Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All United States Pennsylvania

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Pennsylvania

358 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Pennsylvania

Updated May 29, 2023

Email

Cities

Top Cities
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Gettysburg
Central Market
Lancaster
Mr. Rogers' grave, Unity Cemetery
Latrobe
Bedford
All Cities
  1. Allentown
  2. Altoona
  3. Bedford
  4. Bensalem
  5. Bethlehem
  6. Coudersport
  7. Donora
  8. Doylestown
  9. East Stroudsburg
  10. Emmaus
  11. Erie
  12. Farmington
  13. Gettysburg
  14. Hanover
  15. Harrisburg
  16. Irwin
  17. Jim Thorpe
  18. Johnstown
  19. Kennett Square
  20. Kutztown
  21. Lancaster
  22. Latrobe
  23. Malvern
  24. Monroeville
  25. Morrisville
  26. New Hope
  27. Philadelphia
  28. Pittsburgh
  29. Reading
  30. South Park Township
  31. State College
  32. Upper Darby
  33. Wellsboro
  34. West Chester
  35. Wilkes Barre
  36. Williamsport
  37. Windber
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Eastern State Penitentiary

World's first "penitentiary," meant to be humane, drove men insane.
Einstein's Brain Slides

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mütter Museum

America's most famous museum of medical oddities is home to the remains of Albert Einstein's brain.
Main entrance to the cemetery

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mount Moriah Cemetery

An abandoned cemetery lies in ruins as the surrounding forest swallows it whole.
Magic Garden

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

A layered tribute to the work of mosaicist Isaiah Zagar.
Summer at Shofuso

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden

Philadelphia boasts one of the best — and most often overlooked — traditional Japanese gardens in North America.
The cave from the front.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cave of Kelpius

Where America's first doomsday cult awaited the end of the world.

Aristes, Pennsylvania

Centralia

A toxic ghost town sitting atop a massive coal fire.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site

Tour the dark and beloved poet's former cobwebbed basement, which may have inspired "The Black Cat."
See All 358 Things To Do in Pennsylvania

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Pennsylvania

The Church Brew Works

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Church Brew Works

A restored Pittsburgh house of God has been converted to a marvelous house of suds.
The backyard features a giant mural by local artist Hawk Krall.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pizza Brain's Museum of Pizza Culture

Enjoy a slice while browsing the world's largest collection of pizza memorabilia.
Bube's Brewery & Catacombs

Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

Bube's Brewery & Catacombs

In the bowels of a 19th-century brewery lurks a fine-dining restaurant offering an array of themed feasts.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Zenith

This restaurant offers a side of antiques, curios, and a bathroom chock full of owls.
See all 10 Places to Eat in Pennsylvania
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

6 Fascinating Medical Marvels in Pennsylvania

In the 1700s and 1800s, Philadelphia was the center of medical scholarship in the United States. The city not only attracted the brightest minds, but also the most curious cases and characters. From the oldest quarantine facility in the country to a museum that memorializes a traveling dental circus, here are six places to marvel at the trials, errors, and triumphs of medical history in Pennsylvania. As the pandemic continues, we hope this virtual trip helps you explore America’s wonders. If you do choose to venture out, please follow all guidelines, maintain social distance, and wear a mask.

View Itinerary
Displays at the Weaver Dental Museum include a jumble of dentures.

Explore Pennsylvania

History 38
Museums And Collections 28
History & Culture 25
Abandoned 20
Sacred Spaces 20
Collections 18
Statues 18
Art 18
Monuments 16
Military 16
Ruins 15
Architectural Oddities 15
Places To Stay 3
Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

Pennsylvania Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Avatar image for thomasharper
    thomasharper
    35
  2. Avatar image for Brady Santoro
    Brady Santoro
    16
  3. Avatar image for Jane Weinhardt Goldberg
    Jane Weinhardt Goldberg
    8
  4. Avatar image for Stephen J Taylor
    Stephen J Taylor
    5
  5. Avatar image for michelle
    michelle
    5

Places Edited

  1. B
    blimpcaptain
    51
  2. Avatar image for Rachel
    Rachel
    39
  3. Avatar image for thomasharper
    thomasharper
    35
  4. Avatar image for chasepopt
    chasepopt
    26
  5. M
    Martin
    25

Places Visited

  1. T
    trdibble
    190
  2. K
    kevsheb
    122
  3. Avatar image for Edward Denny
    Edward Denny
    119
  4. S
    Scriv
    116
  5. T
    THC73
    114

Recent Pennsylvania Activity

  • C

    cdparrjr

    wants to go to Thomas Pursell’s Escape Burial Hatch

  • C

    cdparrjr

    has been to Rocky Statue

  • C

    cdparrjr

    has been to Centralia Ghost Town Church

  • C

    cdparrjr

    has been to Crystal Cave

  • C

    cdparrjr

    has been to Centralia

Stories About Pennsylvania

Chris Scott writes that peach cobbler figured in his "happiest food memories," just as it does for many Southern children.

The Sweet and Sour Origins of Amish Soul Food

In Pennsylvania Dutch Country, African Americans have created a distinct and delicious cuisine.
by Sam Lin-Sommer
February 6, 2023
Punxsutawney Phil is far from the only weather-predicting marmot on Groundhog Day.

The Alternative Groundhogs Vying for Punxsutawney Phil's Weather Forecasting Job

Don't forget about Big Al the Alligator and Scramble the Duck's predicting powers either.
by Jennifer Byrne
February 2, 2023
A baled Christmas tree is loaded at the Omni Farm in West Jefferson, North Carolina.

What’s the Real Christmas Tree Capital of the World?

At least a half dozen communities in North America have claimed the title. 
by Justin Franz
December 7, 2022
The still-operating Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado is part of one of America's longest-lived narrow gauge networks.

The Historians Saving America’s Pint-Sized Railroads

From Maine to Alaska, narrow gauge is all the rage, including one of the most historic, Pennsylvania’s East Broad Top.
by Justin Franz
June 21, 2022
Groundhog Day weather predictions in 1975.

When Groundhog Was on the Menu in Punxsutawney

From picnics to club dinners, the critter has a long culinary history in Pennsylvania.
by Diana Hubbell
February 1, 2022

Podcast: The Pennsylvania Firefly Festival

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
October 21, 2021
A bright "firebow" appeared over Pennsylvania in July 2021.

Meet 'Firebows,' the Flat, Rainbow-Like Stacks That Appear in Sunny Skies

But whatever you do, don’t call them rainbows.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
July 30, 2021
The National WWII Museum in New Orleans houses uniforms, equipment, and more than two dozen signed and captured Nazi flags.

What Should You Do With a Captured Nazi Flag?

During WWII, American soldiers brought the flags home as a remembrance. Now, family members and historians must decide what should become of them.
by Reina Gattuso
July 19, 2021

Lists Featuring Pennsylvania

Blue Sky Mausoleum.
Darwin Martin House Complex.
Skylights on the exterior porch made of red cypress.
A restored Wright house on the Burnham Block.

A 12-Stop Road Trip of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Most Surprising Designs

A UFO-inspired church, a futurist gas station, and more deep cuts.

12

Including Blue Sky Mausoleum, The Darwin D. Martin House, and Kentuck Knob

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Puzzles
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Trips Blog
  • Art & Culture Trips
  • Food Trips
  • Hidden City Trips
  • History Trips
  • Wildlife & Nature Trips
  • FAQ
  • Experiences
  • Online Courses
  • Online Experience FAQ
  • Online Course FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2023 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.