A small bit of news, and a request. To ask Dylan your question, send an email or voice memo to... more

A map in the archives of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library in Portland, OR may be the key to... more

Today, we’re sharing an episode from our friends at Terrestrials, a Radiolab spinoff show for families that explores strangeness on... more

Writer and friend of the show Colin Dickey tries to destroy Dylan’s holiday cheer with arguments about why Christmas is... more

Places editors Michelle Cassidy and Diana Hubbell take us on a tour of two mildly disturbing yet lovable works of... more

Dylans answers a slew of questions from staff and listeners. Plus: Do you have a question for Dylan? Send us an... more

Our first international trips can be hugely influential. We want to hear your stories about leaving your home country for... more

Larry Spring’s Museum of Common Sense Physics in Fort Bragg, California begs the question: What do you do with a... more

As the winter solstice and Yule are upon us, we are celebrating these Pagan holidays by talking about the iconic... more

How one man made someone else's trash into his own treasure ... and how it became a storied part of... more

Every year, hundreds of boats circle the waterways of the eastern United States on The Great Loop. But Mike Straub... more

Listeners share stories of memorable encounters with strangers – for better or for worse. Plus: We want to hear your stories... more

This week, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico. Rising singer-songwriter Andrea Cruz shares how she... more

This week, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico. Oscar-nominated screenwriter and playwright José Rivera... more

Many people moved to Granbury, Texas for the peace and quiet. Then, a noisy neighbor moved in – and strange... more

The Ether Dome in Boston was once filled with the screams of patients undergoing painful surgeries. In 1846, everything changed... more

Mohawk ironworkers built many of New York City’s iconic skyscrapers. But simultaneously, they were also building a lesser known neighborhood... more

This week and next, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico. The Río Piedras-based comedy band Los... more

Today and tomorrow, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico. Legendary actress, singer, dancer and EGOT... more

Producer Gabby Gladney sees her South Side Chicago neighborhood in a new light thanks to Mahogany Bus Tours, a local... more

In the 1880s, an eccentric California dentist gave away free public water fountains in the hopes they would encourage people... more

Listener stories about the places we’re thankful for – from a beloved neighborhood, to an odd and out-of-place house down... more

Catoosa, Oklahoma is the cite of a massive landlocked whale - and possibly the greatest anniversary gift ever.

Journalist and food writer Evan Rail considers himself a beer guy, but when a mysterious bright green spirit started shaking... more

In August 1953, airstrip operator George van Tassel claimed he was woken up in the middle of the night by... more

On a remote island 200 miles off the coast of Alaska, a community hunts for a single, elusive rat.

Places editors Michelle Cassidy and Diana Hubbell tell us about two real-world places that have been shaped by the internet.

Blame it on this time of year, but we've been ruminating a lot on the places we're thankful for. And... more

The Wren’s Nest in Atlanta is both a museum and former home of journalist Joel Chandler Harris and a hub... more

Nate DiMeo, host and creator of The Memory Palace podcast, walks us through some of the rooms in his own... more

During the early 20th century, malaria was ravaging the world. We hear the story of Dr. Charles Campbell, who had... more

In the 1980s, a group of friends on the track team at Sul Ross State University hauled a discarded dorm... more

San Juan Sounds is an iconic studio where musicians, engineers, and quite possibly a music-loving ghost carry on the island’s... more

Travel to Denver Colorado and meet Steve Berke who helped found the first International Church of Cannabis in 2015.

