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Random Place Close your eyes and spin the globe. what: near: Atlas Obscura is the definitive guide to the world's wondrous and curious places. In an age where everything seems to have been explored and there is nothing new to be found, we celebrate a different way of looking at the world. If you're searching for miniature cities, glass flowers, books bound in human skin, gigantic flaming holes in the ground, bone churches, balancing pagodas, or homes built entirely out of paper, the Atlas Obscura is where you'll find them. Atlas Obscura is a collaborative project. We depend on our far-flung community of explorers (like you!) to help us discover amazing, hidden spots, and share them with the world. If you know of a curious place that's not already in the Atlas, let us know. There is plenty out there to discover, so let's start looking! This is what we believe: 01. There is something new under the sun, every day, all over the world. 02. Around the corner is something that will surprise the hell out of you. 03. Atlas Obscura is for people who still believe in discovery. Mailing List Work With Us Email us at info@atlasobscura.com with questions, suggestions, or press inquiries The Atlas Obscura was founded in 2009 by Joshua Foer and Dylan Thuras Joshua Foer Josh's work as a science journalist has taken him around the world in search of curious subjects. His first book, Moonwalking with Einstein, about how he became the United States Memory Champion, was an international bestseller published in 31 languages. In 2009, Josh teamed up with Dylan Thuras to create an online resource for people who know that the smallest museum in town is usually the best—especially if it's only open on Tuesdays. Dylan Thuras Dylan's pursuit of the unusual began as a teenager exploring abandoned buildings in the mid-west and eventually took him and his wife Michelle to Budapest for a year, to exploring Eastern Europe's obscure and wondrous locales. After co-producing an evening of wonders with Joshua Foer, the two began hatching plans for their next big project. Creating a way for curious travelers to find the hidden wonders of the world seemed like a heck of a lot of fun, and the Atlas Obscura was born. Favorite travel experience: In 2008, while reporting a story for National Geographic magazine in the northern Republic of Congo, I encountered a group of "naive" chimpanzees, who had never seen a human before. Instead of running away, they called all over all their buddies to gawk at us. Who were these hairless apes traipsing around the forest? They cautiously crept closer and closer until they were nearly on top of us. Perhaps human aren't the only species with a sense of wonder. Favorite travel experience: In 2007 while in Italy, my wife Michelle and I visited a church in Bologna, Italy. It was large, baroque, and totally empty. As we left we noticed a strange little side door and a buzzer on the wall. We rang it, and the door slid open as if by magic. Admitted to this back room, and still totally alone, we found ourselves face to face with St. Catharine of Bologna, a 500 year old relic/mummy seated in a golden throne and surrounded by the bones of other dead saints. It's always worth investigating the strange little door. ↓ Meet the Atlas Team ↓ ↓ Meet the Field Agents ↓ ↓ Individual Sponsors ↓ David Plotz CEO Reyhan Harmanci Editor in Chief Ella Morton Head Writer, Book Team Sarah Brumble Senior Editor, Social Media Marc Haeringer Project Manager, Book Team Eric Grundhauser Senior Editor Michelle Enemark Graphic Design, Video Production Daniel Sobo Developer Matt Blitz Head of DC Obscura Society Erin Johnson Head of LA Obscura Society Megan Roberts Head of NY Obscura Society Jeff Wagg Head of Illinois Obscura Society Field Agents are the on-the-ground core of the Obscura Society scheming with us to come up with local adventures and working to make them happen. We are looking for organized, enthusiastic locals armed with a list of strange and wonderful places near them, and the desire to take a bunch of like minded curious strangers out with you to investigate. BECOME A FIELD AGENT New York Mitch Waxman Robert Amell Dan Veksler Los Angeles Colin Dickey Erin Johnson Robert Hemedes Hadley Hall Meares Sandi Hemmerlein Rebecca Leib Illinois Katarina Kaspari Emmy Colon Charles Chuman Washington, D.C. Matt Blitz Philadelphia Ryan Coffman Adam Flacks Adrian Versteegh Alexander Boxer Allen Christian A.M. Renarde AnnWhatever Arthur Mitchell Bad Babysitter Productions Barcade Black Plaques Blue Suit Pacers Cycling Team Bond Anderson Cassim Shepard CemeteryTravel.com Cult of the Dead Cow Cynthia von Buhler Dan Short and Danielle LaSusa David & Vicki Grenewetzki Diane Drysdale Dorota Eleyda Negron Elizabeth New Emily Siskin Erik Charles Tillmans Ethan S. Rogers, MD Exploguide.com dedicated to travelers looking for alternative and off the beaten track travel. Gerry O'Sullivan Hojarascal In memory of Simon Franklin, from his wife Fay James Park Jessica Palmieri J. Farkas Josh G Kathleen Roan Kenneth Spink KLG & PDT Kristyn Armour LA Explorer Leonieke Marie Minako von Kampen Michael Zappe Mina S.M. Nicholas Kirschman and Christine Nobbe Nikki Farmer Paradise Lust: Searching for the Garden of Eden Paul and Anne Gulley PlatoSmash Roadtrippers Robin Adair Ruth Ann Harnisch Sacred Heart of Magnet, Inc. Secrets of Paris Tours Selena Ozuna Serena Satyasai Smiling Albino Stone Breath The Hannigans The New England Grimpendium by J.W. Ocker Tildy Bayar UniqHotels. Unusual hotels in locations all over the world. William C. Baker Wythe Marschall, Hollow Earth Society Like Us on Facebook X See Our Collection of Curious Facts Share: Tweet Refresh This is what we believe: 01. There is something new under the sun, every day, all over the world. 02. Around the corner is something that will surprise the hell out of you. 03. Atlas Obscura is for people who still believe in discovery. 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