The Atlas Obscura Guide To Maryland

269 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Maryland

Updated June 19, 2026

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Unusual Attractions in Maryland

Nutshell Studies Diorama

Baltimore, Maryland

Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death

Eighteen miniature death-scene dioramas.

Baltimore, Maryland

George Peabody Library

It’s not hard to see why the historic Peabody Conservatory of Music’s library has been described as a “cathedral of books.”

Baltimore, Maryland

Edgar Allan Poe’s Grave

The trials and tribulations of marking Poe’s grave.

Bazaar

Baltimore, Maryland

Bazaar

Crammed into a Baltimore row house is an oddities shop that sells everything from skulls to dead insects.

Inside the stacks at The Book Thing

Baltimore, Maryland

The Book Thing

This free, take-a-book shop seems like a trick but isn't.

Baltimore, Maryland

Papermoon Diner

This beloved Baltimore spot features caged dolls, a giant Pez collection, and many, many mannequins.

Beware, don’t look into this clown’s eyes for too long!

Havre de Grace, Maryland

Dr. Gloom's Crypt of Curiosities

Fiji mermaids, mummified remains, and recreated cryptids are among the morbid oddities at this Maryland museum.

See All 269 Things To Do in Maryland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland

Papermoon Diner

This beloved Baltimore spot features caged dolls, a giant Pez collection, and many, many mannequins.

Baltimore, Maryland

Ministry of Brewing

An abandoned church gets a second life as a massive beer hall and event space.

Owls still keep watch over the bar.

Baltimore, Maryland

The Owl Bar

At this former Prohibition speakeasy, electric birds signaled the arrival of hooch.

See all 6 Places to Eat in Maryland

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Explorer’s Guide to Outdoor Wonders In Maryland

Sponsored by Visit Maryland

With wild horses, a small elk called a “sika,” a massive population of bald eagles, and the once-endangered fox squirrel, the state of Maryland is home to a thrilling variety of wildlife. Across diverse ecosystems like swamps, cliffs, mountains, and sandy beaches, the state springs alive during spring and summer with the sounds of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that the state has been careful to protect. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, these parks, preserves, and protected areas across Maryland offer visitors a chance to encounter fauna they may have never even known existed.

wild horses swim in the waters of Assateague Island National Seashore.

Explore Maryland

History 44

History & Culture 43

Architecture 35

Museums 31

Military 18

Collections 16

Abandoned 16

Black History 15

Houses 15

Schools 13

Memorials 12

Civil War 12

Architectural Oddities 12

Art 12

Cemeteries 11

Animals 11

Bridges 10

Military History 10

Statues 10

Ruins 9

Places To Stay 3

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Stories About Maryland

The legend of the Snallygaster appears to have been an invention of local newspapers, but one that carried a dark threat.

The Unsettling Legend of Maryland's Native Cryptid, the Snallygaster

A strange, scary farce that brought together Old World legends and racist scare tactics.

by Colin Dickey, Atlas Obscura

October 27, 2023

On the nesting colony platform, a common tern watches over its chicks beside tufts of artificial grass that mimic the birds’ traditional nesting habitat.

Maryland's Rare Seabirds Get a Life Raft and Babysitters

Scientists don bike helmets and dodge bird poop to care for a colony of endangered common terns.

by Ashley Stimpson, Atlas Obscura

Together these artifacts formed a spiritual bundle to protect a home from bad spirits and negative energy.

Beneath an Old Fireplace, Evidence of the Spirituality of the Enslaved

The finds are also enriching understanding of the formative years of famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

by Line Sidonie Talla Mafotsing, Atlas Obscura

The street names in Columbia, Maryland, were drawn from art and literature. “Satan Wood Drive,” however, was the result of a typo. It was supposed to be named “satin wood” for a line from an Amy Lowell poem.

What’s Up With Columbia, Maryland’s Quirky Street Names?

From Nodding Night Court to Dove Sail Lane, the town’s address choices are both practical and poetic.

by Amy Crawford, Atlas Obscura

The instruction isn’t visible to people actually in the 2021 Chilliwack Corn Maze in British Columbia, Canada.

Exploring the Mysterious Allure of Mazes and Labyrinths

On the joys and frustrations of losing yourself.

by A.J. Jacobs, Atlas Obscura

Also known as the “house of horrors,” the house tested close combat skills and “the moral fiber of the student,” Fairbairn said.

The Haunted Houses Designed to Scare Spooks

These WWII-era “houses of horrors” trained American spies for combat using cardboard Nazis.

by April White, Atlas Obscura

October 28, 2021

In a waterlogged area, such parts of Dorchester County, archaeological work can be difficult.

Solving the Mystery of Harriet Tubman's Family Cabin

In Maryland, archaeologists raced rising waters to find traces of the past.

by Jessica Leigh Hester, Atlas Obscura

These muskrat bones were found among hundreds of other bones on the Bayly property. Muskrat remains popular in Dorchester County.

A Historical Dig Sheds Light on the Food of the Underground Railroad

Archaeologists found muskrat, turtle, and other edible remains in Harriet Tubman Country.

by Reina Gattuso, Atlas Obscura

October 14, 2020