The San Francisco Cannabis Buyers’ Club was one of the first marijuana dispensaries in the country. Its members were people... more

An ancient cemetery in western China may hold the answer to a question asked by many a stoner: where on... more

In 1976, an airplane carrying 6,000 pounds of smuggled weed crashed into a remote lake in Yosemite. A group of... more

Cannabis is now legal in more than half of U.S. states, but it remains federally illegal – which makes doing research... more

A South Carolina ghost story is a harbinger of hurricanes and a window into history. Read more in the Atlas:... more

In 1944, a strange spate of “gas attacks” in a small Midwestern town reveals what was really lurking in mid-century... more

Listener stories about places that give off big creepy vibes – from an abandoned ice factory to a haunted university music... more

To avoid traumatizing kids, many summer camps are banning scary stories. But can a little fun with fear be a... more

In 1976, a television crew filming an episode of the show “The Six Million Dollar Man” descended on a rundown... more

The Smallest Mollusk Museum in New York City is part of a fleet of tiny museums that might just have... more

Kelly and Zach Weinersmith walk Dylan through the practicalities of making a home on the red planet. Check out their... more

Outside the French Quarter lies Hidden South, an antique shop like any other. And hidden amongst the oddities is a... more

Producer Alexa Lim visits a collection of natural aromas in Berkeley, California. She gets a whiff of some of the... more

In the 1930s and 1940s, a young Black woman named Bessie Stringfield decided she’d strike out on her own and... more

For a brief period the small frontier city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota drew in socialites and celebrities who were... more

Reporter Diana Hubbell brings us to an island off the coast of Georgia, and tells Dylan the story of ​​an... more

Producer Talon Stradley takes us on a tour of three skinny houses – each with a big story inside. Do these... more

Comedian, actor, and podcaster Jacob Wysocki takes Dylan on a tour of a very special expo: The Reptile Super Show!

We’re bringing you stories about places that you can no longer visit – this time we have stories about a hometown... more

We go inside a place that some paranormal investigators call the most active haunted location in the world. Before it... more

The City Hall in Lincoln, Illinois has an unusual architectural appendage with a curious history.

Traveling as a wheelchair user comes with some unique accessibility challenges, but Cory Lee has managed to visit 48 countries... more

The small mountain town of Spruce Pine provides nearly all of the ultra-pure quartz used to make the world’s semiconductors.... more

A group of seagull lovers in Belgium wants you to sympathize with these birds… by sounding just like them.

After experiencing burn out, South Korean artist WoopsYang decides to take a rest and create an environment for others to... more

We want to know about places that give you the creeps. Places that get under your skin, give you that... more

In Myrtle Beach, mini-golf is not so mini. They’re hosting the Mini-Golf Masters, where titans of the tiny game will... more

We head to the cliffs of Balneario El Condor in Argentina to visit a parrot city… and the parrot suburbs.... more

How 78 toilets exposed a Cold War secret in Carp, Ontario.

In the late 1980s, a goose named Andy was born without webbed feet. A local Nebraskan inventor made him a... more

This summer we learned about a 15,000-year-old oak tree in California that was facing a potential housing development. Today, we... more

This experimental automotive replica of Stonehenge has become a symbol of the town of Alliance, Nebraska. But residents haven’t always... more

Every summer, more than 10,000 people flock to this Pennsylvania town for two weeks for the largest gathering of medieval... more

We go to a central Wyoming town, just a couple hours from Yellowstone, that's appropriately named Thermopolis. City of Heat.... more

We’re visiting a town 150 miles west of New Orleans in the absolute heart of Cajun country, where every year,... more

Every October, amateurs and professionals alike gather in this small town in the Appalachian Mountains to hone their storytelling chops... more

Steve and Amy Hartbauer have turned their home in residential Denver, CO into a massive mosaic and decade’s long expression... more

Dylan talks with journalist and author Ed Conway about three materials that our entire civilization depends on: salt, copper, and... more

We asked you to send us stories about places you can no longer visit – and nearly everyone wrote in... more

In Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, there was once a revolutionary community for African Americans willing to do whatever it took... more

Zahra Hankir is the author of the book Eyeliner: A Cultural History. She brings Dylan to three places across the... more

The hunt to memorialize Rhode Island’s founder created one of the state’s strangest and most enduring myths.

