Texas can turn almost anything into a landmark, including a pair of boots, a backyard full of discarded objects, and an Eiffel Tower wearing a hat. Even its borrowed monuments have a personality of their own.
These five Texas oddities range from quick roadside photo stops to places worth lingering inside. Bring a camera, make room for a little disbelief, and remember that the Cathedral of Junk needs an appointment.
1. Eiffel Tower with Cowboy Hat
Paris, Texas
Paris, Texas has a perfectly reasonable answer to being confused with France: put a cowboy hat on the Eiffel Tower. The steel replica rises about 65 feet near the Love Civic Center, with a giant red hat perched above its latticework. You can understand the whole joke before you have even parked.
Built in 1993, the tower received its Western headwear in 1999. Several American towns named Paris have their own Eiffel-inspired landmarks, but this one makes its hometown allegiance especially clear. Stop for an outdoor look and a photo, then enjoy the rare satisfaction of seeing a famous architectural silhouette that appears dressed for a rodeo.
Explore Eiffel Tower with Cowboy Hat in the Oddities Directory.
2. Museum of the Weird
Austin, Texas
The Museum of the Weird tells you what to expect right in the name, then stuffs the place with enough curiosities to keep you guessing anyway. Above a Sixth Street shop, mummies, strange specimens, wax monsters, sideshow relics, and mysterious creatures compete for your attention. This is a collection that likes its display space busy.
The inspiration comes from old American dime museums, where spectacle and a convincing sales pitch could turn a questionable marvel into an afternoon’s entertainment. Bring your curiosity, but keep your skepticism handy. Part of the pleasure is deciding which objects belong to history, which belong to showmanship, and which deserve a second look before you settle on an explanation.
Explore Museum of the Weird in the Oddities Directory.
3. Stonehenge II
Ingram, Texas
A visit to the Texas Hill Country can include Stonehenge and a pair of Easter Island-style heads, all without leaving Ingram. Stonehenge II recreates the famous monument at roughly 90 percent of its height and 60 percent of its width. It has the dramatic silhouette, with considerably less mystery about the construction crew.
Al Shepperd built it with help from neighbor Doug Hill after a gift of limestone set the project in motion. Modern materials supplied the weathered-stone look, and two heads about thirteen feet tall joined the scene. Originally near Hunt, the attraction now stands on Hill Country Arts Foundation grounds. Walk around the ring and appreciate a local project that refused to stop at one borrowed landmark.
Explore Stonehenge II in the Oddities Directory.
4. World’s Largest Cowboy Boots
San Antonio, Texas
Most shopping trips do not require a photograph of the footwear outside. North Star Mall is an exception. Its giant cowboy boots stand more than 35 feet tall and stretch more than 30 feet from heel to toe, with leather-like surfaces, stitching, and patterned shafts. Passing cars provide a helpful reminder that the boots really are that enormous.
Artist Bob “Daddy-O” Wade created them in 1979 for a public art project in Washington, D.C. They later moved to San Antonio, where they look comfortably at home despite being wildly out of scale. Exterior viewing is free, making this an easy stop for a picture. Finding something in your own closet that looks impressive afterward could take longer.
Explore World’s Largest Cowboy Boots in the Oddities Directory.
5. Cathedral of Junk
Austin, Texas
An ordinary South Austin house has an extraordinary collection growing behind it. Since 1988, Vince Hannemann has worked discarded bicycles, hubcaps, bottles, appliances, toys, and metal parts into the Cathedral of Junk. Familiar objects become walls, arches, and decoration in a towering environment you can walk through.
The fun is in looking closely: a thing you might have hauled to the curb has found another job overhead or beside a narrow passage. Rooms, stairs, and platforms make the construction much more than a pile of scrap. This is private residential property, so arrange an appointment before visiting and confirm the current donation or admission arrangements. A backyard this unusual still belongs to somebody.
Explore Cathedral of Junk in the Oddities Directory.
Plan your Texas oddities stops
The two Austin attractions make a natural pairing, with San Antonio and Ingram offering more stops for a central Texas trip. Paris belongs on a separate northeast Texas leg rather than a rushed detour. Check the Directory entries for visitor details before setting out, especially admission information and appointment requirements.