s. However, they refer to them with the slightly humbler term “big things.” Australia, for example, is home to the Big Pineapple, the Big Lobster, and the Big Prawn. Meanwhile, New Zealand celebrates its national identity with the Big Kiwis and the Big Kiwifruit.

#23 A Decommissioned Military Plane On The Front Lawn Of The Don Q Inn

Image credits: Ronald Crouch is at Don Q Inn.

#24 Peter "Wolf" Toth Carving In Las Cruces, N.m. Part Of The "Trail Of The Whispering Giants" He Did In The 70's, Put One In Every State

Image credits: Bob Stout

#25 World’s Largest Buffalo ? Jamestown, North Dakota At The Frontier Village

Image credits: Dyana Watkins- Geddie

Of course, not all attractions claiming to be the world’s largest live up to the name. In 2010, six different frying pans in the United States competed for the title. At one point, there was even a dispute over who had the world’s largest rocking chair. As Forrest Wickman aptly put it, “It seems that, while many countries erect big things, only Americans dare to claim that theirs are the biggest.”

#26 My. Airy N.C. "Mayberry"

Image credits: Norm Schaaf

#27 Dog Bark Park In Cottonwood, Idaho

My in-laws just got back from a trip to this unique roadside attraction, which is owned by my father-in-law's cousin Frances and husband Dennis. Its creator, Dennis Sullivan, is a former builder and when he changed careers, became an expert chainsaw carver. We have a chainsaw carving from him of our dog Shelby. The large dog, Sweet Willy, accommodates a family of 4. The head is a loft where kids can stay on bunks and a queen size bed is in the belly of the dog. The full size bath is in (where else?) the tail. My in-laws spent a couple nights in the dog. They're about to stop operating this as an inn and just leave it open as a roadside attraction

Image credits: Abby Goldstein

#28 The Great Elephant Migration Traveling Exhibit In Newport, Rhode Island

Image credits: Erin Kochanek

#29 Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens… In The Heart Of Center City Philadelphia … A Virtual “Trash Made Into Art” “Garden”

A very unusual winding road of art created from discarded glass, tile and other unusual pieces…here is just a sample… it’s not a big place, but lots of punch packed in. Like something you’ve never seen before… definitely worth a look

Image credits: Robin Borden Luberski

#30 JC Penney House And Museum, As Well As The First (But Technically 3rd) JC Penney Store Down The Block. Kemmerer, WY

Image credits: Haylen LaTorre Radford

#31 If You Schlepped All Of The Way To Mora, MN To See The World's Largest Dala Horse, You Might As Well Head Out 17 Minutes West To Ogilvie And Say Hello To Rusty The Dragon

He's on private property so be respectful of parking but he's definitely worth a stop. They say he can occasionally be talked into breathing fire!

Image credits: Bryan Thao Worra

#32 We Didn't Realize That We Were Driving Through The Longest Covered Bridge In America. One Side Is New Hampshire While The Other Side Is Vermont. Don't Forget To Walk Your Horses Across

Image credits: Mark Wolongevicz

#33 Junkman Statue In Buena Vista, Virginia

Image credits: Sherry Johnson

#34 Worlds Tallest Barber Pole. Forest Grove, OR

Image credits: Rob Keller

#35 Massive Ring At Tri State Pawn And Jewelry In Ashland, KY

Image credits: Brooke Tolber

#36 Cruising Down I-70 In Colby, Kansas, You Pass By The Wheat Jesus Billboard. No Words ... Just Jesus In A Wheat Field

Image credits: Scott Winikow

#37 Billed As The Most Photographed House In Maine. The Wedding Cake House In Kennebunk Maine And It’s Currently For Sale If You Have A Spare $2.65 Million Laying Around

Image credits: Mark York

#38 A Few Photos Of The Enchanted Highway In Regent Nd

Image credits: Tara Oakley

#39 Laclede’s Landing St Louis, Mo

Image credits: Marsha Valentine Banasiewicz

#40 Geographic Center Of North America In Rugby, Nd

Image credits: Wayne Wienke

#41 Spoonbridge In Minneapolis Minnesota. Am I The Only One That Calls This “The Mini Apple” Yes I Know It Is A Cherry

Image credits: Christel Schulz Rudlaff

#42 Latrobe PA Home Of The Banana Split

Image credits: Ashley Hutchinson

#43 Mr. Trash Wheel Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD

Image credits: Joe Pascullo

#44 Second Smallest Operating Post Office In The Us. Bridal Veil, Or

Image credits: Taylor Burroughs

#45 Prada Marfa Is A Permanent Sculptural Art Installation By Artists Elmgreen & Dragset, Located Along U.S. Route 90 In Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States, 1.4 Miles (2.3 Km) Northwest Of Valentine, And About 26 Miles (42 Km) Northwest Of Marfa

Image credits: Roscoe Fairbanks

#46 UFO House On Signal Mountain, TN

Image credits: Nate Chasteen

#47 Tornado Memorial In Belvidere, IL

Image credits: Chris Cammack

#48 I Went To The Enchanted Forest In Turner, Oregon, In June. Here Are A Few Of The Pictures I Took. They Have A Small Alpine Roller Coaster, A Dark Ride, Several Kiddie Rides, A Fountain Show And Other Neat Attractions

Image credits: Allen Sandquist

#49 Dover Downs Speedway "The Monster Mile" Dover Delaware

Image credits: Elaine Radovich Cowan

#50 Presidents Heads Park, Williamsburg, Virginia

Image credits: Jenn Mitchell Bennie

#51 The World’s Largest Kaleidoscope, Made Out Of An Old, Converted, Grain Silo, Is Located In Upstate NY, In A Small Town Named Mount Tremper, Which Is Near Woodstock, NY

