Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Milne Nature Sanctuary

Discover Milne Nature Sanctuary in Durham, New Hampshire: A quiet spot commemorating two naturalists who had to choose between love and the university at which they both taught.

Templeton on the Green

Discover Templeton on the Green in Glasgow, Scotland: The former home of the world-famous Templeton Carpet Factory.

Battle of Pinkie Cleugh Memorial Stone

Discover Battle of Pinkie Cleugh Memorial Stone in Wallyford, Scotland: This memorial commemorates a defining 16th-century battle between English and Scottish forces.

Niigata Rice Cracker Museum & Bakauke Inari

Discover Niigata Rice Cracker Museum & Bakauke Inari in Niigata, Japan: This snack factory boasts several tributes to its popular line of rice crackers, including a quasi-shrine.

Statue of Pope Gregory XIII

Discover Statue of Pope Gregory XIII in Bologna, Italy: A large statue of Pope Gregory XIII in Bologna was disguised as Saint Petronius to avoid destruction.

South Bailey Sewer Lamp

Discover South Bailey Sewer Lamp in Durham, England: These lamps were created to expel sewer gases after an event known as The Great Stink.

‘Verity’

Discover 'Verity' in Devon, England: An allegorical statue of a giant pregnant woman representing justice and truth.

Dunn’s Bridge

Discover Dunn’s Bridge in Wheatfield, Indiana: This bridge was constructed from the remains of the first Ferris wheel.

Indira Gandhi Planetarium

Discover Indira Gandhi Planetarium in Lucknow, India: Inside the dome of this gigantic, Saturn-shaped building is one of the largest planetariums in Asia.

Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry

Discover Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry in Ann Arbor, Michigan: This museum explores the history and development of dentistry and dental technology in Michigan.

Oaks Memorial Sculpture

Discover Oaks Memorial Sculpture in Barnsley, England: Graham Ibbesons's moving tribute to the victims of England's worst mining disaster.

‘Printer’s Devil’

Discover 'Printer's Devil' in York, England: A Reformation-era fiery figurehead once denoted this location as a print shop.

Rusovce Mansion

Discover Rusovce Mansion in Bratislava, Slovakia: A once-fairy tale mansion now stands in a state of disrepair.

‘Wake’

Discover 'Wake' in Seattle, Washington: This sculpture forces visitors to confront their relationship with space.

Looking Glass Rock

Discover Looking Glass Rock in Brevard, North Carolina: This granite rock face is named for the magnificent reflection that occurs when the sun hits it just right.

Chatham Catalpas

Discover Chatham Catalpas in Fredericksburg, Virginia: These trees are living witnesses to events that inspired poet Walt Whitman’s service during the American Civil War.

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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