The Best of Obscura Day 2017

Saturday, May 6, was Obscura Day, our annual celebration of wonder and discovery. At over 175 events in 36 states and 25 countries around the world, thousands of Atlas Obscura readers set out to explore awe-inspiring places in their own communities, while countless more created unique Obscura Day experiences by choosing their own destinations from the Atlas. To everyone who participated—thank you! We had a blast, and we hope you did too.

We’ve pulled together some of our favorite #ObscuraDay moments below—and these are just small portion of the adventures that took place across the globe.

Tokyo

Reviewing my notes & enjoying a beer at Yanaka Beer Hall while I wait for the sun to go down for my nighttime Yanaka tour! #ObscuraDay pic.twitter.com/4uXUVHAL1m

— Young Davey (@SecondUtensil) May 6, 2017

Bulgaria

Horses in the fog at Buzludzha yesterday. #ObscuraDay

A post shared by Stephanie Craig (@historyfangirl) on May 7, 2017 at 10:40am PDT

Germany

We learned this can happen when the taxidermist has never seen the species being stuffed #ObscuraDay #zoologischestaatssammlung #spixmonkey pic.twitter.com/ASkAShnkUm

— Parus Radious (@ParusRadious) May 6, 2017

Sometimes, I’m not in the #gym or even in #kreuzberg 🕵🏾 #teufelsberg #spy #tower #coldwar #listeningstation #spycraft #graffiti #grunewald #forest #berlin #berlinstagram #instaberlin #hellopotsdam #potsdam #vista #views #history #atlasobscura #obscuraday

A post shared by Jason (@jasonklein82) on May 7, 2017 at 4:48am PDT

France

Derelict building in the Jardin d’Agronomie Tropicale #obscuraday #iledefrance #nogentsurmarne #jardintropical #park #boisdevincennes #urbanexploration #parsjetaime

A post shared by Fanni S (@parisiantreasures) on May 6, 2017 at 9:34am PDT

Massachusetts

private tour of edward gorey’s barn. thanks @atlasobscura 🖤🖤🖤 #obscuraday2017 #obscuraday

A post shared by girl jo (@octavekitten) on May 6, 2017 at 11:59am PDT

New York

Getting an incredible behind-the-scenes tour of the @UPTheatre_NYC for #ObscuraDay! pic.twitter.com/4SYeMIjAD7

— Abi Inman (@AbiInman) May 6, 2017

Watching a neon light get made at Lite Brite Neon Studio #ObscuraDay pic.twitter.com/ppGmt6juCO

— Jᴏsʜ Mᴀᴅɪsᴏɴ (@nosidam) May 7, 2017

Kansas City

Obscura Day was awesome!!! Party in a tunnel was the perfect way to end the night! #obscuraday #obscuradaykc #obscuraday2017 #kcobscurasociety #highwestus #tunnel #subterranean #kc #kcmo #kansascity

A post shared by Benjamin Jones (@letterpress_mechanic) on May 7, 2017 at 8:30am PDT

Washington, D.C.

Charmed by a building Jack Kemp once called “10 floors of basement.” #obscuraday @atlasobscura @brutalistdc • • • • • #brutalism #igdc #acreativedc #bythings #washmagphoto #iphoneography #iphoneonly #citybestpics #thecreative #shotaward #seemycity #citylimitless #guardiancities #fatalframes #ic_thecity #urbanromantix #washingtondc #exposeddc #mydccool #streetmeetdc #beautifulbuildings #ic_architecture #icu_architecture #jj_architecture #creative_architecture #arkiromantix #tv_architectural #lookingup_architecture

A post shared by Evan O (@daysofevan) on May 6, 2017 at 1:57pm PDT

Philadelphia

Taxidermy takeover at the #wagnerfreeinstitute today for #atlasobscura #taxidermy #diaphonization #anatomy #obscuraday2017 #atlasobscuraphilly

A post shared by @rossofiorintino on May 6, 2017 at 11:52am PDT

Toronto

One of over 185 of #Toronto’s painted traffic signal boxes. #ObscuraDay #GooderhamBuilding #StreetArt

A post shared by Ryan Thomas (@ryantylerthomas) on May 7, 2017 at 8:58am PDT

Orlando

Fresh haiku poems Jack Kerouac slept here Orange blossom grove #obscuraday

A post shared by Jenn Morley (@juniper_blues) on May 6, 2017 at 6:46pm PDT

Georgia

It’s finally @atlasobscura Day! We are eagerly awaiting our Obscura guests! #obscuraday #columbusstateuniversity #kohlerfoundation #visionaryart #art #pasaquan #steom

A post shared by Friendsofpasaquan (@friendsofpasaquan) on May 6, 2017 at 8:31am PDT

Missouri

Get out and explore. #ObscuraDay pic.twitter.com/wawNiqRgi7

— Jennifer Raff (@JenniferRaff) May 6, 2017

Manitoba

Observed #obscuraday at Narcisse, where you can see more snakes at a glance than anywhere else in the world. https://t.co/iItI6i06Gm pic.twitter.com/m9g4Ozk6fg

— T. Fraser-Wood (@anacreon100) May 7, 2017

Texas

Forgot to post this yesterday. “Possibly the oldest of America’s big, civic peanuts.” And that’s how we celebrated #ObscuraDay pic.twitter.com/E6sG3HyGF3

— TheBloggess (@TheBloggess) May 7, 2017

Lufkin’s “Locked With Love” Tree. #LufkinTX #historicdowntown #cottonsquarepark #lovelocks #lovelock #heartshapedlock #ObscuraDay

A post shared by Adrianne & Chris, Team Oh-Deeh (@houstonauts) on May 6, 2017 at 10:18pm PDT

Virginia

Before heading home I decided to visit the ugliest building in the world for the first time. #obscuraday2017 #obscuraday

A post shared by Michael Tice (@michaelbtice) on May 6, 2017 at 4:59pm PDT

Minnesota

#obscuraday #houseofballs

A post shared by @celeste.strange on May 6, 2017 at 6:00pm PDT

California

LA #bucketlist !! Thanks @atlasobscura for getting us behind the scenes of the longest-running puppet theater in the US! #obscuraday #saturdaynight #losangeles #california #yourethepuppet

A post shared by Erika Nortemann (@liveloveconserve) on May 6, 2017 at 8:08pm PDT

Echo Park Funhouse #obscuraday

A post shared by Monika Scott (@mightymonika) on May 6, 2017 at 10:30pm PDT

Utah

Thompson Springs/Sego Cemetery. Deathstination in the desert. ⚰️ #ghosttown #cemetery #deathstination #obscuraday #atlasobscura

A post shared by Karen Tronier (@karen_tronier) on May 7, 2017 at 11:26am PDT