Dauer Museum of Classic Cars in Sunrise, Florida

This museum is not just a collection of over 55 classic cars, but a meticulously curated journey through American and global automotive history, spanning from 1906 to 2020. Visitors can expect to see everything from a 1906 Cadillac delivery truck to rare gems like a 1953 Oldsmobi … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 16 hours ago

‘Hrachovina’ in Brno, Czechia

There is no more poetic place to commemorate the discoveries of 19th-century Czech priest and father of genetics Gregor Johann Mendel than in a forest composed of five-meter-high bronze pea plants. The structure—which hides real DNA samples of important Czech personalities, inclu … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 17 hours ago

The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial in Newtown, Connecticut

Twenty-six people, including 20 students and six adults, lost their lives during a shooting that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut on December 14, 2012. The devastating incident is the deadliest mass shooting at an elementary school in United States … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 18 hours ago

Vitromurales de Zacatlán in Zacatlán, Mexico

In 2014, Councilwoman Mary Carmen Olvera had the idea to create a mural on the wall of the local cemetery that bordered the Barranca de los Jilgueros. The wall was already a tourist spot known for its scenic views. The artist in charge of the project was American artist Trish Met … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 19 hours ago

Ancient City of Histria in Istria, Romania

Histria, named after the Thracian river god, lies on an arid promontory near the mouth of the Danube River on the Romanian coast of the Black Sea. The city was founded by settlers from Miletos in the 7th century BC and maintained its Greek character throughout its history, even d … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 20 hours ago

Heksens Hårbånd (The Witch’s Headband) in Lille Skensved, Denmark

Built in the 13th century, Højelse Church stands quietly in the countryside near Køge, Denmark. In the stone wall dividing the church from its cemetery, a dark boulder catches the eye. Across its surface runs a pale, ribbon-like stripe, which locals have long called Heksens Hårbå … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 21 hours ago

The Georgia Room at Switzer Library in Marietta, Georgia

Tucked inside Switzer Library in Marietta, Georgia, the Georgia Room is a treasure trove of genealogy and local history. Founded in 1970 with a bequest from Virginia Van Stone Crosby—a prominent social and civic leader—the department preserves pieces of the past, some more unsett … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 22 hours ago

Do New York City Rats Deserve Their Bad Rap?

Listen and subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Dylan Thuras: I’m here with Alan Dovinsky, who is a producer of the Terrestrials podcast. Hi, Alan. Thanks for coming on the show. Alan Dovinsky: Yeah, absolutely. So glad to be here. Dylan: So … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 22 hours ago

‘Cry for Justice – The Scream’ in Durham, England

Outside the Bill Bryson Library at Durham University stands a sculpture by English artist Fenwick Lawson: Cry for Justice – the Scream. The sculpture was inspired by the famous Vietnam War photograph Napalm Girl and Edvard Munch’s The Scream. Lawson captures their sense of angst … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 23 hours ago

The Secret Gardens Saving the World’s Rarest Plants

The entrance of the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley appears as one might expect—there’s meandering paths to discover flora and fauna, a plant store stocked with seedlings, wooden benches for taking in the aromas of honeysuckle and rose. Yet there’s a secret … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

The Old Town Hall Bank Museum and Exhibit Hall in Poolesville, Maryland

On an otherwise modern street, a building that appears to be plucked straight from the early 1900s stands tall on Fisher Avenue in Poolesville, Maryland. The Old Town Hall and former National Bank of Poolesville comprise the Historic Medley District along with John Poole House an … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

Der Mensch bezwingt den Kosmos (The Potsdam Mosaic) in Potsdam, Germany

Soviet mosaics are perhaps not what one would expect to see in the city of palaces, yet this is one of its most famed public art pieces. The Potsdam mosaic was created in 1972 after the design of Fritz Eisel, who used it to decorate three sides of an otherwise boring socialist bu … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

De Tijdtrap in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Most parking garages are purely functional spaces, but beneath Rotterdam Market Hall lies one with a unique twist—a history lesson of the city’s past. Dig beneath an old city, and you’ll often find layers of discarded history. That’s what ‘de tijdtrap’ (or ‘The Stairs of Time’) t … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

Aqsa Mosque in Qadian, India

While the Golden Temple in Amritsar is a world-famous symbol of Indian Punjab, Sikhism is not the only religion that was founded in the state. In the late 19th century, the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam was founded in the small town of Qadian. The Aqsa Mosque was built at what was then … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

Sampuru Shops of Kappabashi Street in Tokyo, Japan

Kappabashi Street, affectionately known as Tokyo’s “Kitchen Town,” is a culinary wonderland that serves as a magnet for anyone with a passion for food. The street is lined with an array of shops catering to every aspect of kitchens, cooking, and culinary culture, from professiona … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

The Taskmaster’s House in London, England

Inside a gated driveway off the Great Chertsey Road in Chiswick, London, lies an unassuming little house that has become a major landmark for fans of British comedy. In the 1920s, the orchards and meadows occupying the meander of the Thames south of Chiswick’s Grove Park neighbor … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

POST Houston in Houston, Texas

Built in 1934, POST was built as a depot adjacent to Houston's Grand Central Station. The building was designed by Wilson, Morris, Crain and Anderson—the same architects behind the Astrodome—and later served as the headquarters for the U.S. Postal Service in Houston. It still fea … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

Golden Age Collectables in Seattle, Washington

Seattle’s Pike Place Market itself is more or less a cabinet of curiosities, but it is also home to what has been described as the world’s oldest comic book shop. Established in 1961, Golden Age Collectables was a dime-a-dozen comic book shop when, in 1971, its owners sold it to … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

Dear Atlas: How Do I Unplug on a Solo Trip?

