Author: Ms. R.

Goldfield is a ghost of its former self, but the legacy left by the miners remains strong. This humble town once boasted a roaring mining district. The Florence Mine has the tallest wooden headframe in Nevada—a title that it has held for over a century. The mine opened in 1906 and was worked with varying intensity until the 1970s. Today, the complex stands as a time capsule. The land is now part of a ranch for rescuing and rehabilitating……

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A short distance northwest of Shanivar Wada, along the banks of the Mutha River, there are a few old heritage structures. Out of those, there is a curious white tower decorated with artistic and cultural elements. Atop the tower is a beautiful yellow spire. This structure is a part of a larger building which is a centuries-old temple and is called Vaibhaveshwar Navagraha Temple. Next to the temple, there is a fascinating stone gateway that stands at an angle……

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When Tabatha Saint was a young girl growing up in rural Alabama, her knees often stained green from exploring the weedy garden and wild places of her family’s 80 acres, her grandmother Louise would tell her stories. One stood out: a folktale of murder, lye, and missing children. Soap Sally, Grandmama Louise said, lived in the nearby woods, and waited with her basket for misbehaving children to tire of doing chores. “She would look to us like someone we……

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This special puzzle comes from crossword creator Brooke Husic, who is on the editing teams for Puzzmo, the American Values Club, and the Inkubator. You can find more of her work on her blog and in most mainstream venues, including the New Yorker. Along with Natan Last, Brooke coteaches Atlas Obscura’s Creating Crossword Puzzles course. You can solve the puzzle below, or download it in .pdf or .puz. Note that the links in the clues will take you to……

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Stories of creeping, flying, and swimming cryptids have long emerged from communities across what is now the United States. From figures of Native American legends to the lore behind small town hysteria, cryptids have long captured human curiosity. Today, people erect monuments in their honor, coalesce in cult followings, and continue to seek them out. Now, you can explore the homes of cryptids across the U.S.—from the Beast of Montana, to a murderous goat man in Kentucky, to a……

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“If you’re brave enough to try, you might be able to catch a train from UnLondon to Parisn’t, or No York, or Helsunki, or Lost Angeles, or Sans Francisco, or Hong Gone, or Romeless.” China Miéville’s fantasy novel Un Lun Dun is set in an eerie mirror version of London. In it, he hints that other cities have similar doubles. On the list that he offhandedly rattles off, Paris stands out. Because the City of Light really does have……

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In Canada’s ice cream parlors from the 1950s to the 1970s, tiger tail burned bright. Consisting of orange ice cream shot with ribbons of black licorice, tiger tail attracted kids with its appealing colors and name, and people of all ages with its unusual combination of ingredients. However, after the 1970s, tiger tail was supplanted by other ice cream flavors. Today, it’s primarily confined to southern Ontario, where it clings on as a recognizable and beloved piece of vintage……

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