August 17, 2021

Into the (Obscure) Woods Forests can be enchanting places—the sunlight filtering through the trees, wildlife scampering in the underbrush, trunks reaching to the sky. Some forests hold ruins, sculptures, artifacts, even entire museums waiting to captivate the next intrepid explorer. From the woods of Härjedalen, Sweden, where a statue of one of Hollywood’s greatest actors is hidden in the dense foliage, to New Jersey, where forest is taking over the remains of a grand mansion, here are a dozen of our favorite woodland secrets.  READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA ‘Terrifying’ Medieval Mead It starts with a cauldron, an open flame, and a good measure of raw honey. Then—double, double, toil and trouble—stir constantly until the honey spits black steam at you. Add water and stand back as it erupts, volcano-like. Throw in some yeast and spices and, after it ages a bit, behold: bochet, a mysterious and lost style of mead that requires the honey to be caramelized. Bochet vanished for centuries, but meadmakers are bringing it back—at least in spirit. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Secret Arts: Paper Engineering Curious about how pop-up books and cards work? Don't miss this month's live episode of The Secret Arts. We'll be chatting with paper engineer Yoojin Kim, known for her jaw-dropping paper creations. Join us and learn how you can begin experimenting with paper creations of your own! LEARN MORE → ROSCOE, NEW YORK Craig-E-Clair Castle Craig E-Clair Castle, alternatively called Dundas Castle, is nestled away like a fairy tale in the enshrouding forests of the Catskill Mountains. Even today, a fair amount of mystery and intrigue surrounds the castle. With varying dates attributed to its construction, no one seems to be certain of its history, and that mystery and its abandonment have given rise to many legends about the house. READ MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES Maine’s Viking Penny In 1956, a pair of amateur archaeologists discovered a coin on the shores of Maine. For years, the story was that the coin was minted in 12th-century England, and no one questioned that identification. That is, until a London dealer caught sight of a picture of the coin. As it turns out, the coin was a Norse penny, made between 1065 and 1093—evidence for Viking contact with North America centuries before Columbus. How did it get there? READ MORE → THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST Forbes Pigment Collection There’s a repository in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that has the power to color our perception of the world. No, literally. The Forbes Pigment Collection has ​​over 2,700 pigments that’ve been quietly coloring the world around us since the beginning of human history. Each item on display, carefully curated and preserved by a team of the world’s premier conservators, holds its own fascinating story without which the history of the world’s art would not exist. LONDON, ENGLAND Carting Lane Sewer Lamp By the end of the 19th century, London was trying to shed its reputation as a stinky cesspool. For years, locals had slogged through streets strewn with human waste, and though it now had an expansive sewer network, that matrix was smelly—and full of gas. Engineers proposed various ideas for ventilating the sewers, and one of those schemes included lamps that would burn off the gases from the underground world while illuminating the streets above. READ MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES You’ve Got Mail Sometimes when it comes to getting from point A to point B, you have to think out of the box. Or, in some cases, think in the box. Like stowaways on ships, trains, and planes, people have attempted (and sometimes succeeded!) in mailing themselves as recently as just a few years ago. It’s not easy, nor legal, nor permitted by any major shipping company, but that hasn’t stopped a very special group of people from trying. (Not that you’d do it, but we should warn you: Do not try this at home.) READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Decolonizing Travel Culture Join us as we begin to answer an important question: what does it mean to decolonize travel culture? In this four-part lecture series, travel writer Bani Amor will break down the case for decolonizing travel culture and find what role you can play in this movement.  LEARN MORE → POMPEII, ITALY Pompeii Thermopolium In 2019, archaeologists in Pompeii discovered the remains of a thermopolium, literally translated as a “hot drinks counter,” as well as evidence that the poorer members of Pompeii society ate rather well. Although much of Regio V, a dig site in the northern area of the Pompeii archeological park, is still closed to the public, as of August 12, 2021, visitors are able to see the thermopolium for themselves and discover the unparalleled clues into the daily diets of ancient Romans. READ MORE → MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA Orfield Labs Quiet Chamber This space was once dubbed “the quietest place on earth” by Guinness World Records. The lab is called an anechoic chamber, meaning there is no echo as the room absorbs 99.99 percent of sound. It is used by various manufacturers to test product volume and sound quality—and it can also drive a person mad. Too much silence, it turns out, is not great for you. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Chiloé & the Fjords of Northern Patagonia Unravel mysteries of hidden myths and softly spoken legends on a unique cultural and naturalist exploration of Chile’s largest island and northern Patagonia. You’ll gain unique, hands-on insight from several rewilding and conservation projects and experience culinary traditions while surrounded by some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. LEARN MORE →