Stories - Atlas Obscura

How to Make a Clock Tick

We partnered with Timberland to explore the secrets of horology in Philadelphia.

Lose Yourself in 12 of the Most Extraordinary Labyrinths Ever Built

Step inside and try not to get lost.

November 2, 2016

How a Forged Sculpture Boosted Michelangelo’s Early Career

Fake it 'til you make it.

November 1, 2016

A Map of Some of the Most Disastrous Elections in History

The epic failures of the voting booth.

November 1, 2016

The Best Political Cartoon In History Is This Fake Banknote from the Panic of 1837

This $.75 bill features a human-faced dung beetle, a donkey pooping money, and Andrew Jackson in flag drag.

November 1, 2016

Inside the Strange Sport of Paramotoring, in Which Competitors Risk Life and Limb to Fly

Hanging out along the Icarus Trophy trail.

November 1, 2016

Watch This Cute Squishy Caterpillar Launch a Stinky Attack

It's a surprising defense mechanism.

November 1, 2016

6 Infamous Places of Political Corruption

A crooked tour of American politics.

November 1, 2016

15 Amazing Photos From the Boston Mayor's 1980 Halloween Party

Mayor Kevin White threw a spooky bash, and his employees made some interesting choices.

October 31, 2016

Salem and the Rise of Witch Kitsch

How Salem went from executing witches to marketing them.

October 31, 2016

Jumpstart Your Halloween With These '90s Horror TV Intros

Fear and intrigue, together in the opening titles.

October 31, 2016

The Most Halloween Police Photo of 2016

It's a good one.

October 31, 2016

The Real Electric Frankenstein Experiments of the 1800s

Why scientists during the late 18th and 19th centuries conducted crude experiments with reanimating corpses.

October 31, 2016

31 days of halloween

How the Hidden Sounds of Horror Movie Soundtracks Freak You Out

From altered voices to "infrasound," these audio tricks spook and unsettle.

October 31, 2016

heaven and hell

This Map Shows The Future of Your Immortal Soul

Just in case you needed a reminder that you are most likely on the road to damnation.

October 31, 2016

Watch a Claymation Mark Twain Take Tom, Huckleberry, and Becky to Meet Satan

It'll have you repeating after Becky, "I want to go home."

October 31, 2016

Inside the Final Days of New York City's Last Dairy

Elmhurst Dairy closes its doors in late October. What happens when a metropolis loses milk?

October 30, 2016

In the 1800s, Sick People Would Consult Cookbooks Before Doctors

Need to bake a pie AND cure consumption?

October 28, 2016