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Norton, Massachusetts

King Philip's Cave

Ghostly specters are said to haunt this secluded cave where a famed Wampanoag leader spent the final days of his life.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Coney Island Cafe

This down-home diner has been serving up comfort foods for over 100 years.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Smith Drug Co.

This historic drug store-turned-museum served an important role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Košice, Slovakia

The Republic of the East

Pay your respects to a country that only existed for a few weeks.
Wemding, Germany

'Zeitpyramide' ('Time Pyramid')

An abstract sculpture that will be a work in progress for the next 1,000 years.
This pygmy hippo at the 1939 World's Fair Firestone exhibit was probably Gumdrop I, Billy's first surviving calf.
zoos

Before Moo Deng, There Was ‘William Johnson Hippopotamus’

During the Roaring ’20s, the American National Zoo welcomed the first pygmy hippo superstar.
Andrew Coletti November 25, 2024
Toronto, Ontario

First Toronto Post Office

The first post office in Toronto still operates today, complete with quill pens and ink for writing letters.
Maria Tallchief performing "Firebird" at the New York City Ballet on Sept. 19, 1963.
native americans

Maria Tallchief, America's First Prima Ballerina, Changed Ballet Forever

The first Native American to hold ballet's highest rank, she stunned audiences in "Firebird" 75 years ago.
Shannon Toll November 25, 2024
Crested Butte, Colorado

Crested Butte Cemetery

A testament to Colorado’s rugged mining history sits against a backdrop of striking mountain scenery.
film

Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico

A new podcast from Atlas Obscura and Talkhouse, narrated by Luis Guzmán.
Shiprock
Itinerary

Ancient California

Unearthing Wonder in California
Keddie Wye
Itinerary

The Wildest West

Gold! Can you dig it?
Malta

St. Paul’s Island

This tiny island is recognized as the site where St. Paul landed after a shipwreck in the first century.
Comet C/2023 A3, or Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, nearly 100 million miles from Earth, seen from the International Space Station on Sept. 22.
astronomy

Long Seen as Omens, Comets Do Tell Us Something About Ourselves

For thousands of years, comets have fascinated us, filled us with dread, and, in some ways, made us who we are.
Rebecca Boyle November 20, 2024
Matlock Bath, England

Peak District Lead Mining Museum

Explore the history of mining in this museum, or in a real mine from the 1920s.
Hereford, England

Black and White House Museum

This iconic Tudor home-turned-museum offers a unique glimpse into the everyday life of a prosperous family during the early modern period.
Wolji Pond, South Korea
temples

10 Places That Feel Like Journeying Back in Time

Who needs a time machine?
Atlas Obscura November 12, 2024
View from the overlook on Kuwohi of the mountain peaks and ridges of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
mountains

The Tallest of the Great Smoky Mountains Is—Officially—Kuwohi

The return of the indigenous name of Tennessee's highest point has meaning beyond what's on a map.
Seth T. Kannarr and Derek H. Alderman November 4, 2024