Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Earthquake House

Discover Earthquake House in Comrie, Scotland: The site of the world's first modern seismometer.

Yul Brynner Monument

Discover Yul Brynner Monument in Vladivostok, Russia: A tribute to a Hollywood icon far from Tinseltown.

Canberra Holodomor Memorial

Discover Canberra Holodomor Memorial in Canberra, Australia: A memorial that honors the victims of a tragedy in Ukraine.

Fred Rogers Memorial

Discover Fred Rogers Memorial in Latrobe, Pennsylvania: A bronze statue of Mister Rogers in the neighborhood where he grew up.

Aiea Cemetery

Discover Aiea Cemetery in Aiea, Hawaii: A unique collection of Western and Japanese-style graves.

‘Cornucopia’

Discover 'Cornucopia' in Leeds, England: Winner of the Leeds Award for Architecture and the Environment.

Matianuck Natural Area Preserve

Discover Matianuck Natural Area Preserve in Bloomfield, Connecticut: Sand dunes from a glacial lake are preserved in this woodland park.

Site of the Rhoads Opera House Fire

Discover Site of the Rhoads Opera House Fire in Boyertown, Pennsylvania: The site of a tragedy in 1908 that claimed the lives of 171 people and changed fire safety laws across the state.

Biltmore McDonald’s

Discover Biltmore McDonald's in Asheville, North Carolina: Classy up your Big Mac with bow-tied servers and chandeliers at the world's fanciest McDonald's.

Biddenden Maids

Discover Biddenden Maids in Biddenden, England: Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst were the first famous conjoined twins in England, but it's not clear when they were born.

Mahadji Shinde Chhatri

Discover Mahadji Shinde Chhatri in Pune, India: A magnificent work of architecture designed to honor a former military leader.

Gainesville Solar Walk

Discover Gainesville Solar Walk in Gainesville, Florida: A trek through the solar system here on earth.

The Migrating House

Discover The Migrating House in Baarle-Hertog, Belgium: Not many houses move across borders, this one did it twice.

Kudan Archaeological Site

Discover Kudan Archaeological Site in Kapilvastu, Nepal: The site where Sakyamuni Buddha first met his father after achieving enlightenment.

Eagle Tower

Discover Eagle Tower in Fish Creek, Wisconsin: Walk up a ramp through a forest for panoramic views of Lake Michigan.

Floating Coffin of Pinner

Discover Floating Coffin of Pinner in London, England: One man's attempt to stay one step ahead of the church.

Groudle Glen Water Wheel

Discover Groudle Glen Water Wheel in Douglas, Isle of Man: This Victorian water wheel is affectionately nicknamed "Little Isabella.".

Rice Family Mausoleum

Discover Rice Family Mausoleum in New Orleans, Louisiana: Anne Rice, one of the most influential writers in gothic literature, is buried alongside her husband in a New Orleans cemetery.

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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