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Contractors help unearth a coffin at the 218 Arch Street construction site in Philadelphia.
cemeteries

What Do You Do With Hundreds of Unearthed Human Bones?

When a Philadelphia construction company dug up an old cemetery, local archaeologists stepped in to help—because there was no one else.
Cara Giaimo April 12, 2017
Rome, Italy

Cloaca Maxima

The "Great Sewer" of ancient Rome is one of the oldest sewer systems in the world, and is still in use.
"Space Eater II" (1960) trades a square sector design for graceful curves.
art

In the 1960s, an Artist Imagined an Ever-Changing City That Feels a Lot Like Today

Constant Nieuwenhuys's "New Babylon" was ahead of its time.
Cara Giaimo March 23, 2017
View from the south bank looking north at Mays Island where Cedar Rapids City Hall and Linn County Courthouse are located.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Cedar Rapids Municipal Island

One of just a few cities in the world to base their center of government on an island. Others: Paris and Osaka.
Templos de dos torres gemelas.
Guatemala

Mixco Viejo (Jilotepeque Viejo)

A ruined Maya city that suffered a years-long case of mistaken identity.
A sign for Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!
Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, Québec

Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!

The only town in the world with two exclamation points in its name.
A bird's eye view of New Orleans from 1851.
maps

For 15 Years, New Orleans Was Divided Into Three Separate Cities

To gain control of the Francophone city, Americans split it into pieces.
Sarah Laskow January 6, 2017
Complaints came from South of Market, among other places.
infrastructure

San Francisco Was Just Subjected to a Mysterious, Gross Smell

Philly, too.
Sarah Laskow December 29, 2016
A bright blue neon sign of one of many unique symbols and shapes atop Tokyo's taxis.
culture

Tokyo's Vibrant, Adorable Taxi Signs Are Disappearing

Neon puppies, cherry blossoms, frogs, and lucky cats.
Lauren Young December 15, 2016
A piece of pottery dating to the late 6th century B.C.
abandoned

Found: A Lost City in Greece

No one realized how extensive these ruins were.
Sarah Laskow December 13, 2016
Mayor Giuliani meets with Mother Teresa.
cars

When Mother Teresa Met With New York's Mayor to Lobby for a Parking Permit

Parking in New York City is so opaque, understanding how it works is like unlocking a secret code.
Sarah Laskow December 9, 2016
Should the green area count as its own region?
maps

Here Are the Real Boundaries of American Metropolises, Decided by an Algorithm

How is the U.S. actually split geographically?
Sarah Laskow November 30, 2016
Brașov, Romania

Strada Sforii (Rope Street)

This snug medieval lane is one of the narrowest streets in the world.
Island Lamp at night, intersection of Madison Road and Edwards Road
Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati Yellow Lamps

An obsolete, vanishing traffic device warns Cincinnati drivers away from middle-of-the-road obstructions.
Sissel Tolaas in her studio in Berlin.
art

This Artist Used Over 6,500 Scents To Recreate The Smell Of 35 World Cities

Inside the very comprehensive smell library of Berlin-based olfactory expert Sissel Tolaas.
Jordan Todorov November 18, 2016
25 & B
infrastructure

How to Decode the Hidden Secrets of Havana's Streets

Hand signals, street signs, color-coded uniforms, and more.
Sarah Laskow November 15, 2016
Shanghai, a diorama map comprised of tiny contact print photographs.
maps

These Maps Capture the Spirit of Cities By Collaging Their Hidden Details

This photographer weaves intimate scenes into monochromatic panoramas of massive metropolises.
Lauren Young November 14, 2016
Naours
Naours, France

Cité souterraine de Naours (Underground City of Naours)

A centuries-old complex of hand-dug stone chambers has sheltered locals in times of trouble.