anthropocene
How Giant, Intelligent Snails Became a Marker of Our Age
Ages from now, giant snails could be one of the lasting signs of human influence on Earth.
All Stories
chefs
When the President and His Chef Feuded Over Cold Beans
It was part of an “enduring rivalry” between African-American and French cooking in the White House.
london
Take a Virtual Murder Tour of Medieval London
You'll find that churches offer little sanctuary.
codes
For Sale: A Tricky Cipher Machine From WWII
Attention, tinkerers: It's still solvable.
american revolution
In Its First Decades, The United States Nurtured Schoolgirl Mapmakers
Education for women and emerging nationhood, illustrated with care and charm.
feature
During WWII, Polish Refugees Found a Home in India
The Maharaja of Nawanagar opened his summer palace to displaced children.
clubs
The Rambunctious, Elitist Chocolate Houses of 18th-Century London
They were the original gentlemen’s clubs.
constellations
How Early Humans Used Cave Art to Understand the Night Sky
They weren't just painting animals.
thanksgiving
When Cow Tongue Was an Essential Thanksgiving Ingredient
It made American pies rich and indulgent.
food art
The Historians Cooking Up Mythical Beasts
Making a cokentryce calls for needle, thread, and a lot of meat.
holocaust
Musical Arrangements Made at Auschwitz Have Been Uncovered in an Archive
Polish political prisoners played a song called “The Most Beautiful Time of Life" for the SS.
bees
How Close-Up Glamour Shots Are Generating Buzz for Bees
The pictures were taken for science, but found a wider audience because they're gorgeous and a little trippy.
show & tell
16 Theme Restaurants That Add a Perfect Amount of Cheese to Every Meal
Atlas Obscura readers recommend their favorites.
rock and roll
For Sale: A Wood-Paneled Console That Helped Shape Classic Rock
Bowie, Marley, Zeppelin, and more recorded on this piece of music history.
subculture
At a Death Cafe, Tea and Couscous Make Mortality Easier to Swallow
Let's talk about death, baby.
synagogues
The Muslims Preserving Kolkata’s Last Jewish Synagogues
"It's not ours or theirs, it's for both of us."
abraham lincoln
For Decades, Southern States Considered Thanksgiving an Act of Northern Aggression
In the 19th century, pumpkin pie ignited a culture war.
hanukkah
A Menorah That Honors an Immigrant's Story
After escaping the Holocaust, Manfred Anson paid tribute to his new home.
