Sarah Durn's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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q&a

Meet the Woman Who Made a Historic Swim in Shark-Infested Waters

Lauren Tischendorf is the first woman to complete the grueling 20-mile swim around Lord Howe Island in Australia.
August 9, 2022
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queer history

Mary Edwards Walker and the Queer Suffragists Who Changed History

They wore pants, advocated for free love, and refused to back down.
July 20, 2022
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warrior queens

Did Khutulun and Other Warrior Women Actually Fight in the Mongol Army?

From wielding lethal bows to commanding troops, the female soldiers of the Central Asian steppe were formidable foes.
July 12, 2022
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gems and jewels

Could This Be The End of a Historic New Hampshire Rockhound Paradise?

When Ruggles Mine went up for auction, mineral collectors feared it would never reopen to the public. After a last-minute reprieve, its future is still uncertain.
July 1, 2022
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snorkeling

To Rediscover a Rare Cave Crayfish in Alabama, Grab a Snorkel

Thought for decades to be extinct, the tiny animal has stayed hidden in a former subterranean speakeasy.
June 17, 2022
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tree

For Sale: A Grand Old President (That Happens To Be a Tree)

Up to 1,200 years old, the stately 'Seven Sisters' Oak has held the title for more than half a century.
June 9, 2022
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queens

The Women Who Ran Genghis Khan’s Empire

From fighting in the army to managing the kingdom, women were key players in every aspect of the Mongol Empire.
May 26, 2022
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lost

6 Unexpected Treasures Found in Curious Places

From a Nazi code machine found at the bottom of a bay to a vintage Babe Ruth card hidden in a piano.
May 20, 2022
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vikings

Uncovering the Secrets of a Forgotten Viking Town

The remnants of Borgund were buried in the dirt for centuries and then sat in museum storage for decades.
May 12, 2022
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hollywood

A Once-Lost Dress from 'The Wizard of Oz' Goes to Auction—Maybe

Dorothy wore the disputed blue-and-white frock when she faced down the Wicked Witch.
May 6, 2022
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codes

7 Puzzles That Perplexed People for Centuries

From the secrets of Venice’s codebreakers to China’s intricately carved puzzle balls, these historical ciphers will inspire your curiosity.
May 3, 2022
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she was there

The Real Women Behind Art’s Masterpieces

History’s best-known muses were artists in their own right.
April 29, 2022
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rainforest

Monkeys Love Their Alcohol

But proving the “drunken monkey” hypothesis has been an exhausting—and messy—endeavor.
April 21, 2022
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archive

Saving the Sounds of the Early 20th Century

Some recordings in the New York Public Library’s wax cylinder collection haven’t been heard in generations—until now.
April 14, 2022
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astronauts

You Can Own Moon Dust Collected by Neil Armstrong

NASA accidentally sold it, tried to take it back, lost it in a court battle—and now you can own it.
April 8, 2022
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she was there

The Female Spies Who Helped Win World War II

The women of England’s SOE fought on the beaches of Normandy, sabotaged the Nazis within France, and turned the tides of the war.
April 5, 2022
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warrior queens

6 Epic Female Warriors You Don’t Want to Mess With

From California’s mythic warrior queen to the swole women of Sparta to female hunters in ancient Peru.
March 30, 2022
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execution

Why Is Scotland Apologizing Now for Witch Trials 300 Years Ago?

The gender politics of attempting to right a historic wrong.
March 24, 2022
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monster mythology

6 Legends That Manifest Fears of Powerful Women

From German witches to vampiric Malaysian spirits to a real-life poisoner.
March 22, 2022
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she was there

Rediscovering Rome’s Female Merchants

As queens or captains, women deftly operated ships across the Red Sea and Mediterranean 2,000 years ago.
March 17, 2022
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women empowerment

6 Groundbreaking Women You Didn’t Learn About in History Class

Meet the painter, the pilot, the author, and other "firsts" who paved the way.
March 15, 2022
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female explorers

Returning to the Valley of the Assassins in the Footsteps of Explorer Freya Stark

British adventurer Elise Wortley is about to retrace a historic journey through Iran.
March 14, 2022
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female explorers

9 Female Adventurers Who Journeyed Into the Unknown

From the Inupiat seamstress who killed polar bears to the Black motorcycle queen of Miami, these daring women lived life on their own terms.
March 10, 2022
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soviet

The Multicultural Legacy of Ukraine’s Forgotten Region

Remnants of the nation’s diverse history are littered throughout the historical region known as Galicia.
March 7, 2022