The Latest Breaking News from Atlas Obscura

Retired Farmer’s Stone Village: Henry L. Warren builds free folk-art Shangri-La; family preserves it

Henry L. Warren, during his retirement in Prospect Hill, North Carolina, masterminded the creation of the Shangri-La village, a charming ensemble of 27 structures showcasing local stone, quartz, and brick. Completed in 1977, the village drew numerous visitors. Following Warren's passing, his family dedicated themselves to its upkeep, garnering thousands…

The Times of India · Oct 22

Sinking Of USS Oriskany: Navy reef sinks carrier for divers; NOAA study tracks fish impact

In May 2006, the USS Oriskany, a retired US Navy aircraft carrier, was intentionally sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, transforming it into a vibrant artificial reef. This monumental event followed three years of meticulous planning and has since contributed positively to local tourism and marine biodiversity. While the full…

The Times of India · Oct 21

Kansas artist spent 30 years filling his 70-acre property with 600 metal totems

A Kansas artist spent roughly three decades turning his 70-acre property in Mullinville into an outdoor gallery of metal sculptures. M.T. Liggett filled the roadside landscape with hundreds of tall totems, whirligigs and smaller pieces made from discarded metal and objects from everyday life. Many carried sharp political or social…

The Times of India · Oct 3

A Black crew on North Carolina’s Outer Banks pulled off an 1896 storm rescue so daring it helped reshape lifesaving history, and then vanished from memory

A forgotten chapter of American heroism has resurfaced, detailing an extraordinary 1896 water rescue by an all-Black crew of surfmen on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Facing a brutal hurricane and lacking standard equipment, these men, led by former enslaved person Richard Etheridge, risked their lives using rowboats and ropes to…

The Times of India · Jul 1

56 million dead, one frozen secret: Antarctica outed the deadliest secret in human history

Antarctic ice cores climate change: Scientists found ancient air trapped in Antarctic ice. This ice holds records of Earth's atmosphere for thousands of years. It shows volcanic events and human activities like mining. A significant drop in carbon dioxide levels is linked to the devastating impact of European colonization on…

The Economic Times · Jun 16

25 Breathtaking Places Shared By Atlas Obscura That Prove Earth Still Holds Incredible Secrets

Through its hugely popular “Place Of The Day” posts, the platform constantly uncovers hidden corners of the planet that rarely make it into ordinary travel guides, revealing stories that often sound more like fiction than history.

Bored Panda · May 14

Around the World in Eighty Lies

How a writer fabricated a series of stories for Atlas Obscura

The Walrus · Jan 26, 2024

20 quirky photogenic places to shoot April 2024’s Great American Eclipse

A four-minute total solar eclipse will be visible from within a 100 miles-wide path stretching from Mexico through the US and Canada. Here's when and where to go – and how to plan a trip.

Digital Camera World · Jul 27, 2023

Roman ruins reappear from river in drought-stricken Europe almost 2,000 years later

Dropping water levels revealed a massive complex of Roman ruins in Spain as Europe continues to struggle under a record-breaking drought.

Tribune News Service · Aug 27, 2022

Inside creepy mansion haunted by children who died in tragic circumstances

The name of the abandoned Winderbourne Mansion is inspired the inventor of the bobbin winder, whose rich relation built the home as a summer retreat for their family

Daily Mirror · Aug 27, 2022