50 States, 50 Unusual Landmarks

MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi Petrified Forest
Huge petrified logs dating from prehistoric times make for fascinating exploring -- and don't miss the museum and nature trails -- at this Registered National Landmark in Flora. www.mspetrifiedforest.com

MISSOURI: St. Joseph Museum
A Lewis and Clark exhibition, natural history dioramas, and Japanese friendship dolls are among the items on display at this museum headquartered in a restored Victorian home in St. Joseph. www.stjosephmuseum.org

MONTANA: Museum of the Plains Indian
Check out the not-so-little petrified baby T-Rex fossil at the Blackfeet Heritage Center of this Native American museum in Browning, which also boasts rawhide and buckskin clothing, historic galleries, and films. www.cutbankchamber.com/visit/plainsmuseum.htm

NEBRASKA: Pony Express Station
Situated in Gothenburg's Ehmen Park, this station showcases artifacts from the Pony Express riders who traveled along the Oregon Trail. www.ci.gothenburg.ne.us

NEVADA: Eureka
This 19th-century mining village has been preserved since its days as a gold and silver boom town; authentic buildings from the era include an opera house and newspaper office. www.co.eureka.nv.us/

NEW HAMPSHIRE: America's Stonehenge
The origins of this man-made North Salem rock maze -- considered the oldest in North America -- are as mysterious as its design, which dates back some 4,000-plus years. www.stonehengeusa.com

NEW JERSEY: Atlantic City Boardwalk
Amusement parks, museums, and trolley tours are among the more family-friendly activities at this historic boardwalk, which has been attracting vacationers since the late 1800s. www.atlanticcitynj.com

NEW MEXICO: Taos Pueblo
This 1,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site is still inhabited by the Taos Indians, who practice tribal law and offer handcrafted silver, pottery, and fine art for sale. www.taospueblo.com