Dear Atlas is Atlas Obscura’s travel advice column, answering the questions you won’t find in traditional guidebooks. Have a question for our experts? Submit it here. * * * Dear Atlas, I’m planning a solo trip and want to be intentional about how I spend my time. I don’t necessar … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

The Art in This Museum Was Donated for Free

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Luz Fleming: Just off of Interstate 25 in southern Colorado, about halfway between Denver and Santa Fe, there’s a little dusty old ex-mining town called Walsenburg. Here you’ll find your usual gas statio … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 1 day ago

The Eye of God at Newchurch in Pendle in Newchurch-in-Pendle, England

In the Pendle village of Newchurch, St. Mary's Church tower features a curious oval opening in its west face. Known locally as the 'Eye of God,' many debate whether the eye's purpose is practical or paranormal. The most straightforward explanation suggests that the eye served as … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 2 days ago

St. Govor’s Well in London, England

While one might not expect to find natural springs in central London, a few arise within the urban landscape. One such spring is located near the southwest corner of Kensington Gardens. This spring is commonly described as being an “ancient spring,” but it was only given the name … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 2 days ago

Shivsrushti in Pune, India

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj established the Maratha Empire in the 17th century. Shivsrushti, a large theme park in Pune, now stands in honor of his legacy. Visitors are welcomed into a grand, fort-like building. The theme park is divided into multiple sections based on various as … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 2 days ago

Hammam Seffarine in Fez, Morocco

The rhythmic thwacks and taps of the local coppersmiths reverberate through the chambers of Hammam Seffarine, a beautifully restored bathhouse in the medina of Fez. Located on the southwest side of Place Seffarine, the hamman is no longer operational, but visitors are welcome to … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 2 days ago

The Tree Growing Inside a 7-Eleven in Monterrey, Mexico

The 7-Eleven in Monterrey was the first ecological store the company built in Mexico. When leaders at the chain realized the building site was home to a 50-year-old walnut tree, they decided the best way to honor their commitment to sustainability was to keep it. So, they built t … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 2 days ago

Colorado River Aqueduct in Vidal Junction, California

It was the 1920s. The city of Los Angeles needed outside supplies of water to sustain its growth. William Mulholland, the legendary engineer who spearheaded Los Angeles's attempts to secure water, looked to the Colorado River as an ultimate source. Before Parker Dam was even comp … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 2 days ago

Chiang Statues in Beitou in Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwan is an island of divided and conflicting memories. Since the end of martial law, the country has slowly moved toward transitional justice, with many symbols of the authoritarian past removed or relocated—like those sent to the well-known Garden of the Generalissimos in Taoy … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 2 days ago

How the Rocky Mountain Locust Plague Spawned Federal Disaster Relief

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Dylan Thuras: Hey Amanda, how are you doing? Nice to see you. Amanda McGowan: Hey Dylan, nice to see you too. I have a little bit of a random question to start with, but I wanted to know if you have any … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 2 days ago

Wolvenplein Prison in Utrecht, Netherlands

The Wovenplein Prison was built in 1856. Based on the Pennsylvania System imported from the United States, Wolvenplein ("wolf square") was designed to isolate prisoners for contemplative penance. Permanently shuttered in 2014, the oldest cellular prison in the Netherlands, has be … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 2 days ago

America’s First Game Warden Died Fighting for the Birds

In 1905, the sprawling estuaries of South Florida were a hotbed of sinister activity. Men with shotguns quietly skulked around the mangroves, marshes, and bays of present-day Everglades National Park, staking out rookeries of birds to kill and sell for their feathers. Plume hunti … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 2 days ago

Atlas Obscura Presents: Traveling Back in Time for Coconut Cake With The Sporkful

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. We’re sharing an episode from our friends at The Sporkful. Following an Atlas Obscura Guide, Dan Pashman of the Sporkful visits the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, the underground tunnels of Los Angeles, for … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 3 days ago

A Supposedly Boring Mall I Might Actually Visit Again

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Dylan Thuras: So you know, if you’ve been listening over the week, you will know that Lulu Miller of Radiolab and Terrestrials and I, Dylan Thuras of Atlas Obscura, we’re doing Bad Rap Week. We are talki … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 4 days ago

