WASHINGTON, D.C. Abandoned Drawbridge Control Room Underneath the middle section of Arlington Memorial Bridge, two trailer-sized offices hang from the steel superstructure, with grated windows looking out at million-dollar views down the Potomac River. Inside these two oddly placed rooms sits the abandoned, century-old machinery that used to allow the middle span to open up like a drawbridge.  READ MORE → Ancient ‘Tiger Gods’ For centuries, indigenous communities in Central and Western India, such as the Gond, Warli, and Koli, have worshipped tigers and leopards. Big cat shrines can be found in countless small villages scattered across the wilderness, as well as adjacent semi-urban areas. Conservation scientists are now investigating whether these traditions of animal reverence have, in fact, mitigated negative human-big cat encounters, even when the big cats attack livestock. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Looking for Lizards? From the spiky Texas horned lizard to the speedy six-lined racerunner, there are all kinds of extraordinary lizards that you might spot across the U.S.—if you know how to look for them. Join herpetologist Dr. Earyn McGee for a deep dive into the world of herping, and learn how to find, identify, and photograph lizards and other reptiles. LEARN MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Community Cookbook Printing Kearney, Nebraska, is best known as a stopping point for migrating sandhill cranes. Other than seasonal birdwatchers, the town doesn’t get too many other tourists. But some people make the pilgrimage to Kearney to visit a building with a red-and-white sign, offering a free cookbook to all comers. This is Morris Press, the United States’ largest community cookbook publisher. They’ve published cookbooks by soap opera stars, the Chicago Bulls, and even a collective of gay clowns in San Francisco. READ MORE → Wine-Lovers, Take Note Based on archaeological findings in modern-day Iraq, the Sumerians first came up with the written word around 3200 B.C. By that time, humans had already mastered another crucial skill: wine-making. But while the history of wine is truly ancient, some of the most exciting developments in wine-making are happening right now. Indigenous-owned vineyards are turning out exceptional wines, while maverick wine-makers are making wines with whey or aging them underwater, allowing oenophiles to dive for their drinks. Here are 17 places where connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike can explore the past and present of wine-making. EXPLORE NOW → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Underwater Happy Hour: Sharks Sharks! Our popular Underwater Happy Hour event returns as we explore the world of the New York Aquarium's Ocean Wonders: Sharks! exhibit. Expert hosts Stephanie Joseph and Ethan Angelica will dive into the vital role sharks play in our aquatic ecosystems, the diversity of sharks, and how their adaptations help them survive in habitats all over the world. LEARN MORE → PREDJAMA, SLOVENIA Predjama Castle Built directly into a rocky cliff face, Predjama Castle, or Predjamski grad in Slovenian, was considered virtually impenetrable when it was constructed in the 13th century. However, a few centuries later the structure’s fortifications were put to the test when a robber baron started a war with the Habsburgs. He was forced to hole up in the castle for over a year until he was killed by the Holy Roman Empire, while sitting on the toilet. READ MORE → ZELENIKOVO, BULGARIA MiG-21 Monument You could be forgiven in thinking that Zelenikovo, a small rural village with a population of less than 300, has little to offer to a tourist or passerby. But the small town in the heart of Bulgaria is home to a relic of the Soviet era: A preserved jet fighter Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 sits on a pedestal at the side of the main road that crosses town north-to-south, tucked between the small houses. READ MORE → THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST Nepali Folk Musical Instrument Museum Nepal’s more than 100 distinct ethnic groups have produced over 1,300 different designs of musical instruments, a fact that struck a chord with Ram Prasad Kadel who began collecting Nepali instruments in 1995. Tune in to this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast to learn more about his secluded museum, which is home to more than 600 different kinds of folk instruments. The museum beats the drum for the preservation of Nepal’s musical heritage, but it now faces an uncertain future. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN ‘Welcome to Cleveland’ Sign Look out the window as you’re descending into Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, and there it is: a big sign that says “Welcome to Cleveland.” You’d be forgiven for panicking that you’re going to the wrong city, but fret not, you’re indeed in Milwaukee. The sign was a result of one photographer’s boredom, and has inspired copycats abroad. READ MORE → BEDFORD, PENNSYLVANIA Bedford Springs Resort For centuries, Native Americans had been using the eight “medicine springs” in the area around what is now Bedford, Pennsylvania, for their healing properties. But in 1798, Dr. John Anderson purchased 2,200 acres, began advertising the mineral springs as having medicinal properties, and built a hotel in 1806. In 1819, Thomas Jefferson was the first of 12 U.S. presidents to stay at the resort, which would also be known as the “Summer White House” during James Buchanan’s presidency. READ MORE →