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.
Drinks

Mother Vine Scuppernong Wine

This sweet Southern elixir comes from what may be the oldest grape vine in North America.
Prepared Foods

Chop Suey Sandwich

In the 19th century, Chinese immigrants developed an early New England fusion sandwich that is divisive as it is salty.
Sweets

Southern Jutland Coffee Table

These cake-laden tables fueled community meetings that helped bring Southern Jutland back into Denmark.
Meats & Animal Products

Liederkranz Cheese

This long-extinct pungent delight has made a comeback in Wisconsin.
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Upcoming Events
Event

Historic Murals of West Seattle

Seattle, Washington
$30 per person
Take a guided tour of the larger-than-life artworks that contain a treasure trove of local history and cultural significance.
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Event

Grave Robbing 101

Chicago, Illinois
$20 per person
Tour relics of the old city cemetery and learn all you need to know to launch your career as a 19th-century body snatcher—today!
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Event

Artful Pairings: Creative Couples and Artistic Companions

Seattle, Washington
$30 per person
Enjoy an intimate viewing of artworks from the collections of The Henry, while we examine the nature of creative connections among artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
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Event

Unearthing Lost Towns

Lothian, Maryland
$50 per person
Get your hands dirty in this excavation event rediscovering a centuries-old Native American village with the Lost Towns Project.
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Event

Rosehill Cemetery Walk

Chicago, Illinois
$20 per person
Hear tales of money, murder, and madness you won't hear on other tours as you tour the grounds of one of Chicago's oldest cemeteries.
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Event

Run Away With the Circus

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
$55 per person
Fly high in this afternoon of circus history and interactive aerial skills with the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts.
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Event

Oddities Flea Market: Exclusive VIP Presale Tickets

Chicago, Illinois
$30 per person
The legendary Oddities Market by Ryan Matthew Cohn and Regina Cohn is coming to Chicago, and Atlas Obscura has your ticket to skip the line and get in early!
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Event

Hiking Washington's Railroad History

Skykomish, Washington
$50 per person
Discover the remnants of a train line and depot devastated by a record-breaking avalanche on a guided, mountainside tour.
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Event

Lock Picking at Greenbar Distillery

Los Angeles, California
$60 per person
Pick the brain of a security expert in this mind-bending, hands-on workshop.
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More Stories
maps

How a 16th-Century Spanish Questionnaire Inspired Indigenous Mapmakers of Mexico

Bureaucratic paperwork led to pretty maps that highlight power structures and visual identity.
Jessica Leigh Hester August 15, 2019
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paintings

Found: Hidden Sketches Underneath a da Vinci Painting

Glimpses of a master revising, changing, and editing.
Matthew Taub August 15, 2019
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volcanoes

Found: A Stash of Mystical Charms and Amulets in Pompeii

The ash-encased city always manages to surprise.
Isaac Schultz August 15, 2019
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industrial

Biologists Relocated 30,000 Animals to Make Room for a Natural Gas Plant

It took seven years to evacuate all the goannas, echidnas, and venomous snakes.
Sabrina Imbler August 15, 2019
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automotive history

For Sale: The Dalai Lama’s 1966 Land Rover

The vintage 4x4 traversed rural roads in Dharamsala for 10 years, with His Holiness in tow.
Sabrina Imbler August 14, 2019
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nature

The Return of Ondiri Swamp

Exploited for years, these vital wetlands near Nairobi are blooming anew thanks to a remarkable grassroots effort.
April Zhu August 14, 2019
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universities

18 Unique Campus Landmarks That Every Alum Knows About (But You Probably Don't)

Atlas Obscura readers recommend their favorite hidden wonders at colleges and universities.
Eric Grundhauser August 14, 2019
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food

What the Heck Is Crab Rangoon Anyway?

How a fusion of at least four cuisines created a beloved and misunderstood dish.
Dan Nosowitz August 14, 2019
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gold rush

North Carolina’s Abandoned Gold Mines Don’t Have Gold, But Do Have Bats

A deadly disease could devastate these thriving colonies of winged critters.
Sabrina Imbler August 14, 2019
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