Cookbook author and Sporkful host Dan Pashman sets out on a research trip across Italy in search of highly regional... more

In May 2024, tractors across the American Midwest stalled. But that was only the first piece of a much larger... more

Over the course of its 200 year history, the lighthouse on Wood Island in Maine has been home to a... more

Producer Luz Fleming takes his son to revisit a special childhood spot that just happens to be a San Fransisco... more

Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, Ph.D. is a wildlife ecologist specializing in large carnivores. And in this episode she unfolds a mystery... more

Producer Abbey Perrault takes a trip into the Kenyan savanna, where she meets researchers who are studying how people share... more

We all love to zone out to a soothing nature documentary. But what you’ll learn about them in this episode... more

Decades after eradicating its wolves, Yellowstone National Park decided to reintroduce them. In the 1990s, the wolves were thriving—until one... more

The natural world is weird. Dylan talks with Cara Giaimo, co-author of our forthcoming book Wild Life, about the world’s... more

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

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is dedicated to telling the stories of the league’s greatest players, its impact on communities,... more

Pegged as the “world’s greatest indoor miniature village,” Roadside America was a beloved roadside attraction in Shartlesville, Pennsylvania. The creator... more

Saying farewell to summer with a lazy day in Mallorca, and a blustery night in Massachusetts. “3 p.m. in Sa... more

Producer Emma Morgenstern spends nearly 6 hours waiting in a famous line. Will she get into the most exclusive tennis... more

The world’s largest random, assorted key collection located outside Denver, CO, was inspired by a literary infatuation and includes keys... more

In 2023, 60% of Americans chose to be cremated instead of having a traditional burial. If that trend continues, do... more

District Six is a neighborhood in Cape Town South Africa that was destroyed under the apartheid regime. Today, a museum... more

Writer Meghan Gunn meets a stranger in the jungle, and writes him a letter. This essay was edited by Aube Rey... more

The Atlas Obscura Places team brings us to a dazzling aquarium and a small town in the heart of what... more

Maybe it was a mom and pop shop that closed down. Maybe it was a facility that you often used... more

In 1954, two groups of boys thought they were going to summer camp. But they’d been recruited for a different kind... more

An update on the thousands of masks from the former Kingdom of Benin. These pieces of art and culture are... more

The story of how a former nuclear missile silo in Wamego, Kansas became the site of the largest LSD bust... more

An evening visit to a racetrack, and a late night walk on the beach. “8:45 p.m. at the Selinsgrove Speedway” was... more

Mike O’Connor’s Cape Cod store provides supplies for birders, gives away thousands of pounds of free potatoes, and inspires April... more

Today we hear from an Atlas Obscura user who, when he isn’t aboard an icebreaking warship for the Canadian Navy,... more

Investigator Mitch Yockelson, a historian and academic turned archival bounty hunter, has a job that makes for pretty interesting dinner... more

Mary Maschal set out to document women’s history, unintentionally becoming part of it herself. Learn more about the Women's Museum... more

A visitor in Cajicá, Colombia sees a stranger on a bicycle, and writes him a letter. This essay was edited... more

In the early 1900s, influential psychologist Carl Jung spent more than a decade documenting the strange images that popped up... more

This giant limestone cave outside of St. Louis, MO. is home to a combination of kitsch and world-class scenery. READ MORE... more

Dylan is joined by Marisa Scheinfeld, a photographer who has dedicated years to exploring the lost and abandoned properties of... more

You bring us road trip stories from all over the globe. Along the way, we hear about encounters with wild... more

Strap on your hiking boots and say goodbye to your spouse. We’re pulling off the highway and going on a... more

It’s Road Trip Week! Dylan hops in a (virtual) car and embarks on a Great American Road Trip. Along the... more

Step inside the Theater of Electricity in Boston and learn about the World’s Largest Air-Insulated Van De Graaff Generator. READ MORE... more

Writer and journalist Walt Hickey joins Dylan for a conversation about the different ways film and television have impacted us... more

The story of a stork, a spear and a scientific mystery that led to breakthroughs in the way we understand... more

In the California’s Jurupa Valley, residents discovered a treasure in their backyard: a 15,000 year old tree. Now, it may... more

Today we visit the ATF Fire Research Laboratory where investigators recreate arson attacks and analyze burn patterns. Read more about John... more

Atlas Obscura's Gemma Tarlach shares what it's like to step inside a relic from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration,... more

Today we're powering up our metal detectors and keeping a very close eye on the surface of the earth as... more

In the basement of a Berlin hostel – in a corridor connecting their brewery to the luggage storage area –... more

Dylan takes us on a tour of three places that have shaped his life. Listen to our episodes about the Corn... more

How a woman in her 70s inspired some of the biggest labor uprisings in American history.

