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Your guide to the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places. Kelly McEvers and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters transport you to a new wonder every day. Along the way, you'll meet fascinating people and hear their stories.
The Wild Bird Fund, started by Rita McMahon in the 1990s after she couldn't find help for an injured goose, now operates from a storefront on Manhattan's Columbus Avenue. It provides care for hundreds of injured birds daily, including pigeons, waterfowl, and species affected by migration and urban hazards.
New York City's lights and glass buildings create significant hazards for migratory birds, especially those on the Atlantic flyway. Environmental issues like lead poisoning from soil and paint also contribute to bird injuries, making organizations like the Wild Bird Fund essential.
A swan named Moby, a resident of Prospect Park's ponds, has been treated twice by the Wild Bird Fund. Initially, Moby had surgery to remove an ingested fish hook in January 2022. In early 2024, he returned suffering from high lead toxicity but has since recovered.
The Wild Bird Fund rehabilitates approximately 10 to 20 birds daily during slower seasons and over 100 per day during migration periods. Catherine O'Quill notes that the overall success rate is around 35-40%, a figure impacted by the severe condition of many birds brought to them.
The Wild Bird Fund, an organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured wild birds in New York City, operates solely on donations. They encourage interested individuals to visit their website, WildBirdFund.org, to support their mission.
The Hastings Museum in South Central Nebraska is home to the original Kool-Aid Man mascot suit from the 1970s. The large, fiberglass suit is described as being about 5 feet in diameter and requiring a harness for the wearer, who found it to be quite heavy. The museum's director, Teresa Krotzer Hudson, has spent 30 years researching Kool-Aid's history.
Edwin Perkins, a Nebraska native, is credited as the inventor of Kool-Aid, a powdered beverage concentrate. Perkins was described as a blend of an ad man and a mad scientist, who transformed his small town through his innovative product and marketing strategies. His journey began with tinkering in his mother's kitchen and evolving into a successful business.
Before inventing Kool-Aid, Edwin Perkins developed Nixatine, an herbal remedy for smokers that contained silver nitrate and laxatives. This product taught him that marketing was key, and he targeted World War I veterans. He later created Fruit Smack, a drink concentrate sold in glass bottles that proved problematic due to breakage, prompting his search for a powdered alternative.
Inspired by Jell-O's powdered form, Edwin Perkins worked to transform his liquid drink concentrate, Fruit Smack, into a portable powder. After trial and error, potentially with help from a compounding pharmacist in Florida, he succeeded in creating the winning formula for Kool-Aid. This innovation aimed to solve the problem of breaking bottles when selling the drink concentrate.
Edwin Perkins was a master marketer, understanding the shift towards branded products on grocery store shelves. He implemented a prize system, offering items like aviator caps and decoder rings for mailed-in Kool-Aid packets, which he believed was key to connecting with people. Perkins' innovative marketing strategies, including a prize system, contributed to Kool-Aid's rapid success, even during the Great Depression.
The iconic Kool-Aid Man mascot, widely recognized today, was not created by Edwin Perkins. The character was developed by an advertising executive at General Foods after Perkins sold his business in the 1950s. The Kool-Aid Man made its first appearance in 1975, long after the invention of the powdered drink itself.
The Atlas Obscura Podcast, hosted by Kelly McEvers, is requesting listeners to share their experiences and stories about visiting all 50 U.S. states. Listeners are encouraged to call in with their '50 states story' or record a voice memo.
Ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes shared that a life-changing moment on his 30th birthday, fueled by bad tequila, led him to quit his corporate job. He recounted a 30-mile run he impulsively started after leaving a bar, which solidified his decision to pursue a life of adventure and endurance running.
Dean Karnazes decided to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days after hearing about the "50 state club" from a speaker before the Boston Marathon. Intrigued by the idea of running in all 50 states, Karnazes aimed to condense the achievement, which typically takes 18 years for others, into a more dramatic and compact timeframe.
