Stories & Video
Education
Stories & Video
Education
Stories & Video
The people, places, and projects that inspire wonder today.
Itinerary
Exploring Colorado's Historic Hot Springs Loop
There’s no better time to visit Colorado’s steamy hot springs than in winter.
Launching Spaceship Earth
The true, stranger-than-fiction, adventure of eight visionaries who spent two years quarantined inside of a self-engineered replica of Earth’s ecosystem called Biosphere 2. Premiering May 8th.
models
How a Photographer Recreated Outdoor Adventures With Household Stuff
Think of it as the Great Indoors.
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell With a Pull-Tab Archaeologist
food
How to Make Smoked Foods From Around the World on Your Stovetop
With advice and recipes from a renowned expert.
Atlas Obscura's WFH (Wonder From Home)
We want to help you find people, places, and projects that capture the spirit of discovery and community.
objects of intrigue
Help Atlas Obscura Find the Smithsonian’s Weirdest Items
With 2.8 million new artifacts on view, there should be plenty to choose from.
museums
Wondrous Museums You Can Visit From Your Couch Right Now
Your living room is the perfect place to see the world.
science
What’s the Most Striking Image of Earth?
NASA's Earth Observatory wants your help finding hidden gems in its vast archives.
archaeology
U-2 Spy Plane Photos Are Windows Onto Ancient Civilizations
Traces from the ancient past are hidden in photographs from the Cold War.
collections
Early Chinese Trick Photography Sent Chubby Babies Into Space
Inside a historian’s collection of endearing, goofy early 20th-century portraits.
libraries
Generations of Handwritten Mexican Cookbooks Are Now Online
North America's largest-known Mexican cookbook collection inspires both tears and restaurant dishes.
islands
The Quietest Spot in San Francisco Bay
If you're the lone caretaker of Brooks Island, not going crazy is job one.
mountains
See What the Pyrenees Look Like From an Antique Airplane
The mountain range offers a wealth of gorgeous, unexpected textures.
architecture
Picturing Manhattan's Shortest Buildings From the Ground Floor
A photographer set out to document single-story buildings—the anti-skyscrapers.
underwater
The Weird, Dangerous, Isolated Life of the Saturation Diver
One of the world's most hazardous jobs is known for its intense pressure.
shipwrecks
Virtually Tour a Dutch Smuggler's Shipwreck in Iceland
Without jumping in the frigid North Atlantic.
roadside attractions
Meet California's Nerds of Neon
These photo-taking, model-making obsessives are documenting the state’s vintage signs before they vanish.
space exploration
What It's Like to Live on the Sea Floor to Simulate Life in Space
Researchers squeeze into an underwater habitat off Florida to help prepare for missions to the Moon and beyond.
models
Feast Your Eyes on These Delicate Glass Models of Decaying Fruit
Blighted, century-old produce goes back on display for the first time in decades.
food
Around the World in 380 Breakfasts
A cookbook devoted to morning meals showcases chocolate-fish porridge, ice-cream brioche, and more.
food
Eat Like Royalty With This Cookbook From the Emperor Who Built the Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan developed one of the most famous cuisines of India.
photography
Embracing the Mysteries of a Trove of Hungarian Photos, Rescued From the Dustbin of History
Glimpses of a century of everyday life.
archaeology
Walk Through the Halls of Scotland's Lords of the Isles (Virtually)
A digital reconstruction revives a medieval seat of power.
shipwrecks
How to Explore a Shipwreck From the Comfort of Your Couch
Without the training, equipment, and utter terror.
murder
Take a Virtual Murder Tour of Medieval London
You'll find that churches offer little sanctuary.
architecture
The Mystery Man Who Spent 20 Years Photographing North American Buildings
His name was Barry Gfeller, and he left behind an astonishing 50,000 previously unseen images.
transportation
The Dangers of Train Yards, Through the Eyes of Railroad Employees
A collection of photos from the 1960s tried to show why locomotives need two people in the cab.
gardens
Every City Has Its Secret Gardens
Step inside the hidden green spaces of cities around the world.
soviet history
30,000 Hidden Images Reveal the World of a Soviet-Era Photographer
The secret trove of film and negatives, stashed in a Russian attic.
