Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Monadnock Building

Discover Monadnock Building in Chicago, Illinois: The last masonry skyscraper ever built reveals a transitional moment in architectural history.

Zaragoza Mexican Deli and Grocery

Discover Zaragoza Mexican Deli and Grocery in New York, New York: Behind a grungy bodega facade, a Poblano family serves rich, home-cooked meals.

Tallinn Museum of Photography

Discover Tallinn Museum of Photography in Tallinn, Estonia: This former medieval prison now unlocks Estonia’s rich photographic history.

Old Woodruff Athletic Field

Discover Old Woodruff Athletic Field in Peoria, Illinois: The remnants of Peoria's proud baseball past stand slightly abandoned, but not forgotten.

Pantheon of Illustrious Men

Discover Panteón de Hombres Ilustres (Pantheon of Illustrious Men) in Madrid, Spain: The unfinished final resting place of some of Spain's most prominent politicians.

Kendeda Building

Discover Kendeda Building in Atlanta, Georgia: This "living building" on Georgia Tech's campus is home to a blueberry orchard, honeybees, and more than 900 solar panels.

Melbourne Observatory

Discover Melbourne Observatory in Melbourne, Australia: The city’s oldest gateway to the galaxy lies at the entrance to the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Muhammad Ali Gravesite

Discover Muhammad Ali Gravesite in Louisville, Kentucky: One of the greatest boxers and humanitarians to ever live chose his hometown as his final resting place.

North Florida Wildlife Center

Discover North Florida Wildlife Center in Lamont, Florida: View rare birds and interact with lemurs at this nonprofit run entirely by volunteers.

The Pines Resort

Discover The Pines Resort in Fallsburg, New York: This once sprawling resort now sits abandoned, filled with graffiti and vibrant colors from an era long passed.

Morris Garage

Discover Morris Garage in Oxford, England: This nondescript building was the birthplace of Morris cars.

The Leechwell

Discover The Leechwell in Totnes, England: A historic holy well hidden near a charming English park.

Arlanda Airport Runestone

Discover Arlanda Airport Runestone in Stockholm, Sweden: An 11th-century runestone decorates the halls of Terminal 2 of this Scandinavian travel hub.

Smith Court

Discover Smith Court in Boston, Massachusetts: In the 19th century, this was the center of Boston's Black community.

Kalavryta Sacrifice Memorial

Discover Kalavryta Sacrifice Memorial in Kalavryta, Greece: A solemn reminder of the infamous World War II war crime that massacred almost all the men in a small Greek town.

Teitel Brothers

Discover Teitel Brothers in Bronx, New York: The mosaic Star of David at the front of this store hints that it's no ordinary Italian grocer.

Church of the Virgin Mary

Discover Church of the Virgin Mary in Kalamata, Greece: This sixth-century church housed an icon with eyes so beautiful legend has it they inspired the name of a Greek city.

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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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