Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Springs Park

Discover Springs Park in Lancaster, South Carolina: A nearly century-old amusement park is quietly decaying in a riverside forest in South Carolina.

Shiotama

Discover Shiotama in Tokyo, Japan: Steampunk, humanoid sculptures crawl on all fours in a Tokyo plaza.

The Campbell House

Discover The Campbell House in Spokane, Washington: This Spokane mansion and the stories within its walls have been brought back to life, thanks to careful restoration.

Strichen Stone Circle

Discover Strichen Stone Circle in Strichen, Scotland: This ancient monument has been dissembled and put back together at least twice.

Roberina Sidewalk Adverts

Discover Roberina Sidewalk Adverts in Mérida, Mexico: These mosaic designs promise a cure for headaches, toothaches, and colds.

Gay Street

Discover Gay Street in New York, New York:.

Memorial to Alse Young and Lydia Gilbert

Discover Memorial to Alse Young and Lydia Gilbert in Windsor, Connecticut: Decades before the Salem Witch Trials, two Connecticut women were executed for alleged witchcraft.

Dublin Mile Markers

Discover Dublin Mile Markers in Ashbourne, Ireland: Built into the wall of this pub is a unique marker detailing the distance to Dublin.

William Kent Charitable Foundation

Discover William Kent Charitable Foundation in Durham, Connecticut: The farmhouse where a reclusive sculptor and printmaker created thousands of works.

Mawan Hidden Canyon

Discover Mawan Hidden Canyon in Khubay, Saudi Arabia: It's believed human settlements from the Palaeolithic Age were established not far from this canyon.

Kona Skatepark

Discover Kona Skatepark in Jacksonville, Florida: Winding paths and vertical ramps that have been inspiring skateboarders for nearly half a century.

Cranston Street Armory

Discover Cranston Street Armory in Providence, Rhode Island: A gothic-styled structure that has been the location for several movies.

Stone’s Bridge

Discover Stone's Bridge in Framingham, Massachusetts: A historic bridge no one is allowed to cross.

National Museum of Cambridge Glass

Discover National Museum of Cambridge Glass in Cambridge, Ohio: A collection of thousands of pieces of unique, colorful glass made in this Ohio town.

Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum

Discover Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum in Lynchburg, Virginia: The Harlem Renaissance poet and activist wrote, organized, and hosted travelers in this Lynchburg, Virginia oasis.

Mammoth Spring

Discover Mammoth Spring in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas: The seventh largest spring in the world.

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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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