July 15, 2021

The Last Hawaiian Princess In 1893, Princess Ka‘iulani, heir to the Hawaiian Crown, entered the White House in Washington, D.C. with a goal: save the Kingdom of Hawai‘i and her future throne. Brilliant, beautiful, and betrayed by American financiers, Ka‘iulani was exceptional. Classically educated at Great Harrowden Hall, in Northamptonshire, England, she spoke several languages, wrote poetry in English, Latin, and Hawaiian, and was a child prodigy in art and music composition. But first and foremost, the princess was a surfer, one who would come to be known as the mother of modern surfing. Read more about her tragic life and global legacy here.  READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Edible Galaxies Like the best jelly cakes, The Cosmos appears at first glance to be an elaborate optical illusion. A Milky Way wrought in condensed milk jelly spirals out of its galactic center into shimmering nebulas of edible glitter. Although astronomers would not be able to identify the constellations suspended within the mirror-smooth dome, the overall effect is uncannily photorealistic. The secrets behind this edible miniature galaxy? Centrifuges and syringe-tipped knives. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES How to Write Historical Nonfiction Have you ever wanted to write a history of personal interest in a 1200-word, Atlas Obscura essay–type format, but didn’t know where to begin? Perhaps you’ve always wondered about the deeper story behind an old family recipe, a run-down building on your block, or a specific moment in time. This four-part online writing workshop with historical journalist Hadley Meares will equip you with the tools you’ll need to start researching and writing. LEARN MORE → ALPINE SHIRE, AUSTRALIA Cresta Valley Ski Resort The abandoned but still largely intact Cresta Valley ski resort is a beautiful and tragic testimony to Australia’s changing climate. Shut down in 2003 after a bushfire destroyed much of its infrastructure, the chairlifts and Pomas at Cresta Valley still stand with their chairs neatly stacked beside them, frozen forever in time. READ MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES Virtual Library Exploration Can’t get out to a museum just yet? Certain libraries around the world have produced immersive, 360-degree tours of their interiors. These simulations can offer more than inspiring views of literary sanctuaries; often, they serve as interactive platforms that provide information about the library’s history and resources. Some of these tours even allow online visitors to browse portions of massive material collections. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Creating a Plant-Based Palette Back by popular demand! In this four-part online course with textile artist Aaron Sanders Head, we’ll learn how to create natural dyes using everything from kitchen scraps to foraged plants, learning the tools and terms needed to get started before setting up a dye bath and diving into the process. Not only will we use food scraps, plant dye powders, and extracts to color textiles, but we’ll also learn how to forage for regional dyestuff, depending on your local ecology. LEARN MORE → NAUCALPAN, MEXICO Quetzalcoatl’s Nest Northwest of Mexico City, the feathered Aztec serpent god Quetzalcoatl has been turned into a series of condos. Quetzalcoatl’s Nest is a fantastical snake-shaped structure that includes ten separate apartments spread over 16,500 square feet. Designed by renowned Mexican architect Javier Senosiain, the residence is an exploration of ‘organic architecture’ that takes its design inspiration from nature and aims for minimal impact to the environment. READ MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES The Proto-Oreo Think of a dark sandwich-like cookie with a creamy white center. You’re probably thinking of Oreos, right? But four years before Oreo rose to prominence, there was another cookie that looks remarkably similar. That would be the Hydrox cookie, the second banana of the cookie aisle, which these days simply can’t compete against the marketing juggernaut that is Oreo, even if it did get a bit of a head start. The problem, you might’ve guessed, is its name. READ MORE → THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST Spacecraft Cemetery The life of spacecraft often begins with a goodbye, catching a glimpse of Earth before it hauls itself into space for scientific explorations into places not readily accessible by humans. But even spacecraft can’t escape the inescapable pull of death. Parts stop working, or humans summon them home, returning home to the pull of Earth’s gravity. And where do they go after they die? To a spot deep in the Pacific Ocean. This is the Spacecraft Cemetery, an oceanic dumping ground. LISTEN ON OUR SITE →    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS →    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY →    LISTEN ON STITCHER → JOHNS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA The Angel Oak The fairytale-esque angel oak tree in Charleston, SC, is thought to be one of the oldest living oak trees east of the Mississippi River. It stands 65 feet (20m or 6 stories) tall, is 28 ft (8.5 m) in circumference, and an area of 17,000 square feet is shaded by its tentacular crown. The largest branch reaches 187 feet. READ MORE → WOLF LAKE, ILLINOIS Snake Road This road, which lies between the sheer cliff faces that long ago helped contain the Mississippi River (one mile to the west) and the swamp left over from when the river shifted and narrowed due to humans channeling the river, attracts people from all over the world. Twice a year, this road is closed off to allow for the migration of thousands of snakes, reptiles and amphibians. Reptile and amphibian lovers, this is for you. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Bhutan’s Festivals and Temples Nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan is a tiny country home to pristine forests, extraordinary architecture, and rich cultural traditions. Join us as we journey from bustling Thimphu to the Phobjikha Valley, lush with greenery and wildlife, and finally through the small village of Haa. We’ll witness an annual festival and visit ancient dzongs, art studios, incense factories, and nature preserves—meeting artisans, monks, and farmers along the way. LEARN MORE →