Archives: Atlas Obscuras

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.

Wachusett Dam and Reservoir

Discover Wachusett Dam and Reservoir in Clinton, Massachusetts: Once the largest gravity dam in the world.

Wikingerdorf Flake (Flake Viking Village)

Discover Wikingerdorf Flake (Flake Viking Village) in Kochel am See, Germany: The remnants of a fictional Viking village film set now serve as an educational and historical hotspot.

The Art of Dr. Seuss

Discover The Art of Dr. Seuss in New Orleans, Louisiana: Taxidermied cartoon heads, unseen illustrations, and famous characters all reside in this small gallery space.

The Tridge

Discover The Tridge in Midland, Michigan: This unusual three-way wooden foot bridge spans two rivers at once.

Dodona Manor

Discover Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia: Named for a Greek oracle that interpreted the words of Zeus, this beautifully-restored manor home was once home to the architect of the Marshall Plan.

Bird Memorial Clock Tower

Discover Bird Memorial Clock Tower in Walpole, Massachusetts: This clock tower is all that remains of Bird Hall, constructed by one of the founding families of this Massachusetts town.

The FLOAT House

An architectural experiment in New Orlean's Lower Ninth Ward, this row house is capable of floating as high as the Katrina floodwaters.

Lac Salé

Discover Lac Salé in Bangoua Kouni, Comoros: Legend says this remote, “bottomless” lake was created by a curse.

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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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