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

Travel writer Susan Orlean is an admitted terrible tourist. But she’s an expert at getting lost – with a purpose.... more

Barry Enderwick has made and tasted more than 1000 sandwiches from across history. Today, he and Dylan make – and... more

For one day every July, the Assateague Channel on Virginia’s marshy eastern shore is filled with the bobbing heads of... more

In 2008, a researcher floating in a boat in Lake Huron had an idea for how to learn more about... more

We're working on another listener-led episode and want to know: What is your favorite unusual road trip destination? The weirdest... more

Anna Swan had an adventurous life before settling in Seville, Ohio and building a house large enough to fit her... more

Today we have two classic episodes to share about hidden histories of America. In one, we’ll hear the story of... more

The story of a big idea, and a big duck – and how this duck would go on to become an... more

Thomas Downing, who arguably invented fine dining in New York City, had a secret going on underneath the floor of... more

Gilbert Baker’s pride flag design is now a worldwide symbol for LGBT freedom and liberation. Now, his former stomping grounds... more

This tiny stone cabbage has a big backstory stretching from the rich, treasure-laden halls of Beijing’s Forbidden City... through a... more

Author Doug Preston brings us back into the world of his latest book, The Lost Tomb, with a story of... more

This museum in New York is a recreated 19th century glove making workshop complete with sizing tools, cutting blocks, and... more

In the 1850s, one anonymous Massachusetts shoemaker became a national celebrity – all by exhibiting his “family” of captured grizzly... more

A hospital and rehab center for birds in Manhattan started with a woman who just wanted to do all she... more

Places editors Michelle Cassidy and Jonathan Carey bring us stories about two specific languages that were created by people who... more

History buff Torri Yates-Orr gives us the tea on Nefertiti, Cleopatra, and Amanirenas – and explains why we often don’t... more

In Atlanta, on this historic Auburn Avenue, sits a small bookstore and reading room that’s been called “an interactive art... more

James Baldwin’s former home in the South of France is a site that many visit hoping to feel the essence... more

In the early days of drinking in America, bartenders passed down drink recipes simply via word of mouth. Then, a... more

What is your favorite unusual road trip destination? Plus, Dylan wants your travel questions. Give us a call at 315-992-7902... more

Noah Purifoy was a pugilistic LA artist who eventually filled a 10 acre plot of land in Joshua Tree, CA... more

Ultimate slow travel adventurer (and friend of the show) Bernie Harberts returns to tell us what happened when he spent... more

Listener stories of hitting the road, parents in tow. We’ll hear about an unexpected run-in with a group of lumberjacks,... more

We visit a London neighborhood that’s the epicenter of Caribbean culture and a place that aims to be the home... more

During the 1970s, archaeologists and fishermen stumbled across an abandoned military weather station on the coast of Labrador. It was... more

The only remaining operational Rotary Jail, found in Crawfordsville, Indiana, shows visitors how inmates were once locked within the building’s... more

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

We get a crash course in the fascinating temperature-controlled ecosystem we’ve created to keep our food fresh – and available... more

In the South Dakota badlands, a small pharmacy employed an ingenious marketing gimmick, and boomed into a business that draws... more

We’ve got a fun collaboration with podcasters SuChin Pak and Kulap Vilaysack, hosts of Add to Cart. Hear them chat with... more

We head to Florida, the wintertime refuge for many, for a glimpse of a rehabilitation effort aimed at some very... more

Producer Johanna Mayer takes a trip to the last Sears in New York City, and a Brooklyn landmark, with two... more

Telescope tourist, rocket scientist and STEAM educator Summer Ash gives us the nitty gritty on the V.L.A. - a 22-mile... more

