Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Site of the Destroyed Ursuline Convent

Discover Site of the Destroyed Ursuline Convent in Somerville, Massachusetts: A monument marks where a convent was burned by an anti-Catholic mob in 1834.

Dacha Kvitko

Discover Dacha Kvitko in Khostinskiy, Russia: An abandoned mansion is now a haven for urban explorers.

St. James Hotel

Discover St. James Hotel in Cimarron, New Mexico: A saloon and inn that served the Wild West's most iconic figures—and is still haunted by some of them today.

Original Pizza Hut

Discover Original Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kansas: The first "Hut" was actually a small brick building.

Adria Palace

Discover Adria Palace in Budapest, Hungary: This building has survived for more than a century and remains virtually untouched.

The Linford Barrows

Discover The Linford Barrows in County Antrim, Northern Ireland: These unknown Bronze Age earthworks are believed to be ancient burial mounds.

Muzey Kino

Discover Muzey Kino in Moscow, Russia: For lovers of Soviet cinema, this museum is home to a vast collection of artifacts and costumes.

McMonagle’s

Discover McMonagle's in Clydebank, Scotland: A historic shipbuilding town is home to a sail-through fish-and-chips shop.

The Baverstock Arms

Discover The Baverstock Arms in Basingstoke, England: At this historic pub, you can sit back, sip, and watch a whole century go by.

Herreshoff Castle

Discover Herreshoff Castle in Marblehead, Massachusetts: This Gothic castle was inspired by Erik the Red's Viking residence at Brattahlid in Greenland.

Whitehead Boathouse

Discover Whitehead Boathouse in Whitehead, Northern Ireland: The base for the battle against the smugglers of Islandmagee.

Ruckersplaats Hands Monument

Discover Ruckersplaats Hands Monument in Antwerp, Belgium: Hidden along this old street in Antwerp is a surreal monument of a bronze arm sprouting four hands.

The Black Stump

Discover The Black Stump in Coolah, Australia: The oft used Australian colloquialism "Beyond the Black Stump" is said to have originated at this location.

Mongolian Railway History Museum

Discover Mongolian Railway History Museum in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: A collection of old steam and diesel locomotives sitting in a fenced-off garden.

Ada Stonehenge

Discover Ada Stonehenge in Belgrade, Serbia: This art installation pays homage to the famed stones of European lore.

Love Lane

Discover Love Lane in Brooklyn, New York: Love is in the air along the small street in Brooklyn.

Shetland Library

Discover Shetland Library in Lerwick, Scotland: This public library still showcases its former life as a 19th-century church.

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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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