The Atlas Obscura Guide To

Philadelphia

45 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Unusual
Attractions
in Philadelphia

Einstein's Brain Slides

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mütter Museum

America's most famous museum of medical oddities, and home to the remains of Einstein's brain.

39.9535, -75.1768

Added by mbison

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Eastern State Penitentiary

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

39.9673, -75.1737

Main entrance to the cemetery

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mount Moriah Cemetery

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

39.9311, -75.2358

Added by Luke J Spencer

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Folk art environment, gallery space, and nonprofit showcasing the work of mosaicist Isaiah Zagar.

39.9429, -75.1593

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wagner Free Institute

A rare view of a preserved Victorian science museum.

39.9809, -75.1624

Added by michelle

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."

39.9616, -75.1498

Added by michelle

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.

39.9814, -75.2129

Added by kandrews

The cave from the front.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cave of Kelpius

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

40.0238, -75.2016

Added by AaronNetsky

See All 45 Things to Do in Philadelphia See All 45 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in Philadelphia

Philly Taco

Gastro Obscura

Philly Taco

Wrap a slice of pizza around a cheesesteak to create this decadent mashup.

Gastro Obscura

Added by rachelrummel

Irish Potato Candy

Gastro Obscura

Irish Potato Candy

This sweet spud is neither made with tubers, nor of Irish origin.

Gastro Obscura

Added by rachelrummel

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Recent Philadelphia Activity

celestethesim has been to The Irish Memorial at Penn's Landing

celestethesim has been to Philadelphia's Moon Tree

taylordavidson568 wants to go to Tiffany Glass Mural "The Dream Garden"

rana1837 has been to Swann Memorial Fountain

rana1837 has been to Philadelphia City Hall

Stories
About Philadelphia

The opah, ready for a photograph.

How Fish Meant for Market Might End Up in a Museum

Natural history curators and fishers have a deep relationship.

by Paige Pfleger

The Intricate Craft of Using Human Hair for Jewelry, Art, and Decoration

Your guide to the four techniques of hair work.

by Anika Burgess

January 12, 2018

Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania operating amphitheater, 1915.

Student Life at the First Medical College for Women

The pioneering women who faced jeers and discrimination to become doctors.

by Anika Burgess

January 04, 2018

Plants grow in graves at Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia.

A Year Gardening the Grave of a Stranger

At Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia, green-thumbed volunteers participate in a unique program.

by Sydney Schaedel

How to Make a Clock Tick

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

Sponsored by Timberland

Philly Really Doesn't Want You to Make a Pool Out of a Dumpster

Some dreams are too large.

by Erik Shilling

August 04, 2016

Gridlock madness on Philly's I-95.

Secret Service Rules Are Causing Traffic Jams in Philadelphia

Trucks over five tons aren't allowed along a nine-exit stretch.

The First Democratic Convention on Live TV Was the Last Not to be Air-Conditioned

In Philadelphia in 1948, it got hot.

by Erik Shilling

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