Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles

Discover Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles in Berkeley, California: From buttons to beads, flounces to fripperies, this textile museum and shop honors the history of needlework.

Mariscal Mine

Discover Mariscal Mine in Big Bend National Park, Texas: An abandoned mine where dreams of quicksilver trickled away over 75 years ago.

Palace of the Governors

Discover Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe, New Mexico: The oldest continuously occupied public building in the United States.

Abu’s Homestyle Bakery

Discover Abu's Homestyle Bakery in Brooklyn, New York: This family-owned bakery is one of the last places in Brooklyn to sell the Nation of Islam–inspired bean pie.

Laas Geel

Discover Laas Geel in Hargeisa, Somalia: This cave located in the badlands of Somaliland contains some of the oldest cave art in Africa.

The Ronald Reagan Pub

Discover The Ronald Reagan Pub in Simi Valley, California: Drink a Guinness under the wings of Reagan's retired Air Force One in his presidential library.

Castle of Roccascalegna

Discover Castle of Roccascalegna in Roccascalegna, Italy: This precariously perched fortress was once ruled by a crow-worshipping baron.

Horizon Insects

Discover Horizon Insects in London, England: London's first edible insect farm offers facility tours and cooking classes.

Macromural de Pachuca

Discover Macromural de Pachuca in Pachuca de Soto, Mexico: One of the world's largest murals covers a large swath of homes in its hillside neighborhood.

Grass Roots Square

Discover Grass Roots Square in Oslo, Norway: Thousands of miniature bronze sculptures have taken over this city square creating a unique art installation.

Nieves Exóticas of Jardín Principal

Discover Nieves Exóticas of Jardín Principal in Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico: Meat and seafood are part of the frozen dessert flavors available at these legendary street stands.

Reality Checkpoint

Discover Reality Checkpoint in Cambridge, England: An ordinary lamppost situated in the middle of Cambridge has an unusual moniker and history.

Hard Luck Mine Castle

Discover Hard Luck Mine Castle in Goldfield, Nevada: This magnificent, quirky home sits atop a literal gold mine in the middle of the Nevada desert.

Captain America Statue

Discover Captain America Statue in Brooklyn, New York: A one-ton statue of Steve Rogers beautifies the entry to a Brooklyn Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Qin Shan Zhai

Discover Qin Shan Zhai in Chengdu, China: Every dish at this restaurant claims to have a health benefit.

Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment

Discover Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment in Huntsville, Alabama: Once a bustling cotton factory, this early 20th-century building is now home to a thriving artspace.

Or Torah Synagogue

Discover Or Torah Synagogue in Acre, Israel: This synagogue is covered in beautiful mosaics that explore the history of the Jewish people.

Phone Booth Graveyard

Discover Phone Booth Graveyard in Khlong Wan, Thailand: This small patch of land is the final resting for these communication relics of the past.

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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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