August 27, 2021

GASTRO OBSCURA An Onion Island At just over 20 square miles, the island of Bermuda is barely a blip in the North Atlantic Ocean. Yet for much of the 1800s, this small British territory boasted an outsized reputation for one unlikely export: onions. Mark Twain was so struck by these Bermuda onions, in fact, that he wrote: “The onion is the pride and joy of Bermuda. It is her jewel, her gem of gems…In Bermudian metaphor it stands for perfection—perfection absolute.” And yet, by the mid-1900s, this once-coveted crop vanished into near obscurity. Why? READ MORE → BUNNELL, FLORIDA The Old Brick Road If you’re looking to experience what the route was like as a tourist over 100 years ago, all you have to do is follow this red brick road. The road was part of the Dixie Highway, a network of roads that was envisioned as a way to connect Miami to Montreal, Canada. The road became obsolete in 1926 when the new road US-1 was built, resulting in the disbandment of the Dixie Highway Association, but you can still drive down it. READ MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES A Most Dangerous Beard Visit the side of St. Stephan’s Church, located on the Austrian-German border, to see a large stone relief of a man with an unusually long beard stretching down past his feet. It’s a fitting monument to an important man who was killed by his own facial hair when he stepped on his four and a half foot long beard and tumbled down the stairs. May this be a reminder to all of those with beards to keep it at a manageable length. READ MORE → Religious Pilgrimage In November 1981 in Kibeho, Rwanda, a young girl reported a vision she described as the Virgin Mary, warning of a bloody, apocalyptic, hate-filled conflict to come. Days later, two other young women claimed to have seen the same beautiful, floating apparition. In retrospect, many have interpreted the visions as a warning—in later years, Kibeho was the site of one of the early massacres of the Rwandan genocide, and another, retaliatory massacre almost exactly a year later. In 2001, a local bishop officially recognized the authenticity of the visions, thereby providing official Catholic endorsement of the devotional gatherings that have taken place in Kibeho for years. It is the only place in Africa with an appearance of the Virgin Mary recognized by the Vatican. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Collecting & Preserving Insects Collecting and preserving insects that have met their fate can offer a rare window into their elusive worlds—one that holds all kinds of biological knowledge as well as immense beauty. Over three sessions with Isa Betancourt, you will learn preservation techniques for different insects and gain a deeper appreciation of these tiny critters. Starts August 31. LEARN MORE → MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN Cactus Club The history of this Milwaukee space dates back to the early 1900s as the hub for an anarchist book club, whose name roughly translates to “The Dramatic Lovers Social Study Club.” Later during Prohibition, tunnels were formed between neighboring businesses to run liquor. Though the tunnels have since been filled with concrete, a secret door in the basement hides a few remnants and relics of the past. Today, the Cactus Club is a collaborative artist-run space, which now hosts virtual concerts, film screenings, and workshops. READ MORE → PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND Modern Diner In 1986, Nick Demou and his late father bought an old, abandoned diner and moved it to its current location on East Avenue in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Built in 1941, it was one of only a handful of Sterling Streamliner diners still in existence, and is today one of only two such diners still in operation. But the diner already had a claim to fame even before Demou bought it—in 1978, it was the first ever diner to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. READ MORE → LARNE, NORTHERN IRELAND Olderfleet Castle These ruins, located along the shores of Larne Lough at Curran Point, remain as solemn as when the castle was constructed during the 1600s. The name Olderfleet was derived from the Viking word Ukfrecksfiord, the Viking name given to what is now known as Larne Lough. The castle has seen its fair share of historical occupants, chief among them Edward Bruce and his massive army that hoped to conquer all of Ireland. READ MORE → MANHATTAN, NEW YORK Staple Street Skybridge It may look like just another alleyway in a busy city, but this is a street unlike any other in New York. Look up to see a cast-iron bridge, connecting two buildings with separate addresses, suspended three stories above the ground. The skybridge used to connect buildings owned by New York Hospital, but today, it connects two halves of a 7,500-square-foot work/residential loft. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Hidden Florence Florence boasts centuries of extraordinary art and architecture—not to mention plenty of mystery. Delve into the majesty and mythos surrounding this capital city's most iconic royal residences, and take the time to trace its lesser-known history through secret society meeting spots, ancient villages, and centuries-old pharmacies. LEARN MORE →