The Atlas Obscura Podcast
An audio guide to the world’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. Co-founder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters explore a new wonder every day, Monday through Thursday. In under 15 minutes, they’ll take you to an incredible place, and along the way, you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Our theme and end credit music is composed by Sam Tyndall.
Sat, March 29, 2025
Times Square Hum (Classic)
Producer Johanna Mayer travels to Times Square in NYC, in search of particular sound that may sometimes go overlooked. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS : https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-times-square-hum-new-york-new-york
Fri, March 28, 2025
President Heads (Classic)
What to do when you have 20-foot-tall busts of nearly every U.S. President and nowhere to put them? This episode was produced in partnership with Visit Williamsburg .
Thu, March 27, 2025
Dreamland Resort
Dylan visits a patch of Nevada desert known at times as Paradise Ranch, Dreamland Resort, or as most people know it, Area 51. His goal? To try and find out where The X-Files end, and the truth begins. And he falls deeper down the rabbit hole when he meets a man who is a German immigrant, a programmer, and possibly the premier Area 51 expert in the world: Joerg Arnu. Check out Joerg’s website, DreamlandResort.com . Special thanks to Ryan Broderick and the Panic World team. Panic World is a weekly podcast from Garbage Day about the moral panics, witch hunts, and viral freakouts that bubble up out of the weirdest corners of the internet. Subscribe now ! Plus: Check out Dylan’s Panic World conversation about Area 51 and the New Jersey drone panic.
Wed, March 26, 2025
Jeremy Bentham’s Auto-Icon
Jeremy Bentham began planning for his death at a young age. He wrote a will in 1769, at the age of 21. But how did this philosopher’s dead body wind up on display in a university student center?
Tue, March 25, 2025
Atlas Obscura Goes Off Assignment: 7 a.m. in Kelso and 10:30 a.m. in Choteau
Two small stories about early morning, otherworldly encounters with animals. 7 a.m. in Kelso was written by Emma Jones, and 10:30 a.m. in Choteau, Montana was written by Annika Berry. Both essays were edited by Aube Rey Lescure and originally appeared in Off Assignment. Plus: Order the audiobook of Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders today!
Mon, March 24, 2025
Dylan’s Mailbag: Illegal Edition
Dylan and producer Johanna take your questions about exploring abandoned ruins, where they want to carve their initials, and whether they should feel guilt for going on multiple trips to the same location. Have a question for Dylan? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com , or simply send your question via email.
Bonus · Sat, March 22, 2025
Tell Us About the First Time You Left Home
We want to hear your stories about the first time you left home to live somewhere else. Why did you make the move? How did you choose your new home… and how did you feel when you arrived? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call in if you get disconnected. Or you can record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com .
Fri, March 21, 2025
Gocta Waterfalls (Classic)
One of the world’s tallest waterfalls is nestled in Northwestern Peru, right where the Amazon rainforest crashes into the Andes Mountains. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gocta
Thu, March 20, 2025
The Real Office Space Behind Apple TV’s Severance
Apple TV’s Severance takes a dystopian view of the middle management office space, where the sprawling corridors, overhead fluorescent lights hide the mysterious purpose of Lumen Industries. But that terrifying imagined office space is based on the real headquarters of Bell Labs – huge, incredible incubator of ideas in the 1960s with the aim of creating a corporate utopia.
Wed, March 19, 2025
Chapel Creek Ranch (Classic)
This ranch in Sanger, Texas trains people in jousting and sword-fighting with the goal of making them knights of the highest order - for the Medieval Times dinner theater chain. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/behind-the-scenes-at-medieval-times-where-knights-battle-and-pepsi-is-plentiful
Tue, March 18, 2025
The Sunken Pirate City at Port Royal
Off the southern coast of Jamaica, there are the underwater ruins of pirate city from the 1600s – a city that could be considered the Las Vegas of its time. But its days would come to an end when it faced three disasters in a single day.
Mon, March 17, 2025
What’s the Deal with Leprechauns?
For this St. Patrick’s Day, author and friend of the show Colin Dickey joins Dylan to demystify leprechauns. Where do they come from? Is there a Leprechaunland? What’s with the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? And why are they always wearing green? Are they just drunk mischievous creatures? Or is there something deeper there – perhaps leprechauns are even an immigrant story? If you want to learn more, check out Colin’s series called Monster of the Month .
Fri, March 14, 2025
America’s “Quiet Zone" (Classic)
Green Bank, West Virginia is free of wifi and cell signals due to the massive telescope nearby that requires radio silence. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/town-for-wi-fi-refugees
Thu, March 13, 2025
Pulau Tiga, The Island That Made “Survivor”
What happens when a real place becomes a reality TV set? Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker staff writer and author of “Cue The Sun: The Invention of Reality TV,” tells us about the tumultuous first season of Survivor. The island where the first season was filmed, Pulau Tiga, presented serious challenges for cast and crew alike… and then the production team added some of their own.
Wed, March 12, 2025
The Circus Capital of the World
The first time John Ringling and his brothers saw a circus come to town, it changed their lives forever. They’d go on to form their own circus company – which put them on top of the world. Today we trace John Ringling’s rise and fall, from his early days crisscrossing the Midwest in a wagon (dressed as a clown in wooden shoes) to his work establishing Sarasota, Florida as the circus capital of the world. This episode was produced in partnership with Visit Sarasota. If you’re curious about Florida’s Cultural Coast and want to learn more about the art and culture scene in Sarasota today, check out the podcast “Behind the Masterpiece”! Take a closer look at John and Mabel Ringling’s mobile mansion with this cool archaeology project from the University of South Florida.
Tue, March 11, 2025
Atlas Obscura Goes Off Assignment: To the Kitchen Staff at 초밥 사랑 (Chobap Sarang)
A Black American living in Korea writes a letter to a restaurant worker, reckoning with race and the meaning of home. This essay was edited by Aube Rey Lescure and originally appeared in Off Assignment . Kat Lewis' debut novel, GOOD PEOPLE, is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster in 2026.
Mon, March 10, 2025
The Brutalist (Places Edition)
Diana Hubbell and Roxanne Hoorn from the Places team take us to two locations on opposite sides of the world that both evoke deep reverence – and an appreciation for an architectural style not usually associated with beauty.
Fri, March 07, 2025
A Gaga Tour of the Town (Classic)
Producer Manolo Morales – a verified Little Monster, gallivants around the Lower East Side, via an immersive, performance-art walking tour dedicated to an iconic pop star.
Thu, March 06, 2025
McAtlas with Gary He
James Beard award winning photographer and writer Gary He tells us about traveling to more than 50 countries across six continents, all to document and photograph one of the most popular fast food chains in the world: McDonald’s. His book McAtlas: A Global Guide to the Golden Arches is out now.
Wed, March 05, 2025
This Dog Stole Madrid’s Heart
In the 1880s, Madrid’s most famous resident was a medium-sized black and white dog called Paco who frequented cafes, parades, and even bullfights. Check out some of our favorite episodes about charismatic dogs: Hachiko , two beloved taxidermied dogs , and Brown Dog Statue .
Tue, March 04, 2025
Arizona’s Big, Big Souvenir
In the 1960s, London Bridge was falling down – specifically, it was sinking down under the weight of modern-day traffic. London decided to put the bridge up for sale, and it attracted all kinds of buyers, from casinos to major cities to entertainers. But the winning bid came from an unexpected place: a chainsaw-manufacturing millionaire in the Arizona desert. Learn more about London Bridge at Lake Havasu City , and check out the voodoo doll found under the bridge. This episode was produced in partnership with Visit Arizona .
Mon, March 03, 2025
Trips We Couldn’t Miss
From a once in a lifetime natural event, to two very different Olympic experiences, to a special concert, we hear listener stories of trekking someplace for the joy of being there up close and in real life. Plus, we want to hear your stories of the first time you moved. Why did you make that move? What motivated you to leave your town? How did you choose your new home? What do you miss, and what are you glad to have left behind? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave us a message telling us your story. Or better yet, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com .
Fri, February 28, 2025
Baobab Fare (Classic)
The story of Chef Hamissi Mamba, whose family sought asylum in the US and years later founded an East African restaurant that serves up a small slice of Burundi in the Motor City.
Thu, February 27, 2025
The Plotz Plot on… TLC’s Sister Wives?
A couple years ago, Josh Foer, the co-founder of Atlas Obscura, took us to a remote patch of land in the Arizona desert, where he built (and later rebuilt) a museum in honor of the company’s former CEO, David Plotz. And just a few weeks ago, this patch of land appeared on a reality TV show. In a strange collision, Dylan talks with one of the stars of TLC’s Sister Wives about her own experience at the Plotz Plot. Learn more about Wow in the World family tours .
Wed, February 26, 2025
Dylan’s Mailbag: Overrated Landmarks, Exploring Your Own City, and Places We Secretly Love
Dylan and producers Amanda and Johanna take your questions. Have a question for Dylan? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com , or simply send your question via email.
Tue, February 25, 2025
Cuatro Ciénegas
The pools at Cuatro Ciénegas Basin are a portal into the ancient past – and they may soon disappear.
Mon, February 24, 2025
Are Wild Birds Singing Human Music?
In cool, misty forests along the coast of New South Wales Australia, a group of lyrebirds is suspected of singing human songs they learned in the 1920s. A team of researchers sets out to investigate. Read more about Hollis Taylor et al.’s investigation here .
Fri, February 21, 2025
Nasothek Noses (Classic)
We get up close and nosey about a peculiar exhibit in Copenhagen that reveals a lot about what artists and society considered beautiful throughout the years | READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/nasothek-nose-collection
Thu, February 20, 2025
Sam Sanders Is a Nature Girly
Host, reporter, and podcaster Sam Sanders talks with Dylan about the places that have shaped his life – from when he was a kid in a small town in Texas secretively listening to Stevie Wonder in the bathroom, to running along the Charles River, to exploring Joshua Tree National Park with Zora Neale Hurston (kind of). Check out Sam’s podcasts Vibe Check and the The Sam Sanders Show .
Wed, February 19, 2025
Martinique’s Doomsday and the Man Who Survived
On May 7, 1902, a man named Ludger Sylbaris was thrown in jail – and it saved his life.
Tue, February 18, 2025
The Snowy Owls of Boston Logan International Airport
Every year, a number of snowy owls (aka Arctic owls) find their way to an unlikely haven: Boston Logan International Airport. Owl expert Norman Smith has been leading the way to study these birds and figure out why they love to land at one of the busiest airports in the country.
Mon, February 17, 2025
Atlas Obscura Presents: A Trucker on Seeing the US by Road with Women Who Travel
Today we’re bringing you an episode from our friends at the Women Who Travel podcast. Women make up just 7% of truckers in the United States—a number that shows no sign of increasing, even while the industry suffers from a huge shortage of workers. We hear from trucker Desiree Wood, whose job has taken her to 48 states, about the freedom of life on the road, the dangers that herself and women colleagues face, and the joys that come with the occasional return trip home. Listen to and follow Women Who Travel from Condé Nast Traveler here: swap.fm/l/cnt-wwt-YUyg6t
Fri, February 14, 2025
Unusual Love Stories Week: Post Office Bay
This week, we’re featuring unusual love stories – from couples who were introduced by a mule, to the world’s most loyal dog, to a post office sustained by the kindness of strangers. In today’s episode, we visit Post Office Bay, on the Galapagos Islands. The post office runs on luck and the goodwill of visitors, and has a knack for bringing strangers together.
Thu, February 13, 2025
Unusual Love Stories Week: Getting Lost with Susan Orlean
This week, we’re featuring unusual love stories – from couples who were introduced by a mule, to the world’s most loyal dog, to a post office sustained by the kindness of strangers. In today’s episode, Dylan talks with travel writer Susan Orlean, who is an admitted terrible tourist. But she’s an expert at getting lost – with a purpose. Today, she takes us to some of the places that have shaped her life. And she talks about throwing out the guidebook, opening herself up to these experiences, and the art of getting lost.
Wed, February 12, 2025
Unusual Love Stories Week: The Museum of Broken Relationships
This week, we’re featuring unusual love stories – from couples who were introduced by a mule, to the world’s most loyal dog, to a post office sustained by the kindness of strangers. In today’s episode, we visit a museum in Croatia that will break your heart. And that’s a good thing.
Tue, February 11, 2025
Unusual Loves Stories Week: Hachiko
This week, we’re featuring unusual love stories – from couples who were introduced by a mule, to the world’s most loyal dog, to a post office sustained by the kindness of strangers. In today’s episode, we visit the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation—a dog.
Mon, February 10, 2025
Unusual Love Stories Week: A Long Walk Home
This week, we’re featuring unusual love stories – from couples who were introduced by a mule, to the world’s most loyal dog, to a post office sustained by the kindness of strangers. In today’s episode, we meet back up with our pal Bernie Harberts, who trekked 19 million mule steps across the United States only to find himself, for the first time, a little homesick.
Bonus · Sat, February 08, 2025
Send Dylan Your Questions!
We’re looking for questions for our next mailbag episode. Maybe you’re looking for travel advice, maybe you want to hear more about a weird thing that Dylan alluded to briefly in an episode, or maybe you want him to settle some sort of travel dispute with your partner. Anything goes! Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com . Or simply write your question in an email.
Fri, February 07, 2025
Songs of Ice with the Places Team (Classic)
Stories of how giant monuments built for a specific site sometimes need to go on a journey to get there. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/yakhchals https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/snowflake-bentley
Thu, February 06, 2025
Paul Scheer’s Life in Three Places
Dylan talks with actor and comedian Paul Scheer about three places that have shaped him. And to Dylan’s surprise, Paul doesn’t pick good memories. Instead he chooses three deeply embarrassing stories – because as he puts it, “trauma is the fire in which we are forged.”
Wed, February 05, 2025
Ben Franklin’s Musical Invention
Dylan tries his hand at playing a “glass armonica,” a musical instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin. Its high-pitched, eerie sounds were rumored to cure all kinds of illnesses – or even, sometimes, cause them.
Tue, February 04, 2025
Africville
Africville was a Black-Canadian community north of Halifax, Nova Scotia. But when the Canadian government decided it wanted the land the community sat on, Africville was forcibly removed in the 1900s. We’ve covered other stories of Black displacement on the show before, including Lake Lanier and District Six .
Mon, February 03, 2025
First Travel Dates
Listener stories of traveling with a significant other for the first time – for better or for worse. Plus: We want to hear your stories about traveling to see an event that you’ve been wanting to experience in person. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave us a message telling us your story. Or better yet, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com .
Fri, January 31, 2025
Medfield State Hospital (Classic)
This abandoned hospital outside Boston, Massachusetts was originally conceived as a place to help people with mental health issues. But it wound up doing a lot of harm. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/medfield-state-hospital
Thu, January 30, 2025
Joe Magarac: The Other Man of Steel
Joe Magarac is a folk hero that allegedly was born from the stories of immigrant steelworkers in the early 20th century. He is the Paul Bunyan of Steel Country. But is the legend of Joe Magarac an American immigrant folk story or is he the product of the imagination of writers and the steel executives?
Wed, January 29, 2025
More First Trips Abroad
Last month, we asked you for stories about your first trips abroad. That really struck a chord – we got too many great stories to fit in a single episode. So today, we’re sharing MORE of your stories from your first international trips. This time we hear about traveling abroad for the first time to Italy, Slovenia, Canada, and Norway. Plus: We want to hear your stories about traveling to see an event that you’ve been wanting to experience in person. That could be last year’s Olympics in Paris or visiting New Orleans to experience Mardi Gras for the first time. Or something totally different, like going to a special convention with an esoteric concept. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave us a message telling us your story. Or better yet, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com .
Tue, January 28, 2025
The Diving Horses of Atlantic City
For half a century, horse diving was one of Atlantic City’s biggest attractions. One day in August 1964, a young girl attended one of these shows, and witnessed something that would change her life forever. Read Diana Hubbell’s story about horse diving in Atlantic City.
Mon, January 27, 2025
Dylan’s Mailbag: Tough Trips, Controversial Airplane Etiquette, and Tattoos
Dylan and producer Johanna take your questions. Have a question for Dylan? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com , or simply send your question via email. And if you want to listen to Dylan’s episodes about getting shipwrecked in Antarctica, check out Beechey Island Graves Part I and Part II .
Fri, January 24, 2025
Buckley’s Cave (Classic)
One of Australia’s greatest stories of escape and survival centers around this rock formation in Point Lonsdale. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/buckleys-cave
Thu, January 23, 2025
The Mystery Man of Marree
In 1998, a giant drawing of an Aboriginal man mysteriously appeared in the Australian Outback. Some locals were thrilled. Others wanted it destroyed. Producer Elah Feder goes looking for the culprit, and is led to a key piece of the puzzle – but not one she expected.
Wed, January 22, 2025
Mobile Bay’s Tidal Wave of Fish
Every summer, along a 15 mile stretch of the Alabama coastline, an almost magical natural phenomenon washes up on the beaches. Hundreds of fish and sea creatures usually hidden in the deep swim towards the shore. Locals call it the Mobile Bay Jubilee – and the jubilees are hard to predict and activate a different side of these coastal communities.
Tue, January 21, 2025
Atlas Obscura Goes Off Assignment: To the Platinum Blonde DJ On Her Way to Laos
A traveler in Vang Vieng, Laos writes a letter to a fellow traveler. This essay was edited by Lenora Todaro and originally appeared in Off Assignment .
Mon, January 20, 2025
Atlas Obscura Presents: "Bigfoot is from North Carolina" with The Broadside
Sasquatch is Southern. And its cultural and economic impact in Appalachia is sizable. Today, we bring you an episode of The Broadside, a podcast produced by WUNC in Durham, NC. Appalachia is Bigfoot territory. In a big way. Today, we give you a taste of The Broadside, a podcast produced by WUNC in Durham, NC. In this episode, you'll hear about the mythical beast's legend, lore and sizable economic impact in the region. And follow one reporter’s journey through the mountains and foothills of western North Carolina in search of Sasquatch. Featuring Emily Cataneo, reporter for The Assembly. Check out Emily's story on Appalachian Bigfoot culture at The Assembly here . .
Fri, January 17, 2025
Brown Dog Statue (Classic)
This memorial marks the life of a pup who sparked riots over animal rights issues in London. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/brown-dog-statue
Thu, January 16, 2025
Don’t Ask Jacques Ze Whipper What He Does for a Living
If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to run away and join the circus, this episode is for you. Dylan talks with Jack Lepiarz, also known as Jacques Ze Whipper, about how he created a life for himself on the Renaissance Festival circuit. Learn more on Jack’s website .
Wed, January 15, 2025
The Town That Moved a Windmill
When Peter James first stumbled on the Lowfield Heath Windmill, it was falling apart. Determined to save it, he embarked on a years-long effort with the town that would lead to its complete deconstruction before being rebuilt somewhere new. Find out how you can visit the Lowfield Heath Windmill or donate to its ongoing restoration efforts.
Tue, January 14, 2025
The Kola Superdeep Borehole
In the 1980s, a team of Soviet scientists dug a hole in the Earth’s crust so deep that they reached Hell … complete with high temperatures, unexplained happenings, and even the tortured screams of damned souls. At least, that’s what a popular urban legend at the time claimed. Dylan and producer Amanda McGowan explore the origins of this legend – and the real-life scientific quest that inspired it. We don’t know what the Kola Borehole really sounds like, but Dutch sound artist Lotte Geeven has recorded the sound of another super deep hole (in Germany). Not quite horror movie screams, but pretty cool! Ready to go down the Kola superdeep rabbit hole? Some more links: “The deepest hole we have ever dug” ( via the BBC ) “Inside the deepest artificial hole on Earth” ( via Orion magazine ) Snopes debunks the “Well to Hell” myth On the US side of things: “How an ill-fated undersea adventure in the 1960s changed the way scientists see the Earth” ( via Vox ) Some updates on the “digging to the center of the Earth” front: “Scientists drill deeper into Earth’s mantle than ever before” ( via Smithsonian )
Mon, January 13, 2025
First Trips Abroad
Listener stories about traveling abroad for the first time – from a trip to Germany in 2020, to a chalet in Switzerland in 1986, to a trip to Iran just before the Shah revolution. Plus, we want to hear your stories of traveling with a significant other for the first time. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave us a message telling us your story. Or better yet, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com .
Fri, January 10, 2025
Endangered Wolf Center (Classic)
The Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, Missouri was founded by zoologist and wildlife TV host Marlin Perkins and was home to an extraordinary wolf who gives us hope for the future of wolf survival.
Thu, January 09, 2025
Zach Stafford’s Life in Five Places
Zach Stafford found great career success at a very young age – he’s a writer, producer, and co-host of the news & culture podcast Vibe Check . His intense work schedule has taken him all over America, and each of the cities and towns he found himself in has shaped him in some way. And through it all, Zach has been searching for a very specific feeling.
Wed, January 08, 2025
Christine's Cell
In the year 1329, a woman named Christine Carpenter was enclosed in a tiny cell in the walls of a church in Shere, England. She was expected to spend the rest of her life praying in almost complete isolation. But the reason we know her name is that she did something very unusual – she broke out. Learn more about our guest Professor Diane Watt’s work about the lives of medieval women in England, and about St. James’s Church in Shere .
Tue, January 07, 2025
Art on Wheels
Dylan and producer Gabby Gladney dive into the colorful world of art cars, from Houston’s epic parades to DIY creations in Minneapolis. Then, Dylan talks to his own father about the multiple art cars they’ve had over the years.
Mon, January 06, 2025
Cabbage Patch BabyLand General Hospital
Writer Joshua Rigsby takes a very strange journey into the birthplace of Cabbage Patch Kids. After he returns, he can never look at the dolls the same way again. Read Joshua’s essay about his trip to BabyLand General Hospital, and check out his bookstore, Pretty Good Books .
Bonus · Sat, January 04, 2025
New Year, New Travel Resolutions
We’re (almost) back! And we want to hear your New Year’s travel resolutions. Send a voice memo to hello@atlasobscura.com . Or, give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message.
Fri, January 03, 2025
The Divorce Colony (Holiday Classic)
For a brief period the small frontier city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota drew in socialites and celebrities who were desperate to end their marriages.
Thu, January 02, 2025
In the Doldrums with Bernie Harberts (Holiday Classic)
Ultimate slow travel adventurer (and friend of the show) Bernie Harberts returns to tell us what happened when he spent months floating alone at sea. Bernie is also an author and filmmaker. You can read more about Bernie's travels at his website www.riverearth.com .
Wed, January 01, 2025
Broken Angel (Holiday Classic)
The 1980s birthed a gleaming creature that spread its wings of scrap wood and glass over the intersection of two iconic Brooklyn, NY neighborhoods for thirty years. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/broken-angel
Tue, December 31, 2024
Beishan Broadcast Wall (Holiday Classic)
On the tiny Kinmen Island, a bow-tie-shape strip of land between China and Taiwan, sits a giant weaponized wall of sound that still stands--and still broadcasts--today. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/beishan-broadcast-station-art
Mon, December 30, 2024
Anne Spencer’s Garden (Holiday Classic)
This garden in Lynchburg, Virginia is the key to unlocking the writing and mind of Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer.
Bonus · Sat, December 28, 2024
A Quick Hello from Dylan. Plus: We Want Your Dating Travel Stories!
Just a little check in. Plus: We want to hear your stories of traveling with a significant other for the first time – the good, the bad, and the strange. You can send an email or voice memo to hello@atlasobscura.com . Or, give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message.
Fri, December 27, 2024
Milo Bitters (Holiday Classic)
A listener in Lawrence, Kansas takes us on his journey of discovering the secrets of his hometown.
Thu, December 26, 2024
Exploring the Abandoned with Blake Pfeil (Holiday Classic)
Dylan sits down with guest Blake Pfeil about what inspired him to begin exploring abandoned spots, what those spaces have taught him about escapism, sobriety and the sometimes blurry line between real and unreal that he finds there. MORE: Blake is an artist and adventurer. He’s also the creator and host of the podcast “Abandoned: All-American Ruins.” Check it out here.
Wed, December 25, 2024
The Shrek Donkey of Barron Park (Holiday Classic)
We visit a park in Palo Alto, California, home of the world’s most famous donkey. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-donkeys-of-barron-park-palo-alto-california
Tue, December 24, 2024
The Tank (Holiday Classic)
An industrial water tank-turned-concert hall in the high deserts of Colorado is nothing less than a sonic wonder of the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-tank-rangely-colora
Mon, December 23, 2024
The Timbuktu Manuscripts
These documents highlight the intellectual legacy of an ancient civilization based in Timbuktu, Mali. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/timbuktu-manuscripts-mali
Bonus · Sat, December 21, 2024
A Message from Dylan. Plus: Send Us Your Questions!
A small bit of news, and a request. To ask Dylan your question, send an email or voice memo to hello@atlasobscura.com . Or, give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message.
Fri, December 20, 2024
The Portland Treasure Map
A map in the archives of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library in Portland, OR may be the key to finding buried treasure that has yet to be found. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/buried-treasure-portland-oregon
Thu, December 19, 2024
Atlas Obscura Presents: A Tour de Stumps with Terrestrials
Today, we’re sharing an episode from our friends at Terrestrials , a Radiolab spinoff show for families that explores strangeness on Earth. In this episode, host Lulu Miller visits some of our planet’s most magical tree stumps – which are anything but dead. Plus: Cast your vote in Radiolab’s quasi-moon naming contest! Voting is open until January 1.
Wed, December 18, 2024
Christmas Monsters with Colin Dickey
Writer and friend of the show Colin Dickey tries to destroy Dylan’s holiday cheer with arguments about why Christmas is actually full of monsters from around the world. (Just a note for parents listening with little ones, Dylan and Colin talk frankly about Santa and his surrounding lore.) Check out Colin’s Atlas Obscura column, Eerie Feeling .
Tue, December 17, 2024
Art We Love to Hate
Places editors Michelle Cassidy and Diana Hubbell take us on a tour of two mildly disturbing yet lovable works of art. Plus: If you have a piece of public art that you love to hate – or if you’ve created a work of public art that’s caused a stir – we want to hear from you. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com .
Mon, December 16, 2024
Dylan's Mailbag: Strange Things Packed, Authentic Adventures, Road Trip Food Disputes, and More
Dylans answers a slew of questions from staff and listeners. Plus: Do you have a question for Dylan? Send us an email or voice memo to hello@atlasobscura.com . Dylan may answer your question in an upcoming episode!
Sat, December 14, 2024
What Was Your First International Trip?
Our first international trips can be hugely influential. We want to hear your stories about leaving your home country for the first time. Where did you go? How did you prepare? What memories do you have from the trip? Maybe you loved it… or maybe you hated it! Either way, we want to hear about it. And if you are about to take your first trip this coming year, we want to know how you’re feeling leading up to it. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave us a message, or better yet, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com
Fri, December 13, 2024
Larry Spring Museum of Common Sense Physics (Classic)
Larry Spring’s Museum of Common Sense Physics in Fort Bragg, California begs the question: What do you do with a science museum where the science preserved inside is a kind of folk art? READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/larry-spring-school-common-sense-physics
Thu, December 12, 2024
The Witch’s Gear
As the winter solstice and Yule are upon us, we are celebrating these Pagan holidays by talking about the iconic image of the witch, with Pam Grossman -- friend of the show, curator, writer and host of the podcast The Witch Wave.
Wed, December 11, 2024
Palace of Depression
How one man made someone else's trash into his own treasure ... and how it became a storied part of a New Jersey town.
Tue, December 10, 2024
Circling The Great Loop on a JetSki
Every year, hundreds of boats circle the waterways of the eastern United States on The Great Loop. But Mike Straub took a different approach, riding over 6,000 miles alone on a JetSki. Check out Mike’s YouTube channel and his book, Y WAIT: Experience America's Great Loop .
Mon, December 09, 2024
Hello, Stranger
Listeners share stories of memorable encounters with strangers – for better or for worse. Plus: We want to hear your stories about your first international trip. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave us a message telling us about the first time you traveled abroad. Or better yet, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com .
Fri, December 06, 2024
Atlas Obscura Presents Sound Influence: Andrea Cruz and Miguel Arteta
This week, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico . Rising singer-songwriter Andrea Cruz shares how she fell in love with folk music as a young girl in Aibonito. We hear about how the plants, birds and animals of Puerto Rico have shaped the fabric of her work, and the profound ways in which her art connects her to the island she calls home. Hollywood film director Miguel Arteta recalls his colorful childhood in Río Piedras, shares the Puerto Rican role model who inspired him to pursue a creative career, and teases his upcoming project, which is set on the island of birth. Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts.
Thu, December 05, 2024
Atlas Obscura Presents Sound Influence: José Rivera
This week, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico . Oscar-nominated screenwriter and playwright José Rivera shares with us his rich memories, both old and new, of his time in Puerto Rico: of spiders, thunderstorms and a deep sense of community in his childhood town of Espino. We hear about the joy of watching one of his plays performed in Santurce alongside the family members who inspired it, and how the island has been a constant source of inspiration that has enriched so much of his work. Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts.
Wed, December 04, 2024
When a Bitcoin Mine Moves Next Door
Many people moved to Granbury, Texas for the peace and quiet. Then, a noisy neighbor moved in – and strange things began happening in town. Read Andrew’s original reporting about the bitcoin mine and Granbury, Texas.
Tue, December 03, 2024
The Ether Dome
The Ether Dome in Boston was once filled with the screams of patients undergoing painful surgeries. In 1846, everything changed with the first successful use of anesthesia, transforming medicine forever. Dylan explores the room where pain-free surgery began. The Ether Dome is part of the Innovation Trail , which highlights four centuries of world-changing breakthroughs from Boston.
Mon, December 02, 2024
Little Caughnawaga
Mohawk ironworkers built many of New York City’s iconic skyscrapers. But simultaneously, they were also building a lesser known neighborhood of their own in downtown Brooklyn – one that would become home to hundreds of Mohawk families. Learn more about Reaghan Tarbell’s documentary, Little Caughnawaga: To Brooklyn and Back .
Fri, November 29, 2024
Atlas Obscura Presents Sound Influence: Los Rivera Destino and Jaquira Díaz
This week and next, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico. The Río Piedras-based comedy band Los Rivera Destino talk about their musical childhoods, how making a music video in Bayamón changed their lives and careers forever, and the extremely unlikely place that has become their source of inspiration. Award-winning author Jaquira Díaz shares how salsa, bacalaítos and coquís defined her time growing up in the east coast towns of Humacoa and Fajardo. We also hear the wild story her grandmother told about aliens in El Yunque, and Jaquira describes the incredible sense of adventure she feels every time she explores the island. Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts.
Thu, November 28, 2024
Atlas Obscura Presents Sound Influence: Rita Moreno and Pachyman
Today and tomorrow, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico. Legendary actress, singer, dancer and EGOT winner Rita Moreno shares memories of sugar cane, coquís and parrandas during her idyllic childhood in Humacao and Juncos. We hear about her recent trips back with Lin-Manuel Miranda, and how she almost turned down West Side Story because of her loyalty to the island. Dub star innovator Pachy García (aka Pachyman) opens up about growing up in Guaynabo’s vibrant reggae scene, the integral role Puerto Rico plays in his music now that he lives in Los Angeles, and the “unmistakable breeze” that greets him every time he comes back home to the island. Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts.
Wed, November 27, 2024
Riding with Dilla
Producer Gabby Gladney sees her South Side Chicago neighborhood in a new light thanks to Mahogany Bus Tours , a local company sharing hidden histories around the city. Read a profile of Dilla , and check out his TikTok .
Tue, November 26, 2024
Is This America’s Ugliest Statue?
In the 1880s, an eccentric California dentist gave away free public water fountains in the hopes they would encourage people to drink less alcohol. One of them went to the small town of Rockville, Connecticut, where it was… not well received. In fact, it was torn down, thrown in a local lake, torn down again… and so on. Check out the Atlas entry for the Cogswell Fountain .
Mon, November 25, 2024
The Places We’re Thankful For
Listener stories about the places we’re thankful for – from a beloved neighborhood, to an odd and out-of-place house down the block, to a library that inspired one listener to become a writer herself. Plus, we want to hear your stories of memorable encounters with strangers. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave us a message telling us your story. Or better yet, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com .
Fri, November 22, 2024
The Blue Whale of Catoosa (Classic)
Catoosa, Oklahoma is the cite of a massive landlocked whale - and possibly the greatest anniversary gift ever. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/catoosa-whale
Thu, November 21, 2024
Bohemians, Bootleggers, and Bogus Bottles: A History of Absinthe
Journalist and food writer Evan Rail considers himself a beer guy, but when a mysterious bright green spirit started shaking up the scene in the Czech Republic (where he lives) in the 1990s, he knew he had to learn more. His latest book “ The Absinthe Forger: A True Story of Deception, Betrayal, and The World’s Most Dangerous Spirit ” looks back at the history of absinthe, why it was banned across Europe almost 100 years ago, and how its return to the market has inspired collectors, connoisseurs…and even conmen.
Wed, November 20, 2024
The Integratron
In August 1953, airstrip operator George van Tassel claimed he was woken up in the middle of the night by an intelligent lifeform from outer space named Solganda. George says Solganda told him to build an energy rejuvenation machine – so that’s exactly what he spent the rest of his life doing… For more information on visiting the Integratron check out their website . Plus, take a look at some photos from one of George van Tassel’s UFO conventions . If you want to learn more, George tells his version of the “encounter with Solganda ” in a 1964 interview.
