jonathancarey's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Turner, Oregon

Enchanted Forest

This charmingly homemade amusement park has been growing for 40 years.
London, England

The Burlington Arcade Beadles

This luxury shopping lane has been protected by its own tiny police force for over a century.
Portland, Oregon

Paul Bunyan Statue

This stoic, if derpy, giant stands as a monument to Oregon's statehood and the novelty culture of yesteryear.
Rawtenstall, England

Mr Fitzpatrick's Temperance Bar

The last of the 19th-century booze-free bars has been slinging teetotal tonics for over a century.
London, England

The Embassy of the Republic of Texas

An alleyway plaque is all that remains of the independent Texas' envoy that forgot to pay their rent for over a century.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Wales

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

This Welsh village gave itself a ridiculous name in a publicity stunt a century ahead of its time.
Madrid, Spain

Palacio de Cristal

Madrid's romantically ornate crystal palace has been offering shelter to plants and art for over a century.
Barcelona, Spain

Labyrinth Park of Horta

This semi-secret storybook hedge maze is also the oldest garden in the city.
Genga, Italy

Temple of Valadier

This domed temple was built in a hidden cave mouth as a refuge for sinners seeking absolution.
Bellvei, Spain

Mas de la Muga

Hidden well off the beaten path in Catalonia is this crumbling medieval castle that is slowly being covered in graffiti.
Santa Monica, California

Chain Reaction

In one Santa Monica parking lot a mushroom cloud made of chains heralds a message of peace.
Palo Alto, California

The Donkeys of Barron Park

The world's most famous donkey lives in this pen.
Trakošćan, Croatia

Trakošćan Castle

This Croatian fairytale castle is slowly falling apart thanks to years of neglect.
Bruges, Belgium

The Procession of the Holy Blood

This gruesome biblical parade celebrates the one day a year that a bit of Jesus' blood turns to liquid.
Valladolid, Mexico

Cenote Zací

If you can look past the nearby sewer pipes, this urban sinkhole grotto is a mini-paradise.
Durham, North Carolina

Duke Lemur Center

This research center for rare prosimians is studying how they sleep to help prolong human life.
Shanghai, China

Shanghai Natural History Museum

This ratty natural history collection is a charming relic among a city rushing into modernity.
Fountain City, Wisconsin

The Rock in the House

This punny mirror of another Wisconsin attraction is exactly what it sounds like.
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Lotus Lake Taoist Complex

This collection of lakeside pagodas and temples are flanked by giant lions, tigers, and dragons as well as their welcoming maws.
Baltimore, Maryland

George Peabody Library

It's not hard to see why the historic Peabody Conservatory of Music's library has been described as a "cathedral of books."
Joliet, Illinois

Joliet Iron and Steel Works (Joliet Iron Works Park)

What was once the second largest steel mill in the US is now a sprawling complex of modern ruins.
England

London Array

The largest offshore wind farm in the world would be even bigger if it weren't for some pesky birds.
Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn Kiek in de Kök

This medieval Estonian tower provides access to a series of tunnels that have been home to soldiers, punks, and fine art.
Gays, Illinois

Two-Story Outhouse

This historic lavatory leftover features two levels of defecation stations completely without context.