The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft (Classic)

Tell us your stories of traveling with your parents!: We're going to be bringing you more listener-led stories this year, and we need your help. Tell us about a place you went with your parents that was special to you. Maybe it was the annual trip to Niagara Falls or national park. Or maybe it was just a one time thing but had an outsized impact. Call and tell us at 315-992-7902 or email us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

3 min listen

The Livestock Living at the End of the World (Classic): The pigs once plopped on an uninhabited Aukland Island known for capturing castaways now play an important role in modern medical research. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

17 min listen

To the Moon and Back with Rebecca Boyle: Science writer and journalist Rebecca Boyle has a new book about all about the ways in which the moon has impacted nearly every aspect of human life – including our conception and invention of time. MORE IN THE ATLAS: Rebecca is a regular contributor to Atlas Obscura and you can find more about her work here and check out her book here. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

22 min listen

Musée Mécanique: We empty out our change purse and visit Dan Zelinsky - the owner and head mechanic of the Musee Mecanique - one of the few remaining vintage arcades in the country. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/musee-mecanique-san-francisco by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

14 min listen

Beauly Priory Wych Elm: A gnarly looking elm tree rumored to be older than Britain itself was the anchor in a community – until beetles got to it and it was suddenly gone one day. Thanks to the magic of technology, you can see a 3D scan of the Beauly Elm here: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/beauly-elm-bf14d2bdc7604599bddf5aad549959ec READ IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wych-elm-of-beauly-priory by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

11 min listen

Sans-Souci Palace: We go to Haiti, and visit a royal residence once called the Versailles of the Caribbean. But though Sans Souci Palace, once home to Haiti’s only king, is now ruins and rubble, it remains a large symbol – just as its creator intended. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

14 min listen

Rhubarb Triangle (Classic): Farmers in Yorkshire England take years to coax their rhubarb plants into a world-renowned delicacy using a century-old technique. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fords-folly-water-dam by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

13 min listen

Checking Into Hotel Imperial with Deborah Cohen: On the eve of the Second World War, there was one place that was the source for all good stories — the Hotel Imperial in Vienna. It exuded luxury and power, and also was the converging spot for foreign correspondents in the 1920’s and ‘30s who were warning the world about the rise of dictatorship. Historian and author Deborah Cohen takes us back in time and into the lives of these influential journalists. MORE Check out Deborah’s book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/576473/last-call-at-the-hotel-imperial-by-deborah-cohen/ by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

24 min listen

Exotic Feline Rescue Center: Long before Joe Exotic got the country talking about big cats, there was Joe Taft – regular guy – who began raising and rescuing these types of felines in Indiana. MORE: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/exotic-feline-rescue-center-2 by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

13 min listen

Old Cahawba: The Old Cahawba Archeological Park is perhaps one of Alabama's most famous ghost towns. But it once was the center of life in this southern state. We unravel the surprising tale of this onetime capitol city. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

14 min listen

Atlas Obscura Presents: “Windsor Hum” from Twenty Thousand Hertz: Today’s episode comes from Twenty Thousand Hertz, a podcast that reveals the stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds. On their show, they’ve explored topics like the sounds of other planets, the mind blowing ways that insects communicate, and secret spy messages that are broadcast on the radio. In this episode, they take you to the US-Canadian border, where, in 2011, residents of Windsor, Ontario started experiencing a strange rumbling hum that rattled dishes and kept people awake at night. Then, after years of getting nowhere, the mystery of the Windsor Hum was finally solved... Or was it? by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

15 min listen

Tree Week: Forty Fruit Tree (Classic): The Tree of 40 fruits in San Jose California is an horticultural marvel of 40 types of stone fruit trees grafted together to form a living work of art. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

14 min listen

Tree Week: Killer Trees with Mary Roach: We promise, this is not another sappy (pardon the pun) story about trees. Instead, author and science writer Mary Roach takes us deep into an ancient forest grove on Vancouver Island, in search of the danger trees and the people who seek them out. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

23 min listen

Tree Week: Oh, the places you will go …. to see these notable trees: We spend some time with some celebrity trees – one in Washington DC and one in Berlin – that have left an impact on all who visit them. Today’s stories are brought to you by Michelle Cassidy and Diana Hubbell, of the Atlas Obscura Places Team. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

16 min listen

Tree Week: Love Letters: In 2012, the city of Melbourne gave every tree a barcode and email address so people could report when it needed maintenance or attention. But, a funny thing started happening. Instead of reporting problems, people began emailing love letters to the trees. MORE: Is there a special tree in your life? One worthy of a love letter? Let us know! Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and your love letter to a tree. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call again if that happens! by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

12 min listen

A Tasty Tale about Meyer Lemons: Meyer lemons are so special that restaurants go out of their way to call them out on menus. Martha Stewart loves to bake with them. And yet, meyer lemons also have a fascinating and kinda tragic backstory. Tune in for a very fun episode about this very particular fruit. Our guest in this episode is Mandy Naglich, professional taster and author of “How To Taste.” by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

