Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Washburn Park Water Tower

Discover Washburn Park Water Tower in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Eight "Guardians of Health" protect this art deco water tower from pollutants and bacteria.

Stratište Memorial Complex

Discover Stratište Memorial Complex in Jabuka, Serbia: An abandoned monument remembering the "Pančevo Holocaust" now stands as a shadow of its former self.

Mark Twain’s Cabin

Discover Mark Twain's Cabin in Sonora, California: Where the writer penned his famous story about a jumping frog.

Lollipop Be-Bop

Discover Lollipop Be-Bop in Bristol, England: A plaque claims this artwork outside a children's hospital was used in the 1998 Quidditch World Cup.

Merlin’s Cave

Discover Merlin’s Cave in Tintagel, England: It is said the legendary wizard once lived in this sea cave beneath Tintagel Castle.

Pink Elephant Antique Mall

Discover Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, Illinois: Oversized statues are just the tip of this nostalgic Americana roadside attraction.

Karlstein Castle Replica

Discover Karlstein Castle Replica in Batchelor, Australia: This mini version of the famous Bohemian castle was lovingly built by a Czech immigrant and mineworker.

Fountain of Youth

Discover Fountain of Youth in Wexford, Pennsylvania: A stone arch leads to a cavernous 1930s spring house tucked away in the Pennsylvania woods.

Grant’s Headquarters at City Point

Discover Grant's Headquarters at City Point in Hopewell, Virginia: For nearly a year, General Ulysses S. Grant was based here during the American Civil War.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 260 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. 474 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. 499 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. 633 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. 135 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. 167 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). 252 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 148 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. 96 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. 166

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