7 Truly One-of-a-Kind Buildings You’ll Only Find in Illinois

Illinois is packed with iconic architecture, from the skyscrapers of Chicago to Frank Lloyd Wright’s creations. Yet the state also holds some surprising design choices, from recreations of iconic structures to quirky home choices. Whether you're road tripping to Casey or Carbondale, consider this your guide to some of the strangest buildings in Illinois.

1. Baha'i House of Worship - Wilmette

The Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette is as unique as it is stunning. It is the only Baha'i House of Worship in North America, and one of only eight continental temples in the world. The 135-foot-tall dome glitters on the shore of Lake Michigan because architect Louis Bourgeois mixed quartz with its concrete cladding. Guests are welcome to visit the temple and admire its intricate design, learn more about the faith in the visitor center, and stroll the colorful gardens at one of the most peaceful places in Illinois.

2. World’s Largest Mailbox - Casey

In eastern Illinois, the small town of Casey makes a big impression. It is home to twelve of the world's largest things. Yet the World’s Largest Mailbox is not just decorative; it is a fully functioning mailbox. Visitors can climb the stairs inside the mailbox and enjoy the view of downtown Casey from the top. Inside, you can mail a letter from the World’s Largest Mailbox! The mailbox even has a functional red flag that rises when a letter is dropped in.

3. Gold Pyramid House - Wadsworth

If you blink while driving on Interstate 94 outside Chicago, in the town of Wadsworth, you may think you’ve landed in Egypt. In the 1970s, Jim and Linda Onan built a family home shaped like a pyramid, complete with a three-pyramid garage. The Gold Pyramid House complex also includes a 55-foot-tall statue of Ramses II and a replica of King Tutankhamun’s tomb.

4. The Tower of Baa - Windsor

Not all of Illinois’ unique homes are built for people. In Windsor, Dave and Marcia Johnson created a home for goats! The couple was inspired by goat towers in South Africa and Portugal. They built the Tower of Baa from 5,000 bricks, which stands 31 feet tall. Their goat herd lounges in six compartments reachable by 276 wooden spiral steps. 

5. Marina City - Chicago

As the home of the first skyscraper, Chicago has no shortage of memorable architecture. The Marina City complex on the Chicago River is one of the city’s most well-known. Bertrand Goldberg designed the two corncob-shaped buildings to be a “city within a city” in the 1960s. It includes residences, a restaurant, a marina, and more, and it has been featured in films and on album covers.

6. The R. Buckminster Fuller Dome - Carbondale

Architect  Buckminster Fuller is famous for inventing the geodesic dome, but did you know that he lived in one? While teaching at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Fuller assembled a geodesic dome in one day that he and his wife, Anne, lived in for more than a decade. The innovative design of interlocking triangles does “more with less” by covering more space with fewer construction materials. Tour the home to see the Fullers’ original furnishings and how they made this unique structure a home. 

7. Leaning Tower of Niles - Niles

Forget traveling to Italy, you can see a leaning tower outside of Chicago in Niles. The Leaning Tower of Niles is a half-sized replica of Pisa’s famous structure. It was built by Robert Ilg in 1934 to hide a water tower behind something more beautiful. The most Italian thing about the 94-foot-tall tower is three of the seven bells that hang at the top, which were made in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Are you ready to take a road trip of weird architecture around Illinois? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.