Sarah Durn
Atlas Obscura
New Orleans, LA, United States
Contact Sarah
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Past articles by Sarah:
In Venice, Carnival Is a Visual Feast of 18th-Century Splendor
Every February, millions of people flock to Venice for Carnival, but few know the festival’s true origins. → Read More
That Time Eleanor Roosevelt Disappeared for 10 Days
She reappeared in World War II's Pacific theater where, for five weeks in 1943, she inspired troops and faced down air raids. → Read More
What is a Fairy Fort?
In Ireland, fears about disturbing the fair folk have saved thousands of these mysterious ancient structures. → Read More
History’s First Named Author Was a Mesopotamian Priestess
Her name was Enheduanna. → Read More
The Psychology Behind Why Identical Twins Inspire Fascination—and Fear
A history of othering, experimentation, and mystery. → Read More
The Untold Story of Henrietta Maria, England’s Warrior Queen
The “she generalissimo” nearly won the English Civil War for her husband, King Charles I. → Read More
The Haunting True Story of Bridget Cleary’s “Changeling” Murder
There's more to this 19th-century crime than the dark side