Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum

Discover Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute, Kansas: This museum houses artifacts from American adventurers and flimakers Martin and Osa Johnson.

Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge

Discover Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge in Stuart, Florida: In a time before lifeguards, this house was a sanctuary for the shipwrecked.

The Asahi Flame

Discover The Asahi Flame in Tokyo, Japan: This enormous monument is one of the most iconic structures in Tokyo, rudely nicknamed "The Golden Turd.".

Porto di Ripetta

Discover Porto di Ripetta in Rome, Italy: An 18th century fountain and two columns are all that remains of Rome's forgotten river harbor.

Big Top Curiosity Shop

Discover Big Top Curiosity Shop in Seattle, Washington: Inside this curiosity shop, visitors can peruse the clown collection or purchase a molar from the mouth of Bigfoot.

World’s Largest Greek Flag

Discover World's Largest Greek Flag in Keri, Greece: Flying high over the small island of Zákynthos is a giant tribute to the mainland.

Fletchers Espace Culinaire

Discover Fletchers Espace Culinaire in Montreal, Québec: The Jewish diaspora shares a menu at this museum café.

Macquarie Island

Discover Macquarie Island in Australia: One of the only places where Earth’s mantle lies above water.

Palace Green Library

Discover Palace Green Library in Durham, England: This library dates back to the late 17th century and was one of the first public lending libraries in England.

Hambye Abbey

Discover Hambye Abbey in Hambye, France: This 12th century, partially destroyed, abbey has had several owners and was seized during the French Revolution.

Weta Cave

Discover Weta Cave in Wellington, New Zealand: Inside this faux cave, visitors can learn how some of their favorite fantasy characters were created.

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.

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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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