Tue, November 19, 2024
St. Paul Island vs. the Rat
On a remote island 200 miles off the coast of Alaska, a community hunts for a single, elusive rat. Read Daniel Wu’s original reporting on the rat strike team. Thanks to Freesound user mmiron for the wave sounds in this episode.
Mon, November 18, 2024
The Internet, IRL
Places editors Michelle Cassidy and Diana Hubbell tell us about two real-world places that have been shaped by the internet.
Bonus · Sat, November 16, 2024
We want your stories of places you're grateful for!
Blame it on this time of year, but we've been ruminating a lot on the places we're thankful for. And we want to hear your thoughts for a future episode. What's a place that played a pivotal role in shaping your life? It can be a place you grew up, or a place you live in now. Maybe it's a park bench, or another place of community. Tell us about it, any stories behind it, and when and why you go there. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call in again if you get disconnected. Or you can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com
Fri, November 15, 2024
The Wren’s Nest (Classic)
The Wren’s Nest in Atlanta is both a museum and former home of journalist Joel Chandler Harris and a hub for modern storytellers.
Thu, November 14, 2024
Nate DiMeo’s Personal Memory Palace
Nate DiMeo, host and creator of The Memory Palace podcast, walks us through some of the rooms in his own personal memory palace. We visit his grandfather’s old nightclub outside Providence, a beloved family home, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Visible Storage Unit, and a one-of-a-kind collection of glass flowers at Harvard University. Preorder a copy of Nate’s new book, The Memory Palace: True Short Stories of the Past . Check out the Memory Palace podcast , and listen to the episodes Nate made while he was Artist-in-Residence at the Met .
Wed, November 13, 2024
Malaria Bat Roosts
During the early 20th century, malaria was ravaging the world. We hear the story of Dr. Charles Campbell, who had a plan to cure it. But as it turns out, his big idea was… rather batty.
Tue, November 12, 2024
The Sul Ross Desk
In the 1980s, a group of friends on the track team at Sul Ross State University hauled a discarded dorm room desk to the top of a mountain. They left a notebook there to keep track of their run times and leave little notes for each other. Then… other people found it. And then… it started a tradition. Visit the Atlas entry for the Sul Ross desk , and learn more about the archives containing the Sul Ross desk notebooks.
Mon, November 11, 2024
San Juan Sounds (Classic)
San Juan Sounds is an iconic studio where musicians, engineers, and quite possibly a music-loving ghost carry on the island’s musical traditions, which date back hundreds of years. This episode is produced in partnership with Discover Puerto Rico.
Fri, November 08, 2024
Weed Week: The International Church of Cannabis
Travel to Denver Colorado and meet Steve Berke who helped found the first International Church of Cannabis in 2015. Learn more about it here .
Thu, November 07, 2024
Weed Week: San Francisco Cannabis Buyers’ Club
The San Francisco Cannabis Buyers’ Club was one of the first marijuana dispensaries in the country. Its members were people with AIDS, cancer, and other serious illnesses, and inside the club had stages, TV lounges, puzzles, and other things that would bring people together. Today, we meet the unexpected mix of gay rights organizers and cannabis advocates behind the club, and we hear about their unorthodox route to opening it – including why they tried to get busted by the police.
Wed, November 06, 2024
Weed Week: Jirzankal Cemetery
An ancient cemetery in western China may hold the answer to a question asked by many a stoner: where on Earth did humans first smoke weed to get high? Learn more about the cemetery in this 2019 paper in Science Advances. Keep up with Rob Spengler’s archaeobotany lab here .
Tue, November 05, 2024
Weed Week: Dope Lake
In 1976, an airplane carrying 6,000 pounds of smuggled weed crashed into a remote lake in Yosemite. A group of climbers had a heyday. Read John Long’s account of the crash, and check out Greg Nichols’ reporting on the same subject. Plus: Where is the weirdest place you’ve ever cast a vote? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and tell us about your local unusual polling location. Or, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com.
Mon, November 04, 2024
Weed Week: Get Inside the CannaVan
Cannabis is now legal in more than half of U.S. states, but it remains federally illegal – which makes doing research on the plant extremely difficult. Today, we meet a clever group of scientists who found their way around these laws… by literally driving around them. Learn more about the CannaVan, and check out some of Rasha and Emma’s original reporting .
Fri, November 01, 2024
Spooky Week: The Gray Man (Classic)
A South Carolina ghost story is a harbinger of hurricanes and a window into history. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/south-carolina-hurricane-ghost
Thu, October 31, 2024
Spooky Week: The Story of the Mad Gasser with Colin Dickey
In 1944, a strange spate of “gas attacks” in a small Midwestern town reveals what was really lurking in mid-century America. Read Colin Dickey’s article about the mad gasser, and check out his Monster of the Month series.
Wed, October 30, 2024
Spooky Week: Places That Give Us the Creeps
Listener stories about places that give off big creepy vibes – from an abandoned ice factory to a haunted university music building. If you want to hear more about Luz Fleming’s ghost story, there’s a whole episode about it called Bennington Ghost Stories on a podcast called Yard Tales .
Tue, October 29, 2024
Spooky Week: No More Scary Stories at Camp
To avoid traumatizing kids, many summer camps are banning scary stories. But can a little fun with fear be a good thing? Check out Roxanne Hoorn’s article about this fading tradition.
Mon, October 28, 2024
Spooky Week: Elmer McCurdy’s Nine Lives
In 1976, a television crew filming an episode of the show “The Six Million Dollar Man” descended on a rundown funhouse in Long Beach, California. While filming, they accidentally broke the arm off a wax dummy. Except...it wasn't a wax dummy. It was a real body. The body of a notorious train robber from the early 1900s, named Elmer McCurdy. Check out the Atlas entry for Elmer McCurdy’s grave . For more information on Elmer, we recommend Mark Svenvold’s book “Elmer McCurdy: The Misadventures in Life and Afterlife of an American Outlaw.”
Fri, October 25, 2024
The Smallest Mollusk Museum (Classic)
The Smallest Mollusk Museum in New York City is part of a fleet of tiny museums that might just have a big impact on the world.
Thu, October 24, 2024
Living on Mars
Kelly and Zach Weinersmith walk Dylan through the practicalities of making a home on the red planet. Check out their book A City on Mars everywhere books are sold.
Wed, October 23, 2024
The South's Hidden Confessional
Outside the French Quarter lies Hidden South , an antique shop like any other. And hidden amongst the oddities is a bathroom full of secrets .
Tue, October 22, 2024
Aftel Archive of Curious Scents
Producer Alexa Lim visits a collection of natural aromas in Berkeley, California. She gets a whiff of some of the world’s lesser known smells, and stumbles down the rabbit hole of the hidden world of scents.
Mon, October 21, 2024
Bessie Stringfield, Motorcycle Queen of Miami
In the 1930s and 1940s, a young Black woman named Bessie Stringfield decided she’d strike out on her own and hit the road – and ended up crisscrossing the United States eight times, and becoming the first Black woman to ride a motorcycle through each of the lower 48 states. If she ran out of money, she’d join a circus. If she couldn’t find a place to stay, she’d sleep out under the stars. Read more about Bessie Stringfield in this Atlas Obscura article by Natalie Zarrelli. Check out the work of cartoonist Joel Christian Gill online.
Fri, October 18, 2024
The Divorce Colony (Classic)
For a brief period the small frontier city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota drew in socialites and celebrities who were desperate to end their marriages. For more stories from the Divorce Colony, check out April White's book: The Divorce Colony: How Women Revolutionized Marriage and Found Freedom on the American Frontier.
Thu, October 17, 2024
The Hogs of Ossabaw Island
Reporter Diana Hubbell brings us to an island off the coast of Georgia, and tells Dylan the story of an eccentric heiress, a daring mission, and the fight for North America’s most unusual pig. Read Diana’s James Beard Award-winning article called “Saving the Hogs of Ossabaw Island.”
Wed, October 16, 2024
Skinny Houses
Producer Talon Stradley takes us on a tour of three skinny houses – each with a big story inside. Do these skinny houses have you curious about spite houses? Check out that episode here .
Tue, October 15, 2024
A Visit to the Reptile Super Show with Jacob Wysocki
Comedian, actor, and podcaster Jacob Wysocki takes Dylan on a tour of a very special expo: The Reptile Super Show! Listen to Jacob’s full experience at the Reptile Super Show (and his journey to other expos) here .
Mon, October 14, 2024
The Places We Loved and Lost
We’re bringing you stories about places that you can no longer visit – this time we have stories about a hometown hangout spot, a beloved amusement park, a mural building in Queens, and a disappearing natural wonder. Plus: We want to know about places that give you the creeps. Places that get under your skin and give you that eerie feeling. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Sat, October 12, 2024
The Stanley Hotel (Classic)
We go inside a place that some paranormal investigators call the most active haunted location in the world. Before it was known as the inspiration for Stephen King...the Stanley Hotel had a reputation -- and ghosts -- of its own. Find more information about the Stanley Hotel and its events online. This episode was produced with Visit Colorado. From culinary delights at world-class restaurants to unforgettable outdoor adventures, there's something for everyone to discover. Visit Colorado.com to start planning your getaway.
Fri, October 11, 2024
Phone Booth on a Roof (Classic)
The City Hall in Lincoln, Illinois has an unusual architectural appendage with a curious history. Read more about it here.
Thu, October 10, 2024
The Most (and Least) Accessible Travel Destinations with Cory Lee
Traveling as a wheelchair user comes with some unique accessibility challenges, but Cory Lee has managed to visit 48 countries and all 7 continents. Cory is a travel blogger who shares his stories and tips for disabled travelers. He shares some of the most (and least) accessible destinations, hurdles he has encountered, and a few of his favorite memories from around the world. You can find Cory’s blog and group trips at CurbFreeWithCoryLee.com
Wed, October 09, 2024
Spruce Pine, Global Chokepoints, and the Future of Manufacturing
The small mountain town of Spruce Pine provides nearly all of the ultra-pure quartz used to make the world’s semiconductors. When Hurricane Helene nearly wiped out the mines, it provided a stark wake-up call. Journalist Ed Conway joins Dylan to discuss what we can learn from this near-miss. Check out more of Ed Conway’s reporting and subscribe to his Substack here . To support disaster relief efforts in North Carolina, you can donate to vetted organizations here or here .
Tue, October 08, 2024
Screeching Like Seagulls
A group of seagull lovers in Belgium wants you to sympathize with these birds… by sounding just like them.
Mon, October 07, 2024
Spacing Out in South Korea
After experiencing burn out, South Korean artist WoopsYang decides to take a rest and create an environment for others to space out… by having a competition.
Bonus · Sat, October 05, 2024
It's Spooky Season! We want to hear your stories
We want to know about places that give you the creeps. Places that get under your skin, give you that eerie feeling. And why? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call back in if you get disconnected. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com
Fri, October 04, 2024
Mini Golfing in Myrtle Beach (Classic)
In Myrtle Beach, mini-golf is not so mini. They’re hosting the Mini-Golf Masters, where titans of the tiny game will compete to see who rises to the top. This episode was produced in partnership with Visit Myrtle Beach. Whether you’re a golfer or just looking to relax, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is 60 miles where you belong. Learn more at VisitMyrtleBeach.com
Thu, October 03, 2024
Studying the World’s Largest Parrot Colony with Juan Masello
We head to the cliffs of Balneario El Condor in Argentina to visit a parrot city… and the parrot suburbs. And we meet the biologist who risks his life to study them. Learn more about the parrot colony and Juan Masello’s work.
Wed, October 02, 2024
The Diefenbunker
How 78 toilets exposed a Cold War secret in Carp, Ontario.
Tue, October 01, 2024
The Goose Who Wore Nikes
In the late 1980s, a goose named Andy was born without webbed feet. A local Nebraskan inventor made him a pair of customized baby shoes and grew to care for the goose. But then – Andy was murdered. Twenty years later, the inventor's granddaughter picks up the pieces. To learn more information about Andy the Goose, check out Jessica’s website. You can also find information about attending Jessica’s one-woman show in Hastings on October 19th here. And check out Atlas Obscura reporter Cara Giaimo’s original story about Andy from 2016 which helped crack open this case.
Mon, September 30, 2024
An Update on California’s Jurupa Oak
This summer we learned about a 15,000-year-old oak tree in California that was facing a potential housing development. Today, we learn its fate. Listen to our original episode about the Jurupa Oak here . Read Shannon Osaka’s article about the recent decision here .
Fri, September 27, 2024
Carhenge (Classic)
This experimental automotive replica of Stonehenge has become a symbol of the town of Alliance, Nebraska. But residents haven’t always been fans. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/carhenge
Thu, September 26, 2024
Small Town, Big Story: The Pennsic Wars of Slippery Rock, PA
Every summer, more than 10,000 people flock to this Pennsylvania town for two weeks for the largest gathering of medieval arts and culture anywhere in the world. This episode was produced in partnership with GoUSATV based on a video series we do with them called Small Town Big Story. To see this massive battle for yourself, check out our video about Slippery Rock.
Wed, September 25, 2024
Small Town, Big Story: Heating Up in Thermopolis, WY
We go to a central Wyoming town, just a couple hours from Yellowstone, that's appropriately named Thermopolis. City of Heat. It’s home to one of the largest mineral hot springs in the world. But it turns out this town of less than 3,000 is also home to so much more. It’s a literal melting pot — of boiling water, rich rock formations, bath robes and dinosaur bones. This episode was produced in partnership with GoUSATV based on a video series we do with them called Small Town Big Story. To see some of the largest mineral hot springs in the world for yourself, check out our video about Thermopolis.
Tue, September 24, 2024
Small Town, Big Story: The Giant Omelet of Abbeville, LA
We’re visiting a town 150 miles west of New Orleans in the absolute heart of Cajun country, where every year, thousands of people come from across the country to march through the streets, play music, celebrate French culture, and cook up an absolutely enormous omelet. This episode was produced in partnership with GoUSATV based on a video series we do with them called Small Town Big Story. To see the giant omelet for yourself, check out our video about Abbeville.
Mon, September 23, 2024
Small Town, Big Story: The Storytellers of Jonesborough, TN
Every October, amateurs and professionals alike gather in this small town in the Appalachian Mountains to hone their storytelling chops and share them with crowds of thousands. In this episode, host Dylan Thuras takes his turn at the mic during the National Storytelling Festival. This episode was produced in partnership with GoUSATV based on a video series we do with them called Small Town Big Story. To check out the storytelling capital of the world for yourself, check out our video about Jonesborough.
Fri, September 20, 2024
Enchanted Hart Haus (Classic)
Steve and Amy Hartbauer have turned their home in residential Denver, CO into a massive mosaic and decade’s long expression of inner inspiration. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/enchanted-hart-haus
Thu, September 19, 2024
Our Material World with Ed Conway
Dylan talks with journalist and author Ed Conway about three materials that our entire civilization depends on: salt, copper, and sand. They visit the biggest man-made hole on Earth, a salt mine large enough to fit the Eiffel Tower inside it, and a single mine in North Carolina that is essential to nearly all the world’s computer chips. If you want to learn more, check out Ed’s book: Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization .
Wed, September 18, 2024
Pining for the Places We Can No Longer Eat
We asked you to send us stories about places you can no longer visit – and nearly everyone wrote in about a beloved closed restaurant. So today, we hear your stories of places you can no longer EAT. We still want to hear your stories about other places you can no longer visit (beyond restaurants). Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com .
Tue, September 17, 2024
Smith Court
In Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, there was once a revolutionary community for African Americans willing to do whatever it took to maintain their own freedom – and help others achieve theirs. Learn more about planning a trip to Smith Court via the Black Heritage Trail.
Mon, September 16, 2024
The Hidden History of Eyeliner with Zahra Hankir
Zahra Hankir is the author of the book Eyeliner: A Cultural History . She brings Dylan to three places across the globe where eyeliner plays a key cultural role: Egypt, Chad, and Los Angeles.
Fri, September 13, 2024
Roger Williams Root (Classic)
The hunt to memorialize Rhode Island’s founder created one of the state’s strangest and most enduring myths. Learn more about Roger Williams relationship to local indigenous tribes here.
Thu, September 12, 2024
A Pasta Tour of Italy with Dan Pashman
Cookbook author and Sporkful host Dan Pashman sets out on a research trip across Italy in search of highly regional pasta dishes that he can’t find anywhere else. Along the way, he learns a shocking truth about Italy and pasta, and ponders innovation and authenticity in one of the world’s most popular cuisines. Check out Dan’s new cookbook, Anything's Pastable: 81 Inventive Pasta Recipes for Saucy People.
Wed, September 11, 2024
The Day the Tractors Stood Still
In May 2024, tractors across the American Midwest stalled. But that was only the first piece of a much larger story. Journalist Jason Koebler takes us to Nebraska and Illinois to find out what is going on with American tractors – and what Ukrainian hackers have to do with it. Read more of Jason’s reporting on John Deere and the Right to Repair movement.
Tue, September 10, 2024
Wood Island Lighthouse
Over the course of its 200 year history, the lighthouse on Wood Island in Maine has been home to a celebrity dog, a grisly murder, some mischievous ghosts, and a monster storm that may or may not have been brought on by a pickpocket’s curse. Learn more about Wood Island Lighthouse on their website (here’s Richard’s book .) Want to hear more stories of mega storms, heroic sea rescues, and maybe even some more lighthouse ghosts? Here’s some information about Maine’s 60 historic lighthouses. This episode was brought to you in partnership with the Maine Office of Tourism
Mon, September 09, 2024
The Wave Organ
Producer Luz Fleming takes his son to revisit a special childhood spot that just happens to be a San Fransisco gem hiding in plain sight ... in the middle of the bay!
Fri, September 06, 2024
Wild Life Week: Rae Wynn-Grant and the Bear (Classic)
Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, Ph.D. is a wildlife ecologist specializing in large carnivores. And in this episode she unfolds a mystery for listeners.
Thu, September 05, 2024
Wild Life Week: Why Would a Researcher Pull a Lion’s Tail?
Producer Abbey Perrault takes a trip into the Kenyan savanna, where she meets researchers who are studying how people share space with unlikely neighbors: lions. Along the way, she learns why a researcher would possibly pull the tail of a lion, and gets *extremely* up close and personal with two massive lionesses. For more information, check out Lucrecia Aguilar's website , Sam Kiuna’s Twitter and Instagram , and Lion Landscapes . Preorder your copy of Wild Life today!
Wed, September 04, 2024
Wild Life Week: Celery Makes A Nature Documentary
We all love to zone out to a soothing nature documentary. But what you’ll learn about them in this episode will make you watch – and listen! – a lot more carefully. Reporter Abigail Keel tells Dylan about her conversation with sound designer and mixer Graham Wild about the not-as-real-as-you-may-think sounds that bring nature documentaries to life. Preorder your copy of our new book, Wild Life, today!
Tue, September 03, 2024
Wild Life Week: The Female Alphas of Yellowstone
Decades after eradicating its wolves, Yellowstone National Park decided to reintroduce them. In the 1990s, the wolves were thriving—until one wolf decided to make life hell for everyone around her. Our guest in this episode, Rick McIntyre, has written several books about the wolves of Yellowstone. His latest is Thinking Like a Wolf , which will be out in late October 2024. Preorder your copy of Wild Life today!
Mon, September 02, 2024
Wild Life Week: Exploring Our Alien Planet with Cara Giaimo
The natural world is weird. Dylan talks with Cara Giaimo, co-author of our forthcoming book Wild Life , about the world’s tiniest chameleon, an acrobatic fog catching beetle, and how shellfish hold the keys to Poland’s water supply. Preorder your copy of Wild Life today, and get a free luggage tag!
Fri, August 30, 2024
Ottoman Bird Palaces (Classic)
These miniature mansions and luxurious homes were built for the feathered residents of Istanbul. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ottoman-bird-palaces
Thu, August 29, 2024
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is dedicated to telling the stories of the league’s greatest players, its impact on communities, and the game-changing innovations it brought to baseball.
Wed, August 28, 2024
Auctioning off Roadside America
Pegged as the “world’s greatest indoor miniature village,” Roadside America was a beloved roadside attraction in Shartlesville, Pennsylvania. The creator Laurence Gieringer and his family ran the business for 85 years until its closure in 2021. Today, the pieces of this miniature village have been auctioned off to past visitors all over the country. And there may yet be more auctions this year.
Tue, August 27, 2024
Atlas Obscura Goes Off Assignment: Sa Cabaneta & Provincetown
Saying farewell to summer with a lazy day in Mallorca, and a blustery night in Massachusetts. “3 p.m. in Sa Cabaneta” and “7:10 p.m. in Provincetown” were edited by Aube Rey Lescure. Both essays originally appeared in Off Assignment .
Mon, August 26, 2024
The Wimbledon Queue
Producer Emma Morgenstern spends nearly 6 hours waiting in a famous line. Will she get into the most exclusive tennis tournament in the world – or face bigtime disappointment?
Fri, August 23, 2024
Seven Keys Lodge (Classic)
The world’s largest random, assorted key collection located outside Denver, CO, was inspired by a literary infatuation and includes keys to danger and memory. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/baldpate-inn-key-collection
Thu, August 22, 2024
Are Cemeteries…Dying?
In 2023, 60% of Americans chose to be cremated instead of having a traditional burial. If that trend continues, do cemeteries need to be worried about the future? Loren Rhoads, author of 222 Cemeteries To See Before You Die (which is coming out on August 27), explains how old cemeteries are working to bring in the living…and tells us about new and experimental ways to be buried and memorialized.
Wed, August 21, 2024
District Six
District Six is a neighborhood in Cape Town South Africa that was destroyed under the apartheid regime. Today, a museum stands as a monument to the people who once called the neighborhood home.
Tue, August 20, 2024
Atlas Obscura Goes Off Assignment: To the Swimmer in the Borneo Rainforest
Writer Meghan Gunn meets a stranger in the jungle, and writes him a letter. This essay was edited by Aube Rey Lescure and originally appeared in Off Assignment . It was also included in The Best American Travel Writing 2021 . If you have had a memorable encounter with a stranger, we want to hear about it. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message, or record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com
Mon, August 19, 2024
Oh, the Places We Can’t Go
The Atlas Obscura Places team brings us to a dazzling aquarium and a small town in the heart of what was once eastern Pennsylvania’s coal country. The catch? Neither place exists anymore. Do you have a place that you love that no longer exists? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message, or send a voice memo to Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Bonus · Sat, August 17, 2024
Tell Us Your Story: Places To Remember
Maybe it was a mom and pop shop that closed down. Maybe it was a facility that you often used and shut down. Or an art space that was replaced by a housing development. We want to hear about places that YOU can no longer visit. What was there before disappearing? Why was it important to you? How were you connected to this place? What do you remember about it? What did it look like? What is left of this place NOW? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call back if you get disconnected! You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Fri, August 16, 2024
The Lost Boys of Robber’s Cave (Classic)
In 1954, two groups of boys thought they were going to summer camp. But they’d been recruited for a different kind of summer experience. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-corn-palace-mitchell-south-dakota
Thu, August 15, 2024
What’s Happening to the Benin Bronzes?
An update on the thousands of masks from the former Kingdom of Benin. These pieces of art and culture are spread in museums across the world, but a new discussion has reignited about if they should stay put.
Wed, August 14, 2024
The Wizard of Wamego
The story of how a former nuclear missile silo in Wamego, Kansas became the site of the largest LSD bust in US history (allegedly). Fore more information, check out author Dennis McDougal’s website and Rolling Stone’s interview with Leonard Pickard .
Tue, August 13, 2024
Atlas Obscura Goes Off Assignment: The Selinsgrove Speedway and Muriwai
An evening visit to a racetrack, and a late night walk on the beach. “8:45 p.m. at the Selinsgrove Speedway” was edited by Aube Rey Lescure and “10 p.m. in Muriwai” was edited by Tusshara Nalakumar Srilatha. Both essays originally appeared in Off Assignment.
Mon, August 12, 2024
A (Store) for the Birds
Mike O’Connor’s Cape Cod store provides supplies for birders, gives away thousands of pounds of free potatoes, and inspires April Fools’ Day-related hijinks. For more information, check out the Bird Watcher’s General Store website . Preorder your copy our new book, Wild Life , today!
Fri, August 09, 2024
Travels with Steve and Datsun (Classic)
Today we hear from an Atlas Obscura user who, when he isn’t aboard an icebreaking warship for the Canadian Navy, spends weeks at a time road-tripping with his dog. Check out Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puppercycle/?hl=en
Thu, August 08, 2024
On the Hunt for Government Treasure with Mitch Yockelson
Investigator Mitch Yockelson, a historian and academic turned archival bounty hunter, has a job that makes for pretty interesting dinner party discussion: tracking down the people who steal government property.
Wed, August 07, 2024
The Museum That Began in One Woman’s House
Mary Maschal set out to document women’s history, unintentionally becoming part of it herself. Learn more about the Women's Museum of History here .
Tue, August 06, 2024
Atlas Obscura Goes Off Assignment: To the Father on the Bicycle
A visitor in Cajicá, Colombia sees a stranger on a bicycle, and writes him a letter. This essay was edited by Carey Baraka and originally appeared in Off Assignment. If you have had a memorable encounter with a stranger, we want to hear about it. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message, or record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Mon, August 05, 2024
The Red Book
In the early 1900s, influential psychologist Carl Jung spent more than a decade documenting the strange images that popped up in his unconscious mind and documenting them all in a beautiful illustrated manuscript. After his death, his family thought the book was too bizarre to be made public and locked it away in a Swiss bank vault for decades. MORE: Learn more about the Jung House Museum (and visit the study where Jung wrote the Red Book) https://www.cgjunghaus.ch/en/ A link to the New York Times article mentioned: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/magazine/20jung-t.html
Fri, August 02, 2024
Road Trip Week: Meramec Caverns (Classic)
This giant limestone cave outside of St. Louis, MO. is home to a combination of kitsch and world-class scenery. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/meramec-caverns
Thu, August 01, 2024
Road Trip Week: Exploring the Borscht Belt with Marisa Scheinfeld
Dylan is joined by Marisa Scheinfeld, a photographer who has dedicated years to exploring the lost and abandoned properties of the Borscht Belt. A stretch of hundreds of hotels, resorts and summer camps where Jewish Americans would go to escape. Check out more of Marisa’s work here , including her book , The Borscht Belt: Revisiting the Remains of America’s Jewish Vacation Land.
Wed, July 31, 2024
Road Trip Week: Listener Stories
You bring us road trip stories from all over the globe. Along the way, we hear about encounters with wild boars, a visit to a famously large ball of twine and a lifelong friendship that began on the back of motorcycles.
Tue, July 30, 2024
Road Trip Week: Alone with a Camera in the Desert
Strap on your hiking boots and say goodbye to your spouse. We’re pulling off the highway and going on a trek through Dinosaur National Monument with photographer Randy Fullbright. To see Randy’s photos for yourself, check out his website or stop by his shop, Fullbright Studios, in Vernal, UT.
Mon, July 29, 2024
Road Trip Week: Where to Go
It’s Road Trip Week! Dylan hops in a (virtual) car and embarks on a Great American Road Trip. Along the way, Atlas Obscura staffers recommend their favorite road trip stops – from a strange doll hospital, to a massive sculpture only visible during certain times of year, to a magical desert oasis. Learn more about our recommendations: Babyland General Hospital Roadside America Spiral Jetty Drummond Basin
Fri, July 26, 2024
The Theater of Electricity (Classic)
Step inside the Theater of Electricity in Boston and learn about the World’s Largest Air-Insulated Van De Graaff Generator. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/worlds-largest-airinsulated-van-de-graaff-generator
Thu, July 25, 2024
Our Lives Through Hollywood’s Eyes
Writer and journalist Walt Hickey joins Dylan for a conversation about the different ways film and television have impacted us and our real world surroundings, a topic that’s the subject of his new book You Are What You Watch .
Wed, July 24, 2024
The Arrow Stork
The story of a stork, a spear and a scientific mystery that led to breakthroughs in the way we understand bird migration.
Tue, July 23, 2024
A 15,000 Year Old Tree and a Housing Development
In the California’s Jurupa Valley, residents discovered a treasure in their backyard: a 15,000 year old tree. Now, it may disappear. Read Shannon Osaka’s article about the Jurupa Oak.
Mon, July 22, 2024
Meet the Man Who Sets America’s Living Rooms on Fire
Today we visit the ATF Fire Research Laboratory where investigators recreate arson attacks and analyze burn patterns. Read more about John Allen and his work at the world's largest fire research laboratory.
Fri, July 19, 2024
Discovery Hut (Classic)
Atlas Obscura's Gemma Tarlach shares what it's like to step inside a relic from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, and to find traces of a famous lost party of explorers. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/discovery-hut
Thu, July 18, 2024
Hunting for Meteorites with Steve Arnold
Today we're powering up our metal detectors and keeping a very close eye on the surface of the earth as we set out in the hunt for meteorites with Steve Arnold, who’s been in the game for more than three decades. If you want to learn more, check out Steve’s website , and read this profile of the meteorite hunting community.
Wed, July 17, 2024
This 80s Icon Has A Shrine In A Berlin Hostel
In the basement of a Berlin hostel – in a corridor connecting their brewery to the luggage storage area – is a shrine to a pop culture icon with a surprising connection to the city’s history. (Hint: It’s David Hasselhoff.) Plus: Atlas Obscura has a new book coming out! Pre-order your copy of Wild Life today.
Tue, July 16, 2024
My Life in Three Places: Dylan Thuras
Dylan takes us on a tour of three places that have shaped his life. Listen to our episodes about the Corn Palace , House on the Rock , and Gold Medal Flour.
Mon, July 15, 2024
Mother Jones and the Battle of Blair Mountain
How a woman in her 70s inspired some of the biggest labor uprisings in American history.
Fri, July 12, 2024
Pigeon Towers of Iran (Classic)
This elaborate architecture throughout Iran served a very unique purpose - gathering pigeon guano. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pigeon-towers-iran
Thu, July 11, 2024
Getting Lost with Susan Orlean
Travel writer Susan Orlean is an admitted terrible tourist. But she’s an expert at getting lost – with a purpose. Today, she takes us to some of the places that have shaped her life. And she talks about throwing out the guidebook – opening herself up to these experiences – and the art of getting lost.
Wed, July 10, 2024
A Walk Through Sandwich History with Barry Enderwick
Barry Enderwick has made and tasted more than 1000 sandwiches from across history. Today, he and Dylan make – and eat three sandwiches that each tell us something about history, culture, and ourselves. Pre-order Barry’s book, Sandwiches of History: The Cookbook , today! We also have a new book coming Pre-order a copy of Wild Life today!
Tue, July 09, 2024
The Mysterious Origins of Virginia’s Swimming Ponies
For one day every July, the Assateague Channel on Virginia’s marshy eastern shore is filled with the bobbing heads of swimming ponies. These feral horses are celebrities in the area, but nobody actually knows exactly how they got there. Atlas Obscura senior editor Gemma Tarlach tells us the story and wrote about it here .
Mon, July 08, 2024
How Caribou Gave Us a Peek at Life 9,000 Years Ago
In 2008, a researcher floating in a boat in Lake Huron had an idea for how to learn more about our prehistoric ancestors. It involved sonar, a lot of patience, and some very bumbling AI caribou. Listen to Morgan Springer’s original story here . For more stories about the land, water, and inhabitants of the Great Lakes, check out Points North wherever you get your podcasts.
Sat, July 06, 2024
We Want to Hear Your Unusual Road Trip Stories
We're working on another listener-led episode and want to know: What is your favorite unusual road trip destination? The weirdest road trip memory holed deep in your subconscious. Where was it? What did it look like? What do you remember? Maybe there is a place you have taken a friend, or your own kids and just thought. Oh man, they are going to freak out… It can be a good memory, a bad memory, or just a weird one. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message, or send a voice memo to Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Fri, July 05, 2024
House the Giants Built (Classic)
Anna Swan had an adventurous life before settling in Seville, Ohio and building a house large enough to fit her large life.
Thu, July 04, 2024
Double Header for the Fourth
Today we have two classic episodes to share about hidden histories of America. In one, we’ll hear the story of an unconventional Revolutionary patriot – an enslaved woman who sued her enslaver. And in the other, we’ll learn about a group of Native American veterans who developed an unbreakable secret code during World War II – and the unlikely location where their legacy is preserved.
Wed, July 03, 2024
The Big Duck
The story of a big idea, and a big duck – and how this duck would go on to become an important architectural landmark that would influence buildings all around the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/big-duck
Tue, July 02, 2024
New York City’s Black Oyster King
Thomas Downing, who arguably invented fine dining in New York City, had a secret going on underneath the floor of his popular oyster house. Writer Briona Lamback tells us the story. If you want to read the full article, check out the link here. And if you’re looking for an oyster experience, Briona recommends Brooklyn-based The Real Mother Shucker , the city’s only oyster cart.
Mon, July 01, 2024
The Gilbert Baker Mural
Gilbert Baker’s pride flag design is now a worldwide symbol for LGBT freedom and liberation. Now, his former stomping grounds remember his efforts with a beautiful mural. But there’s more to this pride-filled house than meets the eye. SEE the mural for yourself here and learn more about the artist here .
Fri, June 28, 2024
Jadeite Cabbage (Classic)
This tiny stone cabbage has a big backstory stretching from the rich, treasure-laden halls of Beijing’s Forbidden City...through a harrowing wartime escape...to its prized place at the National palace museum in Taipei, Taiwan. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jade-cabbage
Thu, June 27, 2024
Roop Kund
Author Doug Preston brings us back into the world of his latest book, The Lost Tomb, with a story of a remote lake in the Himalayas where hundreds of human skeletons were discovered – puzzling scientists and researchers for years.
