Remembering when an Iowa town was the pearl-button capital of the world

A tiny plant comeback, bus station library, and St. Martin's Kirk. Email not displaying correctly? View in your browser. September 13, 2019 Pearl-Button Capital The Mississippi River town of Muscatine, Iowa, was once the pearl-button capital of the world. Using clam shells plucked from the river banks, local factories produced one-third of the world's pearl button supply for decades, but by the 1950s, they were no match for their plastic counterparts. Read More → We’re Expanding! We’re tremendously excited to announce a new partnership with Airbnb that is going to help us make our dream of offering experiences all over the world a reality. Our vision is that wherever you live, and wherever you’re traveling, you’ll be able to join like-minded people to share wonderful, unusual, and unique Atlas Obscura experiences. Learn more → Tiny Plant Comeback The running buffalo clover used to sprawl across eight states, from West Virginia to Arkansas. But once bison started to disappear in the area, so did the clover. Now, after decades of conservation, the tiny plant may be removed from the endangered species list. Read more → Bus Station Library The library of the Yung Yidish non-profit in Tel Aviv’s Central Bus Station is dedicated to preserving Yiddish language and culture through poetry readings, music shows, and courses, and by collecting magazines, records, and letters. Read more → Atlas Obscura Trips Sardinia’s Hidden Coastlines Join us next summer as we spend a week sailing the crystalline waters of Sardinia. We’ll trace the story of these coastlines through abandoned lighthouses, Roman ruins, sunken ships, and ancient cairns, all while enjoying a special menu featuring local ingredients and regional culinary techniques from our onboard chef. Learn more → HADDINGTON, SCOTLAND St Martin’s Kirk Estimated to have been built in the 1150s, the ruins of St Martin’s Kirk are full of architectural mysteries. Read more → PARIS, FRANCE La Temple de Sybille This structure atop a craggy cliff at the highest point in Buttes-Chaumont Park offers panoramic views of Paris. Read more → Sponsored by Icelandair Arctic Circle Marker A giant concrete orb in far north Iceland marks the ever-shifting geographic boundary of the Arctic Circle. Read more → Visit AtlasObscura.com · View in Browser · Unsubscribe · See All Newsletters 61 Greenpoint Ave #622, Brooklyn, NY 11222