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The Definitive Guide To

The World’s
Hidden Wonders

From ancient relics to roadside oddities, we connect you to the best of what’s out there.

The Venerable Thich Quảng Đức Monument.

The Venerable Thich Quảng Đức Monument

A memorial to the monk who set himself on fire to protest the persecution of Buddhists in Vietnam.

Added By Michael Inscoe

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Destinations From Across the Atlas

Destinations From Across the Atlas

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mountains

Every year, thousands of Indigenous athletes flock to a small mountain town for "el honor del competir."

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Hidden Wonders

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Salem, Massachusetts

The Witch House of Salem

The only structure left with direct ties to the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692.

Added By

Dylan Thuras
Sønderborg, Denmark

'Støvlen' ('The Boot')

This colossal hiking boot, once built for a scout jamboree, serves as an observation tower and barbecue area.

Added By

Johan SWE
Nassau, Bahamas

Ocean Atlas

The world’s largest underwater sculpture is found just off the coast of Nassau.

Added By

Rachel Gould
Chicago, Illinois

Margie’s Candies

This old-fashioned confectionary has been family owned and operated for more than a century.

Added By

Hal Koss
Bedford, Virginia

National D-Day Memorial

This monument is dedicated to those lost on June 6, 1944, in the town with that day’s highest per-capita casualty rate.

Added By

Katie Willard
Pembrokeshire, Wales

Dyffryn Arms

A historic pub in the front room of a Victorian-era house.

Added By

Jack
Zagreb, Croatia

The Museum of Lost Tales

A fantastical display of Croatian folklore, mythology, and myths.

Added By

Martin Gašparić
Varzob, Tajikistan

Khoja Obi Garm

A Soviet-era health spa complete with radioactive bathing and shock therapy.

Added By

MarkTimeTravel

Sunrise, Florida

Dauer Museum of Classic Cars

Curated collection of classic cars restored to immaculate condition.

Added By

Bonnie Lind
Brno, Czechia

‘Hrachovina’

A metal forest of peas pays tribute to the founding father of genetics.

Added By

Sebastián Wortys
Newtown, Connecticut

The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial

A tribute to the students and teachers who lost their lives during the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Added By

Calvin the Courageous
Zacatlán, Mexico

Vitromurales de Zacatlán

This glass mural on the wall of a cemetery started a peculiar tradition in Zacatlán.

Added By

Mario Yair T.S.
Istria, Romania

Ancient City of Histria

Once a thriving Greek port, now a windswept ruin lost to time.

Added By

Darius Roby
Lille Skensved, Denmark

Heksens Hårbånd (The Witch’s Headband)

Legend says an angry old witch’s hair ribbon turned to stone, now streaked across the rock she threw at the church.

Added By

Johan SWE
Marietta, Georgia

The Georgia Room at Switzer Library

Strange memorabilia held inside an unassuming library.

Added By

ch8332
Durham, England

‘Cry for Justice – The Scream’

A Munch-inspired sculpture brings the despair of war to life.

Added By

Ken Searle

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A contractor attaches a new wire at 56th Street and 11th Avenue.

hidden

The Wire That Transforms Much of Manhattan Into One Big, Symbolic Home

The eruv, a nearly invisible holy boundary, must be intact every Friday.

Written By

Michael Inscoe

October 16, 2017

victorian
No, Victorians Didn't Cover Up Table Legs Because They Were Too 'Sexy'
By Eric Grundhauser
science
Medieval Africans Had a Unique Process for Purifying Gold With Glass
By Evan Nicole Brown
islands
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This Man Rebuilds the Last Inca Rope Bridge Yearly
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Rats didn’t take over the city by being foolhardy.

Podcast

Do New York City Rats Deserve Their Bad Rap?

In collaboration with Radiolab’s Terrestrials podcast, we fall down the rat hole.

Written By

The Podcast Team

June 11, 2025

botanical gardens
The Secret Gardens Saving the World’s Rarest Plants
By Julie Zigoris
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Dear Atlas: How Do I Unplug on a Solo Trip?
By Aube Rey Lescure
Podcast
The Art in This Museum Was Donated for Free
By The Podcast Team
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By The Podcast Team
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America’s First Game Warden Died Fighting for the Birds
By Olivia Young
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Atlas Obscura Presents: Traveling Back in Time for Coconut Cake With The Sporkful
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A Supposedly Boring Mall I Might Actually Visit Again
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Guides, lists, and itineraries

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Trips and Videos

Oaxaca Mexico tamales

North America

Flavors of Oaxaca: Markets, Mezcal & Home-Cooked Meals

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We travel to incredible, often overlooked places. Our global community of local experts grants you access to unique, small-group experiences.

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Sea Critters of Charlotte Harbor

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Complete Your Bookshelf

Books and Box Sets

The Wild Life book lays on a bright blue surface next to a pair of binoculars and a foldable field guide for small critters.

Our Newest Book: Wild Life

An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Living Wonders

Two Atlas Obscura books with book sleeve lay on a light wooden table surrounded by spices and dinnerware.

The Explorer’s Library

Combination of Two Bestsellers

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