Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Original Taco Bell Sign

Discover Original Taco Bell Sign in Savannah, Georgia: This twisty sign depicts the chain's first logo.

Nike Missile Launch Site W-83

Discover Nike Missile Launch Site W-83 in Herndon, Virginia: An out-of-place Air Force radar dome is all that denotes this park as a former missile launch site.

‘Thrive’

Discover 'Thrive' in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: This concrete sculpture features a woman opening her heart to showcase a beautiful fern.

Inukshuk Village

Discover Inukshuk Village in Duncan, British Columbia: A collection of Inukshuks built and left by several hikers.

House at Otowi Bridge

Discover House at Otowi Bridge in San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico: This old ruin once served as a post office, a train station, a restaurant, and a bridge to the Atomic Age.

The Leaning Brownstone

Discover The Leaning Brownstone in Brooklyn, New York: This unusual apartment building may be Brooklyn's own version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Well of Los Padrones

Discover El Pozo de Los Padrones (Well of Los Padrones) in El Hierro, Spain: A well drilled into the side of a cliff supplies most of the water consumed on the island of El Hierro.

Roland M. Manteiga Statue

Discover Roland M. Manteiga Statue in Tampa, Florida: A memorial to legendary newsman, publisher, and owner of La Gaceta, the only trilingual newspaper in the U.S.

Doulton Fountain

Discover Doulton Fountain in Glasgow, Scotland: The largest terracotta fountain in the world, built to commemorate Britain’s Victorian achievements.

‘The Gorbals Boys’

Discover 'The Gorbals Boys' in Glasgow, Scotland: A sculpture that commemorates an iconic photo of urban Scotland's past.

Montreal Signs Project

Discover Montreal Signs Project in Montreal, Québec: This permanent exhibition of commercial signs aims to preserve the cultural heritage of the city.

Tumanyan Matchbox Label Museum

Discover Tumanyan Matchbox Label Museum in Tumanyan, Armenia: A tiny museum dedicated exclusively to the tiny art that decorates matchboxes.

City Park Snow Monkeys

Discover City Park Snow Monkeys in Launceston, Australia: A small troop of Japanese macaques live peacefully in the heart of this Tasmanian city.

Bay Ridge Gingerbread House

Discover Bay Ridge Gingerbread House in Brooklyn, New York: On the hills of Bay Ridge stands a house straight out of a fairy tale.

Anderson Japanese Gardens

Discover Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois: This lush 12-acre site was once named the finest Japanese garden in North America.

Hudson-Athens Lighthouse

Discover Hudson-Athens Lighthouse in Hudson, New York: A small Second Empire-style building is one of only seven remaining lighthouses on the Hudson River.

Casa José Guadalupe Zuno Door

Discover Casa José Guadalupe Zuno Door in Guadalajara, Mexico: This door in the old residential area of Guadalajara hides several communist motifs.

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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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