CANADALAND host Jesse Brown introduces Dylan to a strange and decaying Quebecois fast food institution… housed inside a giant orange... more

Host Dylan Thuras brings us to a remote island off the coast of Nova Scotia. On Sable Island, we learn... more

CANADALAND host Jesse Brown tells Dylan the story of a Canadian man who adopted a black bear in the woods... more

This mechanical boy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was a mystery - until it began to write. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS:... more

Historian and author Edda L. Fields-Black tells us the fascinating and action-packed story of one of the most daring spy... more

We catch up with Amir Siraj – friend of the show, scientist and world wanderer – who visited a new... more

Earlier this spring we shared the story of the city of Melbourne’s program to track trees, which morphed into a... more

The Ludlow colony in southern Colorado was once a bustling tent city and haven for miners and their families. But... more

In 2006 a massive haul of Doritos was shipwrecked on Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks, leaving its mark on... more

Author Colin Dickey tells us the story of a Kentucky family who, in 1955, claimed to be in a wild... more

Jason deCaires Taylor takes intentional art to another level with his sculptures that can be visited by humans and fish. READ... more

From a rubber duck contest to hypnotizing chickens, listeners share stories about annual customs, events and practices that set their... more

We visit the Louisiana town where the infamous – but often misunderstood – couple’s story came to an end. READ MORE... more

We're going to be bringing you more listener-led stories this year, and we need your help. Tell us about a... more

The pigs once plopped on an uninhabited Auckland Island known for capturing castaways now play an important role in modern... more

Science writer and journalist Rebecca Boyle has a new book about all about the ways in which the moon has... more

We empty out our change purse and visit Dan Zelinsky - the owner and head mechanic of the Musée Mécanique... more

A gnarly looking elm tree rumored to be older than Britain itself was the anchor in a community – until... more

We go to Haiti, and visit a royal residence once called the Versailles of the Caribbean. But though Sans-Souci Palace,... more

Farmers in Yorkshire, England take years to coax their rhubarb plants into a world-renowned delicacy using a century-old technique. READ... more

On the eve of the Second World War, there was one place that was the source for all good stories... more

Long before Joe Exotic got the country talking about big cats, there was Joe Taft – regular guy – who... more

The Old Cahawba Archeological Park is perhaps one of Alabama's most famous ghost towns. But it once was the center... more

Today’s episode comes from Twenty Thousand Hertz, a podcast that reveals the stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting... more

The Tree of 40 Fruits in San Jose California is an horticultural marvel of 40 types of stone fruit trees... more

We promise, this is not another sappy (pardon the pun) story about trees. Instead, author and science writer Mary Roach... more

We spend some time with some celebrity trees – one in Washington DC and one in Berlin – that have... more

In 2012, the city of Melbourne gave every tree a barcode and email address so people could report when it... more

Meyer lemons are so special that restaurants go out of their way to call them out on menus. Martha Stewart... more

The Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska aims to domesticate a species that used to roam the earth at the... more

In this episode, Dylan sits down with “How To” creator and narrator John Wilson about his travels, his favorite places... more

Just outside of Myrtle Beach sits a medieval castle that would feel out of place if not for its charm.... more

A one-room museum located in the basement of a church-turned-community arts center is crammed with mementos from a pretty spectacular... more

From Tractor Day to an Italian style wedding to the streets of New York City to throwing water into the... more

This week wasn't special only because of the eclipse. We also recorded our first live show, during the Atlas Obscura... more

Rick Steves has seen a lot of strange, incredible and wondrous places over his decades-long career as the leading authority... more

We’re heading to the mountains of western North Carolina, where for more than a century, people have witnessed unusual displays... more

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

Today, millions of people across North America donned solar glasses, and looked up. And since our show is all about... more

Millions of people will be getting in their cars, breaking out the cardboard glasses and looking to the sky for... more

At The Martin, family-style dining is rooted in a very specific history and cultural experience that began with Basque sheepherders... more

A spectacular art installation is hidden inside an all-luxury shopping mall in Las Vegas. As of April 2024, the exhibit... more

