atlas obscura

1 min read 2022-06-18 07:48:42

This is the toolkit spies carried in their butts

Spies have had all sorts of great tools and gadgets, from self-inflating blow-up dolls during the Cold War to special listening devices deployed

4 min read 2022-02-17 23:16:56

Many aspire to crack open a cold one at the Gates of Hell. It’s a sentiment often passed between old friends, a nod to a life well-lived. But if

11 min read 2021-04-08 02:02:10

Dylan Thuras “I’m hoping this summer is the summer of the road trip,” says Atlas Obscura co-founder (and podcast host) Dylan Thuras.

3 min read 2021-03-25 22:59:53

We’ve talked quite a bit about the importance of Enigma machines in the past. The quest to crack the unbreakable Nazi code machine spanned the

1 min read 2021-03-19 16:43:53

On The Atlas Obscura Podcast, listeners can expect a daily audio adventure to a wondrous location they’ve probably never heard of. The show is out

1 min read 2021-03-01 20:29:54

NEW YORK — March 1st, 2021 — Stitcher’s Witness Docs unit has teamed with the award-winning travel and experiences

3 min read 2021-01-22 00:01:05

In previous posts, we’ve explored many ways that messages can be encrypted or hidden. We’ve talked about legendary encryption methods like

3 min read 2020-11-16 18:00:11

Have you ever experienced the joy of stumbling upon a street performer—the color, sound and vibrancy of a musician, acrobat or dancer brightening

4 min read 2020-10-31 17:00:52

Could a giant orange squash, weighing in at over 1,000 pounds, be your next ride down the river? With a little time, a sprinkle of creativity, and an

1 min read 2020-09-19 00:08:34

This set of blue wax teeth, created by students as part of their graduation requirements, can be found at the Historical Dental Museum at the Temple

3 min read 2020-08-20 22:59:27

[Image courtesy of Atlas Obscura.] We’ve spent a lot of time over the last few months discussing treasure hunts, but those are far from the only

5 min read 2020-05-02 11:01:17

What if you could grow your own bowls, baskets, and lamps right in your backyard? In the vine-covered, magical world we’re traveling to today, that

3 min read 2020-04-20 01:05:00

Photo credit: Atlas ObscuraIn 2015, Atlas Obscura ran a five-part series called Islands of the Undesirables, documenting "New York City's

4 min read 2020-04-04 11:01:30

Pull your sweatpants up nice and high, duct tape the bottoms to your legs, and turn your hoodie around because we’re about to attend the

4 min read 2020-02-08 12:01:55

On April 1st, 1977, a new independent kingdom was declared in Wales right on the border with England. But unlike most kingdoms, they didn’t claim