Step inside the afterlives of America’s abandoned theaters

Silk Road ruins, saving the Eastern hellbender, and the fairy circles of Southern Africa. Email not displaying correctly? View in your browser. October 23, 2019 Abandoned Movie Palaces Ornate movie theaters were fixtures of American cities in the early 20th century, but by the late 1950s, many had shut down. Some found second lives, but others fell into disrepair or were demolished. Thanks to photographer Matt Lambro, you can now step inside some of these haunting relics. Read More → ALXA, CHINA Heicheng Ruins These ruins are what’s left of Heicheng, an important trade stop that was once the largest fortress along the Silk Road. Read more → Atlas Obscura Trips Croatia: Coastal Palaces and Cutting-Edge Art Join us next May on a 10-day trip exploring Croatia's rich history and culture through its innovative art and architecture. Traveling from the cosmopolitan city of Zagreb to the dramatic Dalmatian Coast, we'll meet local artists, visit a seaside stonemasons' school, weave through Diocletian's Palace, and spend three of our nights in a luxurious, Renaissance-era palace. Learn more → Saving the Hellbender The Eastern hellbender looks like a long, slimy potato and is sometimes called a snot otter. Thanks to a group of high schoolers, the unusually large salamander is also Pennsylvania’s state amphibian–a moniker meant to help save hellbenders from decline. Read more → Get Your Copy! The second edition of our bestselling book is officially on sale. We’ve also added over 100 new places and two brand new special features: a fold-out map of a dream around-the-world journey and 12 city guides for destinations, including Buenos Aires, Cairo, and Los Angeles. Buy Now → Namibia Fairy Circles of Southern Africa These unexplained bald patches in Namibia's landscape grow and recede over time as though they are somehow alive. Read more → From our friends at Quartz London’s Most Thrilling Bench This year's London Design Festival featured an undulating wood structure that functions as a communal bench and a work of public art. Read more → Visit AtlasObscura.com · View in Browser · Unsubscribe · See All Newsletters 61 Greenpoint Ave #622, Brooklyn, NY 11222