Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations

The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

Love fades.

How a Minnesota Town Fell In and Out of Love With Its Ginormous Geese

Like most human-fowl relationships, it's complicated.

Place of the Day

Lincoln Book Tower

A three-story tower of books about Abraham Lincoln is one of the more unusual monuments to the president.

disappearing world

These Scots Still Fish Like the Vikings

But it's not clear whether future generations will keep the tradition alive.

February 11, 2020

17 Jaw-Dropping Cliffhangers

How Ancient Tooth Plaque Solved the Mystery of the Banana's Trans-Pacific Journey

The Man Who Turned His Home Into a ‘Mosaic Palace’

This 6-Foot Brachiosaurus Fossil Hitched a Ride With Two Clydesdale Horses

Top Countries

Top Cities

Axmouth, England

Axmouth Bridge

The oldest standing concrete bridge in England was also constructed as a work of art.

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Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Modern Diner

The first ever diner included on the National Register of Historic Places is famous for its custard French toast.

Tony Dunnell

Added by Tony Dunnell

Stanton Lees, England

Earl Grey Tower

This tower was constructed to commemorate the man who helped bring true democracy to the United Kingdom.

Dr Alan P Newman

Added by Dr Alan P Newman

Oiteke Bori

This water goblin statue represents a 19th-century urban legend about a haunted canal that became a Japanese idiom.

Phlizz

Added by Phlizz

North Yorkshire, England

Tennants Auction House

This remarkable building has a lot to offer, even if you're not placing a bid.

Dr Alan P Newman

Added by Dr Alan P Newman

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Top Place Tags

art & performance

Extraordinary Island: Puerto Rico's Hidden Wonders

From $1,970 USD

art & performance

Beyond the Quarter: Music and Reinvention in New Orleans

From $1,415 USD

Explore the rich soundscape of New Orleans, tracing the social, political, and spiritual roles these traditions have played throughout history and in contemporary culture.

art & performance

Santa Fe Weekend: New Art, Ancient Traditions

From $1,280 USD

Spend a weekend immersed in the rich history, deeply rooted tradition, and constantly evolving art-scape of northern New Mexico.

art & performance

Vienna: Salon Sonatas and Klimt Up Close

From $2,625 USD

Immerse yourself in Vienna’s rich artistic culture of past and present—from the historic coffee houses that have hosted creative salons for centuries to world-renowned musical venues.

Atlas Obscura's Wonders of FiDi

New York, New York

Walking the Hidden Wonders of Midtown

New York, New York

The Art of Solving a Cold Case

Boulder, Colorado

A Hoppin' Good Time at The Bunny Museum

Altadena, California

Inside the Holographer's Laboratory

New York, New York

Tour of a Shoemaker's Workshop

Seattle, Washington

The Spies of Georgetown

Washington, D.C.

Explore The US Lunar Space Program

Downey, California

Stargaze through an Apollo 11 Telescope

Berthoud, Colorado

Lost and Long-Gone Graveyards of L.A.

Los Angeles, California

New York City Clock Walk

New York, New York

Behind the Scenes at the City Reliquary

Brooklyn, New York

View All Experiences

Peregrine Falcons Came Home to Roost in a Boeing 737 Plant

After pausing production of the 737 MAX, Boeing will get help evicting its resident birds of prey.

Sabrina Imbler February 13, 2020

The Rude, Cruel, and Insulting 'Vinegar Valentines' of the Victorian Era

Nothing like getting surprise hate mail from a would-be lover on February 14.

Natalie Zarrelli February 13, 2020

An Inside Look at Czechia's Grueling Mountain Dogsled Race

Started in 1997, Šediváčkův Long is one of Europe's toughest winter events.

Winnie Lee February 12, 2020

Pablo Escobar’s Hippo Herd Is Treating Colombia's Lakes Like One Big Toilet

They're thriving, pooping, and fouling up the water around the drug lord's former estate.

Jessica Leigh Hester February 12, 2020

The Coral Ark That Hopes to Save Florida’s Ailing Reefs

As a mysterious disease sweeps across the region, dry land might be the last best hope for survival.

Sabrina Imbler February 12, 2020

The Cross-Border Indigenous Battle for Wild Rice

In the Great Lakes region, what some consider a weed is actually a sacred seed.

Darcy Rhyno February 12, 2020

In Buenos Aires, Queer Tango Takes a Revolutionary Dance Back to Its Roots

In traditional tango, men lead and women follow. Queer tango is creating a new paradigm.

Juan Relmucao February 12, 2020

The Unexpected Elegance of Apocalyptic Seed Vaults, In Photos

The images, by artist and professor Dornith Doherty, are ethereal and oddly comforting.

Jessica Leigh Hester February 11, 2020

How the United Arab Emirates Became the Center of Falconry’s Gyre

And the hub of a world-spanning market for champion raptors.

Joshua Hammer February 11, 2020

Found: The First Anglo-Saxon Building in Bath

The discovery, in a city famed for its Roman ruins, may mark the site of England’s first coronation.

Isaac Schultz February 11, 2020

What a Viral Video of a Coyote and Badger Says About Interspecies Duos

Sometimes they're buddies. Sometimes it's strictly business.

Jennifer S. Holland February 10, 2020

Generations of Handwritten Mexican Cookbooks Are Now Online

North America's largest-known Mexican cookbook collection inspires both tears and restaurant dishes.

Nils Bernstein February 10, 2020

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