Archives: Atlas Obscuras

‘Diminish and Ascend’

Discover 'Diminish and Ascend' in Christchurch, New Zealand: This aluminum “stairway to heaven” has impaled at least a couple of birds.

Gobbler Theater

Discover Gobbler Theater in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin: This supper-club-turned-concert-venue still serves drinks at its original rotating bar.

Bart Prince Residence and Studio

Discover Bart Prince Residence and Studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico: It's easy to see why this eclectic architectural wonder has been dubbed the "Spaceship House.".

‘Juliet’s Tomb’

Discover 'Juliet's Tomb' in Verona, Italy: It’s said this crypt was the setting for the tragic finale of the Shakespeare play.

Vale of Cashmere

Discover Vale of Cashmere in Brooklyn, New York: This secluded ruin was once a home for exotic plants.

Phaya Thaen Public Park

Discover Phaya Thaen Public Park in Nai Mueang, Thailand: Its tremendous toad is actually a five-story museum and viewing platform.

Rooftop Terrace at Museo del Estanquillo

Discover Rooftop Terrace at Museo del Estanquillo in Mexico City, Mexico: Get a privileged view over Mexico City's Historic Center from a terrace right in its heart.

Appu’s Cafe

Discover Appu's Cafe in Long Beach, California: One doctor's retirement plan included opening this award-winning Mexican-Indian eatery on the ground floor of a hospital.

Narva Lenin

Discover Narva Lenin in Narva, Estonia: A statue of the Soviet leader still stands in a quiet corner of Estonia’s most Russian city.

Fischer

Discover Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland: This aromatherapy shop and mini-museum cofounded by the Sigur Rós frontman documents Icelandic history through scents.

KiMo Theatre

Discover KiMo Theatre in Albuquerque, New Mexico: This opulent Pueblo Deco movie palace melds Art Deco and Native American motifs.

Cranfield’s Curiosity Cabinet

Discover Cranfield's Curiosity Cabinet in Southend-on-Sea, England: A magnificent menagerie of oddities, including taxidermy cryptids.

Mouvement Essarts

Discover Mouvement Essarts in St-Pie-de-Guire, Québec: A unique sculpture garden nestled among farm fields.

Glendive Dinosaur Museum

Discover Glendive Dinosaur Museum in Glendive, Montana: This museum is dedicated to telling the story of dinosaurs from a creationist perspective. .

Essex Steam Train

Discover Essex Steam Train in Essex, Connecticut: This classic steam-powered train takes tourists on a nostalgic trip around the Connecticut River Valley.

Vaalserberg

Discover Vaalserberg in Vaals, Netherlands: The tallest mountain in mainland Netherlands isn't actually very tall.

Église du Bon-Pasteur

Discover Église du Bon-Pasteur in Lyon, France: This abandoned church in central Lyon is missing its front stairs.

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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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