Wed, June 26, 2024
The Glove Museum
This museum in New York is a recreated 19th century glove making workshop complete with sizing tools, cutting blocks, and irons. It’s also part studio, part exhibition space and the brainchild of a craftsman who dedicated his life to the art of glove-making. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-glove-museum
Tue, June 25, 2024
Grizzly Adams: America’s Mythic Mountain Man
In the 1850s, one anonymous Massachusetts shoemaker became a national celebrity – all by exhibiting his “family” of captured grizzly bears.
Mon, June 24, 2024
In The Heart Of NYC, A Refuge For Birds
A hospital and rehab center for birds in Manhattan started with a woman who just wanted to do all she could to help an injured goose. Decades later, it has become an institution. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wild-bird-fund
Fri, June 21, 2024
The Start of a Language
Places editors Michelle Cassidy and Jonathan Carey bring us stories about two specific languages that were created by people who gave us a glimpse into their worlds and cultures – real and imagined.
Thu, June 20, 2024
Nerding Out on Ancient Queens with Torri Yates-Orr
History buff Torri Yates-Orr gives us the tea on Nefertiti, Cleopatra, and Amanirenas – and explains why we often don’t hear their full stories in history class.
Wed, June 19, 2024
For Keeps Books (Classic)
In Atlanta, on this historic Auburn Avenue, sits a small bookstore and reading room that’s been called “an interactive art museum of Black Thought” LEARN MORE: https://www.forkeepsbooks.com/
Tue, June 18, 2024
The Last Baldwin House
James Baldwin’s former home in the South of France is a site that many visit hoping to feel the essence of the great African-American writer. But should it be?
Mon, June 17, 2024
America’s First Celebrity Bartender And The Book That Changed Bars Forever
In the early days of drinking in America, bartenders passed down drink recipes simply via word of mouth. Then, a suit-wearing, itinerant bartender decked out in diamonds changed everything. Plus, big news! “Atlas Obscura: Wild Life” is coming soon to bookstores near you. Pre-order your copy now!
Sat, June 15, 2024
Tell us your road trip stories & get travel advice from Dylan
What is your favorite unusual road trip destination? Plus, Dylan wants your travel questions. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message, or send a voice memo to Hello@Atlas Obscura.com.
Fri, June 14, 2024
The Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum (Classic)
Noah Purifoy was a pugilistic LA artist who eventually filled a 10 acre plot of land in Joshua Tree, CA with his off-kilter art. Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Museum: http://www.noahpurifoy.com/joshua-tree-outdoor-museum Learn more about Dale Davis: https://dalebdavis.com/ Listen to our episode about Leimert Park: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/podcast-leimert-park-ii Listen to our episode about the Watts Towers Art Center: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/podcast-watts-towers READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/noah-purifoy-s-outdoor-desert-art-museum
Thu, June 13, 2024
In the Doldrums with Bernie Harberts
Ultimate slow travel adventurer (and friend of the show) Bernie Harberts returns to tell us what happened when he spent months floating alone at sea. Bernie is also an author and filmmaker. You can read more about Bernie's travels at his website www.riverearth.com .
Wed, June 12, 2024
Your Stories Of Traveling With Parents
Listener stories of hitting the road, parents in tow. We’ll hear about an unexpected run-in with a group of lumberjacks, a rare road trip with parents visiting from Thailand, and a heart-pounding incident in Istanbul. If you have a suggestion about our next call out episode or a place you would like us to look into, please write us an email at hello@atlasobscura.com . Or call us and leave us a message at 315-992-7902.
Tue, June 11, 2024
Black Cultural Archives
We visit a London neighborhood that’s the epicenter of Caribbean culture and a place that aims to be the home for Black British history. Learn more about the Black Cultural Archives here .
Mon, June 10, 2024
The Secret Nazi Weather Station Named Kurt
During the 1970s, archaeologists and fishermen stumbled across an abandoned military weather station on the coast of Labrador. It was labeled “Canadian Meteor Service.” The problem was: the Canadian Meteor Service didn’t put it there. In fact, the Canadian Meteor Service didn’t even exist. MORE: You can visit Weather Station Kurt at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa , which is only about 980 miles from its original location!
Sat, June 08, 2024
The Rotary Jail Museum (Classic)
The only remaining operational Rotary Jail, found in Crawfordsville, Indiana, shows visitors how inmates were once locked within the building’s walls. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/rotary-jail-museum
Fri, June 07, 2024
Ruins of Le Jardin d'Agronomie Tropicale (Classic)
This garden park in Paris, France contains the ruins of a colonial exhibition from 1907. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/le-jardin-d-agronomie-tropicale
Thu, June 06, 2024
Controlled Cold with Nicky Twilley
We get a crash course in the fascinating temperature-controlled ecosystem we’ve created to keep our food fresh – and available – all year round. Our guide is Nicky Twilley, co-host of the Gastropod podcast and author of the new book called Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves .
Wed, June 05, 2024
Welcome To Wall Drug
In the South Dakota badlands, a small pharmacy employed an ingenious marketing gimmick, and boomed into a business that draws millions of visitors every year. It’s a story that involves giant dinosaurs, a mythological jack rabbit, and lots and lots of donuts.
Tue, June 04, 2024
Traveling With Kids: Please Send Help
We’ve got a fun collaboration with podcasters SuChin Pak and Kulap Vilaysack, hosts of Add to Cart . Hear them chat with Dylan about traveling with kids – the good, the bad, and the vomit-y times. Pick up tips if you’re about to make your first or 10th trip with young people this summer.
Mon, June 03, 2024
Blue Spring State Park
We head to Florida, the wintertime refuge for many, for a glimpse of a rehabilitation effort aimed at some very distinct creatures known for being gentle giants – manatees. This episode was produced in partnership with VISIT FLORIDA .
Fri, May 31, 2024
The Last Sears in New York City (Classic)
Producer Johanna Mayer takes a trip to the last Sears in New York City, and a Brooklyn landmark, with two people whose lives were shaped by the department store.
Thu, May 30, 2024
Looking Toward the Sky with Summer Ash
Telescope tourist, rocket scientist and STEAM educator Summer Ash gives us the nitty gritty on the V.L.A. - a 22-mile telescope in New Mexico whose formal name is literally “Very Large Array.” We talk about how this observatory works and what cosmic wonders it’s detected.
Wed, May 29, 2024
Canada Obscura: The Giant Orange Sphere
CANADALAND host Jesse Brown introduces Dylan to a strange and decaying Quebecois fast food institution… housed inside a giant orange sphere. Today, the orange is a relic of a bygone era. But decades ago, this odd establishment was on track to become the McDonalds of Canada. We hear about the rise and fall of Montreal’s Orange Julep, and how its eccentric founder envisioned a Canada scattered with glowing orange spheres. This week, we’re celebrating Canada’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. This is the third story in our collaboration with CANADALAND. If you want to hear more stories from their great show, we recommend starting here: Crimes Against Nature The True Story of Sasquatch This episode was produced by Kevin Sexton.
Tue, May 28, 2024
Canada Obscura: The Feral Horses of Sable Island
Host Dylan Thuras brings us to a remote island off the coast of Nova Scotia. On Sable Island, we learn how – against all odds – a group of beloved feral horses have not only survived, but thrived. There’s only one problem: Some people want them gone. This week, we’re celebrating Canada’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. This is the second story in our collaboration with CANADALAND. If you want to hear more stories from their great show, we recommend starting here: The Truth About Polkaroo WTF, Marc Maron is Moving to Canada? This episode was produced by Kevin Sexton.
Mon, May 27, 2024
Canada Obscura: The Real Life Winnie-The-Pooh
CANADALAND host Jesse Brown tells Dylan the story of a Canadian man who adopted a black bear in the woods of Winnipeg – and how that bear became the inspiration for one of the most beloved children’s characters of all time. This week, we’re celebrating Canada’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. This is the first story in our collaboration with CANADALAND. If you want to hear more stories from their great show, we recommend starting here: An Oral History of Just for Laughs Gags The Newfoundlander Who's Behind a Fake Trudeau Sex Scandal This episode was produced by Kevin Sexton.
Fri, May 24, 2024
Maillardet’s Automaton (Classic)
This mechanical boy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was a mystery - until it began to write. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/maillardets-automaton
Thu, May 23, 2024
A Daring Story of Freedom with Edda Fields-Black
Historian and author Edda L. Fields-Black tells us the fascinating and action-packed story of one of the most daring spy operations and raids of the entire Civil War – led by Harriet Tubman.
Wed, May 22, 2024
A Rogue Trip with Amir Siraj
We catch up with Amir Siraj – friend of the show, scientist and world wanderer – who visited a new observatory in a Chilean desert that could help his search for rogue planets Check out other episodes we’ve done Amir here and here .
Tue, May 21, 2024
From Seed to Significance
Earlier this spring we shared the story of the city of Melbourne’s program to track trees, which morphed into a love fest. In this episode, we hear from YOU and your love letters to trees that play a special role in your life. MORE: Want to be in an upcoming Atlas Obscura episode? We’re collecting listener stories right now about traveling with your parents. Tell us about a place you went with your parents that was special to you. Maybe it was the annual trip to Niagara Falls or a national park. Or maybe it was just a one time thing but had an outsized impact. Call and tell us at 315-992-7902 or email us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Mon, May 20, 2024
The Ludlow Massacre Site
The Ludlow colony in southern Colorado was once a bustling tent city and haven for miners and their families. But it was also the site of one of the country’s most monumental –and violent – clashes of the labor movement. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ludlow-massacre-site
Fri, May 17, 2024
Shipwrecked Doritos (Classic)
In 2006 a massive haul of Doritos was shipwrecked on Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks, leaving its mark on the town forever. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/shipwrecked-doritos
Thu, May 16, 2024
Gabbing Goblins with Colin Dickey
Author Colin Dickey tells us the story of a Kentucky family who, in 1955, claimed to be in a wild gunfight with unidentified creatures who may or may not have been aliens. And we learn how this event had a mysterious, surprising, and shockingly long legacy that eventually inspired one of Hollywood's greatest movie makers to create multiple films about aliens and monsters and family. MORE: Check out Colin’s column on Atlas Obscura, or check out his website here.
Wed, May 15, 2024
Underwater Sculpture Gardens
Jason deCaires Taylor takes intentional art to another level with his sculptures that can be visited by humans and fish. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/underwater-sculpture-garden
Tue, May 14, 2024
Reppin MORE of our Weird Hometown Traditions
From a rubber duck contest to hypnotizing chickens, listeners share stories about annual customs, events and practices that set their hometowns apart from others. MORE: We're going to be bringing you more listener-led stories this year, and we need your help. Tell us about a place you went with your parents that was special to you. Maybe it was the annual trip to Niagara Falls or a national park. Or maybe it was just a one-time thing but had an outsized impact. Call and tell us at 315-992-7902 or email us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Mon, May 13, 2024
Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum
We visit the Louisiana town where the infamous – but often misunderstood – couple’s story came to an end. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bonnie-and-clyde-ambush-museum
Sat, May 11, 2024
Tell us your stories of traveling with your parents!
We're going to be bringing you more listener-led stories this year, and we need your help. Tell us about a place you went with your parents that was special to you. Maybe it was the annual trip to Niagara Falls or a national park. Or maybe it was just a one time thing but had an outsized impact. Call and tell us at 315-992-7902 or email us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Fri, May 10, 2024
The Livestock Living at the End of the World (Classic)
The pigs once plopped on an uninhabited Auckland Island known for capturing castaways now play an important role in modern medical research. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-lives-on-auckland-islands
Thu, May 09, 2024
To the Moon and Back with Rebecca Boyle
Science writer and journalist Rebecca Boyle has a new book about all about the ways in which the moon has impacted nearly every aspect of human life – including our conception and invention of time. MORE IN THE ATLAS: Rebecca is a regular contributor to Atlas Obscura and you can find more about her work here and check out her book here .
Wed, May 08, 2024
Musée Mécanique
We empty out our change purse and visit Dan Zelinsky - the owner and head mechanic of the Musée Mécanique - one of the few remaining vintage arcades in the country. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/musee-mecanique-san-francisco
Tue, May 07, 2024
Beauly Priory Wych Elm
A gnarly looking elm tree rumored to be older than Britain itself was the anchor in a community – until beetles got to it and it was suddenly gone one day. Thanks to the magic of technology, you can see a 3D scan of the Beauly Elm here . READ IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wych-elm-of-beauly-priory
Mon, May 06, 2024
Sans-Souci Palace
We go to Haiti, and visit a royal residence once called the Versailles of the Caribbean. But though Sans-Souci Palace, once home to Haiti’s only king, is now ruins and rubble, it remains a large symbol – just as its creator intended. | Read about this in the Atlas HERE
Fri, May 03, 2024
Rhubarb Triangle (Classic)
Farmers in Yorkshire, England take years to coax their rhubarb plants into a world-renowned delicacy using a century-old technique. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/rhubarb-triangle
Thu, May 02, 2024
Checking Into Hotel Imperial with Deborah Cohen
On the eve of the Second World War, there was one place that was the source for all good stories — the Hotel Imperial in Vienna. It exuded luxury and power, and also was the converging spot for foreign correspondents in the 1920’s and ‘30s who were warning the world about the rise of dictatorship. Historian and author Deborah Cohen takes us back in time and into the lives of these influential journalists. MORE Check out Deborah’s book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/576473/last-call-at-the-hotel-imperial-by-deborah-cohen/
Wed, May 01, 2024
Exotic Feline Rescue Center
Long before Joe Exotic got the country talking about big cats, there was Joe Taft – regular guy – who began raising and rescuing these types of felines in Indiana. MORE: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/exotic-feline-rescue-center-2
Tue, April 30, 2024
Old Cahawba
The Old Cahawba Archeological Park is perhaps one of Alabama's most famous ghost towns. But it once was the center of life in this southern state. We unravel the surprising tale of this onetime capital city. SEE IT IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/old-cahawba-archeological-park
Mon, April 29, 2024
Atlas Obscura Presents: “Windsor Hum” from Twenty Thousand Hertz
Today’s episode comes from Twenty Thousand Hertz , a podcast that reveals the stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds. On their show, they’ve explored topics like the sounds of other planets, the mind blowing ways that insects communicate, and secret spy messages that are broadcast on the radio. In this episode , they take you to the US-Canadian border, where, in 2011, residents of Windsor, Ontario started experiencing a strange rumbling hum that rattled dishes and kept people awake at night. Then, after years of getting nowhere, the mystery of the Windsor Hum was finally solved... Or was it?
Fri, April 26, 2024
Tree Week: Forty Fruit Tree (Classic)
The Tree of 40 Fruits in San Jose California is an horticultural marvel of 40 types of stone fruit trees grafted together to form a living work of art. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tree-of-40-fruit
Thu, April 25, 2024
Tree Week: Killer Trees with Mary Roach
We promise, this is not another sappy (pardon the pun) story about trees. Instead, author and science writer Mary Roach takes us deep into an ancient forest grove on Vancouver Island, in search of the danger trees and the people who seek them out. Learn more about danger trees in Mary’s book, Fuzz.
Wed, April 24, 2024
Tree Week: Oh, the places you will go... to see these notable trees
We spend some time with some celebrity trees – one in Washington, DC and one in Berlin – that have left an impact on all who visit them. Today’s stories are brought to you by Michelle Cassidy and Diana Hubbell, of the Atlas Obscura Places Team.
Tue, April 23, 2024
Tree Week: Love Letters
In 2012, the city of Melbourne gave every tree a barcode and email address so people could report when it needed maintenance or attention. But, a funny thing started happening. Instead of reporting problems, people began emailing love letters to the trees. MORE: Is there a special tree in your life? One worthy of a love letter? Let us know! Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and your love letter to a tree. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call again if that happens!
Mon, April 22, 2024
Tree Week: A Tasty Tale about Meyer Lemons
Meyer lemons are so special that restaurants go out of their way to call them out on menus. Martha Stewart loves to bake with them. And yet, Meyer lemons also have a fascinating and kinda tragic backstory. Tune in for a very fun episode about this very particular fruit. Our guest in this episode is Mandy Naglich, professional taster and author of “How To Taste.” READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/meyer-lemon
Fri, April 19, 2024
Musk Ox Farm (Classic)
The Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska aims to domesticate a species that used to roam the earth at the same time as the wooly mammoth. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/musk-ox-farm
Thu, April 18, 2024
How to make the best show about New York with John Wilson
IN THIS EPISODE OF THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST , Dylan sits down with “How To ” creator and narrator John Wilson about his travels, his favorite places and his HBO series that is part documentary, part memoir, part essay — and unlike any other show on TV. MORE: In their conversation, a few places come up that we’ve made episodes about. So if you want to hear about the Chrysler Building eagles, the House on the Rock or Organ Stop Pizza, click here , here and here .
Wed, April 17, 2024
Atalaya
Just outside of Myrtle Beach sits a medieval castle that would feel out of place if not for its charm. We tell the story of the eccentric couple who, nearly a hundred years ago, built this fortress — which was turned into a popular part of the state park system. This episode was produced in partnership with Discover South Carolina . READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/atalaya
Tue, April 16, 2024
Showgirl Magic Museum
A one-room museum located in the basement of a church-turned-community arts center is crammed with mementos from a pretty spectacular period in history. We hang with some retired dancers who recall the time when Chinatown in San Francisco was filled with late night cabarets famed for their showgirls. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/showgirl-magic-museum-san-francisco-california
Mon, April 15, 2024
Reppin our Weird Hometown Traditions
From Tractor Day to an Italian style wedding to the streets of New York City to throwing water into the air in negative 20 degree weather, we take a tour of some quirky hometown traditions. Does the place you grew up have any unique traditions? We would love to hear from you! Tell us about your hometown’s weird or unique local tradition. Walk us through what goes down—who’s there and what’s happening? Is there an interesting history behind it? What was your relationship to this tradition like when you were growing up—did you partake? What’s your relationship to it now? Did/does it play a role in how you think about the world, or the corner of it you come from? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Fri, April 12, 2024
Atlas Obscura Live: Two Places And A Lie
This week wasn't special only because of the eclipse. We also recorded our first live show, during the Atlas Obscura Ecliptic Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In this episode, hear host Dylan Thuras try to stump guests -- astrobiologist Dr. Graham Lau and science writer Rebecca Boyle -- and get them to guess which strange, incredible place is real or fake. Then, the tables are turned and Dylan has to guess. Special thanks to everyone who made this possible!
Thu, April 11, 2024
My Life in Three Places with Rick Steves
Rick Steves has seen a lot of strange, incredible and wondrous places over his decades-long career as the leading authority on European travel. And today he is going to guide us through three places that helped shape his life.
Wed, April 10, 2024
Brown Mountain Lights
We’re heading to the mountains of western North Carolina, where for more than a century, people have witnessed unusual displays of shimmering and sometimes even exploding lights. And we hang with a skeptical scientist who’s spent years trying to solve the mystery. This episode was produced in partnership with Visit North Carolina .
Tue, April 09, 2024
Minister’s Treehouse (Classic)
The world’s biggest treehouse was inspired by a message from God. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ministers-tree-house
Tue, April 09, 2024
Total Eclipse of Our Hearts
Today, millions of people across North America donned solar glasses, and looked up. And since our show is all about wonder and curiosity and incredible places — a moment like the Great American Eclipse is something we take very seriously. If you missed it, or weren’t in the path of totality when the moon passed in front of the sun, we have you covered. Listen to this and sink into our shared once-in-a-generation experience, powered by voices across the continent. Special thanks to everyone who contributed to this episode, especially those who joined us at the Atlas Obscura Ecliptic Festival. Enjoy.
Mon, April 08, 2024
Stay Tuned: A special eclipse episode is coming tonight!
Millions of people will be getting in their cars, breaking out the cardboard glasses and looking to the sky for today's Great North American Eclipse… which won’t occur again for another TWENTY years. Host Dylan Thuras will be smack dab in the path of totality in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic festival has been in full swing for the past few days. And for the first time ever, our podcast team will be marking this monoculture event by making and releasing an episode all in one day. Come back to your feed tonight for a very special episode!
Fri, April 05, 2024
Nevada Week: The Martin
At The Martin, family-style dining is rooted in a very specific history and cultural experience that began with Basque sheepherders in the 1800s and has been carried on and celebrated ever since. This episode was produced in partnership with Travel Nevada and is part of Nevada Week, where we bring you stories all week from the Silver State. LEARN MORE about The Martin and Travel Nevada
Thu, April 04, 2024
Nevada Week: How I Learned to Love Las Vegas
A spectacular art installation is hidden inside an all-luxury shopping mall in Las Vegas. As of April 2024, the exhibit appears to be closed. This episode is part of Nevada Week, where we bring you stories all week from the Silver State. Find out more about cool things to see, do and experience in the state by visiting Travel Nevada. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/akhob
Wed, April 03, 2024
Nevada Week: National Atomic Testing Museum
Las Vegas was once the preferred tourist destination for watching weapons of mass destruction explode. This episode is part of Nevada Week, where we bring you stories all week from the Silver State. Find out more about cool things to see, do and experience in the state by visiting Travel Nevada. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/national-atomic-testing-museum
Tue, April 02, 2024
Nevada Week: The Office of Collecting and Design
Jessica Oreck has spent the last 30 years collecting odd and forgotten objects. Now, they’re all beautifully curated and on display in the Office of Collecting and Design in Las Vegas. This episode is part of Nevada Week, where we bring you stories from the Silver State. Find out more about cool things to see, do and experience in the state by visiting Travel Nevada. LEARN MORE about The Office of Collecting and Design
Mon, April 01, 2024
Nevada Week: Molossia
This micronation about an hour outside of Reno draws visitors from all over the world. This episode was produced in partnership with Travel Nevada and is part of Nevada Week, where we bring you stories all week from the Silver State. LEARN MORE about Molossia and Travel Nevada
Fri, March 29, 2024
A Journey Through Death with Joanna Ebenstein
Friend of the show Joanna Ebenstein tells us about her enduring fascination with death, how it led her to create the Morbid Anatomy Museum and, after some setbacks, why she eventually settled on her new home of Mexico City. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: If you are interested in mortality and death and medical images and anatomical presentations, check out Morbid Anatomy . Joanna is also working on a new book called Memento Mori: The Art of Contemplating Death to Live a Better Life . Pre-order it here .
Thu, March 28, 2024
A Journey Around the World with Sebastian Modak
For one year, this journalist had the coolest assignment – as the New York Times “52 Places” reporter. Its charms and challenges were more than he ever imagined.
Wed, March 27, 2024
The Cincinnati Subway (Classic)
There are two miles of abandoned tunnels beneath the streets of Cincinnati, OH. A relic of an attempt to establish underground transportation in the city. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS : https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-cincinnati-subway-cincinnati-ohio
Tue, March 26, 2024
Ganvie Lake Village
A producer sits down with Dylan and recounts his trip to a place referred to as “The Venice of Africa.” READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gavie-benin
Mon, March 25, 2024
Vent Haven Museum
This museum in Kentucky is either your dream place or your nightmare, depending on how you feel about dummies. Because there are more than 500 of them there, resting in peace. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-worlds-only-ventriloquism-museum-in-northern-kentucky
Sun, March 24, 2024
Tell us your plans for the Great North American Eclipse!
The Great North American Eclipse will be April 8, 2024. Where will you be watching it? Who will you be with? And why is it important to you to see this marvelous event? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message, or send a voice memo to Hello@Atlas Obscura.com .
Fri, March 22, 2024
Arrows Across America (Classic)
An adventurous couple sets out to document and unearth the arrow’s of America’s past, once used to help pilots find their way across the skies. GET MORE You can learn more about Charlotte and Brian’s journey – and see photos of the arrows they’ve documented – at their website: dreamsmithphotos.com WATCH THE ECLIPSE WITH US! The Great North American eclipse is April 8, and we're throwing a festival to celebrate. This is the last one in the U.S. for 20 years! So, we're inviting you to Hot Springs, Arkansas (which will be in the path of totality) from April 5th to April 8th. There will be bands, stargazing, panels and more. For information and tickets, click here.
Thu, March 21, 2024
Marching through the galaxy with Dr. Moiya McTier
Author, astrophysicist, folklorist, and science communicator Dr. Moiya McTier guides Dylan through the galaxy, and along the way reveals why she loves space so much, how folklore helps people understand things bigger than themselves, and the origins of her award-winning book, Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy. MORE: If this conversation really got you into thinking about space and mythology, Moiya will be teaching a facts-based fictional worldbuilding course online with us starting May 14. Use code GALAXY20 at signup to get 20% off the class when you sign up here.
Wed, March 20, 2024
Arecibo Observatory (Classic)
This site, and the enormous telescope that sits on it, is loved and lost to both scientists and everyday Puerto Ricans. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/arecibo-observatory
Tue, March 19, 2024
A Mission to find a Meteor with Amir Siraj
Friend of the show Amir Siraj tells us the wild tale of his search for an interstellar object – a journey that led the astrophysicist to the bottom of the ocean floor.
Mon, March 18, 2024
Goblin Valley State Park (Classic)
Today the story of how a street lamp, a tangle with municipal government, and a love of the stars led a man to Goblin Valley, Utah a “dark sky certified” place for lovers of the night sky. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/goblin-valley-state-park
Fri, March 15, 2024
The Last Big Mac in Iceland (Classic)
Take a trip to a hostel in Iceland to visit the country’s last Big Mac, where the burger’s existence unfolds a story about economics and national identity. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/iceland-mcdonalds
Thu, March 14, 2024
Law of the Tongue
Atlas Obscura writer Roxanne Hoorn brings us the story of an extraordinary relationship between people and killer whales. And, through conversation with Dylan, we learn how to better cohabitate as species on this planet. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/killer-whales-work-with-humans
Wed, March 13, 2024
Introducing Sound Detectives from LeVar Burton
LeVar Burton presents SOUND DETECTIVES – a funny, engaging, and thought provoking podcast that invites elementary school-aged kids to explore the magic and mystery of sound. Equal parts fun and informative, SOUND DETECTIVES encourages listeners to engage with the sound mysteries that surround us, while unlocking the door to people and cultures around the globe. Join the team on this semi-improvised comedy caper, and help return the mystery sounds before the world falls silent! Listen to SOUND DETECTIVES on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Tue, March 12, 2024
The Lighthouse Keeper
We go to Fayerweather Island, off the coast of Connecticut, and get the story of Kate Moore, one of the first recorded woman lighthouse keepers. Over several decades, she poured her heart and soul into a task and defied common expectations of what a keeper should be.
Mon, March 11, 2024
The Grave of XYZ
We go to Deep River, Connecticut – where the story of a botched bank robbery more than 100 years ago has taken on a life of its own as an urban legend. MORE: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-grave-of-xyz-deep-river-connecticut
Fri, March 08, 2024
Organ Stop Pizza (Classic)
The largest theater pipe organ in the world lives in a restaurant in Mesa, Arizona. Phenomenal musicians play requests while diners feast on pizza. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/organ-stop-pizza
Thu, March 07, 2024
Exploring the Abandoned with Blake Pfeil
Dylan sits down with guest Blake Pfeil about what inspired him to begin exploring abandoned spots, what those spaces have taught him about escapism, sobriety and the sometimes blurry line between real and unreal that he finds there. MORE: Blake is an artist and adventurer. He’s also the creator and host of the podcast “Abandoned: All-American Ruins.” Check it out here .
Wed, March 06, 2024
Mr. Kaor’s Letters
We visit a quaint Dutch fishing village and attempt to unravel the mystery that unfolded there… a mystery that involved strange and curious letters and a voyage to the other side of the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mr-kaors-portrait
Tue, March 05, 2024
GALS Gone Wild
On our second day with Sporkful senior producer Andres O’Hara, we see what happens when invasive creatures that have made their way to the US refuse to leave… even when they’re slow and slimy. MORE: If you like these episodes, and are looking for more surprising and fascinating food stories, check out The Sporkful , which just released a new series called Deep Dish, which looks at the surprising history of dishes like bagels, tacos al pastor, and tamales.
Mon, March 04, 2024
What Happens to the Food You Try To Sneak into the Airport?
With the help from a podcast friend (Andres O’Hara of The Sporkful ), we go inside one of the busiest airports on earth. And we find out the fate of all the food that gets confiscated by customs. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t get eaten. If you like these episodes, and are looking for more surprising and fascinating food stories, check out The Sporkfu l, which just released a new series called Deep Dish, which looks at the surprising history of dishes like bagels, tacos al pastor, and tamales.
Fri, March 01, 2024
Madame Tussaud (Classic)
Dylan braves one of New York’s most touristy sites to bring listeners the lesser-known history of Madame Tussaud’s origins.
Thu, February 29, 2024
Black History in Plain Sight with Places Editors Jonathan and Michelle
For years, contributions from Black Americans to public spaces like beaches and museums have been hard to detect. Places Editors Jonathan and Michelle Cassidy take us to New Jersey’s Chicken Bone Beach and Chicago’s Field Museum to highlight a couple of these stories.
Wed, February 28, 2024
Jerry’s Hat Museum
We visit Jerry’s Hat Museum, where a retiree has turned to an old chapel to house a collection of thousands of hats, pens, odds, ends and other artifacts from his Illinois hometown. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jerrys-hat-museum-illinois
Tue, February 27, 2024
Hints of Home
Listeners share their stories of places that made them feel at home, from the beaches of Australia to a ubiquitous coffee shop. WE WANT YOUR STORIES! We’re working on a new slate of episodes that will feature listener stories, and want to hear yours. Tell us about your hometown’s weird or unique local tradition. Walk us through what goes down—who’s there and what’s happening? Is there an interesting history behind it? What was your relationship to this tradition like when you were growing up—did you partake? What’s your relationship to it now? Did/does it play a role in how you think about the world, or the corner of it you come from? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call in if you get disconnected. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Mon, February 26, 2024
Hotel Theresa (Classic)
The Hotel Theresa in Harlem, New York played a pivotal role in the influential neighborhood’s cultural identity.
Fri, February 23, 2024
Eastern State Penitentiary (Classic)
The founders of this prison in Philadelphia aimed to revolutionize incarceration for the better - and unintentionally created new horrors. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/eastern-state-penitentiary
Thu, February 22, 2024
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum
A producer revisits her hometown (Houston) and goes to the Buffalo Soldiers Museum, learning about the contributions of Black members of the armed forces and one man in particular, who started the collection years ago in his garage.
Wed, February 21, 2024
Stone of Destiny
This giant rock has been used in the coronation of every English monarch since the 1300s, but is it authentic? Or could the real one be in a Scottish bar? We parse through the evidence and debate! READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/glasgows-stone-of-destiny
Tue, February 20, 2024
World’s Loneliest House
We visit the misnamed “world’s loneliest house” and visit the flocks of puffins who live there. Some people want to eat them, some want to protect them. And these two groups collide here. If you want to learn more about the puffin situation in the Westman Islands, check out our episode called Puffin Patrol – about a community that sweeps the streets each night looking for lost pufflings and helping them find their way back to the beach. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ellidaey-island-lodge
Mon, February 19, 2024
Boston’s Blue Hill
We take a hike up Great Blue Hill in Boston and get more than a stunning view of the city. A visit to the peak reveals the story of a weather observatory with the longest continuous daily weather record in the United States.
Fri, February 16, 2024
The Goiter Belt (Classic)
A public health crisis plagued the Midwest until a simple solution was introduced to a ubiquitous cooking ingredient.
Thu, February 15, 2024
Damanhur
A mysterious religious community founded by an insurance agent-turned spiritual leader in northern Italy spent 15 years constructing an underground temple covered in intricate paintings, mosaics, trippy colors and images inspired by Roman, Greek and Egyptian mythology. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/temple-of-damanhur
Wed, February 14, 2024
Owamni
Award-winning chef Sean Sherman, aka the Sioux Chef, has dedicated his Minneapolis restaurant to decolonized food and honoring indigenous meal traditions READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/owamni
Tue, February 13, 2024
Toy Story
Mexico City is known for its museum and art scene. The collection at El Museo del Juguete Antiguo – The Antique Toy Museum – encourages visitors to lean into their imaginations – and reflect on the rich history and culture in this city.
Mon, February 12, 2024
Robert Is Here
We go to south Florida and hear the story of a family that took a gamble on a humble roadside stand that blossomed into a fruit emporium and community staple. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/robert-is-here
Fri, February 09, 2024
Library of Congress Hair Collection (Classic)
This collection, preserved by the United States Library of Congress, features locks of hair from cultural icons from Beethoven to General Ulysses S. Grant.
Thu, February 08, 2024
Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum
This museum in John Day, Oregon, was once a Chinese general store and medicine shop that dates back to the 1800s. But these days it’s a perfectly preserved time capsule, down to the fruit – down to the orange its former owner left on the counter in the 1950s. Tours of the shop are offered seasonally, but you can get a virtual look inside here. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS HERE
Wed, February 07, 2024
Welcome Home
Hear staff stories about places in the world that made them instantly feel at home, from the Big Easy to the Magic Kingdom. WE WANT YOUR STORIES: We’re working on a new slate of episodes that will feature listener stories, and want to hear yours. Tell us about a place that makes you feel at home. What made it special? Have you returned there? What sticks out about this place that makes it unique to you? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after 2 minutes so please call in again if you get disconnected. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@atlasobscura.com .
Tue, February 06, 2024
Moynaq
A city in Uzbekistan used to be the site of one of the world’s largest seas. Now it’s a dusty reminder of one of the largest and most forgotten environmental disasters. READ MORE: Visit the Stihia website here to learn more about the music festival that happens in Moynaq, including where it may be this year. And this news article is a good primer on some of the current conflicts and issues in the region.