It is 56 feet high, and opened in 1996. You walk into the Kaleidoscope, and can sit on the floor or lean against a wall to watch a colorful show accompanied by music. And of course, there’s a gift shop full of Kaleidoscopes. It’s “far out, man”! When I first visited the giant kaleidoscope, there wasn’t much around it. But now it is part of a complex. There are stores and there’s a resort hotel & spa surrounding the kaleidoscope

Image credits: Barbara Greenwald Issak

#52 US Steel Edgar Thompson Plant 1329 Braddock Ave Braddock PA 15104

Image credits: Scott Snyder

#53 Worlds Largest Penny In Woodruff, Wisconsin

Image credits: Melissa Klement

#54 The Coal House (Made From 65 Tonnes Of Coal ) In Williamson, West Virginia

Image credits: Alan Vickers

#55 The Ever So Popular Paul Bunyan And His Blue Ox Off Highway 101 In Klamath, California

Image credits: Rhonda Wollmuth Tucker

#56 Get Whisked Away In Nashville, ? On Broadway And 21st Ave

Image credits: Tara Ash

#57 3 Large Conch Shells In Key West

Image credits: Michelle Morgante

#58 40 Foot Tall Jack-A-Lope. Wall, SD. It Took 5 Chainsaw Artists 5 Weeks To Build

Image credits: Debbie Gilbert

#59 Saw This New Structural Display In Steelville, MO. Steelville Is Known As, 'The Floating Capital Of The World.'

Image credits: Lynn Brown

#60 A Huge Basket, 20 Feet Tall, Filled To Overflowing With Large, Apples. Located On Longaberger Homestead Frazeysburg, OH

Image credits: Tony Reynolds

#61 Salem Sue - Worlds Largesr Holstein Cow - New Salem, North Dakota

Image credits: Peggy Burger Schlosser

#62 Silly But Cute. Haha. Dice On Shawnee Mission Parkway In Shawnee, KS

Image credits: May Gibbons

#63 Seguin, TX. World’s Largest Pecan

Image credits: Wayne Wienke

#64 Dinosaur State Park, Glen Rose, Texas. These Dinos Were Originally Made For The 1964 Worlds Fair In NYC. Which I Attended!

Image credits: Bob Stout

#65 Largest Class Ring Citadel Class Ring In Charleston SC

Image credits: Tracy Hoffman Kratzer

#66 Chester, Illinois.... Home Of Popeye

Image credits: Sherry Johnson

#67 Giant Rocking Chair! Located On 385...between Hill City And Deadwood, SD!

Image credits: Kimberly Schoonveld Liston

#68 The Big Fish Supper Club In Bena, Minnesota

Image credits: Kathy Wieskamp Haake

#69 The Hoodah Statue In The Granary District Of Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s 15 Feet X 15 Feet

Image credits: Linda Cook Schoss

#70 Tallest Thermometer! Record Was 134 Degrees! - Baker, CA

Image credits: Crystal Lynn Vargas

#71 El Paso TX, A Door For Very Big People

Image credits: Alan Vickers

#72 Arkansas Alligator Farm And Petting Zoo

Image credits: Shellie Berg

#73 Worlds Tallest Filing Cabinet. Located In Burlington, Vt

Image credits: Kristy Rippey

#74 Transformer Displays In The Wisconsin Dells

These are actually outside of the Top Secret Upside Down White House (which is an absolute JOKE of an attraction) but these displays are free in the parking lot! Two huge displays - Bumblebee and Optimus Prime, and some other random transformers that are a bit smaller

Image credits: Kaitlin M Costello

#75 Soloman’s Castle Near Arcadia FL

Image credits: Teresa Bush Teagardin

#76 Shreveport, LA

Image credits: Jenna Dawn Shaff

#77 Summerville, Sc Claims The World's Largest Sweet Tea

Image credits: Crystal-Brian Maslow

#78 Paul Bunyan's Brother... Earl Bunyan! Located In New Town, North Dakota

Image credits: Kimberly Schoonveld Liston

#79 Miniature Taco Bell Reproduction In San Diego

Image credits: Jen Boynton

#80 Montrose, SD

Image credits: Judy Danielson

#81 Random Aliens Alongside The Road In Mount Gilead, Ohio

Image credits: Katherine Burnside

#82 S.P. Dinsmoor's Garden Of Eden Location: Lucas, Kansas - Home Of The "2nd Best Small Town Art Scene!" Est. 1907

S.P Dinsmoor started building the cabin home in 1904 at 64 yrs young, intending it to be a residence and a source of income from tourism. The cabin is made to look like a log cabin, but is entirely constructed of rock and cement, as are the yard sculptures. Inside the cabin, no two windows or doors are alike. In the garden, there are 15 cement trees from 30 to 40 feet tall. There are 150 life size cement and stone sculptures in the garden

Image credits: Alaina Robin

#83 Peggy Sue‘S Diner-Saur Park, Yermo CA

Image credits: Steffen Anton

#84 Ha Ha Tonka Ruins In Camdenton, Missouri

Image credits: Sherry Johnson

#85 Intersection Of Montana Rte 83 And Montana Rte 200

Image credits: Chester McQuillen

#86 Giganticus Headicus On Route 66 A Little Pass Kingman Arizona

Image credits: Kenny Rager

#87 A Giant Pyramid On The Border Of Arkansas And Tennessee As You Are Crossing The Bridge Into Memphis. It's A Bass Pro Shop!!!! ? And You Can Go Up To The Top

Image credits: Meredith Kateri