The Atlas Obscura Guide To Philadelphia

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

Updated April 1, 2025

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Unusual Attractions in Philadelphia

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.

A raven statue outside the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site.

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."

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wagner Free Institute

A rare view of a preserved Victorian science museum.

See All 77 Things To Do in Philadelphia

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Philadelphia

The interior is a perfect example of turn-of-the-century shop design.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Shane Confectionery

Step into a pastel time capsule where candy is truly dandy.

The old Adam Scheidt Brewing Company in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Old Adam Scheidt Plant

This forgotten building was one of the few Philadelphia-area breweries to survive Prohibition.

Fried cheese curds are pure crunch and nostalgia.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Fox & Son Fair Foods

Find your state fair food favorites all year long.

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.

See all 5 Places to Eat in Philadelphia

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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.

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

Explore Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Museums 13

History 12

Architecture 10

Collections 8

Statues 7

Aletrail 6

Parks 5

Homes 4

Medical Museums 4

Music 4

Houses 4

Architectural Oddities 4

Philadelphia Leaderboard

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Stories About Philadelphia

The SS United States moored in Philadelphia in 2008. The grand ocean liner’s fate has been the subject of years of debate.

The SS United States Heads Into Unknown Waters

After decades in a Philadelphia shipyard, the last great American ocean liner may be destined for the seafloor.

by Matthew Christopher

The gym and auditorium at Schenley High School in Pittsburgh was built just before the school closed in 2008.

What Abandoned Schools Can Teach Us

Empty chairs, empty tables, and the dismantling of the American Dream.

by Matthew Christopher

September 13, 2024

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Duquesne, Pennsylvania.

Why Are There So Many Abandoned Churches?

Changing neighborhoods, loss of faith, even heating bills make places of worship among the most common types of forgotten places.

by Matthew Christopher

February 29, 2024

The auditorium at the historic Lansdowne Theater near Philadelphia.

A Case for the Preservation of Abandoned Places

Finding where history, passion, and urban development come together can mean a lot to a community.

by Matthew Christopher

February 9, 2024

There’s something ill-sounding about the Philadelphia prison’s corridors.

Bump in the Night: The Rackety Reason People Think This Prison Is Haunted

Sound and electricity play all kinds of tricks at Eastern State Penitentiary.

by Fayge Horesh

October 4, 2023

Katherine Moore (left) shows vessels for storing and serving food from Pachacámac at the exhibit.

How to Trace Food History With Ancient Leftovers

The Penn Museum's new exhibit showcases the art of edible archaeology.

Talia Young founded Fishadelphia to bring seafood from regional suppliers to economically and culturally diverse communities.

The Scientist Bringing Fresh Fish Back to Philadelphia's Underserved Neighborhoods

Welcome to Fishadelphia.

by Ann Finkbeiner

January 16, 2023

Podcast: Maillardet’s Automaton

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

Lists Featuring Philadelphia

A view of the Cushing Center from the entrance

Brain of Helen Hamilton Gardener

The World's Most Fascinating Displays of Preserved Brains

The mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Including The Cushing Center, Mammalian Brain Collection, and Brain Museum

The House of the Temple.

Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

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