Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Shelton McMurphey Johnson House

Discover Shelton McMurphey Johnson House in Eugene, Oregon: A Victorian-style home known as the “Castle on the Hill.”.

La Rifa Chocolatería

Discover La Rifa Chocolatería in Ciudad de México, Mexico: The hot chocolate here all stems from small, sustainable microproducers in Chiapas and Tabasco.

Arthur Cottage

Discover Arthur Cottage in Cullybackey, Northern Ireland: The ancestral home of the 21st president of the United States of America.

The Devil’s Den

Discover The Devil's Den in Ashland, Massachusetts: This cave was once thought to be a hiding place for the devil.

Kelvingrove Pipe Organ

Discover Kelvingrove Pipe Organ in Glasgow, Scotland: Inside this art museum resides one of Glasgow's most famous musical instruments.

Katalin Karikó Mural

Discover Katalin Karikó Mural in Budapest, Hungary: The Hungarian biochemist whose research helped develop mRNA-based vaccines for Covid-19.

The Wrong Abbey Road

Discover The Wrong Abbey Road in London, England: Tourists who rely on a transit map to find the iconic Beatles location often end up in a far-off neighborhood.

Druchtag Mote

Discover Druchtag Mote in Mochrum, Scotland: Nine hundred years ago, this was the home of a feudal lord. Today all that remains is a steep mound surrounded by a deep moat.

Proscenium Theatre

Discover Proscenium Theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba: This little theatre at the end of the Urban Gallery in the Manitoba Museum plays silent films from stars who performed in Winnipeg.

Cushendun Caves

Discover Cushendun Caves in Cushendun, Northern Ireland: 400 million years of erosion shaped these fascinating seaside caves, which made an appearance on 'Game of Thrones.'.

Franklin Public Library

Discover Franklin Public Library in Franklin, Massachusetts: America's first public lending library began with a gift from Benjamin Franklin.

The Raft

Discover The Raft in Walvis Bay, Namibia: Hitch a boat ride to dine on stilts while watching wildlife.

DDR Watch Tower

Discover DDR Watch Tower in Berlin, Germany: This watchtower once presided over the Berlin Wall.

German Stroller Museum

Discover Deutsches Kinderwagenmuseum (German Stroller Museum) in Zeitz, Germany: Take a stroll through the history of prams, carriages, and other ways we move babies around.

Sorbie Tower

Discover Sorbie Tower in Sorbie, Scotland: This fortified L-shaped tower is the ancient seat of clan Hannay.

Kot Man-ya Exotic Flower Garden

Discover Kot Man-ya Exotic Flower Garden in Anse Royale, Seychelles: You can find more than 200 species of tropical plants at this garden owned by a former ambassador.

Casa Fernando Pessoa

Discover Casa Fernando Pessoa in Lisbon, Portugal: A museum dedicated to one of Portugal's most celebrated writers.

Olfactory Art Keller

Discover Olfactory Art Keller in New York, New York: The only gallery in New York dedicated to olfactory art and the exploration of scent in art.

Muelle’s Graffiti

Discover Muelle's Graffiti in Madrid, Spain: Sometimes called the Banksy of Madrid, Muelle was a pioneer of street art in the Spanish city.

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Discover Aztec Ruins National Monument in Aztec, New Mexico: The remains of a 900-year old ancestral Pueblo great house.

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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

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