Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Lonsky Prison National Memorial Museum

Discover Lonsky Prison National Memorial Museum in Lviv, Ukraine: This museum explores the tumultuous history of Lviv under Nazi and Soviet occupation.

Moses Mendelssohn Memorial

Discover Moses Mendelssohn Memorial in Berlin, Germany: The original burial place of this preeminent 18th-century Jewish philosopher was razed by the Nazis.

Silver Springs Filling Station

Discover Silver Springs Filling Station in Landrum, South Carolina: Replica of an old Esso filling station, complete with Wayne gravity pump and outhouse.

Walt Disney Hometown Museum

Discover Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, Missouri: A celebration of the animation wizard's childhood home and antique railroad memorabilia collection.

Birthing Figure

Discover Birthing Figure in Washington, D.C.: This fertility idol of questionable authenticity inspired an iconic Indiana Jones artifact.

Via Flacca Ruins

Discover Via Flacca Ruins in Sperlonga, Italy: The remains of this medieval Roman road and lookout towers dot the rugged coastline of southern Lazio.

MGM-13 Mace Missile

Discover MGM-13 Mace Missile in Mildred, Pennsylvania: This decommissioned surface-to-surface missile resides outside the American Legion Post in Pennslyvania.

Gustav Mahler Statue

Discover Gustav Mahler Statue in Dobbiaco, Italy: This statue of the legendary Austrian composer is hidden in the center of an Italian town.

Bosco Magnano Waterfall

Discover Bosco Magnano Waterfall in Cropani, Italy: The pristine waters crossing this forest form a hidden waterfall among the dense vegetation.

Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces

Discover Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces in Odintsovsky District, Russia: A solemn, monumental, kitschy palace of worship honoring victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Biatec Monument

Discover Biatec Monument in Bratislava, Slovakia: A massive sculpture of an obscure Celtic coin that has become a symbol in Slovakia.

Spillings Hoard

Discover Spillings Hoard in Innerstaden, Sweden: Buried beneath an unassuming Gotland farm was the largest collection of Viking silver, mostly of Islamic origin.

Café Lafitte in Exile

Discover Café Lafitte in Exile in New Orleans, Louisiana: One of the oldest continuously-operated gay bars in the United States is allegedly haunted by Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams.

Son Bhandar Caves

Discover Son Bhandar Caves in Rajgir, India: A pair of mysterious, unusually polished cave temples with an ancient gold legend.

Basshenge

Discover Basshenge in Baudette, Minnesota: A garden full of metal sculptures that celebrate the double bass.

Enlightened Heart Buddhist Temple

Discover Enlightened Heart Buddhist Temple in Tambun, Malaysia: On the outskirts of Ipoh, this sprawling temple complex is home to one of the world's tallest pagodas.

Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden

Discover Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, Washington: This 22-acre botanical garden is home to the largest collection of rhododendrons in the world.

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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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