photography
The Passionate Photo Colorizers Who Are Humanizing the Past
When black-and-white images can be hard to relate to, adding color evokes empathy.
libraries
The Libraries That Preserve the History of Small Islands
Tiny islands, great archives.
ancient technology
When Ancient Writing Is an Art, Science, and Snack
If you're going to practice writing cuneiform, why not do it on a cookie?
ancient
Putting Ancient Recipes on the Plate
To better understand the distant past, it can help to taste and smell it.
manuscripts
The Most Amazing Archival Treasures That Were Recently Digitized
Thousands of priceless images, books, documents, and more are now at your fingertips.
medieval
I Tried a Medieval Diet, and I Didn't Even Get That Drunk
The Regimen Sanitatus Salernum was the Middle Ages' most famous health manual. How does it hold up?
aquariums
How to Stream the Animal Kingdom From Your Sofa
Your world might have shrunk—but you can still meet manatees, jellies, bears, and more.
libraries
How to Help Librarians and Archivists From Your Living Room
If you're cooped-up and curious, use your free time to decipher handwriting, tag images, and more.
dreams
Many of You Are Homesick—For a Place You’ve Never Been
We asked which places gave you "fernweh," and you gave us poetry!
art
A Healing Spirit From 19th-Century Japan Is Back to Face COVID-19
Artists are bringing back Amabie, a 'yōkai' associated with protection from disease.
science
How to Help Scientists Without Leaving Home
Gaze out the window or at your computer, in the name of data.
sacred spaces
Balconies, Windows, and Rooftops Are the New Public Squares
The power of seeing and being seen, hearing and being heard.
nature
Are the Great Outdoors Off-Limits During a Pandemic?
"Obey the f***ing law and do what public health authorities tell you to do."
flowers
Silent Films, Flower Festivals, and Cooking Classes to Enjoy at Home
Feast your eyes or sharpen your brain, from a distance.
food
The Chef Bringing Native American Flavors to Communities in Quarantine
For Brian Yazzie, the COVID-19 pandemic evokes a history of smallpox, European colonization, and indigenous resilience.
film
3 Transportive Documentaries That Can Take You Away
Around the world and back in time from the comfort of your couch.
food
7 Historic Dishes Born From Tough Times That You Can Make at Home
Use every last crumb with these feats of culinary creativity.
saints
Is Saint Corona a Guardian Against Epidemics?
Well, she might be now, at least.
libraries
Let Your Mind Wander With These Gloriously Detailed Maps
Satisfy your urge to roam and while away some time with these picks from cartographic collectors, curators, and scholars.
nasa
Escape Into NASA's Most Incredible Images of Our Planet
And don't forget to cast your vote in "Tournament Earth."
food
The Coronavirus Is Bringing Back a 1,000-Year-Old 'Cheese' in Japan
Once, it was considered fit for the emperor.
spring
This Is a Great Time to Busy Yourself With Bees
You can invite them over by planting some native plants on your deck or fire escape.
libraries
A Loopy Library of Sounds Features Sprinklers, Sirens, and Freud's Toilet
The Museum of Portable Sound normally resides on an iPhone 4S. Now, you can hear it via video chat.
murals
Appreciating America's Overlooked, Forgotten, and Discarded Post Office Murals
Painted during the Great Depression, they're lingering expressions of civic pride.
food
7 YouTube Channels for the Stay-at-Home Food Adventurer
Get inspired by these imaginative cooks from around the world.
libraries
Even More Ways to Help Librarians and Archivists From Home
As long as we're all cooped-up, here are six digital projects that could use your curiosity.
museums
Help Atlas Obscura Explore the British Museum’s Newly Digital Collection
There are 1.9 million objects to explore. What are you waiting for?
public works
The Surreal Sight of Disinfecting Historic Sites
Unsung workers around the world on the front lines of the pandemic fight.
machines
A Show & Tell With Upstate New York’s 'Radio Guy'
His collection of scary-looking headgear from the past is sure to get into your head.
film
Social Distancing Is Bringing Drive-In Theaters Back to Life
"I really think it’s gonna help the drive-ins. Will it last? Only time will tell."
