jonathancarey's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Grand Rapids, Michigan

'Handfuls of Small Stones'

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, a marker honors the creation story of a proud fictional culture.
Manchester, England

Out House

The remnants of a depressing public toilet are now a hub of ever evolving street art.
Ghent, Belgium

Gravensteen

This fairytale castle was built as a show of power but was nearly torn down thanks to its history of torture.
London, England

36 Blythe Road

Where Aleister Crowley attempted to seize the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in a mask and a kilt.
Foyers, Scotland

Boleskine House

A Scottish manor with a history of mysterious fires, magic, and eccentric tales
New York, New York

The Treasures in the Trash Collection

A New York garbage depot holds a secret collection of weird and wonderful refuse.
Washington, Wisconsin

Washington Island Stave Church

Vikings and Evangelicals have both had a hand in this replica medieval church.
Willen, England

Milton Keynes Peace Pagoda

The first peace pagoda to be constructed in the Western world sits next to a small English lake.
West Bank

Herodium

The remains of this ancient fortress atop a manmade hill look as though they were built into a volcano.
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Cheyenne Mountain Complex

The superstar of Cold War nuclear bunkers has been featured in countless films but is now barely operational.
Lincolnshire, Illinois

Par-King Skill Golf

This sprawling mini-golf empire is an impressive testament to a disappearing attraction.
Athlone, Ireland

Sean's Bar

The oldest pub in Ireland may also be the oldest surviving bar in the entire world.
Puerto Princesa, Philippines

Ursula Island

This tiny island protects a number of rare bird species by only allowing visitors to set foot on the beach.
Kyoto, Japan

Sagano Bamboo Forest

The sound of swaying stalks in this stunning grove has been named a governmentally recognized sound.
Morondava, Madagascar

Avenue of the Baobabs

The centuries-old trees lining both sides of this dirt road may become Madagascar's first natural monument.
Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Mezyad Fort

This mysterious abandoned fort looks like something pulled right from Arabian legend.
Liverpool, England

Church of St. Luke, Liverpool

Gutted during the Liverpool Blitz, this architectural husk has been left destroyed in honor of the dead.
Braddock, Pennsylvania

Carrie Furnaces

These disused steel furnaces are now haunting ruins that may one day be a national park.
Leicester, England

National Gas Museum

The world's largest collection of artifacts from our history of industrial gas use is hard to simply pass.
Sint Willibrordus, Curaçao

Williwood Sign

This tiny tropical village was sick of anonymity so the locals made this sign, which actually changed the name of the town.
Edinburgh, Scotland

George Mackenzie's Mausoleum

The tomb of one of Scotland's bloody historic villains is a magnet for bumbling desecrators.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Thorncrown Chapel

This futuristically sylvan church is a glass-enclosed marvel of modern architecture.
Whittier, Alaska

Whittier, Alaska

This small city where almost everyone lives in the same building can only be reached via North America's longest tunnel.
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Abandoned Virginia Renaissance Faire

The remains of a failed attempt at medieval nerdery are hidden deep in the woods of Virginia.