Mon, February 05, 2024
Taquile Island
This tiny island off the coast of Peru is an UNESCO World Heritage site for having the finest textile art. It’s also the place where a knitted hat represents and symbolizes a man’s code of honor, marital status, and love for life. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/taquile-island
Fri, February 02, 2024
Père Lachaise Cemetery (Classic)
Producer Baudelaire Ceus searches for the resting place of famed author Richard Wright among the graves of other cultural icons like Gertrude Stein, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Sadegh Hedayat. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pere-lachaise-cemetery
Thu, February 01, 2024
Seeking the (Minnesota-shaped) Forest Through the Trees - Part 2
We pick up the ball from internet sleuths and journalists and find the mysterious maker of a Minnesota-shaped forest, who’s never spoken about his secret project – until now.
Wed, January 31, 2024
Seeking the (Minnesota-shaped) Forest Through the Trees - Part 1
We follow one man’s journey down an internet rabbit hole that becomes a search for a one-of-a-kind forest and its mysterious creator.
Tue, January 30, 2024
Hello From The Otter Side
At one time, sea otters had an enormous historical range—from Baja California, up the West Coast, through Alaska, Russia, and Japan. But these days, their levels are low. In this episode, we get an inside look at a groundbreaking program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is helping to reverse that by getting rescued sea otter pups back to the wild. We produced this episode in partnership with the aquarium. To learn more about the program or get info on visiting, click here .
Mon, January 29, 2024
The Guerrero
We follow a man’s quest to find the remains of a shipwrecked slave ship off the coast of the Florida Keys, and learn about its forgotten history, mysterious remains, and vital legacy. LEARN MORE: Check out a documentary Karuna Eberl made about the ship – called “ The Guerrero Project .” She wrote an article about it. A local Florida historian named Gail Swanson wrote a book about the ship, called Slave Ship Guerrero . And of course, you can always get involved with Ken’s organization, Diving With a Purpose .
Fri, January 26, 2024
Moon Trees (Classic)
These trees sprang from seeds that were brought to outer space. Moon Tree Website: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/moon_tree.html READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/categories/moon-trees
Thu, January 25, 2024
A Giant Spectacle in Goffstown
We go to New Hampshire – but not for politics. Instead, we visit Goffstown, the pumpkin boat capital of New England, and meet the man who came up with an annual, improbable regatta. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: See a video of the annual pumpkin boat race here
Wed, January 24, 2024
Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern
We go to Houston, where a gigantic underground vessel that used to be a water source is now an enchanting – and echo-filled – part of the downtown park system. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/buffalo-bayou-park-cistern
Tue, January 23, 2024
Slowjamastan
We get out our passports and visit The Republic of Slowjamastan, a nation built on good vibes, good music and a dream of eliminating one very popular type of footwear.
Mon, January 22, 2024
Whimzeyland
We go to Safety Harbor, Florida – where two artists have made their house into a magnet for creativity and culture, and where Troll Dolls, Jello molds, and bowling balls reign. This episode was produced in partnership with Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. LEARN MORE: Visit kiaralinda.com to see pictures of some of the art at Whimzeyland and for information about getting a tour. And go to visitstpeteclearwater.com to learn about other fun and artsy things to do in the Tampa Bay region.
Fri, January 19, 2024
Forest of the Future Library (Winter Wonder Classic)
This forest in Oslo, Norway will provide the trees for paper as part of a century long art project featuring famed contemporary authors. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/forest-of-the-future-library
Thu, January 18, 2024
Ark Two Shelter (Winter Wonder Classic)
Forty-two school buses have been buried in Horning’s Mills, Ontario - covered in concrete, they can house up to 500 people in case of nuclear fallout. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ark-two-shelter
Wed, January 17, 2024
Congo Square (Winter Wonder Classic)
Congo Square in New Orleans is the heart of where African drumming found its way into American music and the birth of Jazz. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/congo-square
Tue, January 16, 2024
The Complaint Tablet of Ea-Nasir (Winter Wonder Classic)
Turns out, complaining about bad service really is as old as time. Hear the story of an ancient Babylonian clay tablet that has launched a slew of modern memes. Click here for more.
Mon, January 15, 2024
Dmanisi (Winter Wonder Classic)
An archeological site in the country of Georgia, which features the oldest, human skull fossils found outside of Africa, challenges what we think we know about our deep past. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/dmanisi-hominins-brain-shape
Fri, January 12, 2024
Monkey Island (Winter Wonder Classic)
An island off the coast of Puerto Rico is home to more than 1500 imported monkeys, which have been studied by researchers for decades. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cayo-santiago-monkey-island
Thu, January 11, 2024
Cranes of the DMZ (Winter Wonder Classic)
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea has become an accidental bird sanctuary for one of the world’s most endangered crane species. Learn more about the International Crane Foundation at savingcranes.org.
Wed, January 10, 2024
Mafra Palace Library Bats (Winter Wonder Classic)
A grand library in Portugal has some unexpected nighttime caretakers -- tiny bats. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mafra-palace-library-bats
Tue, January 09, 2024
Parrots of Green-Wood Cemetery (Winter Wonder Classic)
These Argentinian parrots have made an unlikely home in a Brooklyn, NY cemetery.
Mon, January 08, 2024
Luomus Spiders (Winter Wonder Classic)
Finnish Museum of Natural History in Helsinki has had an infestation of Chilean recluse spiders for more than 50 years.
Fri, January 05, 2024
Micropia (Winter Wonder Classic)
Take a trip to Micropia, the world’s only museum dedicated to microscopic organisms and learn about our invisible life companions. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/micropia
Thu, January 04, 2024
Milky Seas (Winter Wonder Classic)
Join host Dylan Thuras, a satellite scientist, and a ship captain in search of gigantic swaths of bioluminescence that radiate up from the surface of the sea over thousands of square miles.
Wed, January 03, 2024
Laguna Del Diamante (Winter Wonder Classic)
A toxic lake high in the Andes mountains in Argentina is home to microbes that provide a window to our planet’s past — and a key to securing its future. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/laguna-del-diamante
Tue, January 02, 2024
Relampago del Catatumbo (Winter Wonder Classic)
There’s an everlasting lightning storm in Northwestern Venezuela that appears in the night sky nearly every night. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/relampago-del-catatumbo
Mon, January 01, 2024
The Various Ends of the World (Winter Wonder Classic)
Science writer Peter Brannen takes listeners on a tour of the world’s five major mass extinctions.
Fri, December 29, 2023
Spacecraft Cemetery (Winter Wonder Classic)
Where does space stuff go after it dies? To this spot deep, deep in the Pacific ocean. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/spacecraft-cemetery
Thu, December 28, 2023
Fun and Funny Science with Mary Roach (Winter Wonder Classic)
Author Mary Roach takes us into the hidden corners of the scientific world. From training to poop in space to the surprisingly pleasant Common Cold Unit, all the way to the inside of Elvis’s colon. If you want to check out her work, we recommend starting with Packing for Mars .
Wed, December 27, 2023
The Grave of Miss Baker (Winter Wonder Classic)
Visitors leave bananas on the grave of “America’s First Lady of Space,” an early astronaut whose incredible life was forgotten. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-grave-of-miss-baker-huntsville-alabama
Tue, December 26, 2023
The Tunguska Event (Winter Wonder Classic)
We head to a remote region of Russia, to the epicenter of what would become known as the Tunguska Event. An event that may seem unfathomable… except we have firsthand accounts from people who witnessed it. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tunguska-event-epicenter
Mon, December 25, 2023
Amir Siraj and the Interstellar Object (Winter Wonder Classic)
Amir Siraj was a sophomore in college when he discovered what may be the first documented interstellar object to hit Earth.
Sun, December 24, 2023
Tumbleweed Christmas Tree (Winter Wonder Classic)
Chandler, Arizona creates a Christmas Tree made entirely of the diaspore of this Western plant. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tumbleweed-christmas-tree
Sat, December 23, 2023
A Holiday Announcement
Over the last two and a half years, the Atlas Obscura podcast has published well over 500 original episodes. For the next few weeks, we're taking a holiday break -- but not leaving you without wonder. Over the course of 20 episodes, host Dylan Thuras is going to take you on a journey starting in the cosmic reaches of space, to the earliest days of life on earth, through a tour of our fellow earthly creatures, and finally arrive at us, the great apes who record podcasts. We'll be back in late January with brand new episodes.
Fri, December 22, 2023
President Heads (Classic)
42 giant busts of U.S. presidents are slowly crumbling in a field in Virginia. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/president-heads
Thu, December 21, 2023
Sniffing out What’s Special with Saskia Wilson Brown
Specific smells have been linked to specific geographies, cultures, and mythologies for THOUSANDS of years. Today, we hear from Saskia Wilson-Brown about fragrance, power, and the power of scent. MORE: Saskia is the founder of the Institute of Art and Olfaction, a nonprofit to expand access and education around scent. She also teaches a 3-part online class with us here at Atlas Obscura, and it runs a couple of times a year. Head to the online courses page on our website, and you can use code AMBERGRIS to get 15% off your registration.
Wed, December 20, 2023
Nightwalking with Bianca Giaever
We learn about an age-old practice of nightwalking, with the help of two women who took it on as an experiment in the early chaotic days of the pandemic. Joining the conversation is Bianca Giaever, creator of one of our favorite podcasts of the year, Constellation Prize. MORE: To hear Constellation Prize for yourself, you can head to thebeliever.net or anywhere podcasts are available. And if you want to learn more about nightwalking, check out this article Bianca wrote.
Tue, December 19, 2023
A Return to Recipe Graves
Gastro Obscura’s senior editor Sam O’Brien returns to the podcast to go deeper with us on her strange beat – recipes etched into gravestones. We probe how food can help heal and remember those we’ve lost. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: Sam has written a bunch about recipe gravestones, and has even been on the podcast before. Read and listen to more of her work at these links: The Family Recipes That Live On in Cemeteries Podcast: The Spritz Cookie Gravestone Podcast: Grandma Ida’s Nut Rolls Gravestone
Mon, December 18, 2023
Old City Hall Station
A producer takes a detour for a glimpse of what some call New York’s worst kept secret – a train station that’s been shut down and sealed away for nearly a century. MORE: Visit the New York Transit Museum’s website to learn how to become a member and book a tour of the station.
Fri, December 15, 2023
Pando the Trembling Giant (Classic)
Fishlake National Forest is home to the biggest organism by mass on the planet - but this giant is shrinking and an usual group has banded together to help defend it. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pando-the-trembling-giant
Thu, December 14, 2023
Gourdlandia
This magical wonderland in Ithaca, New York is devoted entirely—almost spiritually—to this unusual and versatile fruit. It's also the brainchild of Graham Ottoson, who is teaching an Atlas Obscura course on gourds. Listeners get 15% off by using code GOURDLOVE during registration. End credit music in this episode is from Alexander Fals (ngoni + vocals), Hayley Dayis (vocals), and Manuel Solarte (percussion). If you like what you heard, you can listen to more of their songs here. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gourdlandia
Wed, December 13, 2023
New Bedford Whaling Museum
An oozing whale skeleton isn't the only attraction at this Massachusetts museum. Hear how a producer’s visit revealed some surprising facts about an industry that helped enrich a city and was inclusive well before diversity became a buzzword. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-oozing-whale-skeleton-of-new-bedford-new-bedford-massachusetts
Tue, December 12, 2023
Knoxville Weather Kiosk
Back in the day, people were so hungry for info about the weather that they would stand in line all day to get a glimpse of a series of kiosks placed in towns across the country. We go to Tennessee to hear the story of one. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/knoxville-weather-kiosk
Mon, December 11, 2023
Ol Pejeta Rhino Cemetery
A small cemetery in the grasslands of Kenya serves as a way to honor one of the most endangered animals in the world – the rhino – and elevate the plight of a species on the brink. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ol-pejeta-rhino-cemetery
Fri, December 08, 2023
The Super Museum
A midwest city has embraced what it means to be the namesake hometown of one very famous superhero. And at its center is a museum that holds the carefully cultivated collection of one superfan. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/super-museum-metropolis
Thu, December 07, 2023
Sunny Jim Cave (Classic)
We follow a long set of wooden stairs deep underground to a sea cave with a mysterious and colorful past, and take in a spectacular, hidden view of the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla. Learn more about The Cave Store: https://www.cavestore.com/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sunny-jim-cave-store
Wed, December 06, 2023
The Great Stalacpipe Organ (Classic)
The Luray Caverns in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia are home to an instrument that draws out the secret sounds of millenia-old stone. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-great-stalacpipe-organ-luray-virginia
Tue, December 05, 2023
The Naica Cave (Classic)
Professional Adventurer George Kourounis knew he needed to visit the Cave of the Crystals, located nearly a 1000 feet beneath northern Mexico, the moment he saw a photograph from inside the cave. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/giant-crystals-naica
Mon, December 04, 2023
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My
We got so many responses to our question about listener experiences with animal encounters that we made a second episode. Experiences include a woman who touches a tiger’s tail, a man who plays peek-a-boo with a bear and a chance meeting of a herd of elk. WE WANT YOUR STORIES: We’re working on a new slate of episodes that will feature listener stories, and want to hear yours. Tell us about a place you’ve been to that made you instantly feel at home. What made it special? Have you returned there? What sticks out about this place that makes it unique to you? Why does it remind you of home? How does it connect to you? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes, so you may need to call multiple times if your story is long. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com
Fri, December 01, 2023
Museum of Broken Relationships (Classic)
This episode will break your heart. And that’s a good thing. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-of-broken-relationships
Thu, November 30, 2023
Aurora Alien Gravesite
A small town in Texas has embraced the story of the visit and demise of an otherworldly being from the 1800s… and what many say is America’s only alien gravesite. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/1800-s-alien-gravesite If you can’t make it out to Texas, check out this documentary about the incident which is online.
Wed, November 29, 2023
Travel Ups and Downs
A few weeks ago, our staff here at Atlas Obscura put out an episode about our traveling expectations – places that either blew us away… or were a major letdown. And today - we are hearing YOUR stories. WE WANT YOUR STORIES: We’re working on a new slate of episodes that will feature listener stories, and we want to hear yours. Tell us about a place you’ve been that made you instantly feel at home. What made it special? Have you returned there? What sticks out about this place that makes it unique to you? Why does it remind you of home? How does it connect to you? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes, so you may need to call multiple times if your story is long. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com
Tue, November 28, 2023
They Also Ran Gallery
An art gallery in Kansas celebrates the losers of presidential elections. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/they-also-ran-gallery-norton-kansas
Mon, November 27, 2023
Nue
A Seattle restaurant pushes diners to eat beyond their borders through its embrace of global street foods.
Fri, November 24, 2023
Elephant Clock (Classic)
The Elephant Clock, a replica of an ancient invention, sits in Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai, surrounded by stores like The Gap and H&M. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/elephant-clock
Thu, November 23, 2023
The Family Tree (Classic)
A listener’s voicemail sent us searching for the story of a very special -- and giant -- oak tree in Peoria, Illinois, and the family of arborists who cared for it.
Wed, November 22, 2023
Dyatlov Pass Part 2
For decades, rumors and conspiracy theories swirled after nine people disappeared in the Ural mountains of the Soviet Union in 1959. But just a few years ago, the case was solved – even though many don’t accept the explanation. Journalist and author Doug Preston guides us through the second half of the story. MORE: The mountain where the people disappeared has since been renamed Dyatlov Pass and is today a popular hiking destination. If you’re into this case and want to learn more – check out Doug’s new book The Lost Tomb , which will be released Dec 5.
Tue, November 21, 2023
Dyatlov Pass Part 1
Journalist and author Doug Preston guides us through the first half of a cliffhanger story about the mysterious disappearance of a group of hikers in the Soviet Union... and the myriad conspiracy theories that sprouted up afterward.
Mon, November 20, 2023
A Gaga Tour of the Town
Producer Manolo Morales, a devoted Little Monster, gallivants around the Lower East Side via an immersive performance-art walking tour dedicated to an iconic pop star.
Fri, November 17, 2023
Martian Meteorites and Greek Columns (Classic)
Places editors Jonathan and Michelle are back again with a few new standout entries to the Atlas … including a spot in Antarctica that’s home to the oldest Martian meteorite and a column in Greece that symbolizes the fear and ritual past generations embraced when faced with their own plague.
Thu, November 16, 2023
The Lightning Field
For art nerds, the Lightning Field installation in the New Mexico desert is a bucket-list destination. It’s also a testament to the extraordinary control the artist who created it was able to exert, even after death. To reserve your spot to stay at the Lightning Field, sign up at the Dia Foundation's website. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lightning-field
Wed, November 15, 2023
Tiny Bread Box
A couple created what is perhaps the cutest and most filling micro-store to pop up during the pandemic. But to find it, you’ll have to trek through rural Vermont and look for the phone-booth sized box filled with baked goods. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tiny-bread-box
Tue, November 14, 2023
Montezuma Well
A mysterious sinkhole in Arizona has befuddled an exclusive group of divers who’ve gotten a glimpse of a strange world underneath its sandy bottom. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/montezuma-well-arizona
Mon, November 13, 2023
Café 't Mandje
We’re in Amsterdam, learning about a bad-ass woman who championed queer folx and provided a safe haven throughout World War II via her quirky bar in the red light district. MORE: Schedule a visit of Cafe Mandje with Badass Tours , which runs tours in Amsterdam focusing on women’s history, LGBTQ+ history, BIPOC history, Jewish history, or one tour tailored to your interests.
Fri, November 10, 2023
Brooklyn Latrine (Classic)
A listener tells us about a treasure buried in his literal backyard, and the two strange men who showed up on his doorstep and asked to dig it up.
Thu, November 09, 2023
Dolly Parton’s Dreambox
We will always love Dolly Parton, who’s installed a “dreambox” time capsule at her amusement park. In it, there’s a secret song that no one will hear until the legendary artist turns 100. LEARN MORE about Dolly’s songwriting prowess in Unlikely Angel, a book by Hamilton College professor Lydia Hamessley.
Wed, November 08, 2023
A Long Walk Home
We meet back up with our pal Bernie Harberts, the beast whisperer, who trekked 19 million mule steps across the United States only to find himself, for the first time, a little homesick. MORE: To keep up with Bernie and to hear more about his travels, be sure to sign up for his newsletter – you can do that at his website: riverearth.com .
Tue, November 07, 2023
Gregynog Hall
We go to the former estate of the Davies sisters, two unusually wealthy Welsh women who traveled the world, fell in love with art, served their country, and then dedicated their home to culture and community. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gregynog-hall
Mon, November 06, 2023
The Immovable Ladder
In a place where multiple world religions intersect, this unassuming little ladder is a symbol of the very delicate balance that keeps a church in Jerusalem running. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/immovable-ladder-church-holy-sepulchre
Fri, November 03, 2023
The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft (Classic)
Reporter Eric Grundhauser recounts a memorable visit to an unusual museum in Iceland, where he explored the ancient lore of the occult, learned how to steal milk from his neighbors, and laid his eyes upon a pair of pants… made of human flesh. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-museum-of-icelandic-sorcery-witchcraft-holmavik-iceland
Thu, November 02, 2023
Yemrehanna Kristos Church (Classic)
Photographer and author Paul Koudonaris brings listeners to this Ethiopian Church and explores ossuaries, jeweled skeletons, and death practices throughout the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/yemrehana-krestos-church
Wed, November 01, 2023
Scary Stories from Real Places (Classic)
Atlas contributors bring listeners stories from spooky locations they’ve visited, and which continue to haunt them.
Tue, October 31, 2023
Spooky Sites with the Places Team (Classic)
With Halloween just around the corner Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring you two spooky legends of The Mothman from Point Pleasant, West Virginia and a potentially ghoulish forest in the Transylvanian Region of Romania. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mothman-museum-2 and https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hoia-baciu-forest
Mon, October 30, 2023
Bloody Island (Classic)
This island between Missouri and Illinois was a preferred meeting place for duels to the death in the early 1900’s.
Fri, October 27, 2023
Abandoned Chacaltaya Ski Resort (Classic)
Hear from the caretakers of a ghost town in Bolivia that was once the world's highest ski resort. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/abandoned-chacaltaya-ski-resort
Thu, October 26, 2023
The Art of the Heist with Noah Charney
We chat with one of the leading experts on art theft – professor and author Noah Charney, who unpacks the cultural fascination with this type of crime. Charney also tells us the story of one of the most notorious real life art thieves. MORE : Charney is teaching a course in art crime that begins Nov 7, 2023. To enroll, visit the courses page on our website and use code ARTCRIMEPOD for 15% off.
Wed, October 25, 2023
Great Plains Dinosaur Museum
We visit a museum in Montana that’s a dream for dinosaur nerds, and home to bones that are the real deal, locally sourced and sustainably foraged. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/great-plains-dinosaur-museum
Tue, October 24, 2023
Venturing Into the Twilight Zone with Susan Casey
Journalist Susan Casey takes us to the deep deep ocean, where she explores the relationship between humans and this mysterious underworld. READ MORE: Find out more about Susan’s work here , including her new book .
Mon, October 23, 2023
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
A basketball fan goes to the hall of fame – and no, it’s not the big one in Massachusetts that you may be thinking about. Hear the story behind a Midwest state’s special link to the sport. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/indiana-basketball-hall-of-fame-museum
Fri, October 20, 2023
Science that Doesn’t Stop (Classic)
Host Dylan Thuras riffs on a subject that has long fascinated him: The world’s longest-running science experiments.
Thu, October 19, 2023
The Wishing Tree
There’s a special tree in Portland that’s full of a city’s hopes, dreams, and wishes. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/portland-wishing-tree
Wed, October 18, 2023
The Golem
We peek into the life and work of the oft-understood artist Niki de Saint Phalle, who was behind a strange and wildly popular playground sculpture in Jerusalem. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-mifletzet-jerusalem-israel
Tue, October 17, 2023
Robot Saints
We meet the robot saints – sculptures made of wood and wire, of cams and pulleys during medieval times – that might just help us understand this new AI age we all find ourselves living in. LEARN MORE about these inventions by reading City University of New York Professor Christopher Swift’s 2015 paper about these automated figures.
Mon, October 16, 2023
Nasothek Noses
We get up close and nosey about a peculiar exhibit in Copenhagen that reveals a lot about what artists and society considered beautiful throughout the years READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/nasothek-nose-collection
Fri, October 13, 2023
The Plotz Plot (Classic)
Josh Foer, the co-founder of Atlas Obscura, takes us to a remote patch of land in the Arizona desert, where he built (and later rebuilt) a museum in honor of the company’s former CEO, David Plotz. The Plotz Plot is accessible from Adamana Road, off of I-40 exit 300, at 35.025639, -109.8195. The lock code is 4444. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/plotz-plot
Thu, October 12, 2023
The Stanley Hotel
We go inside a place that some paranormal investigators call the most active haunted location in the world. Before it was known as the inspiration for Stephen King...the Stanley Hotel had a reputation -- and ghosts -- of its own. This episode was produced with Visit Colorado. Find more information about the Stanley Hotel and its ghost tours online.
Wed, October 11, 2023
Our Travel Expectations
Travel is sometimes like a box of chocolates – never know what you’re going to get. In this episode, we share stories of places that blew us away, and those that didn't live up to the hype. We want to hear YOUR stories about the places you've visited that far exceeded--or failed to meet your expectations. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. (Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call again if you get disconnected) You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com .
Tue, October 10, 2023
The Tunguska Event
We head to a remote region of Russia, to the epicenter of what would become known as the Tunguska Event. An event that may seem unfathomable… except we have firsthand accounts from people who witnessed it. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tunguska-event-epicenter
Mon, October 09, 2023
Tolkien Takes Us Places
This fall marks 50 years since JRR Tolkien’s death. In honor of the writer’s life and legacy, we want to take you back to the places where it all began.
Fri, October 06, 2023
La Piedra Movediza (Classic)
A huge rock, teetering on the edge of a hill for thousands of years, brought tourism, fame, and what’s said to be a 100-year curse to the town of Tandil, Argentina. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/la-piedra-movediza
Thu, October 05, 2023
Grave Bells
We go to Bonaventure Cemetery in Georgia to the grave of one Charles F. Mills to learn about a distinct – but at one time widespread – phobia – and the hope to be saved by a bell. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/charles-f-mills-grave-bell
Wed, October 04, 2023
Baobab Fare
The story of Chef Hamissi Mamba, whose family sought asylum in the US and years later founded an East African restaurant that serves up a small slice of Burundi in the Motor City. Find out more here .
Tue, October 03, 2023
Enchanted Woods
We go to Wilmington, Delaware, to a 4-acre garden with characters and exhibits created using castoff materials and greenery that invites kids to drop screens and rules – and instead give in to a state of play. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/enchanted-woods-winterthur-gardens
Mon, October 02, 2023
Searching for Squids with Dr. Sarah McAnulty
We go on a journey through the depths of the ocean, meeting a different squid deity at each stop along the way. Our guide is cephalopod expert, biologist and science educator, Dr. Sarah McAnulty. LEARN MORE: Sarah is teaching a course this fall about the creatures that live in the deep sea. It starts October 3, 2023 and you can find more information here . If you want to sign up, you can use promo code CEPHALOPODCAST to take 15% off!
Fri, September 29, 2023
Secret Places with Ashley Ray (Classic)
Podcaster Ashley Ray has more than a soft spot for her Midwest hometown. Hear why she thinks it may just be the best kept secret. HEAR MORE FROM OUR GUEST: Ashley has her own podcast all about TV and culture. Check it out here: https://www.stitcher.com/show/tv-i-say-w-ashley-ray GREAT NEWS: We’re up for an award - and you can help us win! Our podcast has been named a finalist for the Signal Awards! Go to vote.signalaward.com and vote for us in the best commute podcast category through Oct 5!
Thu, September 28, 2023
The 49th Parallel (Classic)
A listener takes us to a town on the edge of the longest undefended border in the world. Note: US-Canada border regulations have been updated since this episode first aired. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/uscanada-border-slash GREAT NEWS: We’re up for an award - and you can help us win! Our podcast has been named a finalist for the Signal Awards! Go to vote.signalaward.com and vote for us in the best commute podcast category through Oct 5!
Wed, September 27, 2023
Lake Karachay (Classic)
Lake Karachay in Ozersk, Russia is the site of a former secret Soviet Union nuclear facility - that’s inspired art despite the little that’s publicly known of the site. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lake-karachay GREAT NEWS: We’re up for an award - and you can help us win! Our podcast has been named a finalist for the Signal Awards! Go to vote.signalaward.com and vote for us in the best commute podcast category through Oct 5!
Tue, September 26, 2023
The Dedan Kimathi Post Office Tree (Classic)
The Dedan Kimathi Post Office played a notable role in Kenya’s struggle for Independence. GREAT NEWS: We’re up for an award - and you can help us win! Our podcast has been named a finalist for the Signal Awards! Go to vote.signalaward.com and vote for us in the best commute podcast category through Oct 5!
Mon, September 25, 2023
Twin Oaks
An intentional community in rural central Virginia has been testing an interesting premise for decades — that maybe three, or four, or more parental figures are even better than two. This episode is part of a collaboration we did with Freakonomics. You can find a larger episode on this topic here .
Fri, September 22, 2023
Moses Gates and the Chrysler Building Eagles (Classic)
Urban planner, Moses Gates, shares his unlikely experience with the residents of the 61st floor of one of New York City’s most iconic buildings..
Thu, September 21, 2023
The Fear Lab
At Denmark’s largest haunted house attraction, it’s not just about the screams. Researchers are studying the effects – good and bad – that fear has on humans READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-science-of-horror-fear
Wed, September 20, 2023
The Ark of Citrus
There are thousands of varieties of citrus, many more than just the navel oranges. And they’re all being preserved in a collection at the University of California Riverside. Learn more here .
Tue, September 19, 2023
Getting lost in Golden Gate Park
Many of us rely on digital maps and GPS to get anywhere these days. Hear what happens when Producer Amanda McGowan finds herself lost in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park for a sport you may have never heard of – orienteering – which forces participants to navigate checkpoints with old fashioned maps and compasses. MORE: If you think you might want to try orienteering, find a local group here.
Mon, September 18, 2023
Italy’s Bomb Squad
We chat with writer Alessio Perrone about what he learned from the people who hunt for Italy’s unexploded bombs, leftover from times of war. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/italy-unexploded-ordnance
Fri, September 15, 2023
Harvard Bridge Smoots (Classic)
How an MIT fraternity pledge instituted a new, unique unit of measurement. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/harvard-bridge-smoot-measurements
Thu, September 14, 2023
The Atomic Clock
How do we determine the time? Believe it or not, there is an official clock. It’s located in Boulder, Colorado at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and we go there to visit. LEARN MORE: NIST doesn’t give public tours. But if you want to watch the seconds go by as precisely as humanly possible, dial (303) 499-7111.
Wed, September 13, 2023
Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center
We go to the Allegany territory of the Onödowá'ga people to learn about "The Creator's Game” – which evolved into the sport now known as lacrosse – and their constant fight to be recognized. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/onohsagwe-de-cultural-center
Tue, September 12, 2023
Bridget Cleary
We explore the power of myth and folklore through the story of an Irish woman, whose husband murdered her because he believed she’d become a fairy. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/bridget-cleary-changeling-murder-ireland
Mon, September 11, 2023
Fenway Victory Gardens
One of the last remaining World War II Victory Gardens in the U.S is quietly growing across from Boston’s Fenway Park .
Fri, September 08, 2023
Rites of Passage
School is back in session. So for this episode, Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring two stories - one from the campus of Gallaudet University and the other from Cornell University to tell us about usual traditions that take place in these universities.
Thu, September 07, 2023
Mini Golfing in Myrtle Beach
In Myrtle Beach, mini golf is not so mini. It’s over the top! This episode was produced in partnership with Visit Myrtle Beach, and to find a list of all mini golf courses, go to VisitMyrtleBeach.com .
Wed, September 06, 2023
Face to Face Yet Again
Our team has shared memorable encounters they’ve had with animals, and some were very unexpected. So this time we asked YOU about those experiences – and some of them are wild! TELL US YOUR STORY We want to hear your stories too! Give us a call at (315) 992-7902, and leave a message telling us your name, and about the places you've visited that far exceeded--or failed to meet your expectations. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com . Looking forward to hearing from you.
Tue, September 05, 2023
Kennett Square
Just an hour west of Philadelphia, there’s a charming town in Pennsylvania that produces about two thirds of all the mushrooms sold in the US. We visit during the town’s annual festival and check out the mycelium madness. This Small Town, Big Story episode is produced in partnership with Go USA TV. Check out our video series featuring Kennett Square here.
Mon, September 04, 2023
Carousel of Happiness (Classic)
A music box given to Scott Harrison while he served in Vietnam inspired him to hand-carve all the animals for the Carousel of Happiness in Nederland, Colorado. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/carousel-of-happiness
Fri, September 01, 2023
Maine Windjammers
We go back in time to another era of travel and take a trip on the oldest commercial sailing vessel in the United States. Click here to learn more about windjammers and here to book a trip with Captain Becky. This episode was made in partnership with the Maine Office of Tourism .
Thu, August 31, 2023
The Last White Deer of Mount Madonna (Classic)
The story of the white deer on Mount Madonna, the two robber barons who put them there, and the last survivor of the herd.
Wed, August 30, 2023
How to Quarantine in a Ghost Town
Back in 2020, a lot of people moved to faraway places to escape urban life amid a global pandemic. Brent Underwood bought and moved to an abandoned town. We check in, three years later. To learn more about Brent Underwood and Cerro Gordo, you can check out their instagram @brentunderwood and their youtube channel named Ghost Town Living.
Tue, August 29, 2023
It’s Getting Hot in Here
Let’s all go to hell. Seriously. Hell, Michigan, that is :) READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hell-michigan
Mon, August 28, 2023
Villa de Vecchi
An abandoned mansion in Italy has become the source of rumors about ghost activity that some believe is justified by its very real gothic past. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/villa-de-vecchi
Fri, August 25, 2023
Dead Companions (Classic)
We nearly stump host Dylan Thuras with a seemingly simple question: Who are the top five dead people he would like to go on a road trip with?
Thu, August 24, 2023
Arthurdale
The New Deal is known for ushering a string of social safety net programs. But in this episode, we tell the saga of an ambitious, government-backed homestead project in West Virginia that never quite lived up to its hype. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/arthurdale-historic-district-west-virginia
Wed, August 23, 2023
Mysterious Sinkholes of Mt Baldy
One family’s regular day of exploring some sand dunes at the edge of Lake Michigan turned into a wild tale of a little boy being sucked into a sinkhole, and the discovery of underground tunnels. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mysterious-sinkholes-of-mt-baldy
Tue, August 22, 2023
Embracing Adventure in Fayetteville
A tiny town in West Virginia takes “living lift to the fullest” to a different level, with its embrace of extreme adventure activities. Like, for instance, a day where people sign up to jump off a bridge. This Small Town, Big Story episode is produced in partnership with Go USA TV. Learn more about Bridge Day here.
Mon, August 21, 2023
A Whale of a Tale with Daniel Kraus
We chat with writer Daniel Kraus, who let his imagination run deep into the ocean after hearing a wild news story about an encounter between kayakers and a whale. And we get the backstory to Kraus’ new novel Whalefall, about a man who finds himself in the belly of a sperm whale.
