Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Aluminum Airplane

Discover Aluminum Airplane in Oviedo, Florida: This aluminum airplane pays homage to the Flying Tigers of World War II.

Watecha Bowl

Discover Watecha Bowl in Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Chef Lawrence West serves up Indian tacos, wojapi, and other Lakota dishes at the brick-and-mortar incarnation of his popular food truck.

The Abandoned Bus of Scarista Beach

Discover The Scarista Bus in Outer Hebrides, Scotland: A mysterious, weather-beaten bus lies on the coast of Harris, enticing the curious to investigate.

Giant’s Cottage

Discover Giant's Cottage in East Meon, England: The front of this 17th-century cottage also contains a large, stone face.

Lucy Maud Montgomery Park

Discover Lucy Maud Montgomery Park in Toronto, Ontario: Named after one of Canada's greatest writers who lived out her days in this quaint neighborhood.

Johnny Mercer’s Childhood Home

Discover Johnny Mercer’s Childhood Home in Savannah, Georgia: The humble beginnings of one of America’s greatest songsmiths.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Discover St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Tombstone, Arizona: The first Protestant church in Arizona and only Gothic Revival style adobe church in the world.

Munich’s Michael Jackson Memorial

Discover Michael Jackson Denkmal (Michael Jackson Memorial) in Munich, Germany: An unofficial monument to the late King of Pop sits at the base of a Renaissance composer's statue.

Z-Hiag Former Chemical Plant

Discover Z-Hiag Former Chemical Plant in Altenmünster, Germany: Hidden in the forest are the remains of a former World War II chemical plant.

Reverend Densham’s Paint Patch

Discover Reverend Densham’s Paint Patch in Warleggan, England: The tale of this reverend and his parish is colorful in many a way.

Dr. Bob’s Folk Art

Discover Dr. Bob's Folk Art in New Orleans, Louisiana: Colorful, cheeky signs spill out of legendary New Orleans folk artist Dr. Bob's Bywater studio warning you to "Be Nice—Or Leave.".

Floridian Social Club

Discover Floridian Social Club in St. Petersburg, Florida: From printing money to live music, this Beaux-Arts style building has had many identities over the last century.

Thornborough Henges

Discover Thornborough Henges in West Tanfield, England: This collection of ancient structures makes up part of the largest group of prehistoric earthworks in Britain.

Michael Ende Kurkpark (Michael Ende Park)

Discover Michael Ende Kurkpark (Michael Ende Park) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany: A park dedicated to the titular writer filled with references to his work.

Paragon Carousel

Discover Paragon Carousel in Hull, Massachusetts: The last remaining attraction from Paragon Park.

Jungle Park Speedway

Discover Jungle Park Speedway in Bloomingdale, Indiana: The overgrown remains of one of the premier auto-racing speedways in the Midwest—and also one of the most deadly.

King Arthur’s Round Table

Discover King Arthur's Round Table in Eamont Bridge, England: Though this large circular site is now named for the legendary king, its history dates back to the Neolithic era.

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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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