Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Slate Islands

Discover Slate Islands in Terrace Bay, Ontario: This small archipelago in northern Lake Superior was formed by a massive meteorite impact 450 million years ago.

Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum

Discover Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden, Colorado: The warmth and creative kitsch of a quilt engulf every patron who visits.

Boyne Castle

Discover Boyne Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland: The overgrown ruins of this once majestic castle sit forlornly in the Scottish countryside.

Curioporium

Discover Curioporium in Hartford, Connecticut: A journey through a curious collection of oddities and wonder.

Salsbury Spring

Discover Salsbury Spring in Vienna, Virginia: The last vestige of a once substantial orchard and farm in the suburbs of Northern Virginia.

Vishrambaug Wada

Discover Vishrambaug Wada in Pune, India: Spread across an area of 20,000 square feet, the grand mansion is a fine example of Peshwa architecture.

John Calvin’s Chair

Discover John Calvin's Chair in Geneva, Switzerland: A plain wooden seat that once belonged to one of the most prominent figures of the Protestant Reformation.

Gleeson Jail

Discover Gleeson Jail in Elfrida, Arizona: An early 20th-century jail not far from the infamous Tombstone, Arizona.

Memorial Against War and Fascism

Discover Memorial Against War and Fascism in Wien, Austria: Designed as a reminder of one of the darkest moments in Austrian history.

Sari Salltik’s Shrine

Discover Sari Salltik's Shrine in Kruje, Albania: A temple dedicated to the 13th-century Alevi Turkish dervish credited with bringing Islam to the Balkans.

Sagamore John Burial Monument

Discover Sagamore John Burial Monument in Medford, Massachusetts: The monument is inscribed, "To Sagamore John and those Mystic Indians Whose Bones Lie Here”.

Santa Justa Lift

Discover Santa Justa Lift in Lisbon, Portugal: This Industrial Age architectural and engineering gem helps visitors and residents alike traverse Lisbon, “The City of Seven Hills.”.

Royal Thai Pavilion

Discover Royal Thai Pavilion in Madison, Wisconsin: Prayers and messages of hope decorate the ceramic tiles of this pavilion.

Old Ghosts of Hollywood

Discover Old Ghosts of Hollywood in Hollywood, Florida: An oddity shop inspired by the history of the circus.

Bob Ross Art Workshop

Discover Bob Ross Art Workshop in New Smyrna Beach, Florida: In this small strip mall resides the largest collection of original art from the famed TV artist.

Sir Tatton Sykes Monument

Discover Sir Tatton Sykes Monument in Driffield, England: Dedicated to the 4th Baronet of Sledmere.

Martyrs’ Shrine

Discover Martyrs' Shrine in Port McNicoll, Ontario: Within the church are the relics of the martyrs St. Jean de Brébeuf, St. Gabriel Lalemant, and St. Charles Garnier.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 261 ii
To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. 480 iii
To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. 514 iv
To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. 642 ix
To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. 137 v
To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change. 172 vi
To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria). 256 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 151 viii
To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. 98 x
To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. 168

PP ToS