georgependle1's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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other capitals of the world

How Kurobe, Japan, Became the Zipper Capital of the World

Reverse engineering and the Cycle of Goodness™ helped make YKK a universal brand.
September 21, 2017
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holidays with a twist

Victorians' Christmas Parlor Games Will Leave You Burned, Bruised, And Puking

Do not try them at home.
December 22, 2016
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aviation

There's Only One Government Agency With Its Own Special Anthem

The 1980s-era ditty is strangely catchy.
November 15, 2016
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sweaters

How a Tiny New Zealand Town Became the Global Center of Sheep

It's all about innovation in sheep-shearing.
October 3, 2016
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longreads

Space Art Propelled Scientific Exploration of the Cosmos—But Its Star is Fading Fast

The huge, hidden cost to severing the bond between art and science.
September 20, 2016
Gastro Obscura
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other capitals of the world

The California Town That Produced 10 Million Eggs a Year

And then went on to become the Arm Wrestling Capital of the World.
July 25, 2016
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funeral art

Why Humans and Insects Keep Holding Funerals for Insects

We have surprisingly overlapping death traditions.
June 20, 2016
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other capitals of the world

The Invention that Tamed America, and the Town Obsessed with It

Western agriculture is hard to imagine without barbed wire.
May 23, 2016
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tree week

Over 3,000 Years of Humans Exaggerating Their Lineage on Family Trees

Charting genetic lines through branches gets aspirational pretty fast.
May 16, 2016
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modernism

The Strange Pocket of Modern Houses in Virginia that Were Considered Communist

At one time, a glass house was suspected of being a red house.
April 25, 2016
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other capitals of the world

This Iowa Town's Dirt Might Be More Valuable than Gold

Conrad, Iowa is the black dirt capital of the world.
April 18, 2016
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underwear

The 'Itchless' Innovation that Made Minneapolis the Capital of Underwear

Undergarments used to be made of wool.
March 7, 2016
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other capitals of the world

How a Small Town in Michigan Became the World's Gravel Capital

The intriguing story of Oxford and its pits.
February 8, 2016
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other capitals of the world

From Accordions to Zippers, a Map of 90 of the World's Most Surprising Capitals

January 28, 2016
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other capitals of the world

When Americans Embraced the Bob, This New England Town Had To Make Something Besides a Comb. Enter the Pink Flamingo

January 4, 2016
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wales

How 'Jones' Became One of World's Most Common Last Names

November 30, 2015
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other capitals of the world

The Quixotic Quest to Find the Fairytale Capital of the World

November 9, 2015
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other capitals of the world

How Green Bay, Wisconsin Became the Toilet Paper Capital of the World

October 12, 2015
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other capitals of the world

How a Traditional Punishment Ritual Made a Desert Town the Stabbing Capital of the World

September 14, 2015
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other capitals of the world

How the Jeans Capital of the World Moved from Texas to China

August 10, 2015
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other capitals of the world

Strong, ME: The Rise and Fall of the Toothpick Capital Of The World

July 27, 2015
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Exile off Main Street: 8 Historical Options for Deposed Rulers

July 15, 2015
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other capitals of the world

Dalton, GA: How a Bedspread Fiefdom Became A Carpet Kingdom

July 7, 2015