Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Dinsmore Farm

Discover Dinsmore Farm in Burlington, Kentucky: Visitors to this Kentucky homestead turned museum are immediately transported back to the Antebellum south.

‘Tower’

Discover 'Tower' in Paris, France: This mural painted by Keith Haring was done without payment as a gift to entertain the children at the Hôpital Necker.

Treaty Oak

Discover Treaty Oak in Austin, Texas: This massive oak tree has ties to the first native tribes of the region and the founders of Texas.

Bate Collection of Musical Instruments

Discover Bate Collection of Musical Instruments in Oxford, England: Over a thousand musical instruments are on display, from bagpipes and harpsichords to drums and the sinuous serpent.

The Naval Museum of Santa Cruz de La Palma

Discover The Naval Museum of Santa Cruz de La Palma in La Palma, Spain: This replica of Columbus's famous ship houses the history of La Palma's maritime importance during the Age of Exploration.

‘The Gate of Dynamism’

Discover 'The Gate of Dynamism' in Urayasu, Japan: Next door to Tokyo DisneySea is a giant sculpture created by Taro Okamoto symbolizing the dynamism of life.

Vietnamese Commemorative Monument

Discover Vietnamese Commemorative Monument in Ottawa, Ontario: A 1995 memorial acknowledges the tremendous contributions of Vietnamese refugees to Canada.

St. James Deli

Discover St. James Deli in Queens, New York: Some of New York's best tacos can be found in the back of an unassuming bodega in Queens.

The Stolpersteine of Ciutadella

Discover The Stolpersteine of Ciutadella in Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain: These Stolpersteine located in Spain honor Republican soldiers who perished at the hands of Nazis after the fall of France.

Trinity Church Cemetery & Mausoleum

Discover Trinity Church Cemetery & Mausoleum in New York, New York: You must take the A train… to the last active cemetery in Manhattan.

Nihonbashi Kirin Statues

Discover Nihonbashi Kirin Statues in Tokyo, Japan: Mythical beasts symbolizing the city of Tokyo guard a historic bridge.

Death Cell Door of Calton Jail

Discover Death Cell Door of Calton Jail in Edinburgh, Scotland: Many of Edinburgh's more unsavory characters spent their final days behind this door while awaiting their executions.

Amphitheatre of Italica

Discover Amphitheatre of Italica in Santiponce, Spain: The Roman city was the birthplace of various emperors and is home to one of the empire's most impressive architectural feats.

Gilbert the Phone Box

Discover Gilbert the Phone Box in Edinburgh, Scotland: A former telephone box found new life as a photo booth and charity fundraiser.

Folly Bridge

Discover Folly Bridge in Oxford, England: The spot where Oxford garnered its name was also home to a medieval philosopher and includes a house covered in statues.

Grand Central Oyster Bar

Discover Grand Central Oyster Bar in New York, New York: This subterranean oyster house has been the pearl of Grand Central Station since 1913.

Stopića Cave

Discover Stopića Cave in Rožanstvo, Serbia: Through the colossal entrance to this cave you'll find limestone tubs and an underground waterfall.

Kafe Gagarin

Discover Kafe Gagarin in Brest, Belarus: Take Soviet nostalgia to new heights by toasting the first man in space over a full spread of Belarusian and Soviet fare.

Einstein’s Chair

Discover Einstein's Chair in Leiden, Netherlands: Albert Einstein would often sit in this chair during visits to the observatory to discuss science with Willem de Sitter.

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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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