Author: Ms. R.

When walking through the Rotterdam suburbs, one might not expect to see a 32-foot tall fox statue—but that’s exactly what the artist was going for.  “The Bospoldervos,” or the forest polder fox, is a 2021 statue created by Florentijn Hofman, who is known for creating enormous statues that clash with their environment. Hofman chose the neighborhood where he was raised—Bospolder-Tussendijken—for the setting, an area that was home to this species of fox back when it was an undeveloped forest…….

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Lukiškės Prison prison was built in 1904 and held prisoners for over a century, with the last prisoners transferred in 2019. Afterward, the prison was turned into a cultural hub that is open for guided tours, as well as a dance club, music venue, and residency space for over 250 artists. In 1904, Vilnius belonged to the Russian Empire, and the Lukiškės Prison was built under Czar Nicholas II. A revision of the criminal code in 1874 had introduced……

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This story was originally published on SAPIENS and appears here under a CC BY-ND 4.0 license. As a historian of science, I am interested in determining who gets credit for scientific discoveries and why. Sadly, credit often goes to the powerful and connected, not to the people who actually do the work. Gender, race, status, and age discrimination often play a role in these narratives. Examples of scientific injustice are finally entering more of the public’s consciousness, however. One……

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The PS Air Bar in Palm Springs, California, allows travelers to enjoy a first-class aeronautical voyage, but without the security line and turbulence. Located in the back of the Bouschet wine shop, this speakeasy transports its guests to the golden age of air travel, when eager travelers would dress to impress to board the party train in the sky. Complete with eight first-class and 27 coach seats, a pair of crew jump seats, airplane sidewalls, and bartenders dressed as……

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This is Britain’s only known Roman chariot-racing track. Located in Roman Britain’s capital city, Colchester, the circus seated more than 5,000 spectators and was used for around 150 years. The circus was likely built at the same time as the city’s ancient walls, during the revival that followed the city’s destruction in Boudica’s fiery 61 CE rebellion. At well over 1,00 feet in length, with pipes indicating the presence of elaborate fountains marking each lap, the ornate stadium is……

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This historical railway bridge is dear to many Rotterdam residents, as it’s the first structure that was restored after a devastating bombing during World War II. The bridge was built in 1927 to replace an old rotating bridge from 1878. This old bridge was a big issue at that time due to how slowly it operated, slowing down both the water and rail traffic. All of this frustration peaked when a German ship collided with the central part in……

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While archaeological sites such as El Rey and San Miguelito show that the area that is now Cancún has been inhabited by the Maya up until shortly after Spanish conquest, the modern-day city can be said to have been conceived in 1969-70. It was during these years that the organization now known as FONATUR, Mexico‘s Tourism Investment Board, recognized that the area’s pristine Caribbean beaches had great potential as a resort. The long island, divided from the mainland by the……

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Mimicking the design of Donato Bramante’s 1502 Tempietto in Rome, the dome on this brightly painted abode isn’t the only thing that sets it apart from its neighbors. Originally constructed sans dome and cupola in 1859-1860 for New York financier Paul J. Armour, the home has been occupied by a tea importer, an adventurer, a famous poet, and an architect, all of whom have left their own unique marks. Paul J. Armour likely got the idea for the shape of……

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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 visit Lincoln, Massachusetts, home to one of the strangest pony herds you’re likely to see—and it’s been growing for more than a decade. 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……

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