18 min listen

Musk Ox Farm (Classic): The Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska aims to domesticate a species that used to roam the earth at the same time as the wooly mammoth. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

8 min listen

How to make the best show about New York with John Wilson: Dylan sits down with creator and host John Wilson about his travels, his favorite places and his HBO series that is part documentary, part memoir, part essay — and unlike any other show on TV. MORE: In their conversation, a few places come up that we’ve made episodes about. So if you want to hear about the Chrysler Building eagles, the House on the Rock or Organ Stop Pizza, click here, here and here. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

29 min listen

Atalaya: Just outside of Myrtle Beach sits a medieval castle that would feel out of place if not for its charm. We tell the story of the eccentric couple who, nearly a hundred years ago, built this fortress — which was turned into a popular part of the state park system. This episode was produced in partnership with Discover South Carolina. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/atalaya by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

19 min listen

Showgirl Magic Museum: A one-room museum located in the basement of a church-turned-community arts center is crammed with mementos from a pretty spectacular period in history. We hang with some retired dancers who recall the time when Chinatown in San Francisco was filled with late night cabarets famed for their showgirls. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

13 min listen

Reppin our weird hometown traditions: From Tractor Day to an Italian style wedding to the streets of New York City to throwing water into the air in negative 20 degree weather, we take a tour of some quirky hometown traditions. Does the place you grew up have any unique traditions? We would love to hear from you. Tell us about your hometown’s weird or unique local tradition. Walk us through what goes down—who’s there and what’s happening? Is there an interesting history behind it? What was your relationship to this tradition like when you were growing up—did you partake? What’s your relationship to it now? Did/does it play a role in how you think about the world, or the corner of it you come from? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

13 min listen

Atlas Obscura Live: Two Places And A Lie: This week wasn't special only because of the eclipse. We also recorded our first live show, during the Atlas Obscura Ecliptic Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In this episode, hear host Dylan Thuras try to stump guests -- astrobiologist Dr. Graham Lau and science writer Rebecca Boyle -- and get them to guess which strange, incredible place is real or fake. Then, the tables are turned and Dylan has to guess. Special thanks to everyone who made this possible! by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

22 min listen

My Life in Three Places with Rick Steves: Rick Steves has seen a lot of strange, incredible and wondrous places over his decades-long career as the leading authority on European travel. And today he is going to guide us through three places that helped shape his life. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

26 min listen

Brown Mountain Lights: We’re heading to the mountains of western North Carolina, where for more than a century, people have witnessed unusual displays of shimmering and sometimes even exploding lights. And we hang with a skeptical scientist who’s spent years trying to solve the mystery. This episode was produced in partnership with Visit North Carolina. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

16 min listen

Total Eclipse of Our Hearts: Today, millions of people across North America donned solar glasses, and looked up. And since our show is all about wonder and curiosity and incredible places — a moment like the Great American Eclipse is something we take very seriously. If you missed it, or weren’t in the path of totality when the moon passed in front of the sun, we have you covered. Listen to this and sink into our shared once-in-a-generation experience, powered by voices across the continent. Special thanks to everyone who contributed to this episode, especially those who joined us at the Atlas Obscura Ecliptic Festival. Enjoy. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

17 min listen

Minister’s Treehouse (Classic): The world’s biggest treehouse was inspired by a message from God. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ministers-tree-house by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

12 min listen

Stay Tuned: A special eclipse episode is coming tonight!: Millions of people will be getting in their cars, breaking out the cardboard glasses and looking to the sky for today's Great North American Eclipse … which won’t occur again for another TWENTY years. Host Dylan Thuras will be smack dab in the path of totality in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic festival has been in full swing for the past few days. And for the first time ever, our podcast team will be marking this monoculture event by making and releasing and episode all in one day. Come back to your feed tonight for a very special episode! by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

2 min listen

Nevada Week: The Martin: At the Martin, family-style dining is rooted in a very specific history and cultural experience that began with Basque sheepherders in the 1800s and has been carried on and celebrated ever since. This episode was produced in partnership with Travel Nevada and is part of Nevada Week, where we bring you stories all week from the Silver State. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

15 min listen

Nevada Week: How I Learned to Love Las Vegas: A spectacular art installation is hidden inside an all-luxury shopping mall in Las Vegas. As of April 2024, the exhibit appears to be closed. This episode is part of Nevada Week, where we bring you stories all week from the Silver State. Find out more about cool things to see, do and experience in the state by visiting Travel Nevada. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

8 min listen

Nevada Week: National Atomic Testing Museum: Las Vegas was once the preferred tourist destination for watching weapons of mass destruction explode. This episode is part of Nevada Week, where we bring you stories all week from the Silver State. Find out more about cool things to see, do and experience in the state by visiting Travel Nevada. by The Atlas Obscura Podcast

16 min listen

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The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft (Classic)

The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft (Classic)

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