Stories - Atlas Obscura

Exploring the Ruins of Bannerman Castle

A select group of individuals took a voyage to the often-seen but seldom-visited ruins of Bannerman Castle.

Instead of Hot Lava, These Cosmic Volcanoes Spew Ice

The dwarf planet Ceres is studded with cryovolcanoes.

September 17, 2018

Found: The Likely Birthplace of King Henry VII

Think of it as the first Tudor mansion.

September 17, 2018

A Close-Up Look at Rare 17th-Century Anatomical Manikins

The true purpose of these objects remains something of a mystery.

September 17, 2018

Drinking Gold Was a Grisly Anti-Aging Trend of 16th-Century France

The tony elixir killed elites looking for youthful complexions.

September 17, 2018

How the Czech City Built on Shoes Reclaimed Its Past

Zlín is revitalizing its history on the heels of Communist rule.

The Nuclear Power Plant in Crimea That Chernobyl Stopped Dead

It has had a second life as a photogenic, atmospheric ruin.

September 17, 2018

Brazil Nuts Are Brought to You by Rodents

The snack wouldn’t exist without the help of one furry critter and its unusually sharp teeth.

September 14, 2018

The Great British Hedgehog Census Is Prickly Business

To understand what's happening with the beloved critters, first you have to find them.

September 14, 2018

Welcome Back, Hunger Stones

In the past, the appearance of these rocks has portended bad famines, good wine, or nothing at all.

September 14, 2018

What a South Carolina Ghost Story Says About Hurricanes and History

The Gray Man was a warning that it was time to leave.

September 14, 2018

midnight munchies

Before Food Trucks, Americans Ate 'Night Lunch' From Beautiful Wagons

They were the ancestors of the modern diner.

September 13, 2018

From the Frying Pan Tower, a Front-Row Seat to Hurricane Florence

A camera is live-streaming the storm.

September 13, 2018

We Finally Know What Job This 3,000-Year-Old Skeleton Had

And it’s all thanks to her peculiarly damaged bones.

September 13, 2018

Lost: Rings Holding the Hair of Philosopher Jeremy Bentham

Among the elaborate plans for his death were 26 Victorian mourning rings. What happened to them?

September 13, 2018

Send Us a Photo of Your Favorite Backyard Treehouse

The more magical, the better.

September 13, 2018

What Water Shortages in the Western U.S. Would Mean for Craft Beer

Colorado is in the midst of its worst drought since the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.

September 13, 2018

A Visit to the Forgotten Apartment in Manhattan's Fort Washington Library

Dwellings like these were originally designed for workers and their families.

September 13, 2018