Author: Ms. R.

The term Rivière-La Guerre is used interchangeably to refer to a river, a village that used to exist on its banks, and the nearby ruins of a Presbyterian church. In spite of what the toponym may suggest, the etymology of Rivière-La Guerre has nothing to do with the war. The name is, in fact, linked to François Benoît dit Laguerre who, during the 18th-century, was busy doing construction work along the river that was later named after him. Today,……

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In most cities, you can find Chinese restaurants built in a traditional and sometimes stereotypical style of architecture. But what you might not realize is that some of these places served as more than just restaurants, but also places of cultural exchange. The New Ocean Paradise in Rotterdam is a perfect example of such a place that dates back to the mid-1980s. With its steep walls, pointed towers, and large entrance gate, the New Ocean Paradise, colloquially known as……

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The Jug Bridge was built in 1808 as part of the National Road to facilitate the crossing of the Monocacy River. It consisted of four 65-foot long stone arches spanning 425 feet with the namesake “jug” standing on the east end of the bridge. The builder was a famed local stonemason named Leonard Harbaugh. He was also responsible for the three locks at Great Falls that helped ships to navigate the canals. He also designed several stone buildings in Baltimore……

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We’ll never know who was the first human to look up at the stars speckling the night sky and see opportunity. Someone was the first to imagine stories playing out in the heavens above and to start naming the glimmering lights for gods and animals and heroes. Perhaps even before that, humans noticed they could navigate using the stars, and mark the passing of the seasons by the lights’ shifting positions. And one day, someone looked up at the……

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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, our resident food and death correspondent Sam O’Brien returns to tell us about a grave with a nut roll recipe engraved on it and the layered and touching story behind the treat. Do you know of a recipe grave in your local cemetery? Email us at hello@atlasobscura.com, and include “Recipe Graves” in the subject line! Our podcast is……

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Ida Kleinman was serious about her nut roll recipe. So serious, she made her husband stand nearby with a ruler as she rolled the dough, just to make sure everything was measured exactly right. The meticulousness paid off: Ida’s nut rolls were so beloved by her family that when she died, they inscribed that very recipe on her tombstone. Visitors to Rehovot Cemetery can see Ida’s recipe on the grave she shares with her husband, Isaiah. The recipe might……

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In the Chilean village of Villaseca, Entre Cordillera Restobar Solar cooks around 80 percent of their dishes with nothing but the sun’s blazing rays. The menu offers pork, chicken, and even pizza, all cooked in solar ovens in the courtyard that resemble satellite dishes. The staff places tea kettles in the center of the dishes, too. The satellite dishes, which can cook salmon in just a few minutes, are not the only solar ovens. Owners Jorge Armindo and Luísa……

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The rail bridge that still stands just off of Backlick Road near Fort Belvoir was once part of the war effort as the United States prepared for World War I. The Fort Belvoir Military Railroad (FBMRR) was constructed in 1918 to transport troops and supplies to Camp AA Humphreys. It was also designed to mobilize and train engineers on skills required to support the war effort in France. Facility 2298 (also called Bridge No. 4) belonged to the 4.51-mile……

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Completed in 1887, the Melbourne Gothic Bank is comprised of three buildings renowned across the city for its special interior and exterior design. It’s widely known as one of the finest secular Gothic-style buildings in Australia, and one of the most unique and special bank branches in the world. Today, the bank is one of ANZ’s central headquarters and home to the ANZ Banking Museum. This museum explores the history of banking in Australia through displays of money boxes,……

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This piece was originally published in Yale Environment 360 and appears here as part of our Climate Desk collaboration. When a heavy storm hit in October, residents of the floating community of Schoonschip in Amsterdam had little doubt they could ride it out. They tied up their bikes and outdoor benches, checked in with neighbors to ensure everyone had enough food and water, and hunkered down as their neighborhood slid up and down its steel foundational pillars, rising along……

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