Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The World’s Largest Laundromat

Discover World's Largest Laundromat in Berwyn, Illinois: The clothes-washing king doubles as a community center with some unusual features, including an aviary filled with finches.

Watson Fothergill’s Office

Discover Watson Fothergill's Office in Nottingham, England: When it came to designing his own small office building, the eccentric architect wasn't afraid to show the world what he could do.

Arctic Brotherhood Hall

Discover Arctic Brotherhood Hall in Skagway, Alaska: The facade of this relic from the Klondike gold rush is decorated with over 8,800 pieces of driftwood.

Tsunami Memorial at Yala National Park

Discover Tsunami Memorial at Yala National Park in Hambantota, Sri Lanka: Only the foundation remains of the rest stop building that was hit by three large tsunami waves, killing 47 visitors.

The Many Costumes of John Milton

Discover Dressed John Milton Statue in Milton, Delaware: A statue of the English poet for whom this Delaware town is named is ritually dressed in seasonally appropriate clothing.

This Chapel Cross May Hold a Medieval Clue

Discover Saint Edwin's Chapel Cross in Nottinghamshire, England: This lonely metal cross may hint at the true location of a medieval showdown between Christian and Pagan kingdoms.

Golden Driller

Discover Golden Driller in Tulsa, Oklahoma: The fifth tallest statue in the United States is a shirtless monument to the oil worker.

Four Shire Stone

Discover Four Shire Stone in Moreton-in-Marsh, England: The centuries-old obelisk may have inspired J. R. R. Tolkien.

Guardian of the Gulch

Discover Guardian of the Gulch in Helena, Montana: The old fire tower is one of the last of its kind in the United States.

Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum

Discover Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum in Joshua Tree, California: The quirky salon doubles as a retro museum run by the world's leading "hairstorian.".

Man of Bicorp Cave Painting

Discover Man of Bicorp Cave Painting in Bicorp, Spain: This ancient rock painting is the oldest evidence of humans’ love affair with honey.

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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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