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell: Inside a House of Hot Sauce With Vic Clinco
maps
Escape Into These Fantastical, Imaginary Maps
When the real world feels unbearable, why not chart a course through lands that are literally unreal?
epidemics
Why Telephone Companies Once Discouraged People From Chatting
Today phones have grown critical for making personal connections. The first phone companies probably wouldn't have been thrilled.
food
7 Wondrous Breads to Make When You’ve Had Enough Sourdough
There's a wide world of recipes that don’t require buying yeast.
restaurants
Taste the Globe With Recipes From New York's All-Grandma Kitchen Crew
Nonnas of the world, unite!
bookstores
A Bookstore in Boulder Pivots to Bike Delivery of 'Mystery Bags'
They're filled with handpicked books and a bag of tea or coffee beans.
television
Hobbies to Hone While Hunkering Down, With Help From Public TV
Learn to draw, craft up a storm, or boogie like it's 1979.
sounds
Hear the Soundscapes of Cities Transformed
"It is, in a word, quiet."
Video • Wonder From Home
See the World Through Its Windows
restaurants
The Gastro Obscura Guide to NYC Restaurants Delivering Right Now
Branch out, dine in, and save your city.
graffiti
Around the World in Pandemic Street Art
Messages of respect, hope, and frustration have appeared in our largely empty public spaces.
food
A Guide to the World’s Most Comforting Foods of Grief
In an age of distance, we can still connect in the kitchen to mourn, memorialize, and heal.
colonial america
Make a Colonial American Cocktail With Ale, Rum, and Fire
The smoky, creamy Hot Ale Flip is a testament to crude ingenuity.
museums
How Museums Will Eventually Tell the Story of COVID-19
Masks, ventilators, and Zoom recordings may one day be the artifacts of our time.
libraries
7 Spectacular Libraries You Can Explore From Your Living Room
You can almost smell the old books.
gardens
These 7 Companies Ship Unique Seeds for Your Quarantine Garden
Beat the rush by turning to small, local suppliers—and your neighbors.
botanical gardens
How America's Botanic Gardens Are Growing Without Visitors
Watering and weeding can't wait until the pandemic has passed.
food
Eat Like a 19th-Century Shaker With This Simple Lemon Pie
There’s never been a better time for this forgotten frugal classic.
how to
To Work Out Like a Samurai, Swing a Stick, Take a Hike—or Push Some Pencils
Japan’s feudal fighters were plenty tough. But they didn’t ditch their day jobs.
food
Even More Historic Dishes Born From Tough Times to Make at Home
For every crisis, a recipe.
bears
Teddy Bears Are Taking Over Prince Edward Island in Canada
While locals shelter in place, stuffed toys are popping up by the hundreds on porches and windowsills.
photography
A Photographer's Guide to Creating Portraits From a Distance
Visual artists are working from home—with help from FaceTime and Zoom.
television
Travel the World With 11 of Our Favorite Far-Flung TV Shows
Atlas Obscura staff recommend immersive and inspiring international series that you can stream now.
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell: The Mechanical Magic of Scotland’s House of Automata
Video • Wonder From Home
Watch the Cutest Little Hummingbird on Its 3,000-Mile Migration
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell: See a Collection of Dissected Skulls and Medical Marvels
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell: The Radio Guy’s Collection of Scary-Looking Headgear
wine
Tips for Responsible Drinking, From 16th-Century Germany
The writer was concerned about the rise of binge-drinking bros.
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell: The Tenacious Tendrils of Ithaca’s Gourdlandia
nasa
This Image Was Crowned NASA's Most Spectacular Portrait of Earth
Gaze into the depths of the ocean—from space.
books
The Zoom Era Inspires a 'Bookshelf Championship' in Portugal
While you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, you can judge a pundit by his books.
maps
Cartographic Puzzles Are Poised for a Comeback
When nothing in the world seems to fit together, “dissected maps” offer a cognitive balm.
