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The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
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Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
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All the United States Indiana Bloomington

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Bloomington

8 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Bloomington, Indiana

Updated November 14, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Bloomington

Zoom Flume

Bloomington, Indiana

Zoom Flume

Tucked away in the forests of Indiana resides an abandoned waterslide that is now a popular graffiti haunt.
Morrison Hall

Bloomington, Indiana

Beebe Gallery at the Kinsey Institute

A lesser-known part of the Kinsey Institute is this impressive collection of art, artifacts, and material culture related to human sexuality.

Bloomington, Indiana

Brain Sculpture

The world's largest anatomically accurate brain sculpture.
The Slocum collection

Bloomington, Indiana

Slocum Mechanical Puzzle Collection

The world's largest collection of mechanical puzzles is a cornucopia of analog bafflers.
Captain Janeway Monument

Bloomington, Indiana

Captain Janeway Statue

It's a unique monument honoring a great character who inspired a generation of young women to be more and pursue their dreams.
Permanently Closed
The sheer walls and striking blue water of the Empire Quarry have dazzled visitors for decades.

Bloomington, Indiana

Empire Quarry

A stunning, abandoned limestone quarry in southern Indiana provided the stone to erect the Empire State Building.
Permanently Closed
Knightridge Space Observatory

Bloomington, Indiana

Knightridge Space Observatory

If astronomy had a ghost, it would look like this observatory.
Permanently Closed

Bloomington, Indiana

The Garret

Ornate limestone building now filled with geologic specimens, and more.
In partnership with KAYAK

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Bloomington, Indiana

A
8
Abandoned 3
Collections 2

Bloomington Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Mark Casey
    1
  2. pieofthemonth
    1
  3. jennrobiso
    1
  4. lizsullivan
    1
  5. mbkacz
    1
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Add an unusual place to Bloomington.

Places Edited

  1. Rachel
    3
  2. ski queen
    3
  3. Mkwolfor
    3
  4. Autumn Bones
    2
  5. eruvoz
    2
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. dennismartin
    8
  2. EvanCarnes33
    7
  3. andypmusc
    7
  4. kclulow
    7
  5. jasperwirt
    7
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Bloomington.

Recent Bloomington Activity

  • federerfan

    wants to go to Knightridge Space Observatory

    5 days ago
  • ronnie22

    has been to Brain Sculpture

    4 days ago
  • ElizabethWrites

    wants to go to Zoom Flume

    3 days ago
  • ElizabethWrites

    wants to go to Beebe Gallery at the Kinsey Institute

    3 days ago
  • lisashelhart

    wants to go to Beebe Gallery at the Kinsey Institute

    2 days ago

Stories About Bloomington

These boxes represent just a portion of Madeline Kripke’s dictionary collection—around 10,000 volumes and counting.

The Low Down on the Greatest Dictionary Collection in the World

From "unabridged" to "slanguage," Madeline Kripke's library is a logophile's heaven (or hell).
by April White
November 14, 2023

Was This Letter Written by Sherlock Holmes?

If you are “Playing the Game,” the answer is elementary.
by April White
September 15, 2022

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