The Enchanted Highway
Gladstone, ND
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

If you're traveling across Interstate 94 in western North Dakota, don't miss the turn for The Enchanted Highway. This unique 32-mile scenic drive stretches south from Gladstone to Regent and features a series of enormous scrap metal sculptures created by local artist Gary Greff. Beginning in 1989, Greff set out to create something that would encourage travelers to leave the interstate and visit the small communities of western North Dakota.

Among the most famous sculptures are Geese in Flight, Pheasants on the Prairie, Grasshoppers in the Field, Deer Crossing, and several others, each appearing every few miles along the route. Built almost entirely from recycled metal, these giant works of folk art have earned international attention and even a Guinness World Record. If you're looking for one of America's most unusual roadside attractions, The Enchanted Highway is well worth the detour. 06-06

UPDATE: The Enchanted Highway continues to grow, with Gary Greff adding new sculptures over the years, including a towering knight and a fire-breathing dragon near Regent. More than three decades after the project began, it remains one of North Dakota's most memorable roadside experiences. 06-26

Tulsa Time Capsule
Tulsa, OK
Photos courtesy Chris King

After being buried for 50 years, the old time capsule in Tulsa, OK was dug up in the old Belvedere. The Old Faithful American Flag survived. 07-07

One of Tulsa's most famous publicity stunts took place in 1957 when a brand-new Plymouth Belvedere was buried beneath the grounds of the Tulsa County Courthouse as part of Oklahoma's 50th anniversary celebration. The car was intended to remain underground for 50 years before being unearthed in 2007, along with a collection of memorabilia that offered a glimpse into life during the 1950s.

When the vault was finally opened, thousands gathered to watch the excavation. Unfortunately, groundwater had seeped into the concrete enclosure over the decades, leaving the Plymouth heavily rusted and beyond restoration. Fortunately, a separate sealed steel capsule buried alongside the car kept its contents completely dry. Among the preserved items was a pristine 48-star American flag that looked almost untouched after half a century underground. 07-07

UPDATE: Today, the famous Plymouth—known as "Miss Belvedere"—is preserved at Historic Auto Attractions in Roscoe, Illinois, where visitors can see the rusted time capsule firsthand. Tulsa also learned from the experience, relocating a later Plymouth Prowler time capsule above ground to better protect it until its planned opening in 2048. 06-26

Belvedere on display
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Scott Meeker

Here's another shot of the dug up Belvedere on display. 07-07