Las Vegas was once the preferred tourist destination for watching weapons of mass destruction explode. This episode is part of... more

Jessica Oreck has spent the last 30 years collecting odd and forgotten objects. Now, they’re all beautifully curated and on... more

This micronation about an hour outside of Reno draws visitors from all over the world. This episode was produced in... more

Friend of the show Joanna Ebenstein tells us about her enduring fascination with death, how it led her to create... more

For one year, this journalist had the coolest assignment – as the New York Times “52 Places” reporter. Its charms... more

There are two miles of abandoned tunnels beneath the streets of Cincinnati, OH. A relic of an attempt to establish... more

A producer sits down with Dylan and recounts his trip to a place referred to as “The Venice of Africa.” READ... more

This museum in Kentucky is either your dream place or your nightmare, depending on how you feel about dummies. Because... more

The Great North American Eclipse will be April 8, 2024. Where will you be watching it? Who will you be... more

An adventurous couple sets out to document and unearth the arrow’s of America’s past, once used to help pilots find... more

Author, astrophysicist, folklorist, and science communicator Dr. Moiya McTier guides Dylan through the galaxy, and along the way reveals why... more

This site, and the enormous telescope that sits on it, is loved and lost to both scientists and everyday Puerto... more

Friend of the show Amir Siraj tells us the wild tale of his search for an interstellar object – a... more

Today the story of how a street lamp, a tangle with municipal government, and a love of the stars led... more

Take a trip to a hostel in Iceland to visit the country’s last Big Mac, where the burger’s existence  unfolds... more

Atlas Obscura writer Roxanne Hoorn brings us the story of an extraordinary relationship between people and killer whales. And, through... more

LeVar Burton presents SOUND DETECTIVES – a funny, engaging, and thought provoking podcast that invites elementary school-aged kids to explore... more

We go to Fayerweather Island, off the coast of Connecticut, and get the story of Kate Moore, one of the... more

We go to Deep River, Connecticut – where the story of a botched bank robbery more than 100 years ago... more

The largest theater pipe organ in the world lives in a restaurant in Mesa, Arizona. Phenomenal musicians play requests while... more

Dylan sits down with guest Blake Pfeil about what inspired him to begin exploring abandoned spots, what those spaces have... more

We visit a quaint Dutch fishing village and attempt to unravel the mystery that unfolded there… a mystery that involved... more

On our second day with Sporkful senior producer Andres O’Hara, we see what happens when invasive creatures that have made... more

With the help from a podcast friend (Andres O’Hara of The Sporkful), we go inside one of the busiest airports... more

Dylan braves one of New York’s most touristy sites to bring listeners the lesser-known history of Madame Tussaud’s origins.

For years, contributions from Black Americans to public spaces like beaches and museums have been hard to detect. Places Editors... more

We visit Jerry’s Hat Museum, where a retiree has turned to an old chapel to house a collection of thousands... more

Listeners share their stories of places that made them feel at home, from the beaches of Australia to a ubiquitous... more

The Hotel Theresa in Harlem, New York played a pivotal role in the influential neighborhood’s cultural identity.

The founders of this prison in Philadelphia aimed to revolutionize incarceration for the better - and unintentionally created new horrors.... more

A producer revisits her hometown (Houston) and goes to the Buffalo Soldiers Museum, learning about the contributions of Black members... more

This giant rock has been used in the coronation of every English monarch since the 1300s, but is it authentic?... more

We visit the misnamed “world’s loneliest house” and visit the flocks of puffins who live there. Some people want to... more

We take a hike up Great Blue Hill in Boston and get more than a stunning view of the city.... more

A public health crisis plagued the Midwest until a simple solution was introduced to a ubiquitous cooking ingredient.

