1728 Items Tagged

Military

A Close Combat Assault Ration, which provides calorie-dense nutrition and is shelf stable for years.

Feeding Armies Throughout History

From Sparta to the Mongol Empire, soldiers needed fuel for the fight.

Diana Hubbell May 12, 2023

U.S. Marines stand guard in the Garmsir district of Helmand Province in 2009. The province was the site of the most deaths of American and British soldiers during the U.S./NATO–led occupation of the country.

The Harrowing Tale of Afghanistan’s ‘Haunted’ Outpost

Centuries-old culture and modern military psychology intertwined at Observation Point Rock.

Tom Mutch May 5, 2023

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

military history

Puzzle Monday: War Heroes Crossword

AO Puzzles May 1, 2023

Yuma Proving Grounds Open Air Museum

Fortuna Foothills, Arizona

Yuma Proving Grounds Open Air Museum

An assortment of armored tanks and Howitzer cannons in the middle of the Sonoran Desert.

Before joining the Central Luzon Huks as Commander Liwayway, Remedios Gomez-Paraiso was known in her rural town for her poise and beauty.

military history

Commander Liwayway and Other Filipino Women Who Fought During World War II

The “Huk Amazons” were military commanders, leaders, soldiers, spies, and more.

Sarah Durn March 29, 2023

The 6888th Battalion was led by 26-year-old Major Charity Adams Earley, the first Black woman to become an officer in the Women’s Army Corps.

military history

The Little Known History of World War II's All-Black, All-Female Battalion

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion helped connect soldiers on the front lines with their families back home.

Line Sidonie Talla Mafotsing February 14, 2023

Queen Njinga Mbandi rides into battle against the Portuguese, as illustrated by Pat Masioni for UNESCO's series on women in African history.

military history

Meet Caterina Sforza and Other Warrior Queens History Forgot

From Italy’s fortress-seizing countess to Angola’s battle-hardened Queen Njinga, these women didn’t back down from a fight.

Sarah Durn January 26, 2023

Dimitrios Katsikis bangs away with a hammer, which he crafted himself from scrap metal, to shape a bronze greave, or shin guard. One of the very few modern technologies he allows himself is ear protection.

Meet the Blacksmith Resurrecting Greek History

Dimitrios Katsikis geeks out on making ancient armor with traditional methods.

Demetrios Ioannou December 16, 2022

This short snorter belonged to Tom Farrow, a member of the 384th Bomb Squadron taken prisoner in Germany during World War II. These 19 bills are a snapshot of his experience in the war.

objects of intrigue

How to Spot a 'Short Snorter'

Dwight D. Eisenhower and Marlene Dietrich both belonged to this unusual club.

Caroline Eubanks December 14, 2022

Spiegel Grove in 2010

Key Largo, Florida

USS Spiegel Grove Shipwreck

After a long career, a disastrous sinking, and a half-successful salvage, this Naval vessel-turned-artificial reef ended up exactly where she was supposed to—with a little help from nature.

USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg

Key West, Florida

USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg

Six miles off the coast of Key West, a former military transport ship is now one of the largest artificial reefs in the world.

An abandoned tank on Flamenco Beach

Abandoned U.S. Navy Tanks Litter This Beach in Puerto Rico

The beach was used by Navy pilots for bombing target practice.

The Podcast Team July 29, 2025

Lonna Island

Helsinki, Finland

Lonna Island

In the waters outside Helsinki, a tiny island once used as a military outpost now welcomes visitors.

Podcast: Navajo Code Talkers Burger King

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

The Podcast Team October 12, 2022

Pierre Bayle Statue & History

Tourreilles, France

Le Petit Tambour

A modest statue dedicated to Pierre Bayle, a young military drummer who willingly fought and died for his beloved France.

It's not just a print. It's a story.

How a Bedouin Tracker Sees the Desert

On a seemingly blank, sandy canvas, signs and symbols abound.

Gitit Ginat September 1, 2022

Mar Lodj, Senegal

Forgotten Cannons of Sine Saloum

This rusting artillery is a relic of Vichy France's influence in West Africa.

Mongol warriors often had three or four horses each to maintain the army's fast pace. Soldiers preferred riding mares for their nutrient-rich milk.

military history

Did Khutulun and Other Warrior Women Actually Fight in the Mongol Army?

From wielding lethal bows to commanding troops, the female soldiers of the Central Asian steppe were formidable foes.

Sarah Durn July 12, 2022