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell: The Magic of Imperfect Objects With Jessica Oreck
photography
The Museum of Youth Culture Wants Your Teenage Memories
Your awkward, rebellious stage, it turns out, is history.
beer
Under Pandemic Prohibition, South Africans Resort to Pineapples
A strict lockdown has meant a spike in homebrewing.
cocktails
11 Cocktails From Around the World That You Can Make at Home
You can't travel, but you could probably use a drink.
victorian
To Work Out Like a Victorian Woman, Grab a Corset—and Don't Break a Sweat
In the march toward equality, these were among the first (dainty) steps.
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell With Antiquarian Horologist Nico Cox
nature
Share the World’s Wonders With Atlas Obscura Zoom Backgrounds
Calling into work from the Gates of Hell has never been easier.
art
Meet the Artist Making Fauna Out of Flora
Raku Inoue is now finding inspiration for his precise, ephemeral works in his backyard.
mythology
To Work Out Like an Amazon, Limber Up and Find a Horse
The fearsome fighters of Greek mythology have a very real, very fit regimen to share.
food
7 Spectacular Breads to Make Once You’ve Mastered the Frog Loaf
From crispy popovers to artful bird cakes, take a carb cruise around the world.
weather
Find a Moment of Calm in These Cumulonimbus Clouds
A time-lapse shows that, before they unleash storms, the clouds look pretty soothing. (At least from space.)
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell With Drag-Racing Legend Al Young
archaeology
How to Scour the Landscape for Cultural Heritage From Your Home
Patience and the right resources are key.
engineering
How to Make a Wild, Wondrous, and Complicated Contraption With All the Stuff in Your House
The social-distancing era is the perfect time to build a Rube Goldberg machine.
food
Celebrate the Heyday of Sweet American 'Salads' With These 7 Dishes
Highlights from an era of convenience, creativity, and Cool Whip.
medieval
To Work Out Like a Knight, Try Donning Armor and Extolling Virtue
Being fit and chivalric is as much a mental state as a physical one.
food
6 Comfort Foods Born of Historic Times of Discomfort
When the going got tough, the tough left recipes.
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell at a Secret Wonder Emporium
games
The Utilitarian Pleasures of Playing Board Games By Yourself
It's a movement made for the moment.
food
These 7 Local Food Boxes Offer a Taste of Travel
Get New Orleans pralines, Jersey Shore sea salt, and other iconic treats delivered to your door.
food
Cook Like an Ancient Mesopotamian With the World’s Oldest Recipes
Age-old cuisine, from soup to sweets.
libraries
The Library-Themed Livestream Where Birds Stretch Their Wings
A little "library" that's literally for the birds.
games
To Work Out Like an Aztec, Play Hard Ball or Invest in Sneakers
Turns out there’s a lot of running involved in running an empire.
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell With Colored-Pencil Cartographer Anton Thomas
games
Playing Cards Around the World and Through the Ages
The complicated lineage of our ubiquitous decks.
food
How a Black-Owned 19th-Century Tavern Became the Birthplace of a Beloved Cookie
Joe Froggers tell a story of Black business ownership, slavery, and seafaring in Massachusetts.
art
How an Agoraphobic Traveler Wanders the Earth
When anxiety set boundaries on her life, this adventurer found solace and excitement in Google Street View.
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell With a Master Magic Auctioneer
Video • Wonder From Home
Show & Tell With the Genius Behind America’s Best Roadside Attraction
nature
Why 'Nature Is Healing' Might Be the Best Pandemic Meme
"People wanted so much for there to be dolphins in the canals in Venice."
food
Eat Like You're in the USSR With 'The Soviet Diet Cookbook'
By making pizza approved by the Communist Party.
food
Around the World in Summer Treats That You Can Make at Home
Stay in and chill out with recipes for a historic Indian noodle dessert, Japanese fruit sandwiches, and more.
food
A Database of 5,000 Historical Cookbooks Is Now Online, and You Can Help Improve It
It took Barbara Ketcham Wheaton more than 50 years to compile The Sifter.
food
How to Recreate Your Lost Family Recipes, According to Historians and Chefs
It may not be just like grandma’s, but with observation and a little research, it’ll be pretty darn close.
art
'Mail Art' Makes a Comeback During Quarantine
All you need is an idea, an envelope, and a stamp.
food
Lemon Pigs Are the World’s Newest New Year’s Tradition
They go viral roughly every 50 years.
