Architecture is meant to provide shelter from the elements, but great design extends beyond mere function and utility. Exceptional building designs can delight the senses, make a statement, and with luck, become cultural icons.
Legendary architect Phillip Johnson once mused “dullness is the enemy.” There’s nothing dull or uninteresting about the following homes, museums, and monuments. These 10 must-see wonders—designed by some of the world’s most renowned architects—are sure to inspire, fascinate, and elicit a sense of awe. Among scores of architectural treasures in the Midwest and South, these are certainly worthy of placement on anyone’s bucket list of places to visit.