Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Seaweed Pie

Discover Seaweed Pie in O'Leary, Prince Edward Island: Made from local Irish moss, this pie is served only in Prince Edward Island's potato museum.

The Sanctuary Museum

Discover The Sanctuary Museum in Lakewood, Ohio: An old church full of restored Catholic statues is a makeup artist's labor of love.

Woodstock Opera House

Discover Woodstock Opera House in Woodstock, Illinois: This small-town opera house has appeared much more in national culture and history than its charming setting might suggest.

Sweden’s Longest Escalator

Discover Västra Skogen Escalator in Stockholm, Sweden: A Stockholm metro station is home to an escalator that is not only the longest in Sweden, but among the longest in the world.

Page Ranch House

Discover Page Ranch House in Cedar City, Utah: Built at the turn of the 20th century, using bricks made and fired from clay found on the property.

Kentucky Country Music Museum

Discover Kentucky Country Music Museum in Louisa, Kentucky: While filling up your gas tank in eastern Kentucky, you just might stumble into this collection of country music memorabilia.

Gran Vía Museum and Palacios Pavilion

Discover Gran Vía Museum and Palacios Pavilion in Madrid, Spain: A small museum displays some of the artifacts discovered during a subway station renovation.

Banana, Australia

This rural town is named after a bull, which was named after a yellow fruit.

Judd’s General Store

Discover Judd’s General Store in St. George, Utah: Opened in 1911, this small shop is the oldest ongoing establishment in St. George.

Electric Theater

Discover Electric Theater in St. George, Utah: The first motion picture theater in southern Utah, reimagined and renovated as an arts hub.

Jacko Steps

Discover Jacko Steps in Dominica: This historic hiding place, often used by people escaping slavery, is a testament to a heroic struggle for freedom.

Miniera Torgola

Discover Miniera Torgola in Collio, Italy: This decaying complex from the early 1900s was once the site of massive iron and fluorite mines.

Bedford Springs Resort

Discover Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pennsylvania: A dozen U.S. presidents have stayed at the historic resort, which was known as James Buchanan’s “Summer White House” from 1857-1861.

‘Little Canada’

Discover 'Little Canada' in Toronto, Ontario: A miniature representation of Canadian cities and landmarks in incredible—and sometimes hilarious—detail.

Florida Avenue Grill

Discover Florida Avenue Grill in Washington, D.C.: The world's oldest soul food restaurant is also one of its best.

Abandoned Western Village in Japan

Discover Abandoned Western Village in Nikko, Japan: This western-themed amusement park is host to a large number of decaying animatronic cowboys.

Castellum Fectio

Discover Castellum Fectio in Bunnik, Netherlands: For years, the remains of this ancient Roman fortress were hidden under an orchard.

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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