Fri, August 18, 2023
Spacecraft Cemetery (Classic)
Where does space stuff go after it dies? To this spot deep, deep in the Pacific ocean. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/spacecraft-cemetery
Thu, August 17, 2023
Demon Wall
A small church in a village in Norway is home to an unusual and perplexing mural that’s become known for its demonic illustrations. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/demon-wall-norway
Wed, August 16, 2023
APOPO Rats
This episode may have you reconsidering what you think about rats. That’s because at this training and research center in Tanzania, African Giant Pouched Rats are being raised up to sniff out landmines and disease, proving to be the heroes we all need. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-best-secret-weapon-against-landmines-and-tuberculosis-is-a-rat
Tue, August 15, 2023
Texas Painted Churches
A series of churches in Texas that look unassuming from the outside in fact have some of the most intricately painted interiors. And for one of our listeners, these churches mean home – religiously and culturally.
Mon, August 14, 2023
Snake Island
A tiny island off the coast of Brazil is known for being a dangerous place … purely because its inhabitants are, well, snakes. But we speak to a researcher who’s seen it up close and says it’s time for this place to shed its reputation. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/snake-island-ilha-de-queimada-grande
Fri, August 11, 2023
Winchester Mystery House (Classic)
Does this sprawling mansion in San Jose, California live up to its reputation as one of the most haunted places in the world? READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/winchester-mystery-house
Thu, August 10, 2023
Hartsdale Pet Cemetery
The oldest operating pet cemetery in the world is just north of NYC, and it’s where dearly departed four-legged friends come to rest – and sometimes, even their owners. Grab your tissues. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hartsdale-pet-cemetery
Wed, August 09, 2023
Gullah Museum
We visit a museum in Georgetown, SC that’s dedicated to preserving and prioritizing the rich and historic Gullah Geechee culture. READ MORE: http://www.gullahmuseumsc.com/
Tue, August 08, 2023
Burj Al Babas
An incomplete luxury housing development in Turkey is a mashup of fairy tale and ghost town, and almost everyone has an opinion of (or wants to see) this place. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/turkey-castle-ghost-town
Mon, August 07, 2023
Pā‘ula‘ula / Russian Fort Elizabeth
Producer Johanna Mayer and Atlas Obscura associate editor Sarah Durn tell us the story of a fort in Hawaii with two names – and how those names both preserve and erase its history. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hawaiian-history-russian-fort-elizabeth
Fri, August 04, 2023
Sunny Jim Cave (Classic)
We follow a long set of wooden stairs deep underground to a sea cave with a mysterious and colorful past, and take in a spectacular, hidden view of the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla. Learn more about The Cave Store: https://www.cavestore.com/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sunny-jim-cave-store
Thu, August 03, 2023
Jacko Steps
We go to the Caribbean island of Dominica and hear the story of Jacko, a formerly enslaved man who became a national hero for his ingenious escape and emancipation efforts READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jacko-steps
Wed, August 02, 2023
Dmanisi
An archeological site in the country of Georgia, which features the oldest human skull fossils found outside of Africa, challenges what we think we know about our deep past. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/dmanisi-hominins-brain-shape
Tue, August 01, 2023
Heating things up in Hatch
Today we're headed just a couple hours south of Albuquerque to Hatch, New Mexico, a town where the heat doesn’t just come from the sun. It also comes from the signature crop: Hatch, New Mexico chiles. This Small Town, Big Story episode is produced in partnership with Go USA TV. Learn more about New Mexico here. Learn more about this story here.
Mon, July 31, 2023
Bone Vinyl
In the Soviet Union, x-rays didn’t just give you a look inside the human body. They also gave you a glimpse of the outside world, thanks to music that was imprinted onto this unassuming medical tool. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/soviet-scenesters-used-xrays-to-record-their-rock-and-roll
Fri, July 28, 2023
Beale Treasure (Classic)
Grab your pickaxes, your shovels, and your code breaking supercomputers because today we’re going on a treasure hunt.
Thu, July 27, 2023
Knight’s Spider Web Farm
The family behind this farm relies on itsy bitsy helpers to produce one-of-a-kind art. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/knight-s-spider-web-farm
Wed, July 26, 2023
Amazon Night Hikes
Hear how a trip to the jungle, and a series of nighttime hikes, cured producer Chris Naka’s bug-phobia, once and for all.
Tue, July 25, 2023
Spaces for Spies
Places editors Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy bring us two stories about two particular places whose histories intersect with real world American espionage. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: Check out our entry on the FBI House here and on the Wertheim Study in the NY Public Library here .
Mon, July 24, 2023
Mapping the Gay Guides
For decades, a one of a kind travel guide opened up the world for gay travelers. Today, historians are using them to create an interactive map of LGBTQ spaces in midcentury America. LEARN MORE: https://www.mappingthegayguides.org/
Fri, July 21, 2023
Rödstensgubben (Classic)
A trip to Sweden prompts former show producer Sarah Wyman to dig into a superstitious story passed through generations about the Red Stone Man
Thu, July 20, 2023
Face to Face
Our show often focuses on interesting people and places. But in this episode, the team shares memorable encounters they’ve had with animals – everything from parakeets to a very special opossum. TELL US YOUR STORY: We want to hear your stories too! Give us a call at (315) 992-7902, and leave a message telling us your name, and about your own animal encounter. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com . Looking forward to hearing from you.
Wed, July 19, 2023
Darién Gap
An infamous break in the road that links North and South America has been in and out the news for more than 100 years – for good reason. This stretch of jungle has been a magnet for adventure junkies, but also is the site of a growing humanitarian and migration crisis. Learn More Info About The Gap: https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/15/americas/darien-gap-migrants-colombia-panama-whole-story-cmd-intl/index.html How to help/advocacy groups: https://www.nrc.no/feature/2023/the-jungle-may-swallow-you-surviving-the-darien-gap/ https://www.refugeesinternational.org/reports-briefs/filling-the-gap-humanitarian-support-and-alternative-pathways-for-migrants-on-colombias-edge/ Rick’s website: https://www.jungletreks.com/
Tue, July 18, 2023
A house move like no other
Author Dave Eggers has an enduring affinity for Idaho. In this episode, he chats with Dylan about a unique family that undertook what is perhaps one of the strangest, slowest moves in history. The fascinating tale provided inspiration for the writer’s new children’s book, Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion. Get the book here and learn more about Eggers' work here .
Mon, July 17, 2023
The Coffee Palace
A majestic building in Santos, Brazil used to be the center of the coffee trade. LEARN MORE: Go deeper with Professor Ian Read’s work here and read more in the Atlas here .
Fri, July 14, 2023
The Capitoline Wolf (Classic)
Blind Guy Travels host Matthew Shifrin discusses a formative encounter with a wolf tied to the origins of Rome. Listen to Blind Guy Travels: https://radiotopiapresents.fm/blind-guy-travels
Thu, July 13, 2023
Man’s Best (Stiff) Friends
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring us two charming stories of some very special canines who have been (literally) preserved for the ages. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: Learn about Sergeant Stubby here and Owney here
Wed, July 12, 2023
The Complaint Tablet of Ea-Nasir
Turns out, complaining about bad service really is as old as time. Hear the story of an ancient Babylonian clay tablet that has launched a slew of modern memes. Click here for more.
Tue, July 11, 2023
A Friendly Town With An Ax To Grind
Every year, lumberjacks and lumberjills from around the world flock to Hayward, Wisconsin – a couple hours north of Minneapolis – to compete in the Lumberjack World Championships. Join us as we get our hands dirty alongside the world’s most skilled in all-things chopping…and rolling. This episode is produced in partnership w ith GoUSA TV. If you want to see more Small Town, Big Story, watch now on GoUSA TV or on YouTube . You can learn more about visiting Hayward here: https://haywardareachamber.com/
Mon, July 10, 2023
Gunnar Schonbeck Exhibit
For years, students at Bennington College snuck into a locked room for a glimpse of strange and magical instruments created by professor Gunnar Schonbeck. Today, we join his orchestra. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/no-experience-required
Fri, July 07, 2023
Magical Summer Memories Vol. 4 - The Magic of Water (Classic)
In this final installment of summer stories we tackle a topic that transcends the seasons—the captivating magic of water during travel. If you’d like to share a story about your summer, record a voice memo and send it to hello@atlasobscura.com or leave a voicemail at 315-992-7902.
Thu, July 06, 2023
Magical Summer Memories Vol. 3 - The Cardiff Giant (Classic)
In this installment we hear a listener’s tale of a theological dispute that became a real money-maker known to some as “Old Hoaxy.” This is the third of a series of listener-powered episodes about summer travel stories. If you’d like to share a story about your summer, record a voice memo and send it to hello@atlasobscura.com or leave a voicemail at 315-992-7902. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cardiff-giant
Wed, July 05, 2023
Magical Summer Memories Vol. 2 (Classic)
This is the second of a series of listener-powered episodes about summer travel stories. If you’d like to share a story about your summer, record a voice memo and send it to hello@atlasobscura.com or leave a voicemail at 315-992-7902.
Tue, July 04, 2023
Magical Summer Memories Vol. 1 (Classic)
This is the first of a series of listener-powered episodes about summer travel stories. If you’d like to share a story about your summer, record a voice memo and send it to hello@atlasobscura.com or leave a voicemail at 315-992-7902.
Mon, July 03, 2023
Special Episode: Witches and Ritual Around the Globe from Women Who Travel
The nights in the northern hemisphere are drawing in, which means whispering stories of witches and spirits are top of mind for many of us. Lale chats with Mexico City-based author Brenda Lozano, whose new novel Witches looks at the lives of Mexican women who inherit gifts, and draws inspiration from the true story of a Mazatec Indigenous healer, or curandera, in Oaxaca who worked with psilocybin mushrooms in the 1950s and 60s. Plus, we revisit a recent conversation with author Dorthe Nors to learn more about the burnings of witch effigies along the rugged Danish coast. For more from Women Who Travel, visit their website.
Fri, June 30, 2023
Museum of Quackery and Medical Fraud (Classic)
We visit what might be the world’s largest collection of fraudulent, nefarious, or otherwise ineffectual medical machinery -- and meet the founder who brought it all together. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-quackery
Thu, June 29, 2023
No Taste Like Home
Asheville is a well-known foodie destination. In this ep we hear about a group that takes visitors into the wild – to learn all about North Carolina’s incredible biodiversity and to enjoy the foods that grow all around them. This episode is coproduced with Explore Asheville. LEARN MORE about No Taste Like Home here . And find more cool things to do when you visit Asheville here .
Wed, June 28, 2023
We Heart Disasters… with John Marr
Host Dylan Thuras meets a teenage hero: author John Marr, who created the infamous Murder Can Be Fun zine and chronicled tales of unusual amusement park ride deaths and other odd disasters READ MORE: You can see back issues of MCBF here.
Tue, June 27, 2023
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai
Created by a volcanic eruption in 2015, this island in the South Pacific no longer exists… but we chat with a person who got to see it before it disappeared. LEARN MORE about Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai in this Reuters article and see it in the Atlas here
Mon, June 26, 2023
The Italian War on Pasta
Gastro Obscura Writer Sam Lin-Sommer tells us the story of the fascist war on pasta and its surprisingly delicious legacy. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/italian-futurist-pasta
Fri, June 23, 2023
Bone Wars
You’ve probably heard about the Gold Rush. But what about the bone rush of the 1870s? Hear the story of a bitter rivalry between two paleontologists – and how this epic feud unearthed an epic amount of fossils we still admire today.
Thu, June 22, 2023
The Hand Collection
You can learn a lot about a person from their hands. In this episode, we hear the story of a doctor who made it possible for us to hold onto the stories of presidents, astronauts, musicians, artists and more… through bronze molds of their hands. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/adrian-e-flatt-m-d-hand-collection
Wed, June 21, 2023
Secret Places with Ashley Ray
Podcaster, TV critic and comedian Ashley Ray has more than a soft spot for her Midwest hometown. Hear why she thinks it may just be the best kept secret. HEAR MORE FROM OUR GUEST: Ashley has her own podcast all about TV and culture. Check it out here: https://www.stitcher.com/show/tv-i-say-w-ashley-ray
Tue, June 20, 2023
Flavor Graveyard
Behind the Ben & Jerry's factory in Vermont sits a very peculiar graveyard... one dedicated to dearly departed ice cream flavors. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ben-jerry-s-flavor-graveyard
Mon, June 19, 2023
Josephine Baker’s Chateau (Classic)
Writer and travel educator Tracey Friley tells the story of the glamorous life of entertainer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist, Josephine Baker and the pilgrimages women still make to her chateau. Learn more: www.traceyfrileytravel.com
Fri, June 16, 2023
Forbes Pigment Collection (Classic)
A repository in Cambridge, Massachusetts holds over 2,700 pigments that’ve been quietly coloring the world around us since the beginning of human history. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/forbes-pigment-collection
Thu, June 15, 2023
World Famous Crochet Museum
Step inside the cutest, most cuddly museum for handmade crafts. This museum, set near Joshua Tree National Park, has been called “a vortex of love and joy and peace.” LEARN MORE about the museum and schedule your own visit by clicking here.
Wed, June 14, 2023
Reed College Reactor
Students at Reed College study things like philosophy, history and English. But for the past 50 years they’ve also had access to a scientific instrument many people have never seen. We visit the World's only nuclear reactor operated by liberal arts undergraduates. LEARN MORE about the reactor here .
Tue, June 13, 2023
The Greenbrier
You’d never guess that beneath a historic, genteel southern resort sits a massive bunker that the US government built in case of catastrophic events. Hear the story of the Greenbrier Resort that was kept secret for decades. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/congressional-fallout-shelter-at-the-greenbrier-resort
Mon, June 12, 2023
Close to the Edge PART 2
We asked, you answered. Hear listener stories of near death travel experiences.
Fri, June 09, 2023
Maine’s Burning Blueberry Fields (Classic)
Travel to Penobscot, Maine, where one farmer maintains the tradition of burning his crop each year to rejuvenate it the next. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-do-people-burn-blueberry-fields
Thu, June 08, 2023
Tabor Opera House
Colorado is known for being a music and performance hub. And that history goes way back – all the way to a theater that staged high dramas, tragedies, tales of star-crossed lovers, and even inspired an opera of its own. This episode was co produced with Visit Colorado. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tabor-opera-house-2 | Learn more about the shows happening at the opera house this summer by clicking here
Wed, June 07, 2023
Frozen Dead Guy
Atop a mountain in a picturesque Colorado town is the frozen corpse of a Norwegian grandpa. We get the tale of how this came to be, from the person who for years has trekked up and down the mountain for this unique preservation mission. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/frozen-dead-guy-days
Tue, June 06, 2023
Temple of Pythons
We visit southern Benin to hear the story of the Temple of Pythons and clear up some misconceptions about one of the world's most misunderstood spiritual systems. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-temple-of-pythons-ouidah-benin
Mon, June 05, 2023
Fairy Castle
A famous movie actress from the 1920s left the world a lasting piece of art — a remarkable miniature home that could be considered Chicago’s cutest piece of real estate. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/videos/see-chicago-s-million-dollar-fairy-castle
Fri, June 02, 2023
Hitler’s Toilet (Classic)
It roamed the seas, served an evil dictator, survived a war, and ended up in a New Jersey auto-repair shop bathroom.
Thu, June 01, 2023
Tonopah Mining Camp
We step into the shoes of the miners who once labored in the Nevada mountains, via a trip to the Tonopah Historic Mining Park. This episode was produced in partnership with Travel Nevada. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tonopah-mining-park LEARN MORE about the Tonopah Historic Mining Park and Travel Nevada
Wed, May 31, 2023
Koutammakou
A race is on to save this world heritage site that straddles the border of Togo and Benin. It’s home to remarkable earth tower homes called Takienta, and the Batammariba people, whose existence is threatened by climate change and migration. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/koutammakou-batammariba
Tue, May 30, 2023
Woman with the Handbag
We go to Sweden, where some people are intent on making a woman a permanent symbol of resistance, whether or not she would have wanted it. Check out some of Samuel Merrill’s research work on the photo here. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/woman-with-the-handbag-statue
Mon, May 29, 2023
Tick Collection
We go to Statesboro, Georgia to the US National Tick Collection to learn what ticks, often thought of as little monstrosities, can teach us. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/us-national-tick-collection
Fri, May 26, 2023
Tina Turner Museum (Classic)
The Flagg Grove School in Brownsville, Tennessee has become a museum dedicated to its most famous student. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tina-turner-museum
Thu, May 25, 2023
Micropia (Classic)
Take a trip to Micropia, the world’s only museum dedicated to microscopic organisms, and learn about our invisible life companions. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/micropia
Wed, May 24, 2023
American Chestnut Foundation (Classic)
The story of the unimaginable destruction of the American Chestnut tree and the group of scientists, academics and tree lovers who are desperately trying to bring them back from the edge of extinction. LEARN MORE: Visit https://acf.org/ to find out more about this massive conservation effort
Tue, May 23, 2023
The Mirror Lab (Classic)
A spinning furnace tucked under the football stadium at the University of Arizona is building giant telescope mirrors. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/richard-f-caris-mirror-laboratory
Mon, May 22, 2023
Åtvidaberg Sun Cannon (Classic)
Sun cannons have been around since the 1600s. But as far as we know, there’s only one left that’s still up and running. We pay it a visit. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/atvidaberg-sun-cannon
Fri, May 19, 2023
Chile Pepper Institute
Habaneros! Jalapenos! Green! Red! These days, an appreciation for chiles is pretty mainstream. But that wasn’t always the case. We head to New Mexico to learn how this food became such a huge part of our culture, and visit an institute dedicated to its continual improvement. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/chile-pepper-institute
Thu, May 18, 2023
Fugitive Train Wreck
A North Carolina town has become a draw for people who want to see the wreckage of the train wreck from the movie “The Fugitive.” But a more interesting – and true – story happened just a pistol shot away. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-fugitive-train-wreck-sylva-north-carolina
Wed, May 17, 2023
Theatricum Botanicum
A once-blacklisted Hollywood star created a magical theater in Topanga Canyon, California, that still endures and inspires today. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/theatricum-botanicum
Tue, May 16, 2023
Voynich Manuscript
One of the oldest books in the world is also the most misunderstood. A medievalist tells us about the Voynich, which is in the collection of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/beinecke-rare-book-manuscript-library
Mon, May 15, 2023
Big Bertha Drum (Classic)
She’s about 8 feet wide and 500 pounds. And her history spans all the way from the stockyards of Chicago... to a nuclear test during the Manhattan Project...to a stadium at the University of Texas at Austin. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/big-bertha-drum
Fri, May 12, 2023
Kilwa Kisiwani (Classic)
We dig through more than 1,000 years of dirt, history, colonialism, and myth on the Swahili Coast. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kilwa-kisiwani-ruins
Thu, May 11, 2023
Butter Sculptures
Where can you find the smoothest, most scrumptious edible art? If you ask our host, Dylan, it’s in the Minnesota State Fair butter sculpture room. He’s joined in this episode by Gastro Obscura writer Sam O’Brien, who got the scoop on the yummy centerpieces.
Wed, May 10, 2023
Close to the Edge
We all dream of the perfect vacation when everything goes right. This episode is about the opposite. Hear stories of people having near death travel experiences. TELL US YOUR STORY: We want to hear your stories too! Give us a call at (315) 992-7902, and leave a message telling us your name, and about your own near-death travel experience. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com . Looking forward to hearing from you.
Tue, May 09, 2023
Iowa Remnant Prairies
Elusive patches of land in America’s Midwest can show us what the environment was like 150 years ago and tell us about the future.
Mon, May 08, 2023
National Poo Museum
We spend time with the world’s foremost poo enthusiasts, who operate a museum in England where poo is elegant, elevated and celebrated. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/national-poo-museum
Fri, May 05, 2023
Mississippi River Basin Model (Classic)
A walk through this scale model has you feeling like a giant, and striding from Baton Rouge to Omaha in an hour. LEARN MORE about the model and the group trying to revive it, here: https://friendsofmrbm.org/
Thu, May 04, 2023
The Nutmobile
The next time you go out on a road trip, keep your eyes peeled for a peanut-shaped car that got its start as an advertising play during the Great Depression
Wed, May 03, 2023
Okomfo Anokye’s Sword
Nestled in a hospital courtyard in Kumasi, Ghana, you’ll find the strength of the Asante people: the sword of Okomfo Anokye, planted in the ground over 300 years ago. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sword-of-okomfo-anokye
Tue, May 02, 2023
Hurricane Hunters
We go on a bumpy ride with the Hurricane Hunters – the government’s team of scientists who fly into storms so the rest of us can have accurate info and research about massive weather events. Our guide is Nick Underwood, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Mon, May 01, 2023
Distant Relatives
At a food truck in Austin, tried and true barbecue favorites meet unexpected spices and flavor profiles. Here, chef Damien Brockway’s journey into family history led him to weave the flavors of the African diaspora into his food. This episode was produced in partnership with Travel Texas. LEARN MORE about Distant Relatives and Travel Texas .
Fri, April 28, 2023
The Deadliest Lake (Classic)
In 1986 an unknown natural disaster at Lake Nyos in Menchum, Cameroon left more than 1700 people dead in one night - and puzzled scientists. Listen to learn how they solved the mystery. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lake-nyos-the-deadliest-lake-in-the-world
Thu, April 27, 2023
Moose Boulder
How far would you go to find the largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake in the United States? READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/moose-boulder-debunked
Wed, April 26, 2023
The Last Wild Apple Groves
The variety of apples we enjoy today have a common ancestor that lies in the forests of Kazakhstan, where scientists are studying the wildest version of the fruit.
Tue, April 25, 2023
Caring for Canids
Welcome to the Judith A Basset Canid Education & Conservation Center, where a California couple has dedicated their lives to showing folks man has even more best friends than previously thought. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-jab-canid-education-and-conservation-center-jabcecc
Mon, April 24, 2023
Telling Time through the Trees with the Places Team
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring us stories about the trees that have witnessed history. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: Read the story of Emancipation Oak in Hampton, VA and the Travel Log from California.
Fri, April 21, 2023
International Cryptozoology Museum (Classic)
It’s easy to dismiss Bigfoot, the yeti, the Loch Ness monster, and other cryptids as far-fetched X-Files fodder. But the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine aims to show that when investigations into unknown creatures are done right, they involve real science, and have real scientific value. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/international-cryptozoology-museum
Thu, April 20, 2023
John Brown’s Farm
In the Adirondacks of northern New York sits John Brown's Farm, a monument to the famous abolitionist, and the last vestige of Timbuctoo, an ambitious but failed settlement that some hoped could help African Americans secure the right to vote. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/john-brown-farm
Wed, April 19, 2023
For Keeps Books
In Atlanta, on this historic Auburn Avenue, sits a small bookstore and reading room that’s been called “an interactive art museum of Black Thought.” LEARN MORE: https://www.forkeepsbooks.com/
Tue, April 18, 2023
Pack Your Bag(pipes) with Ross Jennings
Ross Jennings, aka the First Piper, has been on a world-spanning quest to play the bagpipes in every country of the world. LEARN MORE: https://www.thefirstpiper.com/
Mon, April 17, 2023
Bete Giyorgis of Lalibela
We go to Northern Ethiopia and learn about an ancient King who left a great legacy to his people and the world: the rock hewn church known as St. Giyorgis, where religious services are held to this day. See a virtual rendering of all the rock hewn churches of Lalibela at the Zamani Project. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bete-giyorgis-lalibela
Fri, April 14, 2023
Red Sea Blue Hole (Classic)
This stunning geological marvel just north of Dahab, Egypt has been called the deadliest dive spot in the world. But is that reputation deserved? READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/red-sea-blue-hole
Thu, April 13, 2023
Fun and Funny Science with Mary Roach
Author Mary Roach takes us into the hidden corners of the scientific world. From training to poop in space to the surprisingly pleasant Common Cold Unit, all the way to the inside of Elvis’s colon. If you want to check out her work, we recommend starting with Packing for Mars .
Wed, April 12, 2023
Fairy Circles
We head to the Namib Desert in Africa, where the landscape is dotted with mysterious, pimple-like indents known as fairy circles. Where do these things come from? Scientist Walter Tschinkel has spent the last several years studying and experiencing a natural occurrence so enchanting, locals describe it as “The footprints of the gods.” READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fairy-circles-southern-africa
Tue, April 11, 2023
Ashley House
For decades, the Ashley House in Sheffield, Massachusetts preserved and promoted the story of Col. John Ashley, a wealthy businessman who opened his home to those fighting against British rule on the eve of America’s war for independence. But in this episode we hear a new narrative, about an enslaved woman and true patriot who tested the rhetoric of the revolution. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ashley-house
Mon, April 10, 2023
Places Our Families Took Us
Hear tales of our team’s most memorable family trips – like going on vacation with Thomas Jefferson, getting thrown in the ocean and meeting Klingons. TELL US YOUR STORY: We want to hear your stories too! Give us a call at (315) 992-7902, and leave a message telling us your name, and about your own memorable family trip. Whatever it is, wherever you went, we want to hear about it. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com . Looking forward to hearing from you.
Fri, April 07, 2023
Yemrehanna Kristos Church (Classic)
Photographer and author Paul Koudonaris brings listeners to this Ethiopian Church and explores ossuaries, jeweled skeletons, and death practices throughout the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/yemrehana-krestos-church
Thu, April 06, 2023
Lady Liberty’s Little Sister
In 1986, something really weird happened in Pennsylvania – a replica of The Statue of Liberty mysteriously appeared through the fog on the Susquehanna River. We unravel the mystery. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mini-statue-of-liberty-harrisburg
Wed, April 05, 2023
Yellowstone Zone of Death
A 50 square mile patch of Yellowstone National Park in Idaho might just be the perfect place to commit a crime. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/yellowstones-zone-of-death
Tue, April 04, 2023
Arrows Across America
An adventurous couple sets out to document and unearth the arrows of America’s past, once used to help pilots find their way across the skies. You can learn more about Charlotte and Brian’s journey – and see photos of the arrows they’ve documented – at their website: dreamsmithphotos.com
Mon, April 03, 2023
Museum of Clean
A tidy little story from Pocatello, Idaho, home to the Museum of Clean READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-of-clean
Fri, March 31, 2023
Grace Hopper’s Bug (Classic)
Trailblazing computer scientist Grace Hopper shaped the way people use and talk about computers. Her actual computer bug is preserved at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/grace-hoppers-bug
Thu, March 30, 2023
The Beat Museum
This San Francisco museum, curated by a super-fan of the Beats, is a shrine to an incredibly influential cultural movement and a destination for folks keeping it alive today. *An earlier version of this episode contained a mispronunciation and a misattributed quote. Both have been fixed and we regret the error. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/beat-museum
Wed, March 29, 2023
A Delicious Mission with Cheuk Kwan
Filmmaker and writer Cheuk Kwan takes us for a round-the-world meal. Three courses, three incredible places. Three stories of Chinese immigration. LEARN MORE: Cheuk Kwan’s new book is called “Have You Eaten Yet?” You can also check out “Chinese Restaurants,” his documentary series that started it all, on youtube https://www.youtube.com/@cheukkwan/featured
Tue, March 28, 2023
Wild Chocolate with Rowan Jacobsen
Dylan chats with Rowan Jacobsen, a food journalist and host of the podcast called OBSESSION: Wild Chocolate. And he takes us on a journey that follows his multiyear quest into the Amazon rainforest to learn more about a mythical chocolate that has a dark history and the potential to save parts of the rainforest. LEARN MORE: Check out Rowan's podcast here.
Mon, March 27, 2023
Great Balls of Twine with the Places Team
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring us stories about the biggest balls of twine. Plus, a special guest adds an additional tangle to the tale. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/world-s-largest-ball-of-twine
Fri, March 24, 2023
Clown Motel (Classic)
Tonopah, Nevada is home to the Clown Motel - an inn on the edge of the desert that’s packed with statues and figurines of Clowns. The eerie and fully-functioning inn is also a labor of love. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/clown-motel
Thu, March 23, 2023
The Pennsylvania Firefly Festival (Classic)
The deep woods of Pennsylvania hold a phenomena that has drawn attention from scientists and people around the world, and was almost recently destroyed. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival visit https://www.pafireflyevents.org/ .
Wed, March 22, 2023
The Shrek Donkey of Barron Park (Classic)
We visit a park in Palo Alto, California, home of the world’s most famous donkey. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-donkeys-of-barron-park-palo-alto-california
Tue, March 21, 2023
Cisternerne (Classic)
A massive 19th-century reservoir under the city of Copenhagen has been repurposed as a contemporary art cave. We venture inside to learn more about its history, and bask in the incredible acoustics of the space. Visit Cisternerne and Frederiksberg Museerne: https://frederiksbergmuseerne.dk/da/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cisternerne
Mon, March 20, 2023
Zone Rouge (Classic)
A swath of land in Northern France still bears scars of the destruction of World War I. Destruction so bad that, in some cases, humans have never been allowed to return. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/zone-rouge
Fri, March 17, 2023
Tiny Doors of Atlanta (Classic)
As part of Women’s History Month, we're sharing some episodes from the archive including this story about mysterious doors scattered throughout Atlanta. They dare you to imagine what might be found on the other side. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tiny-doors-atl
Thu, March 16, 2023
Blurred lines with Stacy Horn
Writer Stacy Horn tells us about a period in American history when the study of psychic phenomena and the paranormal was serious business at places like Stanford and Duke University. And she reveals the story of J.B. Rhine and Louisa Rhine, a scholarly couple who attempted to find the line where science ended and the unbelievable began. Horn is the author of Unbelievable: Investigations into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena, from the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory.
Wed, March 15, 2023
Manuscript Writing Cafe
We go to Tokyo, to a particular place that is both nemesis and best friend to all those procrastinators out there. (Yes, we’re looking at you :) LEARN MORE: The Manuscript Writing Cafe is open Saturdays and Sundays and you can reserve your seat online. https://koenji-sankakuchitai.blog.jp/ManuscriptWritingCafe/
Tue, March 14, 2023
NYC’s Most Beautiful Public Bathroom
Producer Abigail Keel takes us on the most strange, wonderful and beautiful potty break. And tells us how – and where – you can do it too.
Mon, March 13, 2023
Exploring the underworld with Jessica Leigh Hester
Writer Jessica Leigh Hester joins us on a deep dive into the sewer, the subject of her new book. We’ll talk about some of the interesting (and disgusting) things she found there … like fatbergs. FIND OUT MORE: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/sewer-9781501379505/
Fri, March 10, 2023
WHM Classic: Luciadagen
As part of Women’s History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive, including this story about the origins of a Swedish holiday tradition which evolved from sinister pagan lore to a celebration of light, warmth and music.
Thu, March 09, 2023
More Wonders in Your Backyard
Here the podcast team shares stories of wonder and curiosity that lies just outside your doorstep. Stories feature a troll bridge, a cemetery, natural methane vents, and more. Tell us about a wonder in your backyard. Record a voice memo and send it to hello@atlasobscura.com or leave a voicemail at 315-992-7902.
Wed, March 08, 2023
The Dedan Kimathi Post Office Tree
The Dedan Kimathi Post Office played a notable role in Kenya’s struggle for Independence.
Tue, March 07, 2023
Ouija Board 7-Eleven
The Ouija Board went from a tool for communicating with the dead to a sleepover party game. This trip through the Ouija Board’s past features a pit stop at the Ouija 7-Eleven. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ouija-7eleven
Mon, March 06, 2023
Big Apple Inn
This restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi was a haven for Civil Rights leaders and has stood for four generations, 83 years, and a whole lotta pig ear sandwiches. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/big-apple-inn
Fri, March 03, 2023
WHM Classic: Forest of the Future Library
As part of Women’s History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including this story about a forest in Oslo, Norway that will provide the trees for paper as part of a century long art project featuring famed contemporary authors. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/forest-of-the-future-library
Thu, March 02, 2023
The A. Everett Austin Facade House
This architectural oddity in Hartford, Connecticut looks like a mansion… but is only one room deep. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/a-everett-austin-facade-house
Wed, March 01, 2023
The Discovery Tree
California's longest-running tourist attraction is a stump that helped spark a conservation movement. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-discovery-tree
Tue, February 28, 2023
The Hampton House
This simple brick building in Chicago, Illinois was the boyhood home of Civil Rights icon, Fred Hampton Sr. and a continued site for community organizing.
Mon, February 27, 2023
Nellie Mae Rowe’s Playhouse
Nellie Mae Rowe decorated her home in Vinings, Georgia with homemade dolls and shiny bottle caps and placed paper streamers, pieces of colored glass and improvised sculptures throughout her yard.
Fri, February 24, 2023
BHM Classic: Leimert Park
As part of Black History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including Producer Baudelaire Ceus’s journey to Leimert Park, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles characterized by its historical relationship to Black liberation.
Thu, February 23, 2023
Thomas Merton's Hermitage
This little house in New Haven, Kentucky is where Thomas Merton aka profit-poet aka the rebel monk tried to get away from the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/thomas-mertons-hermitage
Wed, February 22, 2023
Jadeite Cabbage
This tiny stone cabbage has a big backstory stretching from the rich, treasure-laden halls of Beijing’s Forbidden City...through a harrowing wartime escape...to its prized place at the National palace museum in Taipei, Taiwan. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jade-cabbage
Tue, February 21, 2023
Newtown Creek Nature Walk
One man in Brooklyn, New York - armed with a homemade boat and an artistic vision - helped transform one of the most polluted industrial waterways in the US. To listen to the Newtown Creek Audio Guide: http://www.newtowncreekfieldguide.com/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/newtown-creek-nature-walk
Mon, February 20, 2023
The Gankutsu Hotel
Chiseled out of a stone cliff, one farmer's unfinished art project in Yoshimi, Japan lies in ruins. And an architect and a photographer are working to keep his legacy alive. Email us about buying a copy of Arai-san and Karasaki-san’s photobook at hello@atlasobscura.com READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gankutsu-hotel
Fri, February 17, 2023
Classic: Floating Freedom School
As part of Black History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including the history of this paddleboat that gave some Black children a place to learn even when they were denied formal education on land.