Obscura Academy
Resources to help parents, teachers, and kids find wonder, wherever you are
Obscura Academy
Lesson Plans: The Last Incan Bridge in Peru and Scotland's Electric Brae
Join Atlas Obscura for a globe-trotting learning adventure.
Obscura Academy
Fun Ways to Get Kids Into Photography
"Invite them to capture the way they see the world."
Obscura Academy
The Gastro Obscura Guide to Cooking School-Lunch Classics
You're the lunch lady now.
Obscura Academy
Teach Yourself to Echolocate
A beginner's guide to navigating with sound.
Obscura Academy
How to Turn Plants Into Tinctures, Like an Ancient Alchemist
A beginner's guide to extracting flavors from herbs and flowers.
Obscura Academy
How to Spot the Fossils Hiding in Plain Sight
Traces of prehistoric life are everywhere.
Obscura Academy
10 Cultural Craft Projects to Calm Your Cooped-Up Kids
Museums around the world have created new ways to play from home.
Obscura Academy
History Tour: Legends of the Wild West
14 places to relive those horrible glory days.
Obscura Academy
Easy Ways for Teachers and Parents to Use Atlas Obscura at Home
"What 8th grader doesn’t want to look at the weird stuff?"
Obscura Academy
Stay Home and Build Miniature Monuments, From Stonehenge to Giza
Who needs stones when you have marshmallows or foam?
Obscura Academy
Dig This: An Online Field School for Junior Archaeologists
At-home lessons and pro tips could help quarantined kids hit pay dirt.
Obscura Academy
Art Challenge: Draw a Place You’ve Never Seen Before
Is your imagination as wondrous as reality?
Obscura Academy
Writing Challenge: Pen a Story Based on an Intriguing First Line
We'll get you started, the ending is up to you.
Obscura Academy
How to Turn a Walk in the Woods Into an Ancient Indigenous Kitchen Staple
Easy foraging can add a touch of the forest to your tea, stews, and even bath.
Obscura Academy
Preserve Your Quarantine Nature Walks With a DIY Herbarium
Pressed plants can be your journal of the pandemic.
Obscura Academy
It's the Perfect Time to Record Your Family's History. Here's How.
Invite your relatives to share great stories with these tips from oral historians.
Obscura Academy
A Cloud Gazer's Guide to Every Fluffy Thing in the Sky
Clouds are "a wilderness within everybody's grasp."
Obscura Academy
How to Plant a Home Garden and 'Free the Seed'
By saving and swapping seeds, you can preserve agricultural heritage.
Obscura Academy
Art Challenge: Make Your Own Amazing Maps
Show us how you navigate your world today.
Obscura Academy
History Tour: The Bronze Age World
Exploring the time when humankind got its act together.
Obscura Academy
History Tour: Shakespeare's World of Mysteries
Explore the life of the Bard through 8 curious places.
Obscura Academy
History Tour: The Golden Age of Piracy
The brief era of adventure and chaos still enthralls the imagination.
Obscura Academy
Art Challenge: Readers Draw Places They've Never Seen
Some of your creations are even more extraordinary than their real-life counterparts.
Obscura Academy
History Tour: Revisiting the Revolutionary War
18 places to contemplate the roots of the American experiment.
Obscura Academy
Art Challenge: Readers Show Us How They Map Their Worlds
Travel down the Road to Productivity, go on a bear hunt, and hope you get to see Super Island.
Obscura Academy
Scientists Need Your Sourdough to Solve a Microbial Mystery
For North Carolina researchers, every starter is more data.
Obscura Academy
History Tour: Adventures at the Poles
The race to the ends of the Earth, in 14 remarkable places.
Obscura Academy
Art Challenge: Take a Photograph Inspired by a Wondrous Place
Show us how far-flung sights inspire you, even when you're stuck at home.
Obscura Academy
Read 8 Pieces of Creative Writing Inspired by Atlas Obscura Stories
We gave you the opening lines. You gave us inspired storytelling.
Obscura Academy
How to Dig Into the History of Your City, Town, or Neighborhood
Even a short local walk can hold countless stories.
Obscura Academy
A Field Guide to the Miniature Menagerie Inside Your Own Home
And on your face.
Questions or Feedback?
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