Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Fern Dell Nature Museum

Discover Fern Dell Nature Museum in Los Angeles, California: A common entry point to the Griffith Observatory trail holds its own wonders.

Remains of Truxton Circle Fountain

Discover Remains of Truxton Circle Fountain in Fort Washington, Maryland: Remains of a historic fountain that was mysteriously lost in the demolition of a D.C. traffic circle.

Rosehill Cemetery

Discover Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois: Chicago's largest cemetery is full of beautiful Victorian monuments and more than a few ghost stories.

Sir John Franklin Expedition Memorial

Discover Sir John Franklin Expedition Memorial in London, England: A tribute to the intrepid explorer and his crew who perished in terrible conditions on an ill-fated expedition to the Arctic.

The Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings

Discover The Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings in Stoke Heath, England: A slightly surreal menagerie of structures that were lovingly spared from demolition and reconstructed in a field.

Hollywood’s Firefighting Museum

Discover Los Angeles Fire Department Museum in Los Angeles, California: Formerly Fire Station No. 27, the museum is a hidden gem in the heart of Hollywood.

Cave of Dogs

Discover Cave of Dogs in Naples, Italy: Suffocating dogs was a common spectacle in the fumes of this noxious cave.

The Hemlock Stone

Discover The Hemlock Stone in Stapleford, England: Left by the Devil, an ancient quarry or just plain old erosion, this enigmatic rock pillar rises 28 feet from the hillside.

Pecan Pie Vending Machine

Discover Pecan Pie Vending Machine in Cedar Creek, Texas: A 24-hour vending machine restocked daily with homemade full-sized pecan pies.

The Guano Mummy

Discover Momia de Guano in Guano, Ecuador: A mummified Spanish monk found in the walls of an Ecuadorian church, alongside a mummified mouse.

Monet’s Pond

Discover Monet's Pond in Seki-shi, Japan: This pond is so stunning it looks like you've stepped into one of Monet's masterpieces.

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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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