Thu, February 16, 2023
Cactoblastis Memorial Cairn
This site in Boonarga, Australia honors the cactoblastis - a humble moth that traveled across the globe, and became the hero of a continent. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cactoblastis-memorial-cairn
Wed, February 15, 2023
Pushkin’s Duel
The story of how famous Russian author Alexander Pushkin once faced a duel by The Black River on the outskirts of St. Petersburg features high drama, society scandals, a weird foot joke, and pistols at dusk.
Tue, February 14, 2023
Valentine's Day Classic: Chopin’s Heart
For Valentine's Day, the Atlas team would like to bring you this tale of the heart….literally. The Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw, Poland is the final resting place of famed composer Frédéric Chopin’s heart - smuggled there by Chopin’s sister after his death. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/chopin-s-heart
Mon, February 13, 2023
The Henry Miller Memorial Library
This site is “not a Library where you can borrow books” nor “a memorial with dusty relics” but still aims to honor the spirit of American author Henry Miller. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/henry-miller-memorial-library
Fri, February 10, 2023
Black History Month Classic: Louis Armstrong Museum
As part of Black History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including this journey to famed Jazz musician Louis Armstrong’s House in Corona, Queens in New York. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/louis-armstrong-house
Thu, February 09, 2023
The San Juan Island Pig War
The killing of a British pig on an island off the coast of Northwestern Washington almost started a war between two of the world’s greatest military powers. 100 years later, a local artist commemorated the Pig War with a one-woman show, a troupe of mannequins, and a taxidermied pig. Learn more about Steve Lyons’ play: https://www.lyonswrites.com/plays.html#
Wed, February 08, 2023
Creston Dinosaur
This relic of roadside attractions in Creston, South Dakota is believed to be the first of its kind in North America READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/creston-dinosaur
Tue, February 07, 2023
The Rainmaker
Professional rainmaker Charles Hatfield was either a scientist or a con man who had a particular influence on San Diego, CA. Curious about cloud seeding? Learn more from our earlier podcast on the Lynmouth Flood: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/podcast-lynmouth-flood-memorial-hall READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lower-otay-reservoir
Mon, February 06, 2023
Marchand Dessalines
Marchand Dessalines, Haiti is a town named after Jean Jacques Dessalines one of the leaders of the Haitian Revolution and one of the country’s founding fathers. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dessalines-revolution-battle-haiti
Fri, February 03, 2023
Black History Month: Black Star Square
As part of Black History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including this story about a gigantic public square dedicated to Ghanaian independence - and producer Baudelaire Ceus’s introduction to soursop. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/black-star-square
Thu, February 02, 2023
The Westgate with Rico Gagliano
Rico Gagliano, host of the MUBI podcast, takes listeners to The Westgate Movie Theater in Minneapolis for a story about a movie that flopped terribly when it was released that changed the course of the theater’s history. Listen to the MUBI Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mubi-podcast/id1569229544
Wed, February 01, 2023
Freud Museum London
Sigmund Freud’s famous psychoanalytic couch is preserved in his final office in London, England. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/freud-museum-london
Tue, January 31, 2023
Galileo’s Middle Finger
Host Dylan Thuras leads listeners on a journey that leads to the preserved middle finger of Galileo Galilei, astronomer, physicist and engineer. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/galileos-middle-finger
Mon, January 30, 2023
Tangier American Legation Museum
This building in Tangier was one of the first pieces of land owned by the United States Government outside of the country, and was a gift from “America’s first friend.” READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tangier-american-legation-museum
Fri, January 27, 2023
Classic: Cueva de los Tayos
This Ecuadorian cave has captured the attention of government officials, scientists, and professional cavers and is home to a particularly rare creature. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cueva-de-los-tayos
Thu, January 26, 2023
Rae Wynn-Grant and the Bear
Rae Wynn-Grant, Ph.D. is a wildlife ecologist specializing in large carnivores. And in this episode she unfolds a mystery for listeners. To hear more about her encounter with a lion: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/podcast/not-your-average-field-trip/
Wed, January 25, 2023
Empress Anna’s Ice Palace
Empress Anna’s Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia was the site of an incredibly strange wedding. Was it a cruel joke? A strategic power move? Or something else? READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/russia-anna-ioannovna-ice-palace-castle
Tue, January 24, 2023
Lee’s Legendary Marbles and Collectables
Lee's Legendary Marbles & Collectables in York, Nebraska is a pilgrimage of sorts for serious collectors and a curiosity for the casual passerby. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lees-legendary-marbles-collectables
Mon, January 23, 2023
Urnes Stave Church
This intricately carved church in Luster is one of Norway’s great treasures of architecture. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/urnes-stave-church
Fri, January 20, 2023
Classic: The Great Stalacpipe Organ
The Luray Caverns in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia are home to an instrument that draws out the secret sounds of millenia-old stone. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-great-stalacpipe-organ-luray-virginia
Thu, January 19, 2023
Cementerio Municipal José María Azael Franco Guerrero
The José María Azael Franco Guerrero Cemetery in Tulcán, Ecuador is a topiary anomaly and a lush green paradise for the dead. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tulcan-municipal-cemetery
Wed, January 18, 2023
The Lion House
This abandoned lodge in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique has been reclaimed by local lions - a story deeply enmeshed in the larger history of the country. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-lion-house-gorongosa-mozambique Further Reading: S is for Samora (book by Sarah Lefanu) Let My People Go (poem by Noémia de Sousa) Apartheid’s Contras: An Inquiry Into the Roots of War in Angola and Mozambique (pdf book by William Minter) The Mozambican Civil War (1977-1992) (article by Samuel Momodu, BlackPast.org) Mozambique History Net (Resource) A Year in Gorongosa (film by Augusto Bila, narrated by Gabriela Curtiz) In Mozambique, a Living Laboratory for Nature’s Renewal (article by Natalie Angier, The New York Times) Narrative Fortresses: Crisis Narratives and Conflict in the Conservation of Mount Gorongosa, Mozambique (article by Christy Schuetze) White Man's Game: Saving Animals, Rebuilding Eden, and Other Myths of Conservation in Africa (book by Stephanie Hanes)
Tue, January 17, 2023
Songs of Ice with the Places Team
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring you stories of how sometimes giant monuments built for a specific site need to go on a journey. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/yakhchals https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/snowflake-bentley
Mon, January 16, 2023
Green Mill Jazz Club
This internationally recognized jazz lounge has been running for more than a century. Its guests have included Frank Sinatra, Charlie Chaplin and less reputable icons like Al Capone.
Fri, January 13, 2023
Classic: The Curse of the Kreischer Mansion
Host Dylan Thuras visits a Staten Island mansion with a dubious and vitriolic past, only to learn the site’s curse may not be as obvious as it seems. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kreischer-mansion
Thu, January 12, 2023
Berkeley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour
Barnali Ghosh and Anirvan Chatterjee take us on a walking tour of Berkeley, CA, where they share their community's legacy of radical South Asian activism. Learn more about the Berkeley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour: https://www.berkeleysouthasian.org/
Wed, January 11, 2023
The Mail Rail
This railway was built for one purpose and one purpose only: to keep the London’s mail coming on time. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-mail-rail-london-england
Tue, January 10, 2023
Chicago Bridge Houses
Drawbridge operators in Chicago, IL used to live at these specific homes nestled at the base of their bridges.
Mon, January 09, 2023
Making Films with Sky Hopinka
Venture into the mind of Sky Hopinka, member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient. He and host Dylan Thuras discuss his work, his past and what he’s still searching for out on the road. Visit Sky's website to watch Jáaji Approx. and to learn more about his work: http://www.skyhopinka.com/jaaji-approximately
Fri, January 06, 2023
Classic: Million Dollar Point
We visit Vanuatu in the South Pacific and go underwater to visit a very strange place from a very strange episode at the end of World War II. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/million-dollar-point
Thu, January 05, 2023
Medical Clowning Program
The history of medical clowning extends back to Ancient Greece and the time of Hippocrates and is taught in workshops throughout the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/medical-clowning-program-at-haifa-university
Wed, January 04, 2023
The Plant
This former meat-packing plant in Chicago, Illinois is now a site where people work to create a new kind of community in the city’s post-industrial remains. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-plant-chicago-illinois
Tue, January 03, 2023
Classic: Post Office Bay
Post Office Bay on the Galapagos Islands is a post office that runs on luck and the goodwill of visitors. It has a knack for bringing strangers together. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/post-office-bay
Mon, January 02, 2023
Classic: The World’s Quietest Room
Experience the Orfield Anechoic Chamber: a room inside a concrete bunker that was once known as the quietest place on earth. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/orfield-labs-quiet-chamber
Fri, December 30, 2022
Classic: Re-up Your Luck
We explore the power luck has on us all, rational or not, through the unlikely places people go to re-up. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/lucky-places-good-luck-charms
Thu, December 29, 2022
Classic: Nepali Folk Musical Instrument Museum
This secluded museum beats the drum for the preservation of Nepal's musical heritage. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/nepali-folk-musical-instrument-museum
Wed, December 28, 2022
Classic: Dude Chilling Park
A renegade art project in Vancouver galvanized a small community, pitted residents against city government, and ultimately resulted in a new name for a chill park. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dude-chilling-park
Tue, December 27, 2022
Classic: The Tank
An industrial water tank-turned-concert hall in the high deserts of Colorado is nothing less than a sonic wonder of the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-tank-rangely-colorado
Mon, December 26, 2022
Classic: World’s Loneliest Tree
About 400 miles south of New Zealand, on the subantarctic Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku, stands a Sitka spruce whose nearest neighbor is 170 miles away. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/worlds-loneliest-tree
Fri, December 23, 2022
Classic: The Forgotten Songs Sound Sculpture
This unique installation in Sydney, Australia combines art and ornithology, commemorating the calls of the city’s lost birds. Plus, bin chickens! READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/forgotten-songs-sound-sculpture
Thu, December 22, 2022
Classic: Moses Gates and the Chrysler Building Eagles
Urban planner Moses Gates shares his unlikely experience with the residents of the 61st floor of one of New York City’s most iconic buildings.
Wed, December 21, 2022
Classic: Newark Earthworks
Updated December 2022. Built by indigenous people thousands of years ago, the Newark Earthworks are part cathedral, part cemetery, and part astronomical observatory. But today, this ancient ceremonial site is part of a golf course in Ohio. Read Cedric Rose’s article: https://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/article/will-ohios-earthworks-become-a-world-heritage-site/ Learn more about the Newark Earthworks: http://worldheritageohio.org
Tue, December 20, 2022
Priscilla’s Homecoming
The story of Thomalind and Priscilla is 300 years in the making and brings listeners to Bunce Island, off the coast of Sierra Leone. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bunce-island
Mon, December 19, 2022
Tumbleweed Christmas Tree
Chandler, Arizona creates a Christmas Tree made entirely of the diaspore of this Western plant. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tumbleweed-christmas-tree
Fri, December 16, 2022
Classic: Spite Houses
Home is where the grudge is. We survey a special kind of architecture that is both petty and personal. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/spite-houses-around-the-world
Thu, December 15, 2022
Getting Lost
Atlas contributors bring listeners stories of getting lost on transit, on romantic getaways, or while just trying to get home, and the joy that comes from finding yourself somewhere unexpected.
Wed, December 14, 2022
Duke Riley and the poly S. Tyrene Maritime Museum
Artist Duke Riley has turned trash into a medium, like clay or paint, and an indictment. His exhibit DEATH TO THE LIVING, Long Live Trash will run through April 23, 2023 at the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
Tue, December 13, 2022
The Sponge Capital of the World
Discover how Tarpon Springs, Florida became known as the Sponge Capital of the World. This “Small Town, Big Story” episode is produced in partnership with GoUSA TV. To watch the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZShrVCpUK0 READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/tarpon-springs-florida
Mon, December 12, 2022
Luciadagen
In honor of Lucia Day on December 13, we’re diving into the origins of a Swedish holiday tradition which evolved from sinister pagan lore to a celebration of light, warmth and music. Tune into SVT’s Lucia broadcast: https://www.svtplay.se/video/e3vGxaR/luciamorgon-fran-grafsnas
Fri, December 09, 2022
Classic: Puffin Patrol
We go to the Westman Islands off the southern coast of Iceland and meet the heroes who save young birds that have wandered from their nests every summer. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/worlds-largest-puffin-colony
Thu, December 08, 2022
Fendika Cultural Center
The story of the Fendika Cultural Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is the story of Melaku Belay and his journey from homelessness to international acclaim as a community leader. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fendika-azmari-bet
Wed, December 07, 2022
Medfield State Hospital
This abandoned hospital outside Boston, Massachusetts was originally conceived as a place to help people with mental health issues. But it wound up doing a lot of harm. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/medfield-state-hospital
Tue, December 06, 2022
Library of Congress Hair Collection
This collection, preserved by the United States Library of Congress, features locks of hair from cultural icons from Ludwig van Beethoven to General Ulysses Grant.
Mon, December 05, 2022
Buckley's Cave
One of Australia’s greatest stories of escape and survival centers around this rock formation in Point Lonsdale. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/buckleys-cave
Fri, December 02, 2022
How To Put Your Town on the Map
How To! Host Amanda Ripley goes in search of the answer to the question “how to set up a roadside attraction that will bring visitors to your town” with expert Erika Nelson - the founder of the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Things.
Thu, December 01, 2022
Tina Turner Museum
The Flagg Grove School in Brownsville, Tennessee has become a museum dedicated to its most famous student. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tina-turner-museum
Wed, November 30, 2022
Fluorescent Rocks of Sterling Hill Mine
The Sterling Hill Mine in Ogdensburg, New Jersey is the site of a geological marvel that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/flourescent-rocks-of-sterling-hill-mine
Tue, November 29, 2022
Bread and Puppet Museum and Theater
This radical puppet collective has shaped the small New England town of Glover, Vermont for decades. This “Small Town, Big Story” episode is produced in partnership with GoUSA TV. To watch the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUrbyGqQDtc READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bread-and-puppet-museum-and-theater
Mon, November 28, 2022
Moon Trees
These trees sprang from seeds that were brought to outer space. Moon Tree Website: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/moon_tree.html READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/categories/moon-trees
Fri, November 25, 2022
Atlas Obscura Presents The Sporkful - A New Jersey Whiskey Mystery Pt. 2
The Sporkful team dives deeper into the history of the unknown whiskey bottle and the lives of those it touched.
Thu, November 24, 2022
Atlas Obscura Presents The Sporkful - A New Jersey Whiskey Mystery Pt. 1
Dan Pashman and the Sporkful team attempt to unravel the history of a bottle of whiskey found at an estate sale when the brand seems to not exist.
Wed, November 23, 2022
Classic: Clausland Mountain Tunnels
Under the forests of Nyack, New York lays a series of dark and decrepit tunnels with militaristic roots but now attract graffiti artists and plenty of teen lore. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/claus-land-mountain-tunnels
Tue, November 22, 2022
Classic: Arecibo Observatory
This site, and the enormous telescope that sits on it, is loved and lost to both scientists and everyday Puerto Ricans. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/arecibo-observatory
Mon, November 21, 2022
Classic: The White Squirrel of Prospect Park
Our team goes on a quest to find Prospect Park’s elusive -- and perhaps most magical -- resident rodent.
Fri, November 18, 2022
Classic: Library of Mistakes
A carefully curated collection of miscalculations in Edinburgh, Scotland serves as a warning for our gullibility, especially when it comes to money. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/library-of-mistakes
Thu, November 17, 2022
The Tanks of Flamenco Beach
This beautiful beach made of sand and worn down coral is covered in the wreckage of tanks once used by the U.S. military for target practice. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-tanks-of-flamenco-beach-culebra-puerto-rico
Wed, November 16, 2022
Larry Spring Museum of Common Sense Physics
Larry Spring’s Museum of Common Sense Physics in Fort Bragg, California begs the question: what do you do with a science museum where the science preserved inside is a kind of folk art? READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/larry-spring-school-common-sense-physics
Tue, November 15, 2022
Trailing of the Sheep
Thousands of sheep take over downtown Ketchum, Idaho during the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival. This “Small Town, Big Story” episode is produced in partnership with GoUSA TV. To watch the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwlilGi6k7s
Mon, November 14, 2022
African Heritage House
The African Heritage House in Mlolongo, Kenya is one of the greatest collections of African art in the world - and it has an unusual backstory. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/african-heritage-house
Fri, November 11, 2022
Classic: Salton Sea
The story of how humans desperate for water created a lake the size of the city of Los Angeles. And then, how that thirst turned toxic. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/salton-sea
Thu, November 10, 2022
Moving Monuments with the Places Team
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring you stories of how sometimes giant monuments built for a specific site need to go on a journey. To view the Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse move: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPa8b1WlbaI&t=3s READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/church-of-agios-sostis and https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/rubjerg-knude-lighthouse
Wed, November 09, 2022
On The Appalachian Trail
A voicemail from a listener takes us out on the Appalachian trail, where we ford rivers, climb mountains, and work our way across one of the most storied backpacking routes in North America. Listen to our episode about your summer adventures: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/podcast-summer-adventures-22 Send a voice memo to hello@atlasobscura.com or call (315) 992-7902 to leave a message about your own travel quest.
Tue, November 08, 2022
The Wren’s Nest
The Wren’s Nest in Atlanta is both a museum and former home of journalist Joel Chandler Harris and a hub for modern storytellers. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-wrens-nest
Mon, November 07, 2022
Laguna Del Diamante
A toxic lake high in the Andes mountains in Argentina is home to microbes that provide a window to our planet’s past — and a key to securing its future. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/laguna-del-diamante
Fri, November 04, 2022
Atlas Obscura Presents Real Good
Real Good is a podcast with the mission to highlight real people out in the world - trying to make it better. This excerpt features the Real Good hosts and Goalsetter CEO Tanya Van Court discussing financial literacy. The show is powered by US Bank. Visit https://www.stitcher.com/show/real-good to listen to the show's fourth season.
Thu, November 03, 2022
Kasanka Bat Migration
Kasanka National Park in Zambia hosts one of the largest – and most mysterious! – animal migrations on the planet. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kasanka-bat-migration
Wed, November 02, 2022
Hacienda Napoles
Medellín Cartel founder Pablo Escobar built himself a sort of Jurassic Park-meets-Disney World resort with drug money. He called it Hacienda Nápoles. Now it’s overrun by Hippos. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hacienda-napoles
Tue, November 01, 2022
Thompson Ice House
Thompson’s Ice House in Bristol, Maine is one of the only places in the United States where people gather every winter to take part in the age-old process of harvesting ice from a frozen pond. This “Small Town-Big Story” episode is produced in partnership with GoUSA TV. To watch the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqxWG55-Mf8 READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-thompson-ice-house-harvesting-museum-south-bristol-maine
Mon, October 31, 2022
Scary Stories from Real Places
Atlas contributors bring listeners stories from spooky locations they’ve visited and which continue to haunt them.
Fri, October 28, 2022
Witch Cakes
These cakes had a particular ingredient that some believe protected them from witchery - and sparked one of the best-known witch hunts in United States history. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-are-witch-cakes
Thu, October 27, 2022
Spooky Sites with the Places Team
With Halloween just around the corner Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring you two spooky legends of The Mothman from Point Pleasant, West Virginia and a potentially ghoulish forest in the Transylvanian Region of Romania. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mothman-museum-2 and https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hoia-baciu-forest
Wed, October 26, 2022
Luomus Spiders
The Finnish Museum of Natural History in Helsinki has been home to an infestation of Chilean recluse spiders for more than 50 years.
Tue, October 25, 2022
Houdini’s Grave
Producer Johanna Mayer visits Houdini’s grave in Queens, NY and goes searching for evidence of the great beyond. To hear another take on Spiritualism check out our earlier episode - Cassadaga with Jamie Loftus. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/houdinis-grave
Mon, October 24, 2022
Cassadaga with Jamie Loftus
The Atlas Obscura Podcast is launching a week of spooky-themed stories ahead of Halloween. We begin with Jamie Loftus’ newest podcast about Cassadaga, a small town in central Florida that is one of the last great bastions of a Victorian era religion called Spiritualism. Check out some of Jamie’s work: GHOST CHURCH https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ghost-church-by-jamie-loftus/id1619557591 My Year in MENSA - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-year-in-mensa/id1492147103 And check out AO’s podcast on Lily Dale, another contemporary spiritualist community LILY DALE https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/podcast-lily-dale-spiritualist-community READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cassadaga
Fri, October 21, 2022
Classic: Valley of the Whales
The fossils of Wadi al-Hitan (Valley of the Whales) in Egypt give us a glimpse of a remarkable evolutionary history. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wadi-al-hitan
Thu, October 20, 2022
Times Square Hum
Producer Johanna Mayer travels to Times Square in NYC, in search of a particular sound that may sometimes go overlooked. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-times-square-hum-new-york-new-york
Wed, October 19, 2022
Brown Dog Statue
This memorial marks the life of a pup who sparked riots over animal rights issues in London, England. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/brown-dog-statue
Tue, October 18, 2022
Meramec Caverns
This giant limestone cave outside of St. Louis, MO. is home to a combination of kitsch and world-class scenery. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/meramec-caverns
Mon, October 17, 2022
Louie Mattar’s Fabulous Car
The San Diego Automotive Museum in California contains one man’s dream...of creating the ultimate road trip car. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/louie-mattars-fabulous-car
Fri, October 14, 2022
Classic: Bolton Strid
Some say this little burbling creek is “The deadliest body of water on Earth.” READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bolton-strid
Thu, October 13, 2022
Providence Island
In 1820 a group of Black Americans set off to make a home in Africa. They landed in Providence Island and set the stage for the development of the country Liberia.
Wed, October 12, 2022
Navajo Code Talkers Burger King
The Burger King in Kayenta, AZ is home to a small museum dedicated to a group of Native American veterans who developed an unbreakable secret code during WWII. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/burger-king-navajo-code-talkers-display
Tue, October 11, 2022
Emily Graslie Curates a World of Wonder
Science communication superhero Emily Graslie shares how a pair of severed wolf heads helped her fall in love with science, about the road trip she took back to the beginning of time, and why she’s now looking for wonder in her own backyard. Learn more about Emily Graslie (and watch her bug videos!): http://www.emilygraslie.com/
Mon, October 10, 2022
SubTropolis
This former limestone mine in Kansas City, MO has been turned into a 55,000,000 square-foot industrial park and storage facility. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/subtropolis
Fri, October 07, 2022
Classic: The Institute of Illegal Images
A mind-tripping place where the art stands out not because of what's on them but what's in them. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/institute-illegal-images
Thu, October 06, 2022
Kalakuta Museum
Iconic musician Fela Kuti declared his home in Lagos, Nigeria, an independent state. He called it Kalakuta - and in 1977 it was invaded by the Nigerian Army.
Wed, October 05, 2022
The Portland Treasure Map
A map in the archives of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library in Portland, OR may be the key to finding buried treasure that has yet to be found. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/buried-treasure-portland-oregon
Tue, October 04, 2022
The Battle of Atlanta Cyclorama
The history of this 150-year-old immersive painting at the Atlanta History Museum features a scheming promoter, the cast of Gone with the Wind, Atlanta’s first Black mayor, and the voice of Darth Vader himself - and shows how our interpretations of art reflect the time in which we live. This episode is produced in partnership with Discover Atlanta. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/atlanta-cyclorama
Mon, October 03, 2022
Endangered Wolf Center
The Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, Missouri was founded by zoologist and wildlife TV host Marlin Perkins and was home to an extraordinary wolf who gives us hope for the future of wolf survival.
Fri, September 30, 2022
Classic: The 49th Parallel
A listener takes us to a town on the edge of the longest undefended border in the world. US-Canada border regulations have been updated since this episode first aired: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/covid/menu-eng.html READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/uscanada-border-slash
Thu, September 29, 2022
Bloodroot Feminist Restaurant
For more than 40 years Selma Miriam and Noel Furie have maintained the Bloodroot Feminist Vegetarian Restaurant and Bookstore as a place where women from all over the world can gather, share ideas, and share meals. Visit Bloodroot: https://www.bloodroot.com/about Learn more about the Feminist Restaurant Project: http://www.thefeministrestaurantproject.com/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bloodroot-feminist-vegetarian-restaurant
Wed, September 28, 2022
Oyotunji African Village
Oyotunji is an African Village with real homes and real community founded in the 1970s and located in the US - just an hour south of Charleston, South Carolina. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/against-the-odds-a-40year-old-west-african-village-in-south-carolina-has-thrived
Tue, September 27, 2022
Broken Angel
The 1980s birthed a gleaming creature that spread its wings of scrap wood and glass over the intersection of two iconic Brooklyn, NY neighborhoods for thirty years. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/broken-angel
Mon, September 26, 2022
Enchanted Hart Haus
Steve and Amy Hartbauer have turned their home in residential Denver, CO into a massive mosaic and decade’s long expression of inner inspiration. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/enchanted-hart-haus
Fri, September 23, 2022
Classic: Jatinga Bird Deaths
An Indian village is home to one of the world’s oldest and greatest ornithological mysteries. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jatinga-bird-suicide
Thu, September 22, 2022
Libre Intentional Artist Community
Luz Flemming explores the home where he grew up, Libre - one of the longest lasting intentional communities still exists.
Wed, September 21, 2022
America’s “Quiet Zone”
Green Bank, West Virginia is free of wifi and cell signals due to the massive telescope nearby that requires radio silence. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/town-for-wi-fi-refugees
Tue, September 20, 2022
Summer Adventures ‘22
Today, a sampling of listener-submitted stories of summer adventures from the wild, strange and wonderful world in which we live.
Mon, September 19, 2022
Ark Two Shelter
Forty-two school buses have been buried in Horning’s Mills, Ontario - covered in concrete, they’re house up to 500 people in case of nuclear fallout. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ark-two-shelter
Fri, September 16, 2022
Classic: The Baalbek Trilithon
This ancient temple complex in Northern Lebanon is one of the most well-preserved Roman ruins on earth, and one of the most overlooked. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/baalbek-trilithon
Thu, September 15, 2022
Gocta Waterfalls
One of the world’s tallest waterfalls is nestled In Northwestern Peru, right where the Amazon rainforest crashes into the Andes Mountains. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gocta
Wed, September 14, 2022
Chapel Creek Ranch
This ranch in Sanger, Texas trains people in jousting and sword-fighting with the goal of making them knights of the highest order - for the Medieval Times dinner theater chain. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/behind-the-scenes-at-medieval-times-where-knights-battle-and-pepsi-is-plentiful
Tue, September 13, 2022
Grittiness and Romanticism in New York and Paris
Whiting Writer’s Award, Best Literary Criticism award winner, and author of several critically-praised books, Lucy Sante speaks with host Dylan Thuras about digging into place and how our relationship to places can shape our identities. To check out Lucy Sante’s work, please visit: https://lucysante.com/
Mon, September 12, 2022
Growing the Atlas
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team are on a mission to grow the Atlas community and include more wonderful and curious locations from Africa, Asia and South America. Two recent entries that caught their eyes include a market in Medeber, Eritrea and a women’s center in Kigali, Rwanda. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/medeber-market https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/nyamirambo-womens-center
Fri, September 09, 2022
Classic: Vigeland Mausoleum
On the outskirts of Oslo, Norway, there’s a mausoleum some say is the city’s “best kept secret.” It’s the underrated masterpiece of a mostly unknown artist -- an artist who was overshadowed his whole life by his more successful brother. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/emanuel-vigeland-museum
Thu, September 08, 2022
Fairhaven Historic Markers
Like a lot of historic neighborhoods, the sidewalks of Fairhaven in Bellingham, WA, are studded with small plaques commemorating local history. But unlike other neighborhoods, the markers in Fairhaven are a little bit darker, and a little bit weirder. Thanks to Bellinghistory with the Good Time Girls. Learn more about their walking tours here: https://bellinghistory.com/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/harris-avenue-fairhaven
Wed, September 07, 2022
Elmina Castle
At one time thirty thousand Africans per year were forced through Elmina Castle in Ghana, before they were taken across the world as part of the trans-atlantic slave trade.
Tue, September 06, 2022
The Loneliest Post Office
Built on a tiny island in Antarctica, the “loneliest post office in the world” got its start as a top-secret British military outpost during World War II—and became beloved by stamp collectors around the world. Learn more about the British Antarctic Survey: bas.ac.uk READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/loneliest-post-office-antarctica
Mon, September 05, 2022
Parrots of Green-Wood Cemetery
These Argentinian parrots have made an unlikely home in a Brooklyn, NY cemetery.
Fri, September 02, 2022
Classic: Lynmouth Flood Memorial Hall
A disaster in a seaside town got locals wondering about government conspiracies, weather control, and if human beings could actually, truly for real, make it rain.
Thu, September 01, 2022
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade isn’t linked to a holiday, religious affiliation or corporate celebration – it’s a celebration of having fun and getting a little weird. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/coney-island-mermaid-parade
Wed, August 31, 2022
The Lost Boys of Robber’s Cave
In 1954, two groups of boys thought they were going to summer camp. But they’d been recruited for a different kind of summer experience.
Tue, August 30, 2022
Anne Spencer’s Garden
This garden in Lynchburg, Virginia is the key to unlocking the writing and mind of Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer.
Mon, August 29, 2022
The Corn Palace
In Mitchell, South Dakota there stands a massive building covered in murals that are made completely from… corn! READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-corn-palace-mitchell-south-dakota
Fri, August 26, 2022
Classic: Beishan Broadcast Wall
On the tiny Kinmen Island, a bow-tie-shape strip of land between China and Taiwan, sits a giant weaponized wall of sound that still stands--and still broadcasts--today. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/beishan-broadcast-station-art
Thu, August 25, 2022
Pigeon Towers of Iran
This elaborate architecture throughout Iran served a very unique purpose - gathering pigeon guano. Take a virtual tour of a Pigeon Tower: https://ati3d.com/virtual_tour/pigeon READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pigeon-towers-iran
Wed, August 24, 2022
Discovery Hut
Atlas Obscura's Gemma Tarlach shares what it's like to step inside a relic from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, and to find traces of a famous lost party of explorers. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/discovery-hut
Tue, August 23, 2022
Clown Egg Register
This collection of ceramic eggs records the personal makeup designs of clowns around the world - and to some extent a clowning code of conduct. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/clown-egg-register
Mon, August 22, 2022
Travels with Steve and Datsun
Today we hear from an Atlas Obscura user who, when he isn’t aboard an icebreaking warship for the Canadian Navy, spends weeks at a time road-tripping with his dog. Check out Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puppercycle/?hl=en
Fri, August 19, 2022
Classic: Hope Cemetery
A graveyard in the “Granite Capital of the World” pays tribute to stone cutters and artisans who are buried amongst the sculptures they created. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hope-cemetery
Thu, August 18, 2022
The Honey Island Swamp Monster
Atlas Obscura reporter Sarah Durn ventures deep into the Louisiana swamp in search of the legendary monster that prowls it. Learn more about Jessica’s Honey Island Swamp & Kayak Tours: https://www.honeyislandkayaktours.com/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/honey-island-swamp
Wed, August 17, 2022
Tiwai Island
Civil war in Sierra Leone brought this beautiful island to the brink of destruction - now it’s making its comeback. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tiwai-island
Tue, August 16, 2022
The Guy Who Sings
Matt Farley has written dozens of songs about cities and towns across the United States. Why?
Mon, August 15, 2022
Grace Hopper’s Bug
Trailblazing computer scientist Grace Hopper shaped the way people use and talk about computers. Her actual computer bug is preserved at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/grace-hoppers-bug
Fri, August 12, 2022
Classic: The Capital Stones
Gigantic pieces of the United States Capitol rest in Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC - waiting for anyone willing to step off the beaten path. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-capitol-stones-washington-dc
Thu, August 11, 2022
Friendship Park
Every Sunday, there’s a binational church service at Friendship Park, which straddles the U.S.-Mexico border. We sent two reporters to attend the church service — one on the U.S. side and one in Mexico — to learn more about how changes to the U.S. border have affected the park and the community. Learn more about The Border Church: https://www.friendshippark.org/borderchurch READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/friendship-park
Wed, August 10, 2022
Seven Keys Lodge
The world’s largest random, assorted key collection located outside Denver, CO, was inspired by a literary infatuation and includes keys to danger and memory. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/baldpate-inn-key-collection
Tue, August 09, 2022
Trevor Paglen and Experimental Geography
MacArthur Genius Grant winner, artist, and experimental geographer Trevor Paglen and host Dylan Thuras discuss documenting government surveillance, AI, and place.
