Podcast Episodes

The Last Chinese Town in America

In 1915, a devastating fire destroyed the Chinatown in Walnut Grove, California. In its aftermath, a group of Chinese immigrant residents founded the town of Locke – not just another Chinatown, but a…

Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago

Rites of Passage (Classic)

The Atlas Places Team bring two stories - one from the campus of Gallaudet University and the other from Cornell University to tell us about usual traditions that take place in these universities.

Ho…

Published on 4 weeks ago

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame (Classic)

A basketball fan goes to the hall of fame – and no, it’s not the big one in Massachusetts that you may be thinking about. Hear the story behind a Midwest state’s special link to the sport.

READ MORE I…

Published on 1 month ago

Local Legends Corner with Colin Dickey: Tommyknockers

Deep in the Phoenix Gold Mine in Idaho Springs, Colorado, a strange noise inspires a legend.

Every Thursday this month, writer Colin Dickey joins us to talk about the cultural history behind some of o…

Published on 1 month ago

Famous Last Words

Today, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk is viewed as the founder of the modern Czech state – a George Washington-like figure. When he died in the 1930s, his final words were sealed in an envelope…which then pa…

Published on 1 month ago

The Zither King of Missouri

We learn how a small town in Missouri became a world capital for a unique instrument – and how one man would go from being a down-on-his-luck furniture builder, to being known as the “zither king of …

Published on 1 month ago

Atlas Obscura Goes Off Assignment: To the Bear We Didn't Find

A girl and her father take a walk in the woods. This essay was written by Emily Lowe and edited by Tusshara Nalakumar Srilatha, and originally appeared in Off Assignment.

Plus: Off Assignment is offer…

Published on 1 month ago

Aurora Alien Gravesite (Classic)

A small town in Texas has embraced the story of the visit and demise of an otherworldly being from the 1800s… and what many say is America’s only alien gravesite. 

READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

They Had Submarines During the Civil War?

Probably when you think of submarine warfare, WWI or WWII comes to mind. Not… the American Civil War. But oh, they had them back then! Or rather, they had one back then, and it worked exactly one tim…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

Thomas Paine’s Bones

“Founding Fathers” like Washington or Jefferson have gigantic monuments in Washington, statues galore and palatial house-museums. But what about…Thomas Paine? The author of “Common Sense,” the pamphl…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago