May 05, 2022

GASTRO OBSCURA  Eat Like a King  Judging by the typical show at Medieval Times or a Renaissance Fair, one might think that knights and kings during the Middle Ages dined exclusively on large hunks of animal flesh. A new study presents compelling evidence, however, that before the Vikings swept through Europe, most people ate very little meat at all. Historians and bioarchaeologists are now looking to try and figure out what exactly an early Medieval king’s diet looked like.  READ MORE → TALK ABOUT MONEY-FACED Should You Put Your Face On U.S. Currency? Probably not. And yet, in 1866, a U.S. Treasury official did it anyway. From 1862 to 1876, the U.S. Treasury issued fractional money to combat a growing coin shortage, introducing paper money to represent a cent amount rather than a dollar amount. Congress specified that the new bill should honor “Clark,” but they never specified that they meant William Clark, of Lewis and Clark. So in response, Spencer M. Clark, then Superintendent of the National Currency Bureau, made a daring decision: to print his own face on U.S. currency. Seize the moment, right? READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES The Art of Death Death is taboo, private, mysterious. In this five-part seminar, we’ll explore notions of death and dying around the world, drawing from biology, history, and beyond. We’ll learn about unusual practices in rituals surrounding dying, death, and mourning, and draw upon materials and experts in all kinds of death-related fields, from death doulas and morticians to scientists. ENROLL TODAY → PATERSON, NEW JERSEY Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Settled in the midst of an industrial city is a magnificent natural treasure: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. The namesake waterfall is a 77-foot-tall raging cascade on the Passaic River, and a wonderful oasis among the Paterson cityscape. The industrial value of this fall was recognized by Alexander Hamilton, who saw its potential for water power as being an American answer to the British industrial revolution. READ MORE → CRACK THE CODE 7 Perplexing Puzzles Puzzles have always fascinated us. They’ve been used to encrypt top-secret military secrets and to frustrate us with our lack of knowledge around five-letter words. (Looking at you, Wordle.) To mark the launch of Atlas Obscura’s new AO Puzzles initiative, we went hunting through our archives to reveal some of our favorite stories about history’s greatest codes. READ MORE → LEARN MORE ABOUT AO PUZZLES HERE → THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST Upton Chamber In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit an underground chamber in Upton, Massachusetts, that’s puzzled some New Englanders—while others long knew its ancient origins. MOVE OVER, FIDGET SPINNERS China’s Puzzle Balls In 1388, the Ming scholar Cao Zhao published Gegu yaolun, an instrumental guide to collecting and assessing Chinese antiques. His writings include a description of a peculiar object: guǐ gōng qiú (鬼工球), or “devil’s work ball.” That name might bring to mind something insidious, but Cao was referring to beautiful, hand-carved ivory orbs that nest inside each other, such that the inner ones are free-floating. But the origins of puzzle balls further add to their complexity: While undeniably beautiful to behold, they are tragic reminders of the desires that drive the illegal wildlife trade. READ MORE → AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS Graves of David and Mabel Todd In Wildwood Cemetery, a pair of graves mark the final resting places of Mabel and David Todd. David Peck Todd was an astronomy instructor and observatory director in the late 1800s, who along with his wife, made several trips around the world to observe solar phenomena, especially solar eclipses. His wife, Mabel Loomis Todd, wrote extensively about the cultures the two of them encountered during their astronomical expeditions, and became a successful author and reporter who helped edit and publish Emily Dickinson’s work. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Track Wolves in the Forests of Sweden Deep in Sweden's boreal forests, the haunting howl of the European grey wolf can be heard at night, echoing through the towering pines and curtains of moss. Join us on a six-day adventure where you'll have the chance to accompany experienced wildlife guides as they track the grey wolf and witness its otherworldly call. In partnership with Tastemade. VIEW TRIP → A DRAIN ON RESOURCES Can You Merge Africa and Europe? In the early 20th century, there was a plan afoot to drain the Mediterranean. Yes, the Mediterranean. The plan was the brainchild of German architect Herman Sörgel, who devoted his whole life to promote his grand scheme to drain the Mediterranean and unite Europe and Africa into one super continent. This project was named Atlantropa, and its proposed benefits included providing enormous amounts of hydroelectric energy, supplying Europe with its electricity. READ MORE → THURSTASTON, ENGLAND Thor's Rock Hidden within the woodland of Thurstaston Common is a mysterious red sandstone landmark known as Thor’s Rock. Many colorful legends surround its origins; some state that Thor struck it with his hammer, while others say that Thor’s Rock was a place of Viking worship. The stone is most likely a natural formation called a tor, formed as a result of quarrying and the natural weathering of the immediate area. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY LOUISIANA TRAVEL Dew Drop Jazz and Social Hall The spirits of jazz greats and a history of community reverberate through this lively jazz social hall—the oldest in America. Established in 1895, the Dew Drop Benevolent Society offered social services to otherwise unserved Black community members. The Dew Drop has since been restored into a musical haven, proudly hosting some of the best jazz musicians you’ve never heard of. The Dew Drop’s recently-announced Spring concert lineup of twice-monthly shows underscores that this historic music venue isn’t piping down any time soon. LEARN MORE →