Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Stone’s Public House

Discover Stone's Public House in Ashland, Massachusetts: A historic pub with traditional Irish cuisine, fine drinks, and a paranormal past.

The Mermaid Museum

Discover The Mermaid Museum in Berlin, Maryland: Explore the legends surrounding these mythical sea creatures inside this museum.

Columbia Icefield Skywalk

Discover Columbia Icefield Skywalk in Jasper, Alberta: With a floor made of thick glass, this observation deck offers a full view of Sunwapta Valley's mountains and rivers.

The Cedar Hill Rail Yard

Discover The Cedar Hill Rail Yard in North Haven, Connecticut: A once-booming railroad left abandoned next to the Quinnipiac River marshes now intersects with a hiking trail.

Grizzly House

Discover Grizzly House in Banff, Alberta: Try the alligator at this fondue spot, which has been catering to "lovers and hedonists" since 1967.

Skarpnäck Giant’s Kettle

Discover Jättegrytan i Skarpnäck (Skarpnäck Giant's Kettle) in Skarpnäcks Gård, Sweden: This hole formed by a glacier is the largest and best-preserved of its kind in Stockholm.

Ponte da Ajuda

Discover Ponte da Ajuda (Ajuda Bridge) in Portugal: The ruins of a 16th-century bridge loom over Olivença's sovereignty.

St. Louis Cathedral

Discover St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana: This cathedral dedicated to Louis IX, sainted King of France, holds many secrets.

Péndulo de Tequisquiapan

Discover Péndulo de Tequisquiapan in Tequisquiapan, Mexico: This monument marking the center of Mexico might be more political than geographical.

Cameron Trading Post

Discover Cameron Trading Post in Cameron, Arizona: More than a century old, this trading post resides in the Navajo Nation.

Abner Doubleday Gravesite

Discover Abner Doubleday Gravesite in Arlington, Virginia: Though his role as the inventor of baseball may be up for debate, fans still festoon Doubleday's grave with baseballs.

Toora Dog Tree

Discover Toora Dog Tree in Toora, Australia: A carved tribute to these artist's furry friends.

Old Town Spring

Discover Old Town Spring in Winchester, Virginia: A natural spring situated on the grounds of the Hawthorne estate.

Mount Washington Hotel

Discover Mount Washington Hotel in Carroll, New Hampshire: A beautiful Gilded Age hotel in the White Mountains with surprising diplomatic history.

Tinner Hill Historic Site

Discover Tinner Hill Historic Site in Falls Church, Virginia: This monument traces the segregation line that inspired the first rural branch of the NAACP.

RyanHenge

Discover RyanHenge in Alamo, Nevada: This Stonehenge-inspired solar calendar stands alongside a landfill, in the middle of the Nevada desert.

Yaphank Garage

Discover Yaphank Garage in Yaphank, New York: A restored Shell gas station from 1937 that includes a tow truck, the original gas pumps, and the original office.

Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Discover Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska: The collection includes seven one-of-a-kind automobiles, vintage fashion, and more.

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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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