February 16, 2023

LITTLE KNOWN HISTORY  WWII’S All-Black, All-Female Battalion  The Army had a mail problem during World War II. In 1945, more than 3.3 billion pieces of mail went through the military postal service, but with a shortage of qualified postal workers, the mail hit a massive backlog—and with it came a downturn in morale. Enter the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female battalion to serve overseas during World War II. They were originally expected to sort through 7 million pieces of mail and packages in Birmingham, England, over the course of six months. They did the job in three.  READ MORE →   VICTORIAN-ERA HISTORY Celebrating Victorian “Crushes” In the Victorian era, Valentine’s Day was an annual ritual celebrating women’s relationships. Every year at institutions like the women’s-only Vassar College, women crafted for their “crushes” elaborate valentines, floral tributes, and original verses. Such practices highlighted Victorian Americans’ positive attitudes toward female friendship and the widespread acceptance of same-sex relationships. But in the early twentieth century, responding to new fears about lesbianism, college authorities launched a concerted campaign to “crush the crush.” READ MORE →   MOSES LAKE, WASHINGTON Spaceburgers Every August, the Grant County Fair returns to Moses Lake, Washington. With it comes the fair’s most well-known food: Spaceburgers. Two slices of white bread go in a special sandwich-making machine that seals inside a mixture of seasoned ground beef, sauce, and shredded lettuce. At a blistering 400°F degrees, the machine toasts the bread in a mere 30 to 40 seconds while also crimping shut the sandwich edges and cutting off the crusts, making flying saucer-shaped burgers. READ MORE →   SIGNATURE VEGETABLES Saving Collard Greens In the American South, people have fond memories of a pot of collard greens simmering on the stove for hours, seasoned with a ham hock and stirred by a parent or grandparent. Collards are a hearty green known for their robust, slightly bitter taste and the rich, nutritious “pot liquor” they produce when cooked. Few in the South, however, know that there’s more than one kind of collard green, and that these dozens of different varieties are now on the verge of disappearing forever. That’s where the Heirloom Collard Project comes in. READ MORE →   ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES School of Rocks Have you ever picked up a rock, and immediately felt inspired to pick up more rocks? If so, you’re likely well on your way to becoming a collector. In this course, join Yinan Wang in exploring the minerals, fossils, and meteorites that surround you, and the collecting cultures that accompany them. By the end of our time together, you’ll have not only a rock-solid understanding of the minerals, fossils, and meteorites around you, but also a richer appreciation of the larger natural world. ENROLL NOW→   ALAMO, NEVADA The Black Mailbox On a deserted stretch of road known as the “Extraterrestrial Highway” between Alamo and Rachel, Nevada, there is a lone mailbox with the names of two recipients. A larger box is labeled with the unassuming name of “Steve Medlin”; a smaller box is simply marked “Alien.” The box has been a popular meeting spot for the extraterrestrial-obsessed, with some camping near it for days in the hopes of spotting alien life. READ MORE →   FORBIDDEN LOVE Places for Clandestine Romance Since time immemorial, lovers have been skulking off to shady motels and secret apartments, secluded pirate coves and dense forest groves. Here are 12 spots with a lingering whiff of taboo about them; whether you’re hoping to whisk your beloved off to a cinematic beach or stroll the abandoned grounds of a seedy, mostly demolished love hotel, here are places to scratch the itch. READ MORE →   NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA Wooden Quilt Doors Pedestrians in New Orleans’ Tremé neighborhood might notice a collection of beautiful, patchwork wooden doors. Known as “wooden quilts,” the colorful interwoven entryways showcase the incredible craftsmanship and history of folk artist Jean-Marcel St. Jacques. The materials used in his “wooden quilt” doors were salvaged from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the damage to his home. READ MORE →   GASTRO OBSCURA TRIPS A Mexico City Culinary Adventure On this culinary adventure in and around Mexico City, immerse yourself in the complex cultural identity of a metropolis where pre-Hispanic, colonial, and contemporary influences collide. From enjoying tacos al pastor while taking in a hidden Diego Rivera mural to learning more about heady Aztec brews, our focus throughout will be food and the people who make it. BOOK NOW →