Atlas Obscura - Places Newsletter

The mystery of an empress’s missing wedding dress

07-09-2024

Plus, a real estate scam that still affects L.A. today.
Email not displaying correctly? View in your browser.

	July 09, 2024

Historical Clothing

A Lost Wedding Dress Mystery

After Austrian empress Elisabeth married Emperor Franz Joseph in Vienna in 1854, her wedding dress disappeared, with its whereabouts mired in mystery for almost 200 years. Now, thanks to a series of clues, Austrian researcher Dr. Monica Kurzel-Runtscheiner may have solved the ancient sartorial puzzle.

The Real Estate Scam of E.P. Janes

A group of darling houses in Los Angeles have acquired something of a cult following. Featuring multiple gables, steep-slope roofs, arched doorways, and trowel-swept stucco walls, these six-room storybook cottages are “a unique time capsule of the 1920s,” according to the development’s website. Known as Janes Village, the homes nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains are still highly desirable today. But few people know that the entire village was a con, and the man who built the houses was a con artist.

Lincolnton, North Carolina

Pirate Jean Lafitte’s Grave

From 1810 to 1823, Jean Lafitte and his brother Pierre staked their claim as two of the most notorious and successful privateers in the Americas. His death, however, is shrouded in mystery. Local researchers in Lincolnton, North Carolina, believe that the buccaneer staged his own death, changed his name to Lorenzo Ferrer, then enjoyed a quiet life free from the prying eyes of law enforcement until his actual death in 1875.

Sponsored by Travel Texas

The Making of the Iconic Symbol of Texas, the Cowboy Boot

In the first episode of season 2 of “All Roads Lead to Texas,” host Dylan Thuras heads to Austin to visit a boot-making institution, Texas Traditions, where owner Lee Miller has been making cowboy boots by hand for the last 50 years. Get an inside look at the process, artistry and backstory behind the making of these coveted Texas boots.

The Sad Tale of the ‘Flying Tailor’

Poor Franz Reichelt. He had one dream: to create a working parachute suit. But as he tragically found, when you’re a tailor with nothing more than early 20th-century technology at your disposal, even a straightforward dream can turn deadly.

Syracuse, Italy

According to ancient Greek-Sicilian mythology, the Fonte Ciane was the location where Hades entered the underworld with his bride Persephone, daughter of the goddess Demeter. Legend has it that Ciane—a water nymph and companion to Persephone—attempted to prevent this abduction, but when she failed, she dissolved into tears, creating this azure lake.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Exploring the Wilds of the Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands aren’t simply the place that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution; they continue to advance it, showcasing how unique life develops in distinct environments. Join Cara Giaimo, wildlife expert and author of Atlas Obscura's Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders, on a thrilling tour through this utterly bewitching archipelago!

Book Your Spot Now →

The Killer Whales of Eden

Over 150 years ago, the small town of Eden on the coast of New South Wales was home to a spectacular marine show. Orcas, or killer whales, the largest of the dolphin family, used to visit this bay every winter, and were vital to a unique way of life in Eden. Humans didn’t just watch the orcas, but rather worked side by side with them to take down some of the ocean’s largest creatures. This was known as the “Law of the Tongue.”

Foyers, Scotland

A Scottish Manor With a History of Mystery

From the jump, Boleskine House has always been an eerie spot. Allegedly built atop the ruins of an old church manse that became ruined during the eighteenth-century, the house overlooks old war graves from the Jacobite rebellion. Boleskine House was also once home to the infamous Aleister Crowley, the “Great Sausage Scandal,” and yes, of course, numerous ghost stories.

The definitive guide to the world's hidden wonders.

Respond To Email