Mon, August 08, 2022
National Atomic Testing Museum
Las Vegas, Nevada was once the preferred tourist destination for watching weapons of mass destruction explode. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/national-atomic-testing-museum
Fri, August 05, 2022
Classic: The Thousand-Year Rose
The world's oldest rose is so tough it survived being bombed in World War II. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-thousand-year-rose-hildesheim-germany
Thu, August 04, 2022
The Blue Whale of Catoosa
Catoosa, Oklahoma is the site of a massive landlocked whale - and possibly the greatest anniversary gift ever READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/catoosa-whale
Wed, August 03, 2022
Ottoman Bird Palaces
These miniature mansions and luxurious homes were built for the feathered residents of Istanbul. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ottoman-bird-palaces
Tue, August 02, 2022
Underwater Places
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring listeners two stories where sculpture meets the depths: The Sunken Crosses of Malpique and a harbor in Odense, Denmark. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sunken-crosses-of-malpique https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hans-christian-andersen-odense-harbour
Mon, August 01, 2022
Concrete Animals of Mexico
Producer Abbey Perreault gives listeners an introduction to the long-unknown creator behind the widely known concrete fauna of Mexico’s urban playscapes. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/concrete-animal-cemetery
Fri, July 29, 2022
Classic: Milo Bitters
A listener in Lawrence, Kansas takes us on his journey of discovering the secrets of his hometown.
Thu, July 28, 2022
Plain of Jars
This archaeological landscape in Phonsavan, Laos is one of the most mysterious, important, and dangerous prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia. Learn more about the Plain of Jars Archaeological Research Project: https://plain-of-jars.org/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/plain-of-jars
Wed, July 27, 2022
The Smallest Mollusk Museum
The Smallest Mollusk Museum in New York City is part of a fleet of tiny museums that might just have a big impact on the world.
Tue, July 26, 2022
Maillardet’s Automaton
This mechanical boy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was a mystery - until it began to write. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/maillardets-automaton
Mon, July 25, 2022
Buck Atom on Route 66
Space Cowboy Buck Atom stands watch over an old gas station in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is a link to the glory of Route 66’s Muffler Men. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/buck-atom
Fri, July 22, 2022
Welcome to Provincetown
We're sharing with you a new Witness Docs show: Welcome to Provincetown, a documentary podcast in the vein of reality television about a small town on the Cape with a strong LGBTQIA+ history. Warning: The episode does contain explicit language. Find out more about Welcome to Provincetown and other Witness shows at: https://www.witnesspodcasts.com/
Thu, July 21, 2022
The Voice at Embankment Station
The voice announcement at Embankment Station in London is unlike any other announcement on the Tube.
Wed, July 20, 2022
Roger Williams Root
The hunt to memorialize Rhode Island’s founder created one of the state’s strangest and most enduring myths. To Learn more about Roger Williams relationship to local indigenous tribes: http://library.providence.edu/encompass/narragansett-history/secondary-sources/the-landing-of-roger-williams/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/roger-williams-root
Tue, July 19, 2022
Lake Lanier
Legends and troubled history lay beneath Lake Lanier in Forsyth County.
Mon, July 18, 2022
Cranes of the DMZ
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea has become an accidental bird sanctuary for one of the world’s most endangered crane species. Learn more about the International Crane Foundation: savingcranes.org
Fri, July 15, 2022
Classic: Wonders in Your Backyard
Occasionally the podcast team requests messages about the strange and wondrous places you experience. These are some of first responses we received last year regarding our request to hear of wonders from listeners' backyards. Stories feature the world’s largest tin soldier, the home of the first public beach and a phone connecting us to people we’ve lost. Tell us about a wonder in your backyard. Record a voice memo and send it to hello@atlasobscura.com or leave a voicemail at 315-992-7902.
Thu, July 14, 2022
Journey to Black Star Square
Producer Baudelaire Ceus brings listeners to Accra, Ghana and a gigantic public square dedicated to Ghanaian independence. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/black-star-square
Wed, July 13, 2022
Vilcabamba
This small town in Ecuador was thought to hold the fountain of youth and drew the curiosity of scientists and wellness practitioners alike. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/vilcabamba
Tue, July 12, 2022
Star Trek Original Series Set Tour
Sets from the original 1960’s Star Trek have been recreated for fans and actors alike in Ticonderoga, New York. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/star-trek-original-series-set-tour
Mon, July 11, 2022
Disabled Hikers
Syren Nagakyrie set out to make a whole world of incredible beauty more available to millions of people with disabilities - starting with the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Learn more about Disabled Hikers: https://disabledhikers.com/ Olympic National Park Trail Guides: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/physical-mobility-accessibility.htm
Fri, July 08, 2022
Classic: Pyramiden
An abandoned Russian mining village is literally frozen in time. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pyramiden
Thu, July 07, 2022
Congo Square
Congo Square in New Orleans is the heart of where African drumming found its way into American music and the birth of Jazz. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/congo-square
Wed, July 06, 2022
Places Team Favorite Atlas Entries
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring listeners stories of two of their favorite places that can be found in the Atlas - on in Washington, DC and one in Scotland.
Tue, July 05, 2022
Amir Siraj and the Interstellar Object
Amir Siraj was a sophomore in college when he discovered what may be the first documented interstellar object to hit earth.
Mon, July 04, 2022
House the Giants Built
Anna Swan had an adventurous life before settling in Seville, Ohio and building a house large enough to fit her large life.
Fri, July 01, 2022
Grasshopper Glacier Re-Listen
A rapidly disappearing glacier holds the key to a forgotten species, a century-old entomological mystery, and… an opera. This episode previously aired in 2021. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/grasshopper-glacier
Thu, June 30, 2022
Floating Freedom School
This paddleboat gave some Black children a place to learn even when they were denied formal education on land.
Wed, June 29, 2022
The Hodges Meteorite
This meteorite is one of the very few on record to have hit a human being. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-hodges-meteorite-tuscaloosa-alabama
Tue, June 28, 2022
The Goiter Belt
A public health crisis plagued the Midwest until a simple solution was introduced to a ubiquitous cooking ingredient.
Mon, June 27, 2022
Tiny Doors ATL
A number of tiny, mysterious doors scattered throughout Atlanta, Georgia ask viewers to imagine what might be found on the other side. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tiny-doors-atl
Fri, June 24, 2022
The House on the Rock Re-Listen
Join host Dylan Thuras and producer Harry Huggins as they visit the unruly architecture of The House on the Rock - one of the inspirations for Atlas Obscura. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/house-rock
Thu, June 23, 2022
Catalina Island Bison Herd Re-Listen
The strange story of Catalina Island’s herd of bison, and the harrowing story of producer Sarah Wyman’s encounter with these intimidating residents. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/catalina-island-bison-herd
Wed, June 22, 2022
National Corvette Museum Sinkhole Re-Listen
Eight rare vehicles at the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky vanish, thanks to a massive sinkhole. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/national-corvette-museum-sinkhole
Tue, June 21, 2022
The Cardiff Giant Re-Listen
All summer we’ve been asking you to send us your summer travel stories. In this installment we hear a listener’s tale of a theological dispute that became a real money-maker known to some as “Old Hoaxy.” READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cardiff-giant
Mon, June 20, 2022
Leimert Park Re-Listen
Producer Baudelaire Ceus travels to Leimert Park, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles characterized by its historical relationship to Black liberation.
Fri, June 17, 2022
Booming Dunes Re-Listen
An audio postcard from the desert of Badain Jaran in China, home of the Booming Dunes, and possibly the coolest sand sounds you’ve ever heard. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/booming-dunes-badain-desert
Thu, June 16, 2022
Garbage Goat
This sculpture in Spokane, WA was created by a"welding nun" decades ago. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/garbage-eating-goat-statue
Wed, June 15, 2022
The Divorce Colony
For a brief period the small frontier city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota drew in socialites and celebrities who were desperate to end their marriages. For more stories from the Divorce Colony, check out April White's book: The Divorce Colony: How Women Revolutionized Marriage and Found Freedom on the American Frontier. https://thedivorcecolony.com/
Tue, June 14, 2022
The Cincinnati Subway
There are two miles of abandoned tunnels beneath the streets of Cincinnati, OH. A relic of an attempt to establish underground transportation in the city. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-cincinnati-subway-cincinnati-ohio
Mon, June 13, 2022
The Places You Return To
Atlas Obscura listeners share stories from places they love so much they keep going back.
Fri, June 10, 2022
La Paz Re-listen
In the busy, traffic-packed capital city of Bolivia, we meet the zebras who keep the streets of La Paz safe for its citizens. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/la-paz-cebritas
Thu, June 09, 2022
World’s Oldest Edible Ham
Atlas Obscura’s resident food and death reporter Sam O’Brien takes us to Smithfield, Virginia, where we meet a 120-year-old ham, and the people who love it. Learn more about the Isle of Wight County Museum: www.historicisleofwight.com/ Let Sam eat the ham: hamtruther.com READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/worlds-oldest-edible-ham
Wed, June 08, 2022
Nakagin Capsule Tower
This social and architectural experiment in Tokyo, Japan was once the leading building in a movement attempting to pair construction and biological growth. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/nakagin-capsule-tower
Tue, June 07, 2022
Phone Booth on a Roof
The City Hall in Lincoln, Illinois has an unusual architectural appendage with a curious history. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/phone-booth-on-a-roof
Mon, June 06, 2022
Eastern State Penitentiary
The founders of this prison in Philadelphia, PA aimed to revolutionize incarceration for the better - and unintentionally created new horrors. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/eastern-state-penitentiary
Fri, June 03, 2022
The Heidelberg Project Re-Listen
We take you to East Detroit, where an artist transformed a largely abandoned street into an immersive, living museum -- which grew into something even bigger. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/heidelberg-project
Thu, June 02, 2022
San Juan Sound
San Juan Sound is an iconic studio where musicians, engineers, and quite possibly a music-loving ghost carry on the Island’s musical traditions, which date back hundreds of years. This episode is produced in partnership with Discover Puerto Rico.
Wed, June 01, 2022
Madame Tussaud
Dylan Thuras braves one of New York’s most touristy sites to bring listeners the lesser-known history of Madame Tussaud’s origins.
Tue, May 31, 2022
Two of Our Favorite Mummies
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring listeners the stories of two mummies - one preserved in a bog in Jutland, Denmark and another at a monastery in Palermo, Italy. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/haraldsk-r-woman https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/capuchin-monastery
Mon, May 30, 2022
A Sound Garden
An orchard of metal poles sits on a hill overlooking Lake Washington. And when the wind blows, this musical sculpture "sings the world into existence" with its unique sound. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/a-sound-garden
Fri, May 27, 2022
The Root Bridges of Cherrapunji Re-listen
In the depths of Northeastern India, centuries-old bridges are not built, they are grown. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/root-bridges-cherrapungee
Thu, May 26, 2022
The Livestock Living at the End of the World
The pigs once plopped on an uninhabited Auckland Island known for capturing castaways now play an important role in modern medical research. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-lives-on-auckland-islands
Wed, May 25, 2022
Carhenge
This experimental automotive replica of Stonehenge has become a symbol of the town of Alliance, Nebraska. But residents haven’t always been fans. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/carhenge
Tue, May 24, 2022
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Producer Baudelaire Ceus searches for the resting place of famed author Richard Wright among the graves of other cultural icons like Gertrude Stein, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Sadegh Hedaya. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pere-lachaise-cemetery
Mon, May 23, 2022
Leaning Tower of Niles
Niles, Illinois is home to an exact replica of Italy’s leaning tower of Pisa - only it’s half the size of the original structure. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/leaning-tower-niles
Fri, May 20, 2022
Not Lost in the Umbrella Covers Museum
Brendan Francis Newnam, the host of the new podcast Not Lost, and Dylan Thuras discuss how getting lost is the best way to find yourself. And Brendan shares a great scene from his podcast where he and his co-host travel to the Umbrella Cover Museum on Peaks Island in Maine. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/umbrella-cover-museum
Thu, May 19, 2022
The Places We Return To
Atlas Obscura contributors take listeners to some of the places they loved so much they keep going back. Got your own place that calls you to return again and again? Submit a voice memo to hello@atlasobscura.com
Wed, May 18, 2022
Monongahela Incline
This funicular in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania used to offer coal and steel workers a respite from the smog of industry. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/monongahela-incline
Tue, May 17, 2022
Goblin Valley State Park
Today the story of how a street lamp, a tangle with municipal government, and a love of the stars led a man to Goblin Valley, Utah a “dark sky certified” place for lovers of the night sky. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/goblin-valley-state-park
Mon, May 16, 2022
The Last Big Mac in Iceland
Take a trip to a hostel in Iceland to visit the country’s last Big Mac, where the burger’s existence unfolds a story about economics and national identity. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/iceland-mcdonalds
Fri, May 13, 2022
The Boiling River Re-Listen
A river in the Amazon is so hot that anything that falls into it will die … but how did it get this way? Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-boiling-river-of-the-amazon-puerto-inca-peru
Thu, May 12, 2022
Ruins of Le Jardin d'Agronomie Tropicale
This garden park in Paris, France contains the ruins of a colonial exhibition from 1907. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/le-jardin-d-agronomie-tropicale
Wed, May 11, 2022
The Maiden of Deception Pass
Thousands of years ago, a young woman named Ko-kwal-alwoot crouched over a set of tide pools, looked into the water, and saw a face looking back at her that wasn’t her own. Today, her descendants are still telling the story of what happened next. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-maiden-of-deception-pass Learn more about the Samish Indian Nation: https://www.samishtribe.nsn.us/
Tue, May 10, 2022
National Ice Core Lab
Scientists in Denver, Colorado store and conduct tests on miles of ice core samples dating back hundreds of thousands of years. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/national-ice-core-lab
Mon, May 09, 2022
Forestiere Underground Gardens
This underground oasis in Fresno, California is a winding maze of rooms and passageways filled with lush citrus trees. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/forestiere-underground-gardens
Fri, May 06, 2022
Mafra Palace Library Bats Re-listen
A grand library in Portugal has some unexpected nighttime caretakers -- tiny bats. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mafra-palace-library-bats
Thu, May 05, 2022
The Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum
Noah Purifoy was a pugilistic LA artist who eventually filled a 10 acre plot of land in Joshua Tree, CA with his of-kilter art. Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Museum: http://www.noahpurifoy.com/joshua-tree-outdoor-museum Learn more about Dale Davis: https://dalebdavis.com/ Listen to our episode about Leimert Park: https://pod.link/1555769970/episode/1a593d4fba52c8d48fd9e62728a2a16f Listen to our episode about the Watts Towers Art Center: https://pod.link/1555769970/episode/18849745a4259a207da75f53dfa6e657 READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/noah-purifoy-s-outdoor-desert-art-museum
Wed, May 04, 2022
Upton Chamber
An underground chamber in Upton, MA puzzled some New Englanders while others long knew its ancient origins. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/upton-chamber
Tue, May 03, 2022
Benin Bronzes
Thousands of masks from the former Kingdom of Benin are spread throughout museums across the world. Is that where they belong?
Mon, May 02, 2022
Hashima Island
Hashima Island in Japan was once the most densely populated place on Earth. Until – almost overnight – everyone left. Additional information for this episode was provided by Joshua Synenko of Trent University.
Fri, April 29, 2022
Sputnik IV Crash Site Re-listen
Typically, space junk ends up deep in the Pacific Ocean. This is the story of when it plunged back to earth … onto a street in small-town Wisconsin. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sputnik-crash-site
Thu, April 28, 2022
Forest of the Future Library
This forest in Oslo, Norway will provide the trees for paper as part of a century long art project featuring famed contemporary authors. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/forest-of-the-future-library
Wed, April 27, 2022
The Last Tenement
The Last Tenement in Boston’s old West End has come to represent everything that can go wrong with urban planning. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-last-tenement
Tue, April 26, 2022
The Timbuktu Manuscripts
These documents highlight the intellectual legacy of an ancient civilization based in Timbuktu, Mali. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/timbuktu-manuscripts-mali
Mon, April 25, 2022
Islands of America
Writer and island-hopper Anna Marlis Burgard takes us on a tour of three of the 135 strange, incredible, and wondrous islands she’s explored in the United States. Learn more about Anna's Islands of America adventure: http://www.islandsofamerica.com/ Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-united-islands-of-america CORRECTION: A previous version of this episode misidentified the name of the Skete on Nelson Island. It is the St. Nilus Skete, not the St. Nicholas Skete.
Fri, April 22, 2022
Ubatuba Whale(s) Re-listen
We dig into the tales of TWO whales washing ashore along the southeastern coast of Brazil. And learn how one became a scientific marvel and the other, a local landmark. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ubatuba-whale
Thu, April 21, 2022
Bloody Island
This island between Missouri and Illinois was a preferred meeting place for duels to the death in the early 1900’s.
Wed, April 20, 2022
The Louis Armstrong House Museum
Famed Jazz musician Louis Armstrong’s house in Corona, Queens in New York is now a museum preserving his legacy. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/louis-armstrong-house
Tue, April 19, 2022
Gnomesville
A community of kitschy lawn gnomes have taken over an Australian roundabout. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gnomesville
Mon, April 18, 2022
The Ends of the World
Science writer Peter Brannen takes listeners on a tour of the world’s five major mass extinctions.
Fri, April 15, 2022
Shoreham Power Plant Re-listen
We venture out to Long Island, not for the beautiful beaches, or an Islanders game, or to hang with Billy Joel. We're here to explore the fraught history of a gigantic, ominous sea foam-green nuclear power plant. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/shoreham-nuclear-power-plant
Thu, April 14, 2022
Listener Encounters with the Unknown
Last month we asked listeners about your encounters with the unknown, and boy did you all deliver! This presents two stories we received from listeners Maggie and Melissa.
Wed, April 13, 2022
The Rotary Jail Museum
The only remaining operational Rotary Jail, found in Crawfordsville, Indiana, shows visitors how inmates were once locked within the building’s walls. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/rotary-jail-museum
Tue, April 12, 2022
Watts Towers
One of the United State’s most famous pieces of self-built architecture consists of seventeen interconnected towers that rise like inverted ice cream cones from the ground - the tallest reaching over 100 feet. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/watts-towers
Mon, April 11, 2022
Museum of Innocence
This museum built of memories in Istanbul, Turkey was created in a book before it was created in real life. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-museum-of-innocence-2-istanbul-turkey
Fri, April 08, 2022
Traveling While Aging (Classic)
Host Dylan Thuras confronts the good and the bad ways travel changes as you move through different life stages.
Thu, April 07, 2022
Lake Natron
Lake Natron in Monduli, Tanzania can leave welts and burns on human skin but is a bit of a paradise for another animal. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lake-natron
Wed, April 06, 2022
Sinchi Warmi Amazon Lodge
Learn how a group of indegnous women in Puerto Misahuallî, Ecuador fought “machismo” to become entrepreneurs and build an eco-friendly getaway. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sinchi-warmi-amazon-lodge
Tue, April 05, 2022
Chemin de la Mâture
This treacherous path cut through a stretch of the Pyrenees Mountains in France may have played a key part in one nation’s quest for international influence and possibly helped foment a revolution. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/chemin-de-la-mature
Mon, April 04, 2022
Corpus Clock and Chronophage
Explore a modern landmark in a medieval city. The Corpus Clock in Cambridge, England honors both the past and future of telling time. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/corpus-clock-corpus-christi-chronophage
Fri, April 01, 2022
Gastropod’s “Buried Treasure: Weeds, Seeds, and Zombies.”
Atlas Obscura presents Gastropod’s episode “Buried Treasure: Weeds, Seeds, and Zombies.” Gastropod Hosts Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley examine a scientific quest – and one of the world’s longest running experiments - to see how long weeds can survive. They find zombie seeds, a treasure hunt, and more. Gastropod: https://gastropod.com/buried-treasure-weeds-seeds-and-zombies/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dr-beals-seed-viability-experiment
Thu, March 31, 2022
The World’s Oldest Living Things Re-listen
As part of Women’s History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including this tour of the world's oldest living things - with artist Rachel Sussman who’s been documenting these ancient things for 10 years. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/womens-history-month READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/worlds-oldest-living-things
Wed, March 30, 2022
The Office of Collecting and Design Re-listen
As part of Women’s History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including this conversation with Jessica Oreck who has spent the last 30 years collecting odd and forgotten objects. Now, they’re all beautifully curated and on display in the Office of Collecting and Design in Las Vegas. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/womens-history-month Follow the Office of Collecting and Design on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/office.of.collecting/?hl=en READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/office-of-collecting-and-design
Tue, March 29, 2022
The Kalamazoo Gals of the Old Gibson Guitar Factory Re-Listen
As part of Women’s History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including this story of the women who stepped up to produce thousands of guitars during World War II, only to be written out of the history. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/womens-history-month Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-old-gibson-guitar-factory-kalamazoo-michigan
Mon, March 28, 2022
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Re-listen
As part of Women’s History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including this story of a national park in Southwest Uganda that is home to nearly half the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. They and the local community rely on each other to survive. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/womens-history-month Learn how to help the Bwindi Mountain Gorillas: https://ctph.org/ Sound of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the mountain gorillas was recorded by Nick Penny. To see more of Nick’s work, visit: https://www.nickpennyphotography.com/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bwindi-impenetrable-forest
Fri, March 25, 2022
Kulning Re-Listen
As part of Women’s History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including this story of how herdswomen in Northern Sweden have lured cows home with haunting melodies. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/womens-history-month READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-kulning
Thu, March 24, 2022
Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary
Criminal and This is Love host Phoebe Judge brings us to the ancient ruins of Torre Argentina in Rome - the site of Julius Caesar’s assasination, which also happens to double as an enormous sanctuary for cats. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/torre-argentina-roman-cat-sanctuary
Wed, March 23, 2022
Life Changing Locations with the Places Team
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring listeners two Atlas Obscura locations developed as the result of a life-changing decision - to embark on a massive art project and live. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hercules
Tue, March 22, 2022
Pyramid of Djoser
Travel to the world’s oldest intact pyramid in Egypt - and learn about the genius who also influenced the fields of architecture, astronomy, and medicine. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pyramid-of-djoser
Mon, March 21, 2022
Edna Lawrence Nature Lab with Brian Chesky
AirBnB founder and CEO Brian Chesky discusses how design experiences, like those found at the Edna Laurence Nature Lab, shape his work.
Fri, March 18, 2022
Good Vibrations Antique Vibrator Museum Re-Listen
As part of Women’s History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive including this museum’s buzzing collection which honors vibrator history. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/womens-history-month READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/good-vibrations-antique-vibrator-museum
Thu, March 17, 2022
Ford’s Folly
A giant abandoned dam in Sudbury, Massachusetts, marks the inglorious failure of America’s champion of industry to triumph over nature. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fords-folly-water-dam
Wed, March 16, 2022
Rhubarb Triangle
Farmers in Yorkshire, England take years to coax their rhubarb plants into a world-renowned delicacy using a century-old technique. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/rhubarb-triangle
Tue, March 15, 2022
Haitian Monument
The Haitian Monument in Savannah, Georgia was built to commemorate the Haitian soldiers who came to the rescue of Patriots fighting in the Revolutionary War.
Mon, March 14, 2022
Kuruvungna Sacred Springs
Eight thousand years ago, this land’s first inhabitants built a village around a sacred spring. And today, in what is now Los Angeles, CA, their descendants still work to protect the site. Learn more about the Gabrielino-Tongva Springs Foundation: http://gabrielinosprings.com/wpsite/
Fri, March 11, 2022
Women of the Black Panther Mural Re-Listen
As part of Women’s History Month Atlas Obscura will be sharing some episodes from the archive starting with the story of how a 30-foot-tall mural on the side of a house in West Oakland is teaching an often left out part of the history of the Black Panther Party-- the women who fueled the movement. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/black-lives-matter-murals Learn more about this project and sign up for a tour of the mini-museum here: http://www.westoaklandmuralproject.org
Thu, March 10, 2022
Possum Monument
Wausau, Florida’s monument and annual festival celebrate this furry critter’s contributions to the community. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/possum-monument
Wed, March 09, 2022
Elephant Clock
The Elephant Clock, a replica of an ancient invention, sits in Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai, surrounded by stores like The Gap, and H&M. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/elephant-clock
Tue, March 08, 2022
Hotel Theresa
The Hotel Theresa in Harlem, New York played a pivotal role in the influential neighborhood’s cultural identity.
Mon, March 07, 2022
The Capitol Stones
Gigantic pieces of the United States Capitol rest in Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC - waiting for anyone willing to step off the beaten path. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-capitol-stones-washington-dc
Thu, March 03, 2022
Brushes with the Unknown
Members of the Atlas Obscura team share their experiences with unknown phenomena.
Wed, March 02, 2022
Civic Musical Road
The grooves cut in this road outside Lancaster, CA play the finale of the William Tell Overture. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/civic-musical-road
Tue, March 01, 2022
St. Brigid’s Well
St. Brigid’s well in Clare, Ireland is site integral to the story of how a pagan goddess became a Christian saint. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/st-brigid-s-well
Mon, February 28, 2022
The Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office
This office, established by the founder of the American Red Cross, changed the lives of thousands of Civil War soldiers and their families. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/clara-barton-missing-soldiers-office-museum
Thu, February 24, 2022
Vermontasaurus
This folk art dinosaur was almost pushed to extinction due to lack of a building permit. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/vermontasaurus
Wed, February 23, 2022
Lake Karachay
Lake Karachay in Ozersk, Russia is the site of a former secret Soviet Union nuclear facility - that’s inspired art despite the little that’s publicly known of the site. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lake-karachay
Tue, February 22, 2022
Sites of Vision with the Places Team
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring listeners two Atlas Obscura locations created by people compelled by visions - the East West Peace Church in Munich, Germany, and the Source du Nil in Musenyi, Burundi.
Mon, February 21, 2022
Ponyhenge
Lincoln, Massachusetts is home to one of the strangest pony herds you’re likely to see - and it’s been growing for more than a decade. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ponyhenge
Thu, February 17, 2022
The Last Sears in New York City
Producer Johanna Mayer takes a trip to the last Sears in New York City, a Brooklyn landmark, with two people whose lives were shaped by the department store.
Wed, February 16, 2022
Extreme Travel with Dave Seminara
Host Dylan Thuras speaks with Dave Seminara, author of the book Mad Travelers, about extreme travel and the people who love it.
Tue, February 15, 2022
Panorama of the City of New York
The Panorama of the City of New York a star of the 1964 World’s Fair where it competed for attention with new technology like touch-tone phones and the Ford Mustang. The artwork now lives in the Queens Museum. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/a-panorama-view-of-new-york-city
Mon, February 14, 2022
International Cocoa Quarantine Center
Nicola Twilley takes us to suburban London, where a 1000 square meter greenhouse is all that stands between us and the chocapocalypse. Listen to the Malta Lazaretto episode: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/podcast-quarantine-at-malta-lazaretto Listen to Gastropod: https://gastropod.com/ Read Until Proven Safe: https://untilprovensafe.com/
Thu, February 10, 2022
Milky Seas
Join host Dylan Thuras, a satellite scientist, and a ship captain in search of gigantic swaths of bioluminescence that can radiate up from the surface of the sea over thousands of square miles.
Wed, February 09, 2022
The Theater of Electricity
Step inside the Theater of Electricity in Boston and learn about the World’s Largest Air-Insulated Van Der Graaf Generator. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/worlds-largest-airinsulated-van-de-graaff-generator
Tue, February 08, 2022
Leimert Park
Producer Baudelaire Ceus travels to Leimert Park, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles characterized by its historical relationship to Black liberation.
Mon, February 07, 2022
Quarantine at Malta Lazaretto
Writers Geoff Manaugh and Nicky Twilley take us inside a crumbling, centuries-old quarantine facility, and we explore the history and future of quarantine. Read “Until Proven Safe: The History and Future of Quarantine”: https://untilprovensafe.com/ Learn more about the Malta Lazzaretto: https://www.midimalta.com/en/the-lazaretto
Thu, February 03, 2022
Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary
Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town in South Africa, is a destination where sunbathers, tourists, and penguins share both the beach and parts of the town. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/boulders-beach-penguin-sanctuary
Wed, February 02, 2022
Monkey Island
Monkey Island, Cayo, Santigo is an island off the coast of Puerto Rico where more than 1500 imported monkeys have lived and been studied by researchers for decades. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cayo-santiago-monkey-island
Tue, February 01, 2022
The Citadelle Laferriere
The Citadelle Laferriere in Haiti was built to ensure the island remained free after Haitians defeated French colonizers. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/citadelle-laferriere
Mon, January 31, 2022
Bell Ringing of Old North Church
Boston’s Old North Church was cemented in American History by Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride. But now the ringers who play these bells in a centuries-old style are adding a twist. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bell-ringing-chamber-at-old-north-church
Thu, January 27, 2022
City Museum
In 1993 Bob Cassilly began to turn an old shoe factory into a massive interactive museum that now includes a plane fuselage, caves, and a ten-story slide. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/city-museum
Wed, January 26, 2022
Gorgeous Grotesques with the Places Team
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team find beauty and fascination at the sites of warped and bizarre statues in Nuremberg, Germany and Urgnano, Italy. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/der-hase https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-grotesques-of-urgnano-castle
Tue, January 25, 2022
Musk Ox Farm
The Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska aims to domesticate a species that used to roam the earth at the same time as the sabretooth and wooly mammoth. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/musk-ox-farm
Mon, January 24, 2022
Chopin’s Heart
The Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw, Poland is the final resting place of famed composer Frédéric Chopin’s heart - smuggled there by Chopin’s sister after his death. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/chopin-s-heart
Thu, January 20, 2022
Razzouk Tattoo
Razzouk Tattoo in Jerusalem has given Christian pilgrims permanent souvenirs from their travel for centuries. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/razzouk-ink
Wed, January 19, 2022
Great Zimbabwe
Visit the ruins of an ancient economic powerhouse’s capital city, Great Zimbabwe in the nation of Zimbabwe and learn how a colonial empire was determined to rewrite its story. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/great-zimbabwe
Tue, January 18, 2022
Lily Dale Spiritualist Community
Reporter Sam O’Brien takes us to Lily Dale, the world’s largest surviving community of spiritualists, where she learns (even if you don’t believe in ghosts) there’s more than one way to connect with the dead. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lily-dale-spiritualist-community
Mon, January 17, 2022
Relampago Del Catatumo
There’s an everlasting lightning storm in Northwestern Venezuela that appears in the night sky nearly every night. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/relampago-del-catatumbo
Thu, January 13, 2022
Cisternerne
A massive 19th-century reservoir under the city of Copenhagen has been repurposed as a contemporary art cave. We venture inside to learn more about its history, and bask in the incredible acoustics of the space. Visit Cisternerne and Frederiksberg Museerne: https://frederiksbergmuseerne.dk/da/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cisternerne
Wed, January 12, 2022
The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft
Reporter Eric Grundhauser recounts a memorable visit to an unusual museum in Iceland, where he explored the ancient lore of the occult, learned how to steal milk from his neighbors, and laid his eyes upon a pair of pants… made of human flesh. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-museum-of-icelandic-sorcery-witchcraft-holmavik-iceland
Tue, January 11, 2022
Organ Stop Pizza
The largest theater pipe organ in the world lives in a restaurant in Mesa, Arizona. Phenomenal musicians play requests while diners feast on pizza. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/organ-stop-pizza
Mon, January 10, 2022
Alnwick Poison Garden
The Alnwick Poison Garden in England is a place where stopping and smelling the flowers could actually kill you. The garden is dedicated entirely to plants that are narcotic or deadly. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/alnwick-poison-garden
Thu, January 06, 2022
The Unclaimed Baggage Center
The Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama bills itself as “the nation’s only retailer of lost luggage.” If you’ve ever lost a bag during air travel, it probably wound up there - along with many other treasures and oddities. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/unclaimed-baggage-center
Wed, January 05, 2022
Beer Can House
John Milkovisch spent 18 years covering his Houston home in beer cans. The house has been preserved for visitors since John’s death in 1988. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/beer-can-house
Tue, January 04, 2022
Grandma Ida’s Nut Rolls Gravestone
Resident food and death correspondent, Sam O’Brien, returns to tell us about a grave with a nut roll recipe engraved on it and the layered and touching story behind the treat. Know of a recipe grave in your local cemetery? Email us at hello@atlasobscura.com , and include “Recipe Graves” in the subject line.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
A national park in Southwest Uganda is home to nearly half the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. They and the local community rely on each other to survive. Learn how to help the Bwindi Mountain Gorillas: https://ctph.org/ Sound of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the mountain gorillas was recorded by Nick Penny. To see more of Nick’s work, visit: https://www.nickpennyphotography.com/ https://www.instagram.com/nickp.pics/ Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bwindi-impenetrable-forest
Thu, December 30, 2021
Beechey Island Graves Part 2 Re-Listen
In this two-part series, we venture towards frozen graves tied to an infamous Arctic expedition. We follow two groups of adventurers, separated by more than 170 years, and play witness to the disasters that befell them all. Read More in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/graves-of-beechey-island
Wed, December 29, 2021
Beechey Island Graves Part 1 Re-Listen
In this two-part series, we venture towards frozen graves tied to an infamous Arctic expedition. We follow two groups of adventurers, separated by more than 170 years, and play witness to the disasters that befell them all. Read More in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/graves-of-beechey-island
Tue, December 28, 2021
Hachiko Re-Listen
After a profound show of devotion for his master, a dog becomes the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hachiko-hachi-shibuya-station
Mon, December 27, 2021
Gold Medal Flour Re-Listen
The crumbled ruins of the world’s largest flour mill became one of Minneapolis’ most prominent graffiti-writing locations, and later a museum. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mill-city-museum-site-great-mill-disaster
Thu, December 23, 2021
The Village Where Every Person’s Name Is a Song Re-Listen
In Kongthong, India, every person’s name is a unique song, composed by their mother within a week of their birth, part of a centuries-old tradition. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/where-indian-villagers-have-musical-names
Wed, December 22, 2021
The Family Tree Re-Listen
A listener’s voicemail sent us searching for the story of a very special -- and giant -- oak tree Peoria, Illinois, and the family of arborists who cared for it.