Petwood Hotel Bouncing Bomb in Lincolnshire, England

The now privately owned Petwood Hotel served as the base for the Dambusters, who developed the Bouncing Bomb during World War II. The bomb was unleashed on three German dams, destroying factories, power plants, railways, roads, and mines, and killing more than 1,500 people. Durin … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 5 days ago

RAF Harrington in Harrington, England

RAF Harrington, the remains of which still stand on a piece of farm land, first opened in September 1943 and was originally intended for the No. 84 Operational Training Unit. RAF Harrington is considered to be the most intact of the 20 former Thor missile sites and is therefore a … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 5 days ago

Écomusée du fier monde in Montreal, Québec

Opened in 1927, this bathhouse named Bain généreux was at the heart of a working class neighborhood. Back then, most residences in Montreal did not have access to a bath or a shower. In an effort to increase workers' hygiene and to control illnesses, many public baths were opened … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 5 days ago

Village du Livre de Fontenoy-la-Joûte in Fontenoy-la-Joûte, France

In this beautiful French village, every fourth or fifth house one walks past has been turned into a book shop. Book lovers, friendly locals, and campers enjoy the area's love for literature, beautiful atmosphere, and access to trails. The book shops have books and collectors maga … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 5 days ago

Obelisk of Senusret I in Faiyum, Egypt

Most of the world's 30-odd surviving obelisks currently stand eroding in the rain in cities like Rome, Istanbul, Paris, and New York, having long ago been pulled down and floated across the sea by Egypt's successive conquerors. Remarkably, the oldest obelisk of them all has never … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 5 days ago

The Railway Museum (Spoorwegmuseum) in Utrecht, Netherlands

From 1874 to the mid 20th-century, the Utrecht Maliebaan station connected the city of Hilversum to Lunetten, which is still in use today. Back then, Lunetten was only a station where passengers could transfer to a different train towards the city of 's-Hertogenbosch, as there wa … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 5 days ago

The Mosaic of Andreina in Pratantico, Italy

Far from the more touristic routes of Tuscany, the church of the Holy Spirit of Indicatore has recently become an attraction for mosaic mavens, art lovers, and curious travelers. The church was put on the map by an ongoing public art project that has transformed the local church … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 5 days ago

The Allagash Abductions: This State Park’s Most Famous Visitors ... Are Aliens?

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Dylan Thuras: It was 1988, and all year, Jim Weiner had been having a terrible time sleeping. He was having nightmares, but these were not normal nightmares, because Jim said he felt like he was awake, a … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 5 days ago

Dalat Railway Station in Dalat, Vietnam

While train travel remains a common form of transportation in Vietnam, the Dalat Railway Station lived a short life—from just 1932 to 1968. However, the station is still a beauty. It’s easy to access and entry is about 10,000vnd (about $0.50). Inside the station, visitors can pur … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 5 days ago

STRAAT in Amsterdam, Netherlands

While Amsterdam is known for its museums of fine art, particularly the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, the art on display at STRAAT is far less conventional. Conceived of in 2015 and opened in 2020, STRAAT features the artistic works of a broad range of internationally-renow … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 6 days ago

St. Charles’ Church in Freetown, Sierra Leone

After the United Kingdom passed the Slave Trade Act of 1807, Freetown in the new colony of Sierra Leone became the hub of British anti-slavery activity in West Africa. The West Africa Squadron of the Royal Navy would patrol the coast looking for illegal slave-trading ships and ca … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 6 days ago

East Van Vodville Cinema in Vancouver, British Columbia

The East Van Vodville might be easy to miss if you’re not looking for it: a small, unassuming window is embedded into the boarded-up facade of an otherwise plain building. Visitors can peer through the little windows, as though they have snuck into the theater, where they will be … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 6 days ago

Gombe National Park in Kasekera, Tanzania

In 1960, Jane Goodall was sent to Gombe National Park (then called Gombe Stream Game Reserve) to research an unstudied wild group of chimpanzees. Despite Goodall's world-famous work, Gombe only receives about 2,000 visitors per year and has no more than 15 to 25 visitors at any g … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 6 days ago

The Oswego Furnace and Salamanders in Lake Oswego, Oregon

At the site of the first iron furnace on the west coast, the Oswego Furnace, lie some relics known as “salamanders.” These plugs of pig iron once threatened to clog up the works of the iron foundry and had to be removed with great effort. Named after a mythical amphibian that ros … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 6 days ago

Kiel’s Old Waste Incineration Plant in Kiel, Germany

In a suburban area on the edge of Kiel, northern Germany, lies a hidden, disused waste incinerator that was abandoned in the late 1980s. This site quietly draws the curious and creative—urban explorers and graffiti artists frequent the location where factory ruins and encroaching … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 6 days ago

National Military Museum of Egypt in Cairo, Egypt

The hordes of visitors thronging the Citadel of Salah al-Din come for the medieval fortifications, historic mosques, and panoramic views over Cairo. Few tourists visitors think to enter the National Military Museum tucked away in a rose-pink building at the edge of the site. But … | Continue reading


@atlasobscura.com | 6 days ago