Author: Ms. R.

Four centuries ago, the settlers of a small French outpost perched on the north bank of what’s now Nova Scotia’s Annapolis River came up with the novel idea of founding an organization that would not only feed its members, but also uplift spirits during the long and brutally cold winter. Led by cartographer Samuel de Champlain, the Order of Good Cheer, or l’Ordre du Bon-Temps, went on to become what’s considered America’s first social club, not to mention an……

Read More

When most people come to an art museum, they are looking forward to seeing the works of either Old Masters or viewing the latest output of contemporary artists. More often than not, the visitor’s eyesight is turned towards an upward glance rather than a downward one. However, the National Gallery of London, along with funding from Samuel Courtauld, Gilbert Russel, and others, decided that they would adorn the floors leading into their galleries with works of art in their own……

Read More

Secret Obsessions is Atlas Obscura‘s new column where we ask wondrous people to take us down a rabbit hole. This edition features American astronaut Jessica Watkins, as told to Associate Editor Sarah Durn. I really kind of stumbled into rugby. It started at an activities fair at college. I played basketball and soccer and ran track in high school, so when I got to Stanford I wanted to pursue something athletic. I ended up chatting with the women at……

Read More

Listen and subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, journalist and author Doug Preston guides us through the first half of a cliffhanger story about the mysterious deaths of a group of hikers in the Soviet Union—known as the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and……

Read More

THIS ARTICLE IS ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEMBER 18, 2023, EDITION OF GASTRO OBSCURA’S FAVORITE THINGS NEWSLETTER. YOU CAN SIGN UP HERE. In 1886, a researcher at Yale’s Peabody Museum was cutting into an ostrich egg when it violently exploded. A build-up of gasses inside the egg shattered the shell, raking his face with shrapnel and sending everyone else in the room running from the fumes. The incident was on my mind this week, as I prepared myself to crack……

Read More

A spotlight illuminates a bronze statue in the center of a room at the National Art Gallery in Malaysia. The figure depicted is squatting with ease, elbows on thighs, long hair draping his shoulders, and wearing clothes reminiscent of a pirate or early explorer. The plaque underneath the statue reads: “In memory of Enrique of Malacca, who contributed greatly to the first circumnavigation of the world, 1511-1521.” But exactly how great that contribution was could use some clarification. Enrique’s……

Read More

Here is an old tree, dead, full of scars and an interesting story. This is the Tilleul de Gérouville, or the Gérouville Linden. Despite the name, the tree is actually an elm, not a linden. The species may have been confused because it was placed on the Linden square. This tree is more than 600 years old. In 1258, when the city of Gérouville was founded, four trees were planted, one at each corner of the main square. While the……

Read More

In the Klåveröd recreation area, situated in Skåne County, southern Sweden, you’ll come across a steep cliff with distinct formations. It appears almost as if an immense stack of rectangular stone blocks have been piled horizontally upon each other. This appearance is likely due to the fact that the cliff was once surrounded by a softer, weathered material, allowing it to withstand the pressure from the ancient ice sheet. The cracks in the cliff were formed through a combination……

Read More

Built in 1902, this suburban property in the Hudson Valley was purchased in 1923 by M.C. Migel, founder and president of the American Foundation for the Blind. He conveyed the property to Rest Haven, Inc. and renovated the interior to support the hosting of blind women for two-week vacations. In 1944, Rest Haven, Inc. returned the title property to the American Foundation for the Blind. Helen Keller, the famed deaf and blind writer, activist, and lecturer was a member trustee for……

Read More

Two side-by-side historic cemeteries. The Pleasant Valley Cemetery is abandoned with a few markers remaining and the perimeter of family plots still visible. Some markers have family last names but no named dead. The stones date from 1860 to 1960. The Japanese Cemetery was mostly lost in overgrowth but has been cleared and some monuments relocated to accommodate a new apartment building. A sign says it is from 1908. Some stones are in both Japanese and English. The perimeter……

Read More