Tue, December 21, 2021
Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool Re-Listen
The oldest (maybe) swimming pool in Iceland is a stunning oasis built into the side of a lush hill. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/seljavallalaug
Mon, December 20, 2021
Widow Jane Mine Re-Listen
This old cement mine in Rosendale, New York, has been used as everything from a mushroom farm to a recording studio. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/widow-jane-mine
Thu, December 16, 2021
Happy Holidays from the Atlas Obscura Team
The Atlas production team would like to share some of their favorite holiday places as 2021 comes to a close. This episode will be followed by a series of re-listen episodes from the past year, published over the next two weeks.
Wed, December 15, 2021
Shipwrecked Doritos
In 2006 a massive haul of Doritos was shipwrecked on Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks, leaving its mark on the town forever. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/shipwrecked-doritos
Tue, December 14, 2021
The Naica Cave
Professional Adventurer George Kourounis knew he needed to visit the Cave of the Crystals, located nearly a 1000 feet beneath northern Mexico, the moment he saw a photograph from inside the cave. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/giant-crystals-naica
Mon, December 13, 2021
Post Office Bay
Post Office Bay on the Galapagos Islands is a post office that runs on luck and the goodwill of visitors. It has a knack for bringing strangers together. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/post-office-bay
Thu, December 09, 2021
Carousel of Happiness
A music box given to Scott Harrison while he served in Vietnam inspired him to hand-carve all the animals for the Carousel of Happiness in Nederland, Colorado. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/carousel-of-happiness
Wed, December 08, 2021
The Past Beneath Our Feet with the Places Team
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team catch listeners up on the new and surprising additions to Atlas Obscura that capture their attention. This includes a heiress’s pet cemetery and ruins visible beneath a grocery store floor. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/doris-dukes-pet-cemetery https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/aungier-street-lidl-archaelogy
Tue, December 07, 2021
Museum of Minerals and Crystals
This small mineral museum in Dodgeville, Wisconsin is home to plenty of rocks - some of which may rival those in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Mon, December 06, 2021
Lake Nyos - The Deadliest Lake
In 1986 an unknown natural disaster at Lake Nyos in Menchum, Cameroon left more than 1700 people dead in one night - and puzzled scientists. Learn how they solved that mystery. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lake-nyos-the-deadliest-lake-in-the-world
Thu, December 02, 2021
Centers for Disease Control Museum
Visit a museum inside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, which documents how public health officials have slowed the spread of disease through history. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cdc-museum
Wed, December 01, 2021
Abandoned Chacaltaya Ski Resort
Hear from the caretakers of a ghost town in Bolivia that was once the world's highest ski resort. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/abandoned-chacaltaya-ski-resort
Tue, November 30, 2021
Micropia
Take a trip to Micropia, the world’s only museum dedicated to microscopic organisms and learn about our invisible life companions. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/micropia
Mon, November 29, 2021
Tree of 40 Fruits
The Tree of 40 fruits in San Jose California is an horticultural marvel of 40 types of stone fruit trees grafted together to form a living work of art. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tree-of-40-fruit
Thu, November 25, 2021
Looking for Pawpaws
The Sporkful host Dan Pashman brings listeners on a quest to find a fruit indigenous to North America that has never been industrialized - but may be seeing a resurgence. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/pawpaw-fruit
Wed, November 24, 2021
International Cryptozoology Museum
It’s easy to dismiss Bigfoot, the yeti, the Loch Ness monster, and other cryptids as far-fetched X-Files fodder. But the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine aims to show that when investigations into unknown creatures are done right, they involve real science, and have real scientific value. Monster of the Month Series: https://www.atlasobscura.com/experiences/monster-of-the-month-with-colin-dickey READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/international-cryptozoology-museum
Tue, November 23, 2021
The Jagannath Temple
In a collaboration with our friends at Science Diction , we explore the Indian temple complex that gave rise to the word "juggernaut," which means an unstoppable force. But the real story behind it is far more complicated. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jagannath-temple
Mon, November 22, 2021
Sunny Jim Cave
We follow a long set of wooden stairs deep underground to a sea cave with a mysterious and colorful past, and take in a spectacular, hidden view of the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla. Learn more about The Cave Store: https://www.cavestore.com/ READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sunny-jim-cave-store CORRECTION: A previous version of this episode misstated L. Frank Baum's role in the creation of The Wizard of Oz. He was the author, not the illustrator.
Thu, November 18, 2021
Red Sea Blue Hole
This stunning geological marvel just north of Dahab, Egypt has been called the deadliest dive spot in the world. But is that reputation deserved? READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/red-sea-blue-hole
Wed, November 17, 2021
What Makes an Atlas Obscura Place?
Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team aim to answer the question at the heart of Atlas Obscura - “What kind of place merits an Atlas Obscura entry?” READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://https://www.atlasobscura.com/faq
Tue, November 16, 2021
The Office of Collecting and Design
Jessica Oreck has spent the last 30 years collecting odd and forgotten objects. Now, they’re all beautifully curated and on display in the Office of Collecting and Design in Las Vegas. Follow the Office of Collecting and Design on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/office.of.collecting/?hl=en READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/office-of-collecting-and-design
Mon, November 15, 2021
The Forgotten Songs Sound Sculpture
This unique installation in Sydney, Australia combines art and ornithology, commemorating the calls of the city’s lost birds. Plus, bin chickens! READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/forgotten-songs-sound-sculpture
Thu, November 11, 2021
The Hot Ale Flip
Visit the taverns of colonial America to take a frothy sip of the hot ale flip and how it helped pave the way for contemporary mixology. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/hot-ale-flip
Wed, November 10, 2021
The International Church of Cannabis
Travel to Denver Colorado and meet Steve Berke who helped found the first International Church of Cannabis in 2015. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/international-church-of-cannabis
Tue, November 09, 2021
The Plotz Plot
Josh Foer, the co-founder of Atlas Obscura, takes us to a remote patch of land in the Arizona desert, where he built (and later rebuilt) a museum in honor of the company’s former CEO, David Plotz. The Plotz Plot is accessible from Adamana Road, off of I-40 exit 300, at 35.025639, -109.8195. The lock code is 4444. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/plotz-plot
Mon, November 08, 2021
The House on the Rock
Join host Dylan Thuras and producer Harry Huggins as they visit the unruly architecture of The House on the Rock - one of the inspirations for Atlas Obscura. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/house-rock
Thu, November 04, 2021
Haw Par Villa
This amusement park in Singapore holds the Ten Courts of Hell, a series of dioramas that depict the kind of horrible fates awaiting people who behaved badly on Earth. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/haw-par-villa
Wed, November 03, 2021
The Capitoline Wolf
Matthew Shifrin, host of the podcast Blind Guy Travels, stops by to tell us about a memorable trip he took to Italy, and a visit with an ancient wolf he’s never forgotten. Listen to Blind Guy Travels: https://radiotopiapresents.fm/blind-guy-travels
Tue, November 02, 2021
Cueva de los Tayos
This Ecuadorian cave has captured the attention of government officials, scientists, professional cavers and is home to a particularly rare creature. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cueva-de-los-tayos
Mon, November 01, 2021
Yemrehanna Kristos Church
Photographer and author Paul Koudonaris brings listeners to this Ethiopian Church and explores ossuaries, jeweled skeletons, and death practices throughout the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/yemrehana-krestos-church
Thu, October 28, 2021
Isla de Las Muñecas
An island filled with hundreds of hanging and decomposing dolls is a window into the sociology of why we pursue experiences that inspire fright, fear, and an attraction to the macabre. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/la-isla-de-las-munecas
Wed, October 27, 2021
Hårgaberget
We send reporter Sarah Wyman to northern Sweden to climb a mountain, explore a grim legend, and listen to the devil’s violin. Listen to Lena Jonsson’s music: https://www.lenajonsson.com/ Listen to Bengt Jonsson play the kohorn: https://youtu.be/vNWnh-k80mM
Tue, October 26, 2021
Clown Motel
Tonopah, Nevada is home to the Clown Motel - an inn on the edge of the desert that’s packed with statues and figurines of Clowns. The eerie and fully-functioning inn is also a labor of love. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/clown-motel
Mon, October 25, 2021
The Real Alchemist of Castle Frankenstein
Two members of the Atlas Obscura team go in search of the true story that may have inspired the literary classic, Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/castle-frankenstein
Thu, October 21, 2021
The Pennsylvania Firefly Festival
The deep woods of Pennsylvania hold a phenomena that has drawn attention from scientists and people around the world, and was almost recently destroyed.
Wed, October 20, 2021
The Great Stalacpipe Organ
The Luray Caverns in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia are home to an instrument draws out the secret sounds of millenia-old stone. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-great-stalacpipe-organ-luray-virginia
Tue, October 19, 2021
Maine’s Burning Blueberry Fields
Travel to Penobscot, Maine, where one farmer maintains the tradition of burning his crop each year to rejuvenate it the next. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-do-people-burn-blueberry-fields
Mon, October 18, 2021
The World's Quietest Room
Experience the Orfield Anechoic Chamber: a room inside a concrete bunker that was once known as the quietest place on earth. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/orfield-labs-quiet-chamber
Thu, October 14, 2021
Glaum Egg Ranch (Re-listen)
In honor of the release of our new book, we bring you another Gastro Obscura Classic: A ranch on the outskirts of Aptos, California features a magical machine that dispenses music, joy, and 18 of the freshest eggs in the land. Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide is a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Order your copy today! Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/egg-vending-machine-at-glaum-ranch-aptos-california
Wed, October 13, 2021
Disgusting Food Museum (Re-listen)
In honor of the release of our new book, we bring you another Gastro Obscura Classic: Open your minds and steel your stomachs as we go to a food museum in Sweden that challenges what exactly makes something delicious… or disgusting. Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide is a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Order your copy today! Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/disgusting-food-museum
Tue, October 12, 2021
Sourdough Library (Re-listen)
In honor of the release of our new book TODAY, we bring you a Gastro Obscura Classic: Inside a living, breathing collection of sourdough starters in Belgium Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide is a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Order your copy today! Read more in the Atlas : https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/sourdough-library
Mon, October 11, 2021
The Spritz Cookie Gravestone
Explore the unexpected combination of recipes and graves through the story of Naomi Odessa Miller Dawson’s spritz cookies. This week we’re celebrating the release of our new bookt! It's called Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide , a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Pre-order your copy , and as a bonus you'll get some mathematically efficient cookie cutters! We’ll be running classic Gastro Obscura-themed episodes of the podcast all week long, so stay tuned for more edible audio wonders! Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/spritz-cookie-gravestone-greenwood-cemetery-cookie
Thu, October 07, 2021
Seashell Shrines and Bones with the Places Team
Places editors Jonathan and Michele are back again with a few new standout entries to the Atlas … including ancient ossuaries and a shrine covered in shells that’s far from the sea. We have a new book coming out! It's called Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide , a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Pre-order your copy , and as a bonus you'll get some mathematically efficient cookie cutters!
Wed, October 06, 2021
The Last White Deer of Mount Madonna
The story of the white deer on Mount Madonna, the two robber barons who put them there, and the last survivor of the herd. We have a new book coming out! It's called Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide , a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Pre-order your copy , and as a bonus you'll get some mathematically efficient cookie cutters!
Tue, October 05, 2021
The Scarpetta House
From the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death we move to the Scarpetta house, where full-size reenactments help investigators perfect their skills in evaluating death. We have a new book coming out! It's called Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide , a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Pre-order your copy , and as a bonus you'll get some mathematically efficient cookie cutters! READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-most-violent-room-in-baltimore-baltimore-maryland
Mon, October 04, 2021
Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death
Eighteen macabre miniatures housed at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore Maryland have shaped the field of criminal investigation. We have a new book coming out! It's called Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide , a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Pre-order your copy , and as a bonus you'll get some mathematically efficient cookie cutters! READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-nutshell-studies-of-unexplained-death-baltimore-maryland
Thu, September 30, 2021
Magical Summer Memories Vol. 4 - The Magic of Water
All summer we’ve been asking you to send us your summer travel stories. And in this final installment of summer stories we tackle a topic that transcends the seasons - the captivating magic of water during travel. We have a new book coming out! It's called Gastro Obscura: a Food Adventurer's Guide, a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Pre-order your copy at Atlasobscura.com/book , and as bonus you'll get some mathematically efficient cookie cutters!
Wed, September 29, 2021
The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs
We sift through the dirt to solve a mystery involving a massive mammoth grave site. We have a new book coming out! It's called Gastro Obscura: a Food Adventurer's Guide, a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Pre-order your copy at Atlasobscura.com/book , and as bonus you'll get some mathematically efficient cookie cutters! READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mammoth-site
Tue, September 28, 2021
The Curse of the Kreischer Mansion
Host Dylan Thuras visits a Staten Island mansion with a dubious and vitriolic past, only to learn the site’s curse may not be as obvious as it seems. We have a new book coming out! It's called Gastro Obscura: a Food Adventurer's Guide, a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Pre-order your copy at Atlasobscura.com/book , and as bonus you'll get some mathematically efficient cookie cutters! READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kreischer-mansion
Mon, September 27, 2021
Pando the Trembling Giant
Fishlake National Forest is home to the biggest organism by mass on the planet - but this giant is shrinking and an usual group has banded together to help defend it. We have a new book coming out! It's called Gastro Obscura: a Food Adventurer's Guide, a whirlwind tour of the world's edible wonders. Pre-order your copy at Atlasobscura.com/book , and as bonus you'll get some mathematically efficient cookie cutters! READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pando-the-trembling-giant
Thu, September 23, 2021
Magical Summer Memories Vol. 3 - The Cardiff Giant
All summer we’ve been asking you to send us your summer travel stories. In this installment we hear a listener’s tale of a theological dispute that became a real money-maker known to some as “Old Hoaxy.” READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cardiff-giant
Wed, September 22, 2021
Rödstensgubben
A trip to Sweden prompts producer Sarah Wyman to dig into a superstitious story passed through generations about the Red Stone Man.
Tue, September 21, 2021
Martian Meteorites and Greek Columns with the AO Places Team
Places editors Jonathan and Michele are back again with a few new standout entries to the Atlas … including a spot in Antarctica that’s home to the oldest Martian meteorite and a column in Greece that symbolizes the fear and ritual past generations embraced when faced with their own plague.
Mon, September 20, 2021
The World’s Largest Collection of Small Versions of Large Things
Artist Erika Nelson didn’t set out in life to necessarily become one of the foremost connoisseurs of large things, but her museum in Lucas, KS is nevertheless the ultimate tribute to the roadside attraction. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/worlds-largest-collection-of-smallest-versions-of-largest-things
Thu, September 16, 2021
Magical Summer Memories Vol. 2 – Via Francigena
All summer we’ve been asking you to send us your summer travel stories. Our second installment in the series follows one listener from London to Rome – on foot.
Wed, September 15, 2021
Nepali Folk Musical Instrument Museum
This secluded museum beats the drum for the preservation of Nepal's musical heritage. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/nepali-folk-musical-instrument-museum
Tue, September 14, 2021
The Mirror Lab
A spinning furnace tucked under the football stadium at the University of Arizona is building giant telescope mirrors. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/richard-f-caris-mirror-laboratory
Mon, September 13, 2021
Good Vibrations Antique Vibrator Museum
This museum’s buzzing collection honors vibrator history. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/good-vibrations-antique-vibrator-museum
Thu, September 09, 2021
Magical Summer Memories Vol. 1
All summer we’ve been asking you to send us your summer travel stories. This is the first of a series of listener-powered episodes about this magical season.
Wed, September 08, 2021
World’s Loneliest Tree
About 400 miles south of New Zealand, on the subantarctic Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku, stands a Sitka spruce whose nearest neighbor is 170 miles away. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/worlds-loneliest-tree
Tue, September 07, 2021
Million Dollar Point
We visit Vanuatu in the South Pacific and go underwater to visit a very strange place from a very strange episode at the end of World War. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/million-dollar-point
Mon, September 06, 2021
Atlas Obscura 101
We’ve made 100 episodes of the show and figured it was time to hear from the people who make it happen. Enjoy! (And go back and catch up on any episodes you’ve missed) Kulning: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/kulning-82833088 Mafra Library Bats: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/mafra-palace-library-bats-84059889 Clausland Mountain Tunnels: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/clausland-mountain-tunnels-200225799 The White Squirrel of Prospect Park: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/the-white-squirrel-of-prospect-park-200230461 Bolton Strid: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/bolton-strid-200226079 Booming Dunes: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/booming-dunes-84568835 The Village Where Every Person's Name Is a Song: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/the-village-where-every-persons-name-is-a-song-200229462 Hachiko: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/hachiko-200223598 Museum of Broken Relationships: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/museum-of-broken-relationships-200228325 Newark Earthworks: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/newark-earthworks-200225907 Grasshopper Glacier: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/grasshopper-glacier-83007114 Women of the Black Panther Mural: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/episode/
Thu, September 02, 2021
Milo Bitters
A listener in Lawrence, Kansas takes us on his journey of discovering the secrets of his hometown.
Wed, September 01, 2021
Arecibo Observatory
This site, and the enormous telescope that sits on it, is loved and lost to both scientists and everyday Puerto Ricans. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/arecibo-observatory
Tue, August 31, 2021
Big Bertha Drum
She’s about 8 feet wide and 500 pounds. And her history spans all the way from the stockyards of Chicago...to a nuclear test during the Manhattan Project...to a stadium at the University of Texas at Austin. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/big-bertha-drum
Mon, August 30, 2021
Åtvidaberg Sun Cannon
Sun cannons have been around since the 1600s. But as far as we know, there’s only one left that’s still up and running. We pay it a visit. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/atvidaberg-sun-cannon
Thu, August 26, 2021
Dead Companions
We nearly stump host Dylan Thuras with a seemingly simple question: Who are the top five dead people he would like to go on a road trip with?
Wed, August 25, 2021
The Tank
An industrial water tank-turned-concert hall in the high deserts of Colorado is nothing less than a sonic wonder of the world. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-tank-rangely-colorado
Tue, August 24, 2021
Beishan Broadcast Wall
On the tiny Kinmen Island, a bow-tie-shape strip of land between China and Taiwan, sits a giant weaponized wall of sound that still stands--and still broadcasts--today. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/beishan-broadcast-station-art
Mon, August 23, 2021
Places with a Purpose
There are tens of thousands of entries in the Atlas -- In these episodes, we hear from the people who sift through them, Jonathan and Michele, and hear about their favorites. Learn more about submitting to the Atlas here: https://www.atlasobscura.com/faq
Thu, August 19, 2021
American Chestnut Foundation
The story of the unimaginable destruction of the American Chestnut tree and the group of scientists, academics and tree lovers who are desperately trying to bring them back from the edge of extinction. LEARN MORE: Visit https://acf.org/ to find out more about this massive conservation effort
Wed, August 18, 2021
Traveling While Aging
Host Dylan Thuras confronts the good and the bad ways travel changes as you move through different life stages.
Tue, August 17, 2021
Mississippi River Basin Model
A walk through this scale model has you feeling like a giant, and striding from Baton Rouge to Omaha in an hour. LEARN MORE about the model and the group trying to revive it, here: https://friendsofmrbm.org/
Mon, August 16, 2021
Forbes Pigment Collection
A repository in Cambridge, Massachusetts holds over 2,700 pigments that’ve been quietly coloring the world around us since the beginning of human history. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/forbes-pigment-collection
Thu, August 12, 2021
The White Squirrel of Prospect Park
Our team goes on a quest to find Prospect Park’s elusive -- and perhaps most magical -- resident rodent.
Wed, August 11, 2021
Vigeland Mausoleum
On the outskirts of Oslo, Norway, there’s a mausoleum some say is the city’s “best kept secret.” It’s the underrated masterpiece of a mostly unknown artist -- an artist who was overshadowed his whole life by his more successful brother. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/emanuel-vigeland-museum
Tue, August 10, 2021
The World’s Oldest Living Things
Artist Rachel Sussman takes us on a tour of the world's oldest living things, which she’s been documenting for 10 years. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/worlds-oldest-living-things
Mon, August 09, 2021
The Shrek Donkey of Barron Park
We visit a park in Palo Alto, California, home of the world’s most famous donkey. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-donkeys-of-barron-park-palo-alto-california
Thu, August 05, 2021
Malcolm and the Mermaid
Host Dylan Thuras chats with author and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell about a beloved Disney movie, and the deeper questions it raised about the stories we tell ourselves -- and our children -- about places real and imaginary. Hear more: You can listen to Malcolm Gladwell’s series on The LIttle Mermaid, and other stories in the latest season of Revisionist History here
Wed, August 04, 2021
La Piedra Movediza
A huge rock, teetering on the edge of a hill for thousands of years, brought tourism, fame, and what’s said to be a 100-year curse to the town of Tandil, Argentina Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/la-piedra-movediza
Tue, August 03, 2021
Winchester Mystery House
Does this sprawling mansion in San Jose, California live up to its reputation as one of the most haunted places in the world? Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/winchester-mystery-house
Mon, August 02, 2021
Salton Sea
The story of how humans desperate for water created a lake the size of the city of Los Angeles. And then, how that thirst turned toxic. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/salton-sea
Thu, July 29, 2021
The Boiling River
A river in the Amazon is so hot that anything that falls into it will die … but how did it get this way? Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-boiling-river-of-the-amazon-puerto-inca-peru
Wed, July 28, 2021
The Village Where Every Person’s Name Is a Song
In Kongthong, India, every person’s name is a unique song, composed by their mother within a week of their birth, part of a centuries-old tradition. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/where-indian-villagers-have-musical-names
Tue, July 27, 2021
The Kalamazoo Gals of the Old Gibson Guitar Factory
The story of the women who stepped up to produce thousands of guitars during World War II, only to be written out of the history. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-old-gibson-guitar-factory-kalamazoo-michigan
Mon, July 26, 2021
The Family Tree
A listener’s voicemail sent us searching for the story of a very special -- and giant -- oak tree Peoria, Illinois, and the family of arborists who cared for it.
Thu, July 22, 2021
Beale Treasure
Grab your pickaxes, your shovels, and your code breaking supercomputers because today we’re going on a treasure hunt.
Wed, July 21, 2021
Kilwa Kisiwani
We dig through more than 1,000 years of dirt, history, colonialism, and myth on the Swahili Coast. Read more in the Atlas https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kilwa-kisiwani-ruins
Tue, July 20, 2021
Oh The Places We Could Go!
There are tens of thousands of entries in the Atlas -- today we meet the people who sift through them. Learn more about submitting to the Atlas here: https://www.atlasobscura.com/faq
Mon, July 19, 2021
Josephine Baker’s Chateau
Writer and travel educator Tracey Friley tells the story of the glamorous life of entertainer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist, Josephine Baker and the pilgrimages women still make to her chateau. Learn more: www.traceyfrileytravel.com
Thu, July 15, 2021
Sputnik IV Crash Site
Typically, space junk ends up deep in the Pacific Ocean. This is the story of when it plunged back to earth … onto a street in small-town Wisconsin. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sputnik-crash-site
Wed, July 14, 2021
Spacecraft Cemetery
Where does space stuff go after it dies? To this spot deep, deep in the Pacific Ocean. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/spacecraft-cemetery
Tue, July 13, 2021
Catalina Island Bison Herd
The strange story of Catalina Island’s herd of bison, and the harrowing story of producer Sarah Wyman’s encounter with these intimidating residents. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/catalina-island-bison-herd
Mon, July 12, 2021
The Baalbek Trilithon
This ancient temple complex in Northern Lebanon is one of the most well-preserved Roman ruins on earth, and one of the most overlooked. Read More in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/baalbek-trilithon
Bonus · Fri, July 09, 2021
Introducing Toxic: The Britney Spears Story
Comedians Tess Barker and Babs Gray, who you might know from Lady to Lady or the now legendary Britney’s Gram podcast, are here to bring you a brand new investigative series about Britney Spears' conservatorship and the court system that's allowed it to persist. After launching the #FreeBritney movement, they started to dig… And what they found out, you won’t want to miss! Join Tess and Babs as they talk to exclusive sources, examine new sides of the story, and uncover disturbing truths about our legal system that go way beyond Britney. Listen to Episodes 1 & 2 right now: link.chtbl.com/ToxicThePodcast
Thu, July 08, 2021
Harvard Bridge Smoots
How an MIT fraternity pledge instituted a new, unique unit of measurement. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/harvard-bridge-smoot-measurements
Wed, July 07, 2021
Valley of the Whales
The fossils of Wadi al-Hitan (Valley of the Whales) in Egypt give us a glimpse of a remarkable evolutionary history. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wadi-al-hitan
Tue, July 06, 2021
Dude Chilling Park
A renegade art project in Vancouver galvanized a small community, pitted residents against city government, and ultimately resulted in a new name for a chill park Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dude-chilling-park
Mon, July 05, 2021
A (Quick) 4th of July Greeting from the Largest Pothole in the World
Host Dylan Thuras convinces his family to stop at this most unusual attraction in Pennsylvania Read More in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/archbald-pothole
Thu, July 01, 2021
Museum of Broken Relationships
This episode will break your heart. And that’s a good thing. Read More in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-of-broken-relationships
Wed, June 30, 2021
Science that Doesn’t Stop
Host Dylan Thuras riffs on a subject that has long fascinated him: the world’s longest-running science experiments.
Tue, June 29, 2021
Shoreham Power Plant
We venture out to Long Island, not for the beautiful beaches, or an Islanders game, or to hang with Billy Joel. We're here to explore the fraught history of a gigantic, ominous sea foam-green nuclear power plant. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/shoreham-nuclear-power-plant
Mon, June 28, 2021
The Danse Macabre
Mortician Caitlin Doughty gives us a dance lesson in the two-step we were all born to do. Check out Doughty’s ‘Ask a Mortitican’ series here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi5iiEyLwSLvlqnMi02u5gQ
Thu, June 24, 2021
Beechey Island Graves Part 2
In this two-part series, we venture towards frozen graves tied to an infamous Arctic expedition. We follow two groups of adventurers, separated by more than 170 years, and play witness to the disasters that befell them all. Read More in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/graves-of-beechey-island
Wed, June 23, 2021
Beechey Island Graves Part 1
In this two-part series, we venture towards frozen graves tied to an infamous Arctic expedition. We follow two groups of adventurers, separated by more than 170 years, and play witness to the disasters that befell them all. Read More in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/graves-of-beechey-island
Tue, June 22, 2021
Pics or it Didn’t Happen - Part 2
A few weeks ago we dropped an episode debating whether technology has helped or hurt our modern travel experience. It sparked a lot of reaction, and we hear some of that today.
Mon, June 21, 2021
Ubatuba Whale(s)
We dig into the tales of TWO whales washing ashore along the southeastern coast of Brazil. And learn how one became a scientific marvel and the other, a local landmark. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ubatuba-whale
Thu, June 17, 2021
Women of the Black Panther Mural
A 30-foot tall mural on the side of a house in West Oakland is teaching an often left out part of the history of the Black Panther Party-- the women who fueled the movement. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/black-lives-matter-murals . Learn more about this project and sign up for a tour of the mini-museum here: http://Www.westoaklandmuralproject.org
Wed, June 16, 2021
Cebritas de La Paz
In the busy, traffic-packed capital city of Bolivia, we meet the zebras who keep the streets of La Paz safe for its citizens. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/la-paz-cebritas
Tue, June 15, 2021
Museum of Quackery and Questionable Medical Devices
We visit what might be the world’s largest collection of fraudulent, nefarious, or otherwise ineffectual medical machinery -- and meet the founder who brought it all together. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-quackery
Mon, June 14, 2021
Historic Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum & Education Center
The story of a community that came together in the 1930s to build this schoolhouse, and then came together again several decades later to build it a second time and preserve its legacy Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/myrtle-beach-colored-school-museum
Fri, June 11, 2021
Best Summer Ever (Tell Us About It)
Calling all listeners! We want to hear about your memorable summer travel experiences: road trips, unforgettable places, summer traditions, magical memories. Leave us a message at 315-992-7902 , or send an email or a voice memo to hello@atlasobscura.com .
Thu, June 10, 2021
Moses Gates and the Chrysler Building Eagles
Urban planner, Moses Gates, shares his unlikely experience with the residents of the 61st floor of one of New York City’s most iconic buildings..
Wed, June 09, 2021
Booming Dunes
An audio postcard from the desert of Badain Jaran in China, home of the Booming Dunes, and possibly the coolest sand sounds you’ve ever heard Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/booming-dunes-badain-desert
Tue, June 08, 2021
Bolton Strid
Some say this little burbling creek is “the deadliest body of water on Earth.,” Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bolton-strid
Mon, June 07, 2021
The Heidelberg Project
We take you to the east side of Detroit, where an artist transformed a largely abandoned street into an immersive, living museum -- which grew into something even bigger Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/heidelberg-project
Thu, June 03, 2021
Newark Earthworks
Built by indigenous people thousands of years ago, the Newark Earthworks are part cathedral, part cemetery, and part astronomical observatory. But today, this ancient ceremonial site is part of a golf course in Ohio. Read Cedric Rose’s article: https://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/article/will-ohios-earthworks-become-a-world-heritage-site/ Learn more about the Newark Earthworks: http://worldheritageohio.org
Wed, June 02, 2021
Re-up Your Luck
We explore the power luck has on us all, rational or not, through the unlikely places people go to re-up Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/lucky-places-good-luck-charms
Tue, June 01, 2021
Clausland Mountain Tunnels
Under the forests of Nyack, New York lays a series of dark and decrepit tunnels with militaristic roots but now attract graffiti artists and plenty of teen lore. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/claus-land-mountain-tunnels
Mon, May 31, 2021
National Corvette Museum Sinkhole
Eight rare vehicles at the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky vanish, thanks to a massive sinkhole Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/national-corvette-museum-sinkhole
Thu, May 27, 2021
Jatinga Bird Deaths
An Indian village is home to one of the world’s oldest and greatest ornithological mysteries Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jatinga-bird-suicide
Wed, May 26, 2021
Library of Mistakes
A carefully curated collection of miscalculations in Edinburgh, Scotland serves as a warning for our gullibility, especially when it comes to money. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/library-of-mistakes
Tue, May 25, 2021
Glaum Egg Ranch
A ranch on the outskirts of Aptos, California features a magical machine that dispenses music, joy, and 18 of the freshest eggs in the land. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/egg-vending-machine-at-glaum-ranch-aptos-california
Mon, May 24, 2021
Spite Houses
Home is where the grudge is. We survey a special kind of architecture that is both petty and personal. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/spite-houses-around-the-world
Thu, May 20, 2021
Hitler’s Toilet
It roamed the seas, served an evil dictator, survived a war, and ended up in a New Jersey auto-repair shop bathroom.
Wed, May 19, 2021
Mafra Palace Library Bats
A grand library in Portugal has some unexpected nighttime caretakers -- tiny bats. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mafra-palace-library-bats
Tue, May 18, 2021
Wonders in Your Backyard
You’ve been leaving us messages about the strange and wondrous places in your towns, like the world’s largest tin soldier, the home of the first public beach and a phone connecting us to people we’ve lost.
Mon, May 17, 2021
Disgusting Food Museum
Open your minds and steel your stomachs as we go to a food museum in Sweden that challenges what exactly makes something delicious… or disgusting. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/disgusting-food-museum
Thu, May 13, 2021
Basilica Cistern
An old friend takes us under the streets of Instanbul and into an encounter with Medusa. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/basilica-cisterns-istanbul
Wed, May 12, 2021
National Museum of Health and Medicine
A boxy, Brutalist building in Silver Spring, Maryland contains one of the greatest collections of disease, injury, and human body bits ever assembled. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/national-museum-of-health-and-medicine
Tue, May 11, 2021
Mike the Headless Chicken
The strangest, most famous resident from this Colorado town happens to be a headless fowl. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mike-the-headless-chicken
Mon, May 10, 2021
Puffin Patrol
We go to the Westman Islands off the southern coast of Iceland and meet the heroes who save young birds that have wandered from their nests every summer. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/worlds-largest-puffin-colony
Thu, May 06, 2021
Pics or it Didn't Happen?
There was a time when we didn't walk around with computers in our pockets and exploring a new place required a paper map. In this episode, we dig into the ultimate debate: has technology ruined or elevated travel? Send us your questions about traveling or tell us a story by emailing a voice message to hello@atlasobscura.com
Wed, May 05, 2021
Sourdough Library
Inside a living, breathing collection of sourdough starters in Belgium. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/sourdough-library
Tue, May 04, 2021
Brooklyn Latrine
A listener tells us about a treasure buried in his literal backyard, and the two strange men who showed up on his doorstep and asked to dig it up.
Mon, May 03, 2021
The Institute of Illegal Images
A mind-tripping place where the art stands out not because of what's on them but what's in them. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/institute-illegal-images
Thu, April 29, 2021
The Belt and Berm, Part 2
A special journey told in two parts, beginning with the world’s largest conveyor belt in the Western Sahara and ending on your dinner plate Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/moroccan-wall-of-western-sahara
Wed, April 28, 2021
The Belt and Berm, Part 1
A special journey told in two parts, beginning with the world’s largest conveyor belt in the Western Sahara and ending on your dinner plate. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-world-s-longest-conveyor-belt-system-bou-craa-morocco
Tue, April 27, 2021
A Memory Made in Malawi
Today we flip the focus from the memorable places we visit to the memorable people we meet on our adventures.
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