November 18, 2021

Secret Code What’s the secret to eternal life? Well, we could ask the 16th- and 17th-century alchemist and physician Arthur Dee, but first, we’d have to crack his devious cipher. Dee created a coded text hiding the alchemists’ recipe to the elixir of life—what those in the profession call the “Philosopher’s Stone.” It remained unsolvable for centuries—until this year, when a group of scholars banded together to pick apart the code’s secrets.  READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA The History of Persimmon Beer Made by fermenting Diospyros virginiana, the diminutive North American persimmon, with sugar, honey, and yeast, persimmon beer is more akin to fruit wine or liqueur than anything brewed with barley, malt, and hops. James Beard award-winning culinary historian Michael Twitty makes his family recipe for its sweet-tart flavor and striking amber hue imbued by red pine straw, but more than anything, he continues the tradition because of its deep ties to Black American history and its power to start conversations. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY LAND ROVER Youthful Visions Ah, the desert. It’s more than just endless swathes of sand, cacti, and space-like, hulking geological formations—the desert in Southern California contains hidden gems just waiting to be discovered, like majestic dinosaur sculptures or a lush desert oasis. Actor Leonardo Nam and his family hit the open road to discover what the desert has to offer on this road trip from Los Angeles to Palm Springs. WATCH NOW → OUTER HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND Scolpaig Tower While it might resemble something closer to a medieval castle, this tower actually dates to the end of the United Kingdom’s Georgian period in 1836. It is theorized that Dr. Alexander MacLeod conceived the folly as a way to provide employment to many members of the local population, whose livelihoods were affected by the potato blight. READ MORE → How Murals Saved Lyon For most of the 20th century, Lyon, France, was known as “la belle endormie,” or “the beautiful, sleeping woman.” Unfortunately, the city was known for having some of the worst pollution and congestion in the country, rather than for its aesthetic appeal. In 1982, a group of artists—now known as CitéCréation—banded together to turn Lyon and its suburbs into an open-air gallery of gorgeous murals. Forty years after that first mural, there are now more than 150 in the metropolis, each reflecting the history of its particular neighborhood. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Monster of the Month: Swamp Ape Join author Colin Dickey as he uncovers the mysteries of Florida's most famous resident. The strange Swamp Ape has lurked for years in a landscape already known for its fearsome and strange creatures. As the weather gets cold up north, let's head down to the Sunshine State and try to shed some light on this swampy denizen. GET TICKETS → LEEDS, ALABAMA Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum In Leeds, Alabama, there is a sprawling museum dedicated to cars and motorcycles. For the people interested in automotive history, this place is a dream come true. The museum contains the largest motorcycle collection in the United States, and also features a 16-turn, 2.38-mile road course, off-road courses, and a large variety of vehicles—some of which can’t be found anywhere else in the world. READ MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES ‘Esquire’ Controversies One of the weirder movements in modern American political action attempted to attack a title so vigorously that it would have essentially collapsed the entire history of the American government. The unsuccessful movement relied on the title “Esquire,” and hinged on a “missing” Thirteenth Amendment, called the Titles of Nobility Amendment. So what does lawyering have to do with it? READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Writing Historical Nonfiction Want to write a history of personal interest, but don't know where to begin? In this four-part online writing workshop, historical journalist Hadley Meares will equip you with the tools you’ll need to start researching and writing. You’ll learn how to begin your quest, conduct research, and shape your project. By the end of the course, you’ll be well on your way to writing a compelling piece of nonfiction. ENROLL NOW → LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Bellagio Patisserie Chocolate Fountain When the Bellagio’s chocolate fountain was unveiled, the casino’s president boasted that it was “nothing short of genius.” In a mesmerizing display, liquid chocolate (dark, medium, and white) drizzled down the 27-foot-tall ode to sweet treats, only to be pumped to the top and drizzle down again. It stands outside the casino’s patisserie, and was once the world’s largest chocolate fountain. READ MORE → LANDERS, CALIFORNIA Giant Rock Geologically speaking, Giant Rock—located in California’s Mojave Desert—is roughly seven stories high and covers almost 6,000 square feet. Some say it is the largest freestanding boulder in the world. While the rock has been a Native American spiritual site for thousands of years, its modern backstory begins in the 1930s, when a German immigrant and miner named Frank Critzer met a pilot named George Van Tassel. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Secret Gardens and Haunted Palaces From sprawling palaces to towering cathedrals, Andalusia’s most stunning architecture remains brilliantly haunted by the region’s many imperial lives. On this trip, we’ll explore the south of Spain through the waves of empires and kingdoms that once ruled it. Discover the royal past of the forgotten kingdoms of Sevilla, Córdoba, and Granada.