Ella Morton's User Profile - Atlas Obscura

Ella Morton

Ella was Atlas Obscura's Senior Editor and co-wrote the Atlas Obscura book. Now she's doing other stuff but remains a proud AO alumna.

http://twitter.com/ellamorton

2011
joined atlas
obscura

countries
I've visited

places
I've been

places
I want to go

places
published

foods
I've tried

the exit interview

Exit Interview: I Played With LEGO for a Living

A former LEGO master model builder talks about taking toys seriously.

September 6, 2016

One of the 100 Desks in the U.S. Senate Chamber Is Full of Candy

A certain Republican has a sweet secret.

August 30, 2016

Joining the Caterpillar Club Is as Easy as Escaping a Fiery Plane

A golden bug worn on the lapel could indicate a life of adventure.

August 23, 2016

How to Tell an Australian From a New Zealander

Bloody hell, mate, don't get it wrong.

The Strange Affliction of 'Library Anxiety' and What Librarians Do to Help

It's a real phenomenon, and Ivy League librarians are fighting it.

The Alarming Aesthetics of Jazz Age Perm Machines

Mix dangling wires and asbestos to achieve the perfect flapper wave.

How a 4-Year-Old's Letter to His Father Survived the Civil War

Scribbles from home, kept safe on the battlefield.

What It's Like to Be an Underwater Crime Scene Investigator

Welcome to CSI: Lakes, Rivers, and Oceans.

The Less-Than-Effective Shark Nets Protecting Australia's Beaches

Can a strip of mesh really keep great whites away?

Why Smart Clowns Immortalize Their Make-up Designs on Ceramic Eggs

A unique, egg-based system protects clowns' intellectual property rights.

Why Women Led Anti-Suffrage Campaigns Against Themselves

Why deprive oneself of the right to vote? It's complicated.

Happy Birthday to the World's First Emergency Number

London's '999' turned 79 this week.

How Man-Midwives Armed With Rusty Forceps Shook Up Obstetrics

Men in the delivery room were not well received.

Some of History's Most Beautiful Combs Were Made for Lice Removal

Delousing can be delightful.

The Secret Messages Hiding Inside 17th Century Engagement Rings

They make the modern diamond ring look rather boring.

The Story of Sam Patch, America's First Professional Waterfall Jumper

Patch had a fondness for plunging into the abyss—in front of a paying audience.

Letter-Writing Manuals Were the Self-Help Books of the 18th Century

Need to kindly but firmly chastise your son for buying a horse? Read the manual.

objects of intrigue

In the 16th Century, the Best Office Decor was a Tiny Rotting Corpse

Miniature memento moris were all the rage for around 300 years.

What the Most Alluring Women of 17th-Century England Looked Like

Beauty was an asset, a weapon, and a curse for the ladies of the Restoration court.

Read the Tree Leaves, With an Artist's Invented Tree Font

The plants are speaking. Time to read what they have to say.

How England's First Feline Show Countered Victorian Snobbery About Cats

The 1871 cat show ushered in a new era of appreciation for the furry rat-catchers.

The World's Most Romantic Socks Are Knitted on an Active Volcano

For a unique gift, order a pair from the island of Tristan da Cunha.

The Subtle Design Features That Make Cities Feel More Hostile

Think your city doesn’t like you? You’re right.

A Mother's Day Gift Idea from Imperial Russia

It starts with a hand-painted enamel egg.