The Atlas Obscura Guide To

Charlottesville

4 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Charlottesville, Virginia

Unusual
Attractions
in Charlottesville

The Raven Room

Charlottesville, Virginia

The Raven Room

Edgar Allan Poe's old dorm is now a shrine to the author's legacy.

38.0348, -78.5020

Added by bondsarah007

Interior view of the recently excavated chemical furnace in the ground floor of the University of Virginia's Rotunda

Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia’s Hidden Chemical Hearth

Hidden for 165 years inside a building designed by Thomas Jefferson are the remains of what may be America's first educational chemistry lab.

38.0357, -78.5033

Added by Collin

Charlottesville, Virginia

New Dominion Bookshop Rose Garden

Behind the oldest bookstore in Virginia lies a hidden slice of the English countryside.

38.0298, -78.4792

Added by gatsbygurl

The 7 symbol in front of the Jefferson statue in the Rotunda.

Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia's Seven Society

The story behind the mysterious symbol painted in front of the famous Rotunda.

38.0356, -78.5034

Are we missing something unusual in Charlottesville?

Barboursville

Barboursville, Virginia

Barboursville Ruins

The ruins of this Thomas-Jefferson-designed mansion have been left to crumble since the Christmas Day they burnt down.

38.1625, -78.2807

Added by lcbudd14

14 MILEs FROM Charlottesville

Waiter Carriers at Gordonsville.

Gordonsville, Virginia

Gordonsville Fried Chicken Festival

This Virginia town has been famous for its fried chicken since the 19th century.

38.1373, -78.1877

Added by Gastropod

17 MILEs FROM Charlottesville

Crozet Tunnel (Waynesboro portal)

Afton, Virginia

Crozet Tunnel

A railroad tunnel that, upon its completion, was considered one of the engineering marvels of the modern world.

38.0301, -78.8530

Added by phreddievon

20 MILEs FROM Charlottesville

Explore Charlottesville, Virginia

Charlottesville Leaderboard

Places Added

Join the Ranks!

Add an unusual place to Charlottesville.

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Charlottesville Activity

onealesq has been to University of Virginia's Seven Society

nyamalo wants to go to University of Virginia's Seven Society

nyamalo wants to go to New Dominion Bookshop Rose Garden

nyamalo wants to go to The Raven Room

geoksandk wants to go to New Dominion Bookshop Rose Garden

Like Us on Facebook