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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Philadelphia

69 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Updated October 25, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Philadelphia

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

6 Fascinating Medical Marvels in Pennsylvania

In the 1700s and 1800s, Philadelphia was the center of medical scholarship in the United States. The city not only attracted the brightest minds, but also the most curious cases and characters. From the oldest quarantine facility in the country to a museum that memorializes a traveling dental circus, here are six places to marvel at the trials, errors, and triumphs of medical history in Pennsylvania.

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Explore Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

History 11
Collections 7
Statues 7
Aletrail 6
Museums And Collections 5
Parks 5
Homes 4
Music 4

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Stories About Philadelphia

There’s something ill-sounding about the Philadelphia prison’s corridors.

Bump in the Night: The Rackety Reason People Think This Prison Is Haunted

Sound and electricity play all kinds of tricks at Eastern State Penitentiary.
by Fayge Horesh
Katherine Moore (left) shows vessels for storing and serving food from Pachacámac at the exhibit.

How to Trace Food History With Ancient Leftovers

The Penn Museum's new exhibit showcases the art of edible archaeology.
by Sam O'Brien
Talia Young founded Fishadelphia to bring seafood from regional suppliers to economically and culturally diverse communities.

The Scientist Bringing Fresh Fish Back to Philadelphia's Underserved Neighborhoods

Welcome to Fishadelphia.
by Ann Finkbeiner

Podcast: Maillardet’s Automaton

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

Podcast: Eastern State Penitentiary

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
Midas Touch is based off archaeological evidence from an ancient tomb.

The Art of Brewing Historical Beers

Drink like King Midas and George Washington with these brews.
by Sam O'Brien
(detail) The cover of the first paperback edition of Dracula, published in 1901, from the Rosenbach's collection.

Dracula Lives! (in Philadelphia)

The Rosenbach museum is home to Bram Stoker’s original notes on vampires and a growing collection of undead literature.
by April White
A smashed pumpkin might be the trick, regardless of the presence of a treat.

Why Is Mischief Night Different From All Other Nights?

How a local tradition has hung on for centuries.
by Dan Nosowitz

Lists Featuring Philadelphia

A view of the Cushing Center from the entrance
Brain of Helen Hamilton Gardener

The World's Most Fascinating Displays of Preserved Brains

The mind is a terrible thing to waste.

8

Including The Cushing Center, Mammalian Brain Collection, and Brain Museum

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

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