bwayplatypus's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary

Hidden behind West Philadelphia rowhomes is a haven for migratory and local bird species both ordinary and rare.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Sparks Shot Tower

One of the oldest of its kind.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

First Bank of the United States

Alexander Hamilton’s creation caused quite a bit of controversy.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

SS United States

Current docking place of the SS United States, the fastest transatlantic ocean liner.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Foucault Pendulum at the Franklin Institute

A daily replay of the experiment that proved the rotation of the Earth.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The 'Dowager Empress' Crystal Ball

The world's third-largest crystal sphere has sat in the Penn Museum since 1927 with the exception of one outlandish theft.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Swann Memorial Fountain

A tour de force of a fountain, memorializing a man who loved fountains more than anything else.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wanamaker Grand Court Organ

The sounds of the world's largest fully functioning pipe organ dazzle shoppers at a Philadelphia Macy's.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Shane Confectionery

Step into a pastel time capsule where candy is truly dandy.
Olympia, Washington

Olympia Artesian Well Commons

Local stories say that if you drink from this well, you will return to Olympia.
Tacoma, Washington

Buffalo Soldiers Museum

Sharing the often-overlooked story of America's Black soldiers.
Ridgefield, Washington

Ridgefield's Heritage Sequoia

The largest non-native tree in Washington
Vashon, Washington

Oscar the Bird King

Thomas Dambo's troll sculpture wears a crown with birdhouses on his head.
Bellingham, Washington

Whatcom Museum

Like your grandma's attic—if your grandma were a little weirder, extremely well-traveled, and had a great eye for art.
Port Townsend, Washington

Manresa Castle

A historic hotel with many stories of haunted activity.
Mazama, Washington

Mazama Queen Mine

The crumbling remains of a gold mine that was operational in the 1930s.
Gold Bar, Washington

Espresso Chalet

A 14-foot-tall Bigfoot statue stands guard over this café and filming location.
Seattle, Washington

Tashkent Park

This park celebrates a sister city relationship that survived the Cold War.
Bainbridge Island, Washington

Pia the Peacekeeper

This 18-foot-tall public art installation is another of sculptor Thomas Dambo's trolls.
Twisp, Washington

Alder Mine

Gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc were once extracted at this abandoned mine near Lookout Mountain.
Colfax, Washington

The Codger Pole

A town's monument to a touch-football victory 50 years in the making.
Tacoma, Washington

Dune Peninsula

A massive environmental project transformed this former smelter into a beautiful park.
Spokane, Washington

Dodd House

The former home of the "Mother of Father's Day."
Forks, Washington

Kalaloch Big Cedar

This tree has witnessed nearly 1,000 years of history.