Stories - Atlas Obscura

A Cold-War Museum Gets the Perfect New Home—an Empty Cold-War Armory

Culver City's Wende Museum is moving into what was once a secret military site.

November 16, 2017

The 18th-Century Spy Who Gave Us Big Strawberries

Two American strawberries reunited in Europe, and gave us the fruit we love today.

November 16, 2017

When Did Humans Become a Burrowing Species?

Digging into our drive to tunnel, bore, and head underground.

November 16, 2017

Meet Ann Gregory, Who Shattered Racist and Sexist Barriers in the Golf World

An unheralded sports pioneer, she was known as "The Queen of Negro Women’s Golf."

November 15, 2017

Found: The Last Piece of a Jigsaw Masterpiece by René Magritte

The fourth and final part of a painting hidden under other paintings ends an 80-year mystery.

November 15, 2017

When Gas Masks Were an Inescapable Part of Everyday Life

“It may be a little irksome at first, but you’ll soon get used to it.”

November 15, 2017

The Lost Lingo of Depression-Era Taxi Dancers

In the 1920s and '30s, ticket-a-dance halls were full of "nickel-hoppers" and "fish."

November 15, 2017

The Secret Chord That Makes Pop Music Sound Happy

The musical formula for good vibrations.

November 15, 2017

Welcome to Gastro Obscura

Our new food section is devoted to wonder and curiosity.

November 15, 2017

The Conqueror Who Longed for Melons

Many Indian dishes can be traced back, indirectly, to a 16th-century, food-obsessed ruler named Babur.

November 15, 2017

The Quest to Save Baltimore's Iconic Berger Cookie

A looming ban on trans fats threatens the city's beloved dessert.

November 15, 2017

The Lucrative Business of Prescribing Booze During Prohibition

Those looking to self-medicate could score at the doctor's office.

November 15, 2017

The Bagel's Complicated Journey Into Israeli Cuisine

The quintessential Jewish breakfast item is a trendy, foreign food in Israel.

November 15, 2017

Why the Nazi Party Loved Decaf Coffee

The Third Reich pushed decaffeinated drinks as official state policy.

November 15, 2017

Nova Scotia Is Streaming Its Favorite Local Meat Log

The donair, a Haligonian delicacy, is getting its moment in the sun (or heatlamp).

November 15, 2017

A Remote Shetland Island Could Become a Spaceport

Unst's isolation is an asset for satellite launches. And it has a radar station.

November 15, 2017

three obscure days

How a History Buff Spends 3 Days Outdoors in Los Angeles

Historian Hadley Hall-Meares shares her adventurous agenda for Three Obscure Days in L.A.

How an Experimental Event Designer Crafts Incredible Culinary Experiences

A fruity infusion and a conversation about inspiration, immersion, and creative community.