Author: Ms. R.

Since 1882, the Tokyo National Museum has stood in Ueno Park because once belonged to the Kan’ei-ji Temple complex. Much of the temple was destroyed during a civil war following the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, giving way to Japan’s first public park. When the museum was established, most of the temple’s property that remained was moved to a new location. Now, surrounding the museum building is a beautiful Japanese garden with five historic teahouses preserved on the site…….

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Coke is a nearly pure carbon product made from coal that is critical in many industrial processes, steel-making in particular. It is made by carefully heating coal in an oxygen-poor environment to drive off volatiles, all while not igniting the carbon. Typically the coal is placed in an enclosed chamber, a so-called coke oven, to smolder for about a day. Then the finished coke is doused with cold water to stop any further combustion, at which point it can……

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In the fall of 1982, an unfounded fear haunted almost every house in Chicago. As area children prepared to “trick” their neighbors with their impressions of werewolves, vampires, and zombies, their parents were much more terrified of the “treats” their kids were eager to devour. Candy was a potential murder weapon. Apples might contain carefully concealed razor blades. Twizzlers might be laced with rat or ant poison. Mayor of Chicago Jane Byrne urged extreme caution and vigilance on Halloween,……

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Constructed between 1905-1906, the Casino of San Pellegrino Terme in Italy‘s northern Lombardy region took only 20 months from start to finish. This magnificent monster of opulence and sophistication is the brainchild of the architect Romolo Squadrelli and engineer Luigi Mazocchi, who took the Monte Carlo Casino as the model for their creation. The architectural style is quintessentially Liberty—an Italian take on Art Nouveau, which dominated Europe at the time. Even from the outside, the building exudes luxury through……

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Listen and subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we a special tree in Portland, Oregon, that’s full of a city’s hopes, dreams, and wishes. 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 along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily, Monday through……

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The Great Choral Synagogue, in Riga was a monumental structure. Its construction was completed in 1871, and it was considered one of the most beautiful synagogues in the city. It was sadly burned down on July 4, 1941, just three days after the Nazi occupation of Latvia began. Following the invasion of Latvia, the Nazi forces began a program of repression and mass murder of the Latvian Jews.  The Jews of Latvia were separated from the rest of the……

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When you think of Vikings, your mind may imagine the muscular Norse Gods: Thor, Odin, or Loki. Or perhaps you might picture fierce-looking bearded men aboard slender, symmetrical boats rowing oars in unison, commanded by feared war heroes like Ragnar Lothbrok. Yet a recent investigation has found that, during the Viking Age, one of the most celebrated leaders was actually a woman. A recent study has found that Queen Thyra is honored on runestones far more than any male……

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What became the Henness Pass route over the Sierra Nevada followed ancient Native American trails. About halfway between Donner Pass (on the south) and Yuba Pass (on the north), it had become a popular route into California by the 1850s. Although a bit longer to the goldfields, it was lower, and it avoided Donner Pass, which had acquired a sinister reputation due to the fate of the Donner party in the 1840s. By the 1860s, with the discovery of……

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On the corner of Portland and Park street in central Swansea, South Wales, stands the very last of what was once a chain of coffee shops. Ever since 1970, the Luporini family have run this popular local spot as an independent operation. The Kardomah Cafes, which were popular from the early 1900s to the 1960s, were created by the Liverpool China and India Tea Company. The name stems from a brand of tea that the company first sold in……

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The McCrary Twins, better known by their stage name, McGuire Twins, became iconic Guinness Book of World Record holders of the title of World’s Heaviest Twins. Both Benny and Billy McCrary were known for posing on their trademark mini-motorcycles and for their professional wrestling careers. Their formidable size earned them a photo in LIFE magazine, as well as a regular preforming slot in Las Vegas. In life, the twins each weighed more than 700 pounds—the result of a rubella……

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There’s no shortage of standout dining in Berlin’s flourishing culinary scene, but one restaurant shines with an extraordinary origin story and home-cooked, traditional dishes. Syrian eatery Malakeh is not just about heartfelt food; it showcases the resilience of its chef-owner Malakeh Jazmati. Before coming to Berlin in 2015, Malakeh fled war-torn Syria and hosted a cooking show on Orient TV (an anti-government station broadcasting across the Middle East from Jordan). Determined to introduce cherished cultural flavors to her newfound community,……

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