April 04, 2023

CRAFTSMANSHIP  The Artisans Building Root Bridges  For the Khasi tribe in India, the concept of a tree bridge is far more than just a foundational legend. For hundreds of years, these people have been growing living root bridges: interwoven aerial roots that offer safe passage during the seasons when this area experiences the heaviest rainfall in the world. These bridges grow stronger each year for as long as the tree is alive; some bridges are estimated to be more than 500 years old and can hold up to 50 people.  READ MORE →   UNUSUAL MAPS Minnesota’s “Lost Forty” Walk among the giant pillars of this green cathedral, located in Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota, and marvel at the red and white pines of the “Lost Forty”. These trees make up the largest single surviving patch of old-growth forest in the state and a fair stretch beyond. And it’s all thanks to a surveying error. READ MORE →   WASHINGTON, D.C. George Washington University's River Horse On George Washington University’s campus stands a statue honoring their unofficial mascot, the river horse. It all started in 1996, when Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, the college’s then-president, got drunk and purchased a statue of a hippo at a flea market. His wife refused it as a gift and told him to get rid of it. In turn, he gifted the statue to the graduating class of 2000. READ MORE →   SPONSORED BY STARBUCKS The Surprising Pairing of Olive Oil and Coffee What happens when you combine coffee and olive oil? It turns out a lot of variables go into blending the two ingredients together – it’s not as simple as dropping a spoonful of olive oil into a drink. Gastro Obscura’s Rachel Rummel made a trip to the Starbucks Support Center and Tryer Lab to investigate and try the Oleato™ beverages herself. WATCH NOW →   ATLAS OBSCURA PUZZLES That’s the Spirit! What’s a five-letter word for a witch’s hex? Or a fifteen-letter word for another name for Biska, a Croatian liquor? If you think you know your spirits (supernatural and beverage), then our newest crossword is just for you. Try your hand at it now. PLAY NOW →   EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS Silly Walks Tunnel This pedestrian underpass near the Eindhoven Central Train Station in the Netherlands is perfect for walking through—silly walking, that is. The tunnel walls are lined with images of the Minister of Silly Walks himself, a sight sure to delight any diehard Monty Python fan as the tunnel is a tribute to John Cleese, the star character in the “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch. READ MORE →   THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST Museum of Clean Cleaning can be a bit of a chore. We get it. But the history of cleaning—and the products we use to get there—is long and winding. Enter the Museum of Clean, dedicated to identifying how the concept of ‘clean’ is one that dominates every aspect of human life.    HISTORICAL FIGURES The Miseducation of John Muir If you can measure America’s regard for someone by how many things get named in their honor, John Muir may be one of the country’s greatest heroes. He has been called “The Father of our National Parks," a "Wilderness Prophet,” and if you visit a National Park this summer you may indeed have Muir to thank. But do we really know this man? READ MORE →   VESTMANNAEYJAR, ICELAND Elliðaey Island Lodge Surrounded by treacherous cliffs, this white building sits on an isolated island off Iceland’s rural southern coast. By 2012, it was widely misbelieved that the island was the home of Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk. The actual history of the island is somewhat murky, but we know that this small hut is used for storage and as a workshop. (Sadly, still not a workshop for Björk.) READ MORE →   ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Recording Oral History At its core, oral history is about listening and connecting through a person’s lived experience, offering us a chance to slow down, listen, and spend time in deep conversation together. In this four-week workshop led by oral historian Meral Agish, we’ll examine the key elements of oral history interviewing, including listening deeply and asking follow-up questions that invite your interviewee to share their story with you. ENROLL NOW →