Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations
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The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

Gastro Obscura
Covering the world's most wondrous food and drink.
These sockeyes are ready to spawn.
Meats & Animal Products

Okanagan Sockeye Salmon

Around British Columbia's Osoyoos Lake, community efforts have revived the population of a fluorescent fish.
Meats & Animal Products

Torta del Casar

In Spain's Extremadura region, local sheep and a touch of thistle make for an ultra-creamy, slightly bitter cheese.
Fruits & Vegetables

Blenheim Apricot

Snap judgments may spell trouble for what was once the king of California apricots.
Ingredients & Condiments

Chile Cobanero

This signature pepper has been a hot commodity since the Maya era.
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Upcoming Events
Merz Fragrance.
Jul 18
Chicago, Illinois

The Stories Behind the Scents

Explore your senses with an evening of niche fragrances and perfumery at Chicago’s oldest apothecary.
Archie McPhee building.
Jul 19
Seattle, Washington

After Hours at Archie McPhee

Explore the whimsical world of a Seattle institution with Archie McPhee founder Mark Pahlow.
Old Joliet Prison.
Jul 20
Joliet, Illinois

Old Joliet Prison Tour: History and Hollywood

Trace the footsteps of inmates, guards, wardens, and, yes, movie stars on this tour of a 160-year-old suburban Chicago prison.
Historic photo of the Octagon House from the late 1880s.
Jul 20
Washington, D.C.

A Skeptic’s Guide to D.C.’s 'Haunted' Octagon House

Step inside the iconic 19th century home to learn the truth behind the spooky legends.
Medical college certificate.
Jul 20
Philadelphia

The Return of Dissecting History at The Legacy Center

Spend an afternoon exploring the secretive and sometimes sordid world of 19th century anatomical dissection at two historic Philadelphia medical schools.
The gallery space.
Jul 20
Los Angeles, California

A Hidden Repository of Curious Craft

Gain access to a largely secret gallery where junk materials are reincarnated as wondrous sculptures.
Mysterious Chicago.
Jul 20
Chicago, Illinois

Architecture of Mysterious Chicago

Author Adam Selzer highlights the histories and unsolved mysteries of the city's landmarks.
The garden is a steep labyrinth where surprise waits around every corner.
Jul 20
Los Angeles, California

Hollywood Hills Sculpture Garden

Located just below the Hollywood Sign, this hidden garden is filled with contemporary sculptures from artists around the world.
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More Stories
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astronauts

For Sale: 200 Interstellar Artifacts That Bring Space Down to Earth

The auction commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
July 15, 2019
Gastro Obscura
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marble

The Tuscan Town Famous for Anarchists, Marble, and Lard

Now gourmet, lardo di Colonnata once fed miners in Michelangelo's favorite quarries.
July 15, 2019
Gastro Obscura
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restaurants

After Automats Died in New York, They Flourished in the Netherlands

The "waiterless" restaurants were once iconic symbols of the Big Apple.
July 15, 2019
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paper

The Reunion of Two Halves of a Piece of Paper Ripped Apart by Paul Cézanne

They could help piece together his life and work.
July 12, 2019
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