Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Large Kaleidoscope

While impressive in size, the actual view through the kaleidoscope is sadly just some transparent blue gears that turn, not the amazing technicolor extravagance you'd get with a toy kaleidoscope.

The same park houses an amazingly huge metal slide and suspension bridge, though! That might be a deciding factor in going. Watch out for the fire ant hills if you step off the cement in this park (or most anywhere in Alabama). There were three big mounds right next to the kaleidoscope, and the whole park was FULL of them. Fire ants will ruin your trip fast if you're not careful!

A large, working kaleidoscope can be found in Snow Hinton Park. When I first noticed it, as I was driving by, I thought it was a giant sextant or possibly a telescope. When I parked and walked over to it I saw the artist label and discovered it is called "Kaleidoscope," created by artist Eric Nubbe and installed in 2018. If you look through the eyepiece you can see glass pieces which can be moved, just like with a real kaleidoscope.