August 06, 2021

Boston Cooler Origins  In August 1924, a reader contributed a recipe to the Detroit Free Press for “a nectar that the Olympians pined for but didn’t know how to make.” The cool summer drink consisted of sarsaparilla (a sassafras soft drink) poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and stirred until smooth. The name of this sweet, godly elixir? The Boston Cooler. READ MORE → The Original ‘Meander’  The Büyük Menderes in southwestern Turkey is the longest river to flow into the Aegean. In antiquity, it was known as Maíandros, and gave us the word “meander” to describe sinuous curves in a river or stream’s course, as well as a repeated pattern common in art and architecture. The river was important enough to be featured on some of the first coins ever minted, more than 2,600 years ago in the ancient Lydian city of Tripolis. The Büyük Menderes has also influenced its landscape, and the humans who depend upon it. But for scientists, the Büyük Menderes is a source of continuous fascination—and puzzlement.  READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Anchoring the Intrepid: Inside an Aircraft Carrier’s Chain Room Get an up-close look at the massive anchor chains, and learn how sailors raised and lowered the famed Intrepid’s two 30,000 pound anchors. The crew also used this space for recreation, and you’ll see how “artistically-minded” crew members left their mark. Jessica Williams, curator of history and collections at the Intrepid Museum, will guide you on a virtual tour of the anchor chain room of this legendary aircraft carrier. GET TICKETS → HAZLEHURST, MISSISSIPPI Robert Johnson House A small house with wooden siding propped up on brick supports stands behind the Heritage House in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. This structure is what’s left of the original birth home of bluesman Robert Johnson, a legendary musician so talented that people said he must have traded his soul to the devil.  READ MORE → LVIV, UKRAINE An Elite Galician Restaurant  To get to this restaurant, named for the historic Eastern European region of Galicia (not the autonomous community in Spain), bang on an apartment door and convince the fellow blocking the entrance that you’re worthy of entering the restaurant through his kitchen. READ MORE → THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST Malcolm and the Mermaid In this episode of The Atlas Obscura podcast, host Dylan Thuras chats with author and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell about a beloved Disney movie, and the deeper questions it raises about the stories we tell ourselves—and our children—about places real and imaginary.  LISTEN ON OUR SITE →    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS →    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY →    LISTEN ON STITCHER → FROM THE ARCHIVES Inaccessible Island Inaccessible Island—a real place—is one of the most remote and isolated places on the planet. It is part of an archipelago, called Tristan da Cunha, that’s considered the most remote, isolated populated archipelago in the world. The island, and Tristan da Cunha as a whole, has fascinated people for hundreds of years, which means that people have at least made the trek out to visit. What is that experience like? We investigate.  READ MORE → GRAND CANYON VILLAGE, ARIZONA Tusayan Ruin  Just off Desert View Drive in Grand Canyon National Park are the remains of an 800-year-old former Native American settlement. Originating from the Pueblo II culture, this settlement is believed to have been established sometime around 1185, with tree ring studies indicating that the site was occupied for only about 25 years.  READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Rome Behind Locked Doors  Go beneath Rome’s streets and behind its locked doors to explore hidden and overlooked places, witnessing a capital city that most tourists rarely experience—strange, magical, and filled with intrigue. Gain unique access to restricted crypts and catacombs, a private palazzo and a cabinet of curiosities. This trip shines a spotlight on the surprises scattered above and beneath the city, revealing a side of Rome that you’ve never seen before. BOOK NOW →