Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Beecher Bible and Rifle Church

Discover Beecher Bible and Rifle Church in Wamego, Kansas: This historic church is named for abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher and the ruse to arm his fellow abolitionists.

Abandoned Comet Diner in Hartford

Discover Abandoned Comet Diner in Hartford, Connecticut: An iconic steel and chrome diner from the 1940s left empty for nearly 20 years is in danger of being demolished.

Shrine of Our Lady of Peace

Discover Shrine of Our Lady of Peace in Santa Clara, California: One of the largest Marian shrines on the West Coast stands rather unexpectedly in Silicon Valley.

Kaiser Quarry Ruins

Discover Kaiser Quarry Ruins in Oakland, California: An abandoned car and strange wooden debris are among the scattered remains of the old sand and gravel quarry.

The Nervous System of ‘Harriet Cole’

Discover The Nervous System of 'Harriet Cole' in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: This meticulously extracted nervous system allegedly came from a 19th-century custodian who donated her body to science.

Curves and Zigzags

Discover Curves and Zigzags in Palm Desert, California: A black and white painted wall creates an optical illusion in the California desert.

The Birthplace of the Tank

Discover Lincoln Tank Memorial in Lincoln, England: The world's first military tank was designed in this English city amid the stalemate of WWI trench warfare.

Geelong Bollards

Discover Geelong Bollards in Geelong, Australia: More than 100 colorful residents stand post in this seaside Australian city.

The Well at Meligalas

Discover The Well at Meligalas in Messinia, Greece: A somber memorial at the site where hundreds of prisoners and civilians were executed in the aftermath of World War II.

The Mountain Sphinx

Discover The Mountain Sphinx in Bușteni, Romania: Conspiracy theories and occult legends surround this mysterious natural rock formation.

Roman Circus of Toledo

Discover Roman Circus of Toledo in Toledo, Spain: The ruins of an ancient stadium that hosted gripping chariot and horse races.

Site of the Union Station Train Crash

Discover Site of the Union Station Train Crash in Washington, D.C.: A 1,100-ton train fell through the floor in 1953. Workers got it patched up in just 72 hours.

Imsil Cheese Theme Park

Discover Imsil Cheese Theme Park in Imsil-gun, South Korea: A 32-acre fun park dedicated to all things cheese.

Lois Lane

Discover Lois Lane in Worcester, Massachusetts: A comic book store got the road by its shop officially renamed after Superman's girlfriend.

Menu

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

PP ToS