Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Prairie Futures

Discover Prairie Futures in Joes, Colorado: An environmental art installation inspired by farmhouses and crop circles.

Decker’s Chapel

Discover Decker's Chapel in St Marys, Pennsylvania: A tiny one-room church built after one man's prayer for healing was answered.

The Tripoli Monument

Discover The Tripoli Monument in Annapolis, Maryland: The oldest military monument in the United States.

Nine Mens Misery

Discover Nine Mens Misery in Cumberland, Rhode Island: Constructed in 1676, this stone memorial is believed to be the oldest veteran's memorial in the United States.

Clarksburg School

Discover Clarksburg School in Clarksburg, Maryland: One of the last schoolhouses constructed in the early 20th-century still standing in Montgomery County.

Ekranoplan Lun

Discover Ekranoplan Lun in Derbent, Russia: An enormous Soviet aircraft, the only one of its kind, stands at the deserted shore of the Caspian Sea.

Oudekerksplein

Discover Oudekerksplein in Amsterdam, Netherlands: This city square is home to Amsterdam's oldest church and a statue honoring Dutch sex workers.

Castle of Wewelsburg

Discover Castle of Wewelsburg in Büren, Germany: This unique Renaissance castle was turned into a home for Nazi occultism.

‘Welcome to Cleveland’ Sign

Discover ‘Welcome to Cleveland’ Sign in Milwaukee, Wisconsin: This rooftop sign has been confusing Milwaukee-bound airline passengers for decades.

Portslade ‘Gassie’

Discover Portslade ‘Gassie’ in Portslade, England: This desolate boat was once a key form of public transportation for Portslade residents.

Hollywood Theatre

Discover Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon: This theatre and its amazing marquee harken back to the Golden Age of Hollywood.

The Learned Lemur

Discover The Learned Lemur in Denver, Colorado: A small store filled with animal skulls and other curiosities.

Indian Head

Discover Indian Head in Lincoln, New Hampshire: The Old Man of the Mountain’s less-famous, but still beloved little brother is said to resemble a leader of the Abenaki tribe.

Ca’ Milesi

Discover Ca’ Milesi in Cassiglio, Italy: This house is adorned with a serenade macabre from the Counter-Reformation period.

The Judah Thumb

Discover The Judah Thumb in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: In the middle of a barren desert, a massive, solitary rocky thumb juts out.

Lady LeWinDa Milkzalot

Discover Lady LeWinDa Milkzalot in Lowville, New York: Lady LeWinDa Milkzalot showcases Lewis County's dairy farming heritage and boasts an impressive rotation of seasonal outfits.

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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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