Dean Karnazes described his career shift to ultra-marathoning as a moment of profound "divine intervention." After impulsively starting a 30-mile run on his 30th birthday, he experienced a moment of clarity on a dark road, realizing his true calling.
The host shared a personal anecdote about finding a birthday card just in time for their child's birthday, which is one day after their own. The sentiment that it was found 'just after the nick of time' became a humorous potential memoir title.
A listener named Katrina emailed the podcast with a hypothetical question: If you could live in one building forever, which would it be? The hosts discussed the premise, considering whether luxury hotels like those featured in 'The White Lotus' would be permissible.
One host revealed their choice for the 'live in forever' hypothetical: Fallingwater, the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright house in Pennsylvania. They described the house's unique setting over a waterfall and the charm of its aged furnishings.
Another host chose to live in the museum housing the Bayeux Tapestry, appreciating its 1,000-year-old narrative of the Battle of Hastings and its mysterious marginalia. They also noted the adjacent shop selling embroidery kits as a long-term engagement.
The hosts engaged in a 'would you rather' scenario, choosing between the ability to understand all languages or to teleport anywhere at any time. One host favored languages for their broad life benefits, while the other leaned towards teleportation to avoid travel burdens.
One host expressed a desire for teleportation, citing the weariness of travel 'schlep,' including layovers, jet lag, and dragging luggage. They contrasted this with the idea that 'getting there' is part of the fun, but ultimately found the idea of instantaneous travel appealing.
Richard Etheridge led the P.I. Island Life-Saving Station, believed to be the only all-black crew in the Life-Saving Service history, from 1880 until his death in 1900. The crew achieved significant rescues despite facing societal barriers and even arson from relatives of Etheridge who sought better positions.
In October 1896, the P.I. Island Life-Saving crew, led by Richard Etheridge, performed a remarkable rescue during a severe storm that washed away the beach. Unable to anchor their equipment in the sand, two crewmen bravely swam through the surf to deliver a line to a distressed ship, saving all 98 passengers.
The late 1800s saw devastating shipwrecks along the Outer Banks, including the Huron and Metropolis disasters in 1877, which claimed the lives of nearly 200 people. These high-profile incidents garnered national attention and spurred Congress to establish the Life-Saving Service to prevent similar tragedies.
Shortly after Richard Etheridge was appointed keeper of the P.I. Island Life-Saving Station in 1880, the station burned down, an act of arson believed to have been carried out by his white cousins. These cousins were allegedly seeking better positions within the Life-Saving Service and resented Etheridge's appointment.
While the P.I. Island Life-Saving Station, staffed by an all-black crew led by Richard Etheridge, achieved notable successes, it also became a symbol of persistent segregation within the service. Black watermen were often relegated to this station, with limited opportunities for advancement even after the service transitioned to the Coast Guard.
The Atlas Obscura Podcast explores the story of Sir Henry Pellatt, a wealthy Canadian businessman who built Casa Loma, a grand castle in Toronto. Despite its opulent design and innovative features, Pellatt faced financial ruin due to his investments and changing economic conditions, ultimately losing the estate and dying in poverty.
Casa Loma, built by Sir Henry Pellatt in Toronto, incorporated several advanced features for its era, including an elevator for his wife Mary and what is believed to be Canada's first recessed lighting. The home's oak paneling was also done by the same craftsmen who worked on the Titanic.
Sir Henry Pellatt, once one of Canada's richest men with investments in railroads, breweries, and electricity, faced a dramatic downfall. His financial empire crumbled due to market downturns during World War I, increased property taxes, and the provincial takeover of electricity generation, leading to his bankruptcy and eventual reliance on his former chauffeur for housing.
After Sir Henry Pellatt lost Casa Loma, the estate underwent various transformations. It served as a luxury hotel, an entertainment venue, and notably, housed secret military research during World War II, with staff disguised as construction workers. Eventually, it evolved into the popular tourist attraction it is today.