Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Oscar Wilde House

Discover The Oscar Wilde House in Dublin, Ireland: The house where the writer spent his formative years.

The Lighthouse

Discover The Lighthouse in Glasgow, Scotland: Climb this overlooked gem's spiral staircase and you'll be rewarded with spectacular views of Glasgow.

National Textile Museum

Discover National Textile Museum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: An exploration of Malaysian heritage through the lens of traditional textiles.

William Spain Seismic Observatory

Discover William Spain Seismic Observatory in Bronx, New York: An unassuming stone building houses New York City's oldest seismic station almost 30 feet below the Bronx.

Grave of Captain Oliver Bowen

Discover Grave of Captain Oliver Bowen in Sanibel, Florida: The bizarre story of the mysterious death and hidden treasure of one of Sanibel Island's early homesteaders.

Castle House

Discover Castle House in Palmer, Alaska: The only house built with a turret, crenellations, and a moat in Palmer, Alaska.

Armenian Church of Dhaka

Discover Armenian Church of Dhaka in Dhaka, Bangladesh: All that is left of an Armenian community that thrived in Dhaka 200 years ago.

Chendebji Chorten

Discover Chendebji Chorten in Trongsa, Bhutan: An 18th-century Nepali-style chorten built to subdue demons and evil spirits.

Denny’s Windmill

Discover Denny's Windmill in Arcadia, California: A relic from a forgotten bakery chain still spins atop a diner.

Modena Synagogue

Discover Modena Synagogue in Modena, Italy: This beautiful 150-year-old synagogue survived Italy's fascist period and the Second World War.

Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace)

Discover Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace) in Dhaka, Bangladesh: This colorful palace is an oasis of calm amid the hustle and bustle of the Buringa riverfront.

Avenue H Station House

Discover Avenue H Station House in Brooklyn, New York: This unusual subway stop was originally a real estate office.

Fordham Cemetery

Discover Fordham Cemetery in Bronx, New York: A small graveyard is hidden in the midst of a bustling university campus.

Lalbagh Fort

Discover Lalbagh Fort in Dhaka, Bangladesh: The untimely death of a dignitary's daughter led to this fort being abandoned before it was ever finished.

Kuruhimbi Milk Bar

Discover Kuruhimbi Milk Bar in Kigali, Rwanda: One of the capital's last independent milk bars remains a crucial community watering hole.

Nyero Rock Paintings

Discover Nyero Rock Paintings in Kumi, Uganda: Six rock shelters covered in abstract art created by ancient Ugandan tribes.

Kendall Band

Discover Kendall Band in Cambridge, Massachusetts: A three-piece musical sculpture installed between the subway tracks at Kendall Station near MIT.

Panam Nagar

Discover Panam Nagar in Sonargaon, Bangladesh: This historic textile city was abandoned after being ravaged by fire.

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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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