Atlas Obscura
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Connell Lake Dam in Ketchikan, Alaska
The Connell Lake dam is an imposing, almost gothic structure. Weather-worn and cracked in places, it blocks fish passage on Ward Creek. Frequently flagged by federal agencies like NOAA Fisheries, the dam cuts off miles of vital fish habitat. In 1954, the dam served as the backdrop for the climax of…
14 Real Places That Haunt the Pages of Literature
One of literature’s greatest gifts is its ability to transport us to other worlds: some utopian and fantastical, others dark and unnerving, scary and supernatural ... This guide is all about the latter (which are, arguably, much more fun). These are the novels, short stories, and novellas that get…
The Press Mosaic in Baku, Azerbaijan
The building that printed Soviet Azerbaijan's newspapers and books is shaped like an open book. It takes a moment to register from the pavement, and then it becomes difficult to see anything else: two great pages picked out in cut stone, spread wide across the front of the printing house. Worked…
Replica of the Portal of the Casa de la Cadena in Navalcarnero, Spain
Navalcarnero may be a small town southwest of Madrid, but its streets are steeped in history. Founded in the 15th century, it became an important stop between Madrid and Toledo and is now particularly celebrated for its wine production. The town's vineyards form part of the Denomination of Origin…
House of the Gladiators in Episkopi, Cyprus
Kourion's ruins are full of mosaics: mythological scenes, geometric patterns, hunting parties. But tucked near the main courtyard of one villa is something the rest of the island almost never shows: gladiators, fighting, identified by name. According to Cyprus's own Department of Antiquities…
The Créac'h Lighthouse in Ouessant, France
At 47 metres tall, with a range of 60 kilometres, the Créac'h Lighthouse is the most powerful lighthouse in Europe. Located on the island of Ouessant, it marks the entrance to the English Channel. The lighthouse is currently undergoing renovation, but it remains fully operational. At night, its…
Colle Eletto Cableway in Gubbio, Italy
An old-style cableway built in the sixties. The cableway starts near Gubbio city center and bring you to the top of Monte Ingino, where the Sant'Ubaldo basilica is. Cabins are indeed open air cages, suitable for up two people, in which you stay standing. Moreover they does not stop at the starting…
Sydney’s Philanthropic Bronze Boar in Sydney, Australia
Along the sidewalks of Macquarie Street, in the shadow of the grand stone arches of Sydney Hospital, sits a striking geographical and cultural anomaly. A bronze wild boar squats above a fountain basin, its snout worn down to a polished, gleaming gold. Anyone who has ambled through the Mercato Nuovo…
The Guthrie Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts
No American Thanksgiving dinner is complete without turkey, stuffing, gravy, and "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" by Arlo Guthrie, son of legendary folksinger Woody Guthrie and a talented songwriter in his own right. Based on a true story, the ballad recounts an act of kindness gone awry where Arlo…
On the Trail of the Mothman
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and all major podcast apps. Amanda McGowan : Every small town has that one spot where people sneak off to at night. In Point Pleasant, West Virginia, back in the 1960s, that place was the McClintic Wildlife Management Area. The locals called it the…
Huu Nha Basalt Column Waterfall in Vinh Son, Vietnam
Deep within the rugged mountain forests of Vinh Son lies Huu Nha Waterfall, also known locally as Bat Waterfall, a striking geological wonder that remains largely untouched by mainstream tourism. The defining feature of this remote site is an ancient cliff face formed millions of years ago…
The Nick Weerts Memorial Phone Booth in Madison, Wisconsin
There is a phone booth on Madison’s East Side where picking up the receiver connects the caller to no one—and, in a way, to quite a lot of people. The Nick Weerts Memorial Phone Booth was created in memory of Nicholas Bennett Weerts, who died unexpectedly in 2017. Among his various interests was an…
Allen County Historical Society and Museum in Lima, Ohio
If the entirety of this museum wasn’t so peculiar already, the James E. Grosjean Room at the Allen County Historical Museum would be a place of magic surrealism; a tactile portal to the past in the midst of the proverbial Rust Belt town built quickly on oil. Lima once had a bustling trolley system…
Ohio's Small Town Museum in Ashville, Ohio
With travel nonexistent, the summer of 2020 was devastating for tiny institutions which usually operate on an ever-shrinking budget, rely on donations or grants to stay afloat, and run with a skeleton crew of volunteers. Some literally have trouble leaving the lights on. But each of these museums…
Podcast: The Thompson Ice House
Hey everybody. It is Dylan here and I'm walking through my kitchen and I'm going to do something that I now pretty much take for granted every day. I'm going to walk up to my fridge — I'm holding a glass here — and I'm going to press a little lever and that is ice magically falling out of the…
Where to Find the World’s Best Soup
20,000 BC was a monumental year in history. Why? The first pot of soup was crafted in a cave in modern-day China. To create their savory broth, prehistoric humans boiled animal bones and entrails in crude pits, then slurped their handiwork from some of the world’s earliest ceramic bowls. Fast…
Cryptid Tourism: The Best Museums, Destinations & Festivals Across America
What is a cryptid? A cryptid is an animal whose existence has been suggested but not proven by science—creatures like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabra, and the Jersey Devil. The term comes from cryptozoology, the study of “hidden animals.” Quick Reference: Cryptid Destinations at a…
The Most Unique Camping Spots Across the U.S.
America’s geography is unmatched in diversity, spanning from scorching, sandy deserts to snow-capped mountains and dense swamps; coastal wetlands to high, grassy plains. There’s perhaps no better way to experience this incredible variety than by taking a back to basics approach and living in…
AO’s Favorite Unusual Sites to Spend a Night
Where to stay is a pivotal part of any trip, sometimes just as important as the destination itself. The place you rest your head can dictate not just the quality of sleep you get but the kinds of activities you choose, the people you meet, and the way you engage with the culture around you. That’s…
Who Knew Illinois Had This Many Spooky Places?
Illinois is known for its haunted houses and Halloween extravaganzas: the kinds of places that draw lines out the door and attract visitors from all over the country. But beyond these creepy crowd favorites are a number of lesser-known spooky spots, all with backstories both historical and…
In the directory since 25 Sept 2026 · last checked 25 Sept 2026 · RSS