Atlas Obscura is an American-based travel and exploration company.[1][2][3][4] It was founded in 2009 by author Joshua Foer and documentary filmmaker/author Dylan Thuras.[4][5] It catalogs unusual and obscure travel destinations via professional and user-generated content, operates group trips to destinations around the world, produces a daily podcast, as well as books, TV and film.[6] The brand covers a number of topics including history, science, food, and obscure places.
 | |
Type of site | Travel and Exploration |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Founder(s) | Joshua Foer Dylan Thuras |
| CEO | Warren Webster |
| URL | www |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | 2009 |
| Launched | 2009 |
| OCLC number | 960889351 |
History
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Thuras and Foer met in 2007, and soon discussed ideas for a different kind of atlas, featuring places not commonly found in guidebooks.[7] They hired a web designer in 2008 and launched Atlas Obscura in 2009.[7] Annetta Black was the site's first senior editor.[8]
In 2010, the site organized the first of the international events known as Obscura Day.[9] Thuras has stated that one of the site's main goals is "Creating a real-world community who are engaging with us, each other and these places and getting away from their computers to actually see them."[7] As of 2021, Atlas Obscura has originated Atlas Obscura Societies organizing local experiences in nine cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, and Seattle.[4][9]
Sommer Mathis (formerly of The Atlantic's CityLab) was the site's editor-in-chief from 2017 to 2020. She was succeeded by Samir Patel, formerly of Archaeology magazine, who became the site's editorial director in 2020 and editor-in-chief in 2021.
In October 2014, Atlas Obscura hired journalist David Plotz as its CEO.[5] David Plotz was the site's CEO for five years (October 2014 – November 2019). Warren Webster, former president and CEO of digital publisher Coveteur, and co-founder of website Patch, assumed the position in March 2020.[10]
In 2015, Atlas Obscura raised its first round of major funding, securing $2 million from a range of investors and angels including The New York Times.[6]
In September 2016, the company published its first book, Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders written by Foer, Thuras, and Ella Morton under Workman Publishing Company.[11][12]
Following a second fundraising effort that netted $7.5 million, in late 2017 the site launched Gastro Obscura, a food section covering "the distinctive food locations of the world."[13]
In 2019, Series B funding round raised $20 million from investors like Airbnb (lead investor), A+E Networks and New Atlantic Ventures.[14][15]
Publications
edit- Joshua Foer, Ella Morton, and Dylan Thuras, Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders, Workman Publishing Company, 2016[16]
- Dylan Thuras, Rosemary Mosco, and Joy Ang, The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid, Workman Publishing Company, 2018[17]
- Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras, Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide, Workman Publishing Company, ISBN 978-1523502196, 2021
- Dylan Thuras, Atlas Obscura Explorer's Journal: Let Your Curiosity Be Your Compass, Workman Publishing Company, ISBN 978-1523501731, 2017
- Atlas Obscura Page-A-Day Calendar 2023: 365 Days of Extraordinary Destinations, Bizarre Phenomena, and Other Hidden Wonders, Workman Publishing Company, ISBN 978-1523516520, 2022
References
edit- ^ Lessley, Sara. "You'll find eclectic L.A. tours like these only at offbeat Atlas Obscura". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ Foer, Extracted from Atlas Obscura by Joshua; Thuras, Dylan; Morton, Ella (19 September 2016). "10 of the world's most unusual wonders – chosen by Atlas Obscura". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ "Nine of Canada's most curious sights, courtesy of Atlas Obscura". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "About Us". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ a b Kaufman, Leslie (23 November 2014). "Slate's Former Top Editor Takes Helm at Travel Site". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ^ a b Sawers, Paul (27 February 2015). "Atlas Obscura raises $2M to become a National Geographic for millennials". VentureBeat. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ a b c Cooper, Arnie (24 July 2013). "Celebrating Obscurity". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ Black, Annetta (2009-10-12). "Hello from Annetta". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
- ^ a b Glusa, Elaine (10 April 2016). "A Day to Explore, Above Ground and Below". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Warren Webster Will Lead Atlas Obscura". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "'Atlas Obscura' Offers a Reference Book for Wonder Seekers". Boston. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders. Workman Publishing Company. 2016. ISBN 978-0761169086.
- ^ "Atlas Obscura to Expand in Video After Funding Round Led by A+E Networks". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ Alpert, Lukas I. "Airbnb Leads $20 Million Funding Round Into Atlas Obscura". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ Guaglione, Sara (2023-01-30). "Atlas Obscura wants to be profitable before raising funds in a tricky media market". Digiday. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "Reviewed by Andrew Liptak in The Verge". 21 September 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
- ^ "Reviewed by Cindy Helms in New York Journal of Books". 18 September 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
