Sarah Durn's User Profile - Atlas Obscura

Sarah Durn

Sarah Durn is an associate editor at Atlas Obscura. Previously, she worked at Atlas as the 2021-22 editorial fellow. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sarah has also written for National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Gizmodo, among others. Her first book, The Beginner's Guide to Alchemy, was published by Callisto and Rockridge Press in May 2020. Before Atlas, Sarah worked as Culture Trip's New Orleans writer, where she wrote and edited pieces about her adopted home.
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Beyond her journalism work, Sarah is also a professional film and TV actor. She can be seen on Where The Crawdads Sing, NBC’s Chicago PD, and Ava Duvernay's Queen Sugar, among others.
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When not typing away at her computer, Sarah can often be found on the trails in City Park listening to her favorite audiobook (something by Sophia Money-Coutts) or podcast (interviews with Dolly Alderton). ⁣
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Say hi at sarah.durn@atlasobscura.com⁣ or on Twitter @sarah_durn

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2021
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Remembering the 'Ice Widows' of a Doomed Antarctic Expedition

For more than a century, their stories were ignored—until now.

September 15, 2022

The Mughal Women Who Wouldn’t Stay in the Harem

From musket-wielding empress Nur Jahan to writer Gulbadan Begum, meet the influential women of the early-modern Muslim empire.

August 31, 2022

Meet the Woman Who Made a Historic Swim in Shark-Infested Waters

Lauren Tischendorf is the first woman to complete the grueling 20-mile swim around Lord Howe Island in Australia.

Mary Edwards Walker and the Queer Suffragists Who Changed History

They wore pants, advocated for free love, and refused to back down.

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.

gems and jewels

Could This Be The End of a Historic New Hampshire Rockhound Paradise?

When Ruggles Mine went up for auction, mineral collectors feared it would never reopen to the public. After a last-minute reprieve, its future is still uncertain.

To Rediscover a Rare Cave Crayfish in Alabama, Grab a Snorkel

Thought for decades to be extinct, the tiny animal has stayed hidden in a former subterranean speakeasy.

For Sale: A Grand Old President (That Happens To Be a Tree)

Up to 1,200 years old, the stately 'Seven Sisters' Oak has held the title for more than half a century.

The Women Who Ran Genghis Khan’s Empire

From fighting in the army to managing the kingdom, women were key players in every aspect of the Mongol Empire.

6 Unexpected Treasures Found in Curious Places

From a Nazi code machine found at the bottom of a bay to a vintage Babe Ruth card hidden in a piano.

Uncovering the Secrets of a Forgotten Viking Town

The remnants of Borgund were buried in the dirt for centuries and then sat in museum storage for decades.

A Once-Lost Dress from 'The Wizard of Oz' Goes to Auction—Maybe

Dorothy wore the disputed blue-and-white frock when she faced down the Wicked Witch.

7 Puzzles That Perplexed People for Centuries

From the secrets of Venice’s codebreakers to China’s intricately carved puzzle balls, these historical ciphers will inspire your curiosity.

The Real Women Behind Art’s Masterpieces

History’s best-known muses were artists in their own right.

Monkeys Love Their Alcohol

But proving the “drunken monkey” hypothesis has been an exhausting—and messy—endeavor.

Saving the Sounds of the Early 20th Century

Some recordings in the New York Public Library’s wax cylinder collection haven’t been heard in generations—until now.

You Can Own Moon Dust Collected by Neil Armstrong

NASA accidentally sold it, tried to take it back, lost it in a court battle—and now you can own it.

The Female Spies Who Helped Win World War II

The women of England’s SOE fought on the beaches of Normandy, sabotaged the Nazis within France, and turned the tides of the war.

6 Epic Female Warriors You Don’t Want to Mess With

From California’s mythic warrior queen to the swole women of Sparta to female hunters in ancient Peru.

Why Is Scotland Apologizing Now for Witch Trials 300 Years Ago?

The gender politics of attempting to right a historic wrong.

monster mythology

6 Legends That Manifest Fears of Powerful Women

From German witches to vampiric Malaysian spirits to a real-life poisoner.

Rediscovering Rome’s Female Merchants

As queens or captains, women deftly operated ships across the Red Sea and Mediterranean 2,000 years ago.

women empowerment

6 Groundbreaking Women You Didn’t Learn About in History Class

Meet the painter, the pilot, the author, and other "firsts" who paved the way.

female explorers

Returning to the Valley of the Assassins in the Footsteps of Explorer Freya Stark

British adventurer Elise Wortley is about to retrace a historic journey through Iran.