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Hidden in the woods of Patapsco Park in Maryland, painted columns support the metal framework of what was once a domed church roof. Though the shrine itself is eerie, it's nothing compared to the strange thrill of happening upon this site: old stone columns and broken floor slabs painted with the same black-and-white dragons.
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If you know where to look, these woods — known to locals as “Hell House” — are full of crumbling artifacts of a Catholic seminary. Though the school grounds have been burnt and bulldozed since their closing in 1972, you can still find remains of a few buildings, altars, and even the pool.
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Renovated into a sand silo-themed playground in July 2024, these filtration towers are preserved as an homage to DC history, underground catacombs and all. A rare urbex site that feels like a gem without being illegal. (Pictured, second from right, in the banner above.)
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There's nothing like an abandoned amusement park — even if the only thing left is its mascots. Leftover from an old attraction known as President's Park, these 42 president heads are now located at Hankins Farm in Williamsburg, Virginia. More information can be found on their website, which has the strangest aura of any travel website I've ever seen.
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Long before the Capitol was fully built, these twenty-two Corithian columns were arranged from 1828 to 1958. When the dome was finally completed — and far heavier than anticipated — they were scrapped and relocated to the arboretum. Designed to uphold the offices of our nation's congress, today they hold nothing but clouds.
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A nice place to sit and look out over the Potomac, this lookout decorated with Georgetown graffiti can be found from the C&O canal towpath at 3263 M St NW. It's one of the last accessible remains of the old Potomac Aqueduct that was in operation from 1843 to 1886, though you'll see plenty other bits of the crumbled wall on a twenty-mile run down the trail.
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Hidden on one of DC's pedestrian islands, these sculptures mark a fun destination to one of the city's hidden gem running routes. Follow directions to Kingman & Heritage islands, then cross the bridge and follow the trail south until you find the sculpture underneath Whitney Young Memorial Bridge.
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