All the United States

The Atlas Obscura Guide To The United States

12,718 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in the United States

Updated October 16, 2026

America is ancient and new, constantly remade and reimagined, and there are unsung, overlooked treasures everywhere, From natural wonders that boggle the mind, to visionary art projects in the middle of nowhere, to historical gems nestled in urban areas, Atlas Obscura can help you plan your next road trip or visit to a city. You might even find something surprising right around the corner.

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States & Territories

Top States
All States & Territories
  1. Alabama
  2. Alaska
  3. Arizona
  4. Arkansas
  5. California
  6. Colorado
  7. Connecticut
  8. D.C.
  9. Delaware
  10. Florida
  11. Georgia
  12. Guam
  13. Hawaii
  14. Idaho
  15. Illinois
  16. Indiana
  17. Iowa
  18. Kansas
  19. Kentucky
  20. Louisiana
  21. Maine
  22. Maryland
  23. Massachusetts
  24. Michigan
  25. Minnesota
  26. Mississippi
  27. Missouri
  28. Montana
  29. Nebraska
  30. Nevada
  31. New Hampshire
  32. New Jersey
  33. New Mexico
  34. New York State
  35. North Carolina
  36. North Dakota
  37. Northern Mariana Islands
  38. Ohio
  39. Oklahoma
  40. Oregon
  41. Pennsylvania
  42. Puerto Rico
  43. Rhode Island
  44. South Carolina
  45. South Dakota
  46. Tennessee
  47. Texas
  48. The U.S. Virgin Islands
  49. Utah
  50. Vermont
  51. Virginia
  52. Washington
  53. Washington, D.C.
  54. West Virginia
  55. Wisconsin
  56. Wyoming

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Survey Strange Sites Around West Virginia

Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism

West Virginia contains multitudes. It has the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope and a town full of people who moved there specifically to avoid radio waves. It has a fallout shelter designed to house all 535 members of Congress, hidden under a five-star resort, that remained a state secret for 35 years. It even has a working lighthouse built from a wind turbine that rolled off a truck. And that’s just a taste of the weird and wonderful sites you’ll find across the Mountain State!

View Itinerary

Unusual Attractions in United States

Places

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See All 12,718 Things To Do in United States

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in United States

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See all 857 Places to Eat in United States
In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore the United States

Museums 1,223
Architecture 1,171
History 1,019
Art 717
History & Culture 693
Architectural Oddities 671
Collections 585
Statues 554

The United States Leaderboard

Recent United States Activity

Stories About the United States

GPS-tagging whimbrels on Chiloé Island in southern Chile.

Wings of Survival

A world-first race with nature
by Timm Döbert, Community Contributor
New Phasmid from Expedition Panama

Travelling for Insects

An open invitation
by Jace Porter, Community Contributor
Made it to my 50th state

Visiting all 50 states

I never met a list I didn't want to complete
by floz220, Community Contributor
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House building on the U.S.-Canadian border.

Could New Border Restrictions Literally Tear the Haskell Free Library Apart?

The library, which straddles the U.S.–Canadian border, has seamlessly served patrons in both countries since 1904. That’s all changing thanks to rising international tensions.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura

There’s No Right Way to Say ‘Taco’

An exploration of the ways our tongues—and our pride—twist around foreign words, and what that says about how we want to be seen.
by Dan Nosowitz, Atlas Obscura

How a Newspaper Revolution Led to the 'Wide Awakes'—and the Civil War

In the mid-1800s, a boom in media outlets created a massive political movement—and plenty of disinformation.
by Jon Grinspan, Atlas Obscura
Vanishing hitchhiker legends are just the latest version of a folktale that may go back millennia—and continues to spread and evolve.

The Vanishing Hitchhiker Legend Is an Ancient Tale That Keeps Evolving

The classic creepy story—a driver offers a lift to a stranger who is not of this world—has deep roots and a long reach.
by Mark Hay, Atlas Obscura
‘The Travellers’ Tour Through the United States’ is the earliest known board game to depict a map of the U.S.

America's First Board Game Was an Idealized 'Travellers' Tour' Through a Young Nation

The 1822 board game, the first to feature a map of the United States, was forgotten for nearly a century.
by Matthew Wynn Sivils, Atlas Obscura

Lists Featuring the United States

The Capitol Records building.
The newly named alleyway.
Cahuenga Building
Museum of Death

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Curious Travelers

11

Including Capitol Records Building Morse Code, Chaplin Keaton Lloyd Alley, and Cahuenga Building

World Famous Giant Shoe Museum
Gum Wall window ledge
The giant sequoia.

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Pike Place for Curious Travelers

11

Including World Famous Giant Shoe Museum, Psychic Chicken of Seattle , and Gum Wall

View to Marshall Street from Creek Square.

The 11 Most Interesting Places to Visit Near Faneuil Hall

11

Including AHAC Headquarters, Faneuil Hall Weathervane, and Creek Square

Courtyard monument.
Flamingos on Flamingo Island
The High Roller

The 11 Most Unusual Places to Visit Near the Las Vegas Strip

11

Including Bugsy Siegel Monument , Flamingo Habitat, and High Roller

Book Corner.
Edward Dean Adams Power Station
Clifton Hill

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Niagara Falls for Curious Travelers

11

Including Book Corner, Prophet Isaiah's Second Coming House, and Edward Dean Adams Power Plant

The rare book reading room.
Keen’s Steakhouse
The New York Herald Monument.

The 11 Best Things to do Near the Empire State Building for Curious Travelers

11

Including Tannen's Magic Shop, The Conjuring Arts Research Center, and Keen's Steakhouse

A standard photo op involves thrusting your candy into the snow.

Ski or Hike Your Way to These 6 Adventurous Treats

Dry martinis are best served in the middle of a snowy forest.

6

Including Ski-Slope Tree Martinis, Bilberry Soup, and Flämmli

Thor’s Well.
Paint Mines Interpretive Park
The lake (2)
Horsetail Falls.

Jessica Mendoza's 16 Watery Wonders of the Western United States

Sponsored By Land Rover
16

Including Thor’s Well, Paint Mines Interpretive Park, and Hanging Lake

Ice cream cone from the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.
Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum
A perfect place for cocktails.

Tim Howard's 11 Music and Food Destinations to Fuel the Soul

Sponsored By Land Rover
11

Including Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum, and Radio City Music Hall's Secret Apartment

The “pet ham” is 119 years old.

Bog Butter, Ancient Beef, and Other Remarkably Old Foods on Display in Museums

Some of these foods are centuries past their expiration dates.

6

Including Ancient Bog Butter, Preserved Victorian Wedding Cake, and World’s Oldest Edible Ham

9 Places to Pay Homage to the All-American Hot Dog

Float to a riverside stand for a frank or visit a Coney Island trailblazer's tomb.

9

Including The Famous River Hot Dog Man, Jimmy Carter's Hot Dog Bun, and Charles Feltman's Tomb

The orange roof is still shining, with the iconic weathervane standing tall.
1950s Brown Derby on Wilshire Boulevard.

6 Relics of Forgotten Fast-Food Dynasties

These retro remnants are the last of their kind.

6

Including The Last Howard Johnson's, The Last Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken Restaurant, and Brown Derby

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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