Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations

The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

An 1826 map of North Carolina, with counties, roads, settlements, and topographical features.

Why North Carolina Is the Most Linguistically Diverse U.S. State

But it might not be that way for much longer.

by Dan Nosowitz

Place of the Day

Portland Horse Rings

Tiny steeds tethered to antique rings are scattered around the city.

How the Library of Congress Unrolled a 2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Scroll

“It was the most fragile object we have ever encountered.”

December 12, 2019

World-Famous Waterfalls May Slow to a Trickle, But Tourism Doesn't Have To

Antarctica Is Stark, Beautiful, and Will Shrink Your Brain

Atlas Obscura Goods

Holiday Gifts

How a White Lie Gave Japan KFC for Christmas

A Chain of Seahorse Hotels Is Coming Soon to Sydney Harbour

Top Countries

Top Cities

Antwerp, Belgium

Hand of Druon Antigoon

The legendary giant's severed hand sits on Antwerp's popular shopping street.

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Angahuan, Mexico

Iglesia de Santo Santiago Apóstol (Church of Saint James the Apostle)

Located in the shadow of a volcano, this church is tied to the culture of the Purépecha people.

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Tulsa, Oklahoma

The Outsiders House Museum

Once in disrepair, the house where the 1983 film was shot has been restored and turned into a museum.

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East Haddam, Connecticut

Johnsonville Village

This picturesque Victorian ghost town was once a thriving mill community.

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Torrance, California

Torrance High School

One of California's oldest continually used high schools has an interesting history, both on and off screen.

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Top Place Tags

art & performance

Cambodia: Contemporary Art, Spiritual Traditions, and Hidden Wonders

From $3,215 USD

Explore the vibrant art, religion, and food culture of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and spend time with the country's leading artists and performers.

science & nature

Science After Dark: Spotting Squid in the Tides of Oahu

From $3,535 USD

Just beneath the waves off the Hawaiian coast, there are schools of tropical fish, flotillas of sea turtles, and squads of squid. We’re diving in to explore some of their secrets.

history & culture

Tunisia Through the Sands of Time

From $3,660 USD

history & culture

Past Future Monuments of the Balkans

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia

From $4,215 USD

Take a road trip across Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina with Atlas Obscura as we explore the Balkans in search of Yugoslav memorial sites.

On the Trail of DC's First Brewmaster

Alexandria, Virginia

The Chicago Underground Scavenger Hunt

Chicago, Illinois

Sci Fi Sewage Sanctuary

Los Angeles, California

The Spies of Georgetown

Washington, D.C.

Japanese Incense and Tea Experience

Seattle, Washington

Tour NYC’s Industrial Waterway

Brooklyn, New York

Exploring Historic Homes of the Stars

Santa Monica, California

A Walking Tour of Hollywood Jazz History

Los Angeles, California

White House Tales of Scandal & Intrigue

Washington, D.C.

Riverside, What the Burbs Could've Been

Riverside, Illinois

Walking the Hidden Wonders of Midtown

New York, New York

Flirting with Love

City of Industry, California

View All Experiences

Every December, Japan Is Awash in Elegant Christmas Cakes

Romance, magazines, and technology made delicate confections a must-have.

Makiko Itoh December 11, 2019

The Return of Japan’s Female Sake Brewers

Pushed out of brewing more than a century ago, they're making a comeback.

Reina Gattuso December 10, 2019

Checking in on the Algae of a Brooklyn Reservoir with a Microbiologist

Sally Warring knows a lot about what we can't see.

Sabrina Imbler December 10, 2019

Found: Bottles of Hair Dye From a Civil War Photography Studio

When soldiers posed for portraits, they wanted to look their best.

Jessica Leigh Hester December 10, 2019

Syrians Won't Give Up on the Great Mosque of Aleppo

In 2013, the mosque's minaret shattered into 2,000 pieces. A restoration team aims to put them back together.

Chris Ray December 10, 2019

The World's Tiniest Sea Turtles Keep Getting Stranded on Cape Cod

Floating devices called "drifters" are helping oceanographers understand why.

Sabrina Imbler December 9, 2019

You Can Still Buy the Actual Fruitcakes Served at British Royal Weddings

The often-insulted confection was once featured at weddings as well as Christmas.

Anne Ewbank December 9, 2019

Interpreting the Squawks, Chirps, and Barks of Israel's Rock Hyraxes

Brevity is the soul of wit, but volume is what really gets you noticed.

Isaac Schultz December 9, 2019

How a Fossilized Snake With Legs Fits Into the Lineage of Lizards

“Snakes are just fancy lizards,” says one evolutionary biologist.

Sabrina Imbler December 6, 2019

Sled Dogs Have Long Been Central to Life in the Arctic

It certainly beats walking.

Isaac Schultz December 6, 2019

In France, a Bloody WWI Battlefield Has Become a Wildlife Refuge

Toads, orchids, bats, and hundreds of millions of unexploded shells.

Sabrina Imbler December 6, 2019

How a Master Mezcalero Makes a Unique Venison Mezcal

Meat is the secret ingredient in this take on the traditional Mexican spirit.

Lindsay Talley December 6, 2019

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