A mysterious religious community founded by an insurance agent-turned spiritual leader in northern Italy spent 15 years constructing an underground... more

Award-winning chef Sean Sherman, aka the Sioux Chef, has dedicated his Minneapolis restaurant to decolonized food and honoring indigenous meal... more

Mexico City is known for its museum and art scene. The collection at El Museo del Juguete Antiguo – The... more

We go to south Florida and hear the story of a family that took a gamble on a humble roadside... more

This collection, preserved by the United States Library of Congress, features locks of hair from cultural icons from Beethoven to... more

This museum in John Day, Oregon, was once a Chinese general store and medicine shop that dates back to the... more

Hear staff stories about places in the world that made them instantly feel at home, from the Big Easy to... more

A city in Uzbekistan used to be the site of one of the world’s largest seas. Now it’s a dusty... more

This tiny island off the coast of Peru is an UNESCO World Heritage site for having the finest textile art.... more

Producer Baudelaire Ceus searches for the resting place of famed author Richard Wright among the graves of other cultural icons... more

We pick up the ball from internet sleuths and journalists and find the mysterious maker of a Minnesota-shaped forest, who’s... more

We follow one man’s journey down an internet rabbit hole that becomes a search for a one-of-a-kind forest and its... more

At one time, sea otters had an enormous historical range—from Baja California, up the West Coast, through Alaska, Russia, and... more

We follow a man’s quest to find the remains of a shipwrecked slave ship off the coast of the Florida,... more

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:... more

We go to New Hampshire – but not for politics. Instead, we visit Goffstown, the pumpkin boat capital of New... more

We go to Houston, where a gigantic underground vessel that used to be a water source is now an enchanting... more

We get out our passports and visit The Republic of Slowjamastan, a nation built on good vibes, good music and... more

We go to Safety Harbor, Florida – where two artists have made their house into a magnet for creativity and... more

This forest in Oslo, Norway will provide the trees for paper as part of a century long art project featuring... more

Forty-two school buses have been buried in Horning’s Mills, Ontario - covered in concrete, they can house up to 500... more

Congo Square in New Orleans is the heart of where African drumming found its way into American music and the... more

Turns out, complaining about bad service really is as old as time. Hear the story of an ancient Babylonian clay... more

An archeological site in the country of Georgia, which features the oldest, human skull fossils found outside of Africa, challenges... more

An island off the coast of Puerto Rico is home to more than 1500 imported monkeys, which have been studied... more

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea has become an accidental bird sanctuary for one of the world’s... more

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

These Argentinian parrots have made an unlikely home in a Brooklyn, NY cemetery.

Finnish Museum of Natural History in Helsinki has had an infestation of Chilean recluse spiders for more than 50 years.

Take a trip to Micropia, the world’s only museum dedicated to microscopic organisms and learn about our invisible life companions. READ... more

Join host Dylan Thuras, a satellite scientist, and a ship captain in search of gigantic swaths of bioluminescence that radiate... more

A toxic lake high in the Andes mountains in Argentina is home to microbes that provide a window to our... more

There’s an everlasting lightning storm in Northwestern Venezuela that appears in the night sky nearly every night.

Science writer Peter Brannen takes listeners on a tour of the world’s five major mass extinctions.

Where does space stuff go after it dies? To this spot deep, deep in the Pacific ocean.

Author Mary Roach takes us into the hidden corners of the scientific world. From training to poop in space to... more

Visitors leave bananas on the grave of “America’s First Lady of Space,” an early astronaut whose incredible life was forgotten.

We head to a remote region of Russia, to the epicenter of what would become known as the Tunguska Event.... more

Amir Siraj was a sophomore in college when he discovered what may be the first documented interstellar object to hit... more

Chandler, Arizona creates a Christmas Tree made entirely of the diaspore of this Western plant.

Over the last two and a half years, the Atlas Obscura podcast has published well over 500 original episodes. For... more

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

Specific smells have been linked to specific geographies, cultures, and mythologies for THOUSANDS of years. Today, we hear from Saskia... more

We learn about an age-old practice of nightwalking, with the help of two women who took it on as an... more

Gastro Obscura’s senior editor Sam O’Brien returns to the podcast to go deeper with us on her strange beat –... more

A producer takes a detour for a glimpse of what some call New York’s worst kept secret – a train... more

Fishlake National Forest is home to the biggest organism by mass on the planet - but this giant is shrinking... more