Ella Morton's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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the exit interview

Exit Interview: I Played With LEGO for a Living

A former LEGO master model builder talks about taking toys seriously.
September 6, 2016
Gastro Obscura
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candy

One of the 100 Desks in the U.S. Senate Chamber Is Full of Candy

A certain Republican has a sweet secret.
August 30, 2016
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aviation

Joining the Caterpillar Club Is as Easy as Escaping a Fiery Plane

A golden bug worn on the lapel could indicate a life of adventure.
August 23, 2016
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accents

How to Tell an Australian From a New Zealander

Bloody hell, mate, don't get it wrong.
August 9, 2016
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colleges

The Strange Affliction of 'Library Anxiety' and What Librarians Do to Help

It's a real phenomenon, and Ivy League librarians are fighting it.
August 4, 2016
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beauty

The Alarming Aesthetics of Jazz Age Perm Machines

Mix dangling wires and asbestos to achieve the perfect flapper wave.
August 2, 2016
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us civil war

How a 4-Year-Old's Letter to His Father Survived the Civil War

Scribbles from home, kept safe on the battlefield.
July 26, 2016
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jobs

What It's Like to Be an Underwater Crime Scene Investigator

Welcome to CSI: Lakes, Rivers, and Oceans.
July 22, 2016
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australia

The Less-Than-Effective Shark Nets Protecting Australia's Beaches

Can a strip of mesh really keep great whites away?
July 20, 2016
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clowns

Why Smart Clowns Immortalize Their Make-up Designs on Ceramic Eggs

A unique, egg-based system protects clowns' intellectual property rights.
July 14, 2016
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women

Why Women Led Anti-Suffrage Campaigns Against Themselves

Why deprive oneself of the right to vote? It's complicated.
July 11, 2016
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police

Happy Birthday to the World's First Emergency Number

London's '999' turned 79 this week.
July 1, 2016
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19th century

How Man-Midwives Armed With Rusty Forceps Shook Up Obstetrics

Men in the delivery room were not well received.
June 29, 2016
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bug week

Some of History's Most Beautiful Combs Were Made for Lice Removal

Delousing can be delightful.
June 21, 2016
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wedding day

The Secret Messages Hiding Inside 17th Century Engagement Rings

They make the modern diamond ring look rather boring.
June 14, 2016
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bears

The Story of Sam Patch, America's First Professional Waterfall Jumper

Patch had a fondness for plunging into the abyss—in front of a paying audience.
June 7, 2016
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books

Letter-Writing Manuals Were the Self-Help Books of the 18th Century

Need to kindly but firmly chastise your son for buying a horse? Read the manual.
June 2, 2016
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objects of intrigue

In the 16th Century, the Best Office Decor was a Tiny Rotting Corpse

Miniature memento moris were all the rage for around 300 years.
May 31, 2016
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england

What the Most Alluring Women of 17th-Century England Looked Like

Beauty was an asset, a weapon, and a curse for the ladies of the Restoration court.
May 24, 2016
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tree week

Read the Tree Leaves, With an Artist's Invented Tree Font

The plants are speaking. Time to read what they have to say.
May 19, 2016
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cats

How England's First Feline Show Countered Victorian Snobbery About Cats

The 1871 cat show ushered in a new era of appreciation for the furry rat-catchers.
May 13, 2016
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fashion

The World's Most Romantic Socks Are Knitted on an Active Volcano

For a unique gift, order a pair from the island of Tristan da Cunha.
May 10, 2016
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urban planning

The Subtle Design Features That Make Cities Feel More Hostile

Think your city doesn’t like you? You’re right.
May 5, 2016
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russia

A Mother's Day Gift Idea from Imperial Russia

It starts with a hand-painted enamel egg.
May 3, 2016