Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The ‘Fr. Pat Noise’ Hoax Plaque

Discover Fr. Pat Noise Memorial Plaque in Dublin, Ireland: A mysterious plaque to the even more mysterious "Fr. Pat Noise," killed in "suspicious circumstances.".

Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

Discover Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum in Shanghai, China: A wall within the institution displays the names of 13,000 Jews who took refuge in the city during World War II.

Multi-Named Street

Discover Arkhivna Street in Lviv, Ukraine: This street has over a half-dozen names, all at once.

The Druid Stone

Discover The Druid Stone in Nottinghamshire, England: An enigmatic natural rock formation with a manmade passage cut through the center.

Russian Embassy

Discover Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C.: The U.S. government's 300-foot spy tunnel under the embassy never quite delivered as promised.

Last Chance Mining Museum

Discover Last Chance Mining Museum in Juneau, Alaska: Impressive artifacts from Juneau's gold mining days fill this mining site-turned-museum.

Snösätra Wall of Fame

Discover Snösätra Wall of Fame in Stockholm, Sweden: Street artists transformed this abandoned industrial neighborhood into one of Europe's largest graffiti exhibitions.

Vasehenge

Discover Vasehenge in Zanesville, Ohio: A circle of giant painted vases in the former pottery capital of the United States.

The Ponce de León Hotel

Discover The Ponce de León Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida: A luxurious 1880s hotel with its fair share of Tiffany stained glass, Edison electricity, and of course, ghosts.

Yokoi’s Cave

Discover Yokoi's Cave in Inarajan, Guam: The underground hideout of a Japanese soldier for whom World War II ended in 1972.

Old Stone House

Discover Old Stone House in Washington, D.C.: The oldest building in the District of Columbia was preserved because of a mistaken connection to George Washington.

The Monster Building

This hulking behemoth in Hong Kong is actually five interconnected towers built in the 1960s.

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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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