Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Copper Creek Falls and Mine

Discover Copper Creek Falls and Mine in Carlsbad, California: The overgrown ruins of a once thriving World War I-era copper mine.

‘Mr. Lizard and Gumnut Baby’ Statue

Discover 'Mr. Lizard and Gumnut Baby' Statue in Melbourne, Australia: Children's author May Gibbs's beloved stories about the tiny, human-like "Gumnut Babies" are immortalized in bronze.

Toronto’s Rainbow Tunnel

Discover The Rainbow Tunnel in Toronto, Ontario: This colorful creation wasn't always a welcome part of Toronto's Moccasin Trail Park.

Whipsnade White Lion

Discover Whipsnade White Lion in Whipsnade, England: This unusual geoglyph was built as a warning so low-flying aircraft wouldn't scare the zoo animals.

Piper’s Opera House

Discover Piper's Opera House in Virginia City, Nevada: Back in the day everyone who was anyone played this historic western theater.

Unmarked Grave of H.H. Holmes

Discover Unmarked Grave of H.H. Holmes in Yeadon, Pennsylvania: America's first serial killer rests in anonymity.

Sacred Heart Grotto

Discover Sacred Heart Grotto in Bell Island, Newfoundland and Labrador: A crescent of 12 simple statues poised on a small windswept island off the coast of Newfoundland.

Guardian Building Art Deco Lobby

Discover Guardian Building Art Deco Lobby in Detroit, Michigan: To truly appreciate Detroit's landmark skyscraper, you have to step inside.

Former Site of Selig Polyscope Film Studios

Discover Former Site of Selig Polyscope Film Studios in Chicago, Illinois: Chicago was once a major hub of film production, but being silent film you don’t hear much about it.

Athenry Dominican Priory

Discover Athenry Dominican Priory in Athenry, Ireland: Ruins battered by centuries of war and disaster offer a wondrous glimpse of medieval Ireland.

Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum

Discover Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum in Asheville, North Carolina: The fine fabric handwoven at Biltmore Industries was once coveted around the world.

Palau Dalmases

Discover Palau Dalmases in Barcelona, Spain: This former Baroque palace on the historic Calle Montcada is a rare architectural gem and was once the meeting place of an aristocratic scholarly society.

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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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