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Mexico's Vampire Witch Has a Twisted Origin Story
The terrifying teyollohcuani is a shape-shifter of ancient indigenous lore, dark colonial history, and pop culture. Perched in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, a day's drive northeast of Mexico City,...
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The Unique Gullah Geechee History of South Carolina
And where to experience Gullah culture across the Lowcountry today. While you may not have visited the Gullah Geechee of South Carolina, you’ve surely experienced them. If you’ve ever eaten gumbo, sang...
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A Cemetery's Immortal Residents and the Scientist Who Studies Them
Lichens growing on gravestones appear immune to aging. What does their life cycle teach us about death? “Cemeteries are full of life,” says biologist Anne Pringle as she walks through the Forest Hill...
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7 Stories of Ghosts in Weird Places
From a Norwegian grocery store to a town hall in Spain, hauntings can happen where we least expect them. In countless tales of terror and other stories we tell to scare ourselves, ghosts usually haunt...
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How a Newspaper Revolution Led to the 'Wide Awakes'—and the Civil War
In the mid-1800s, a boom in media outlets created a massive political movement—and plenty of disinformation. This story was originally published on The Conversation. It appears here under a Creative...
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The Startling History of the Jump Scare
From 1942's Cat People to cerebral jolts in Hereditary and Get Out, this cinematic scare tactic still shocks. One of the most iconic moments in Brian De Palma’s 1976 movie Carrie comes right before the...
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'Diwalloween' Means Lights, Sweets, and Spooky Treats
How do you celebrate two feasts in one? This article is adapted from the October 26, 2024, edition of Gastro Obscura’s Favorite Things newsletter. You can sign up here. Throughout my 20s, I hosted an...
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Get Inspired by History’s Most Scandalous and Stunning Costumes
For centuries, people have used fancy dress to impress. Have you picked your Halloween costume yet? There’s still time, especially if you’re willing to brave the crowded, rubber mask–scented aisles of...
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The Science of Fighting Our Nightmares
Researchers around the world are working on ways to regain control of our minds during sleep and battle the monsters that torment us. In Japan’s stormy summer of 1983, Ikuo Ishiyama couldn’t stop...
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This Map Shows a Fictional Country Created by a Con Man
In the 19th century, Scottish scammer Gregor MacGregor made a fortune selling land in Poyais. A little over a year ago, Daniel Crouch, one of the foremost dealers of rare books, maps, and atlases in...
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7 Candidates for Your Election Day Menu
Election season means fundraiser foods, satirical sweets, and campaign trail cuisine. All food is political–but some foods are more political than others. Not only can a dish serve as a symbol of...
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7 Presidential Stories They Don't Teach in History Class
Learn the secrets of the Oval Office desks, who got stuck in an elevator, and why we give presidents their own libraries. As we prepare for the election of the next president of the United States, here...
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The Tallest of the Great Smoky Mountains Is—Officially—Kuwohi
The return of the indigenous name of Tennessee's highest point has meaning beyond what's on a map. This story was originally published on The Conversation. It appears here under a Creative Commons...
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Make 'Travel Cake' for Your Next Journey
There's a whole world of creative ways to take food on the road. This article is adapted from the November 2, 2024, edition of Gastro Obscura’s Favorite Things newsletter. You can sign up here. It pays...
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In Denmark, an Ancient Army Met a Mysterious End in a Lake
Archaeologists have found the remains of hundreds of Iron Age fighters at Alken Enge—but they didn't die there. In 1944, at the height of World War I, ditchdiggers working in a field known as Alken...
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Why Did the Spider Cross the Road?
In Colorado, tap-dancing male tarantulas risk everything for love—including becoming lunch. Parched earth crunches under our boots as we walk across the eastern Colorado plains. It’s a late September...
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This Book Contains a Century of Historical Sandwiches
In 'Sandwiches of History,' Barry Enderwick dives into good, bad, and bizarre combinations. Since 2021, Barry Enderwick has charmed the Internet with his unfiltered reviews of “olden tymee” sandwiches....
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5 Stories for Native American Heritage Month
Celebrating Indigenous artists, chefs, and conservationists this November and all year long. Atlas Obscura is ringing in Native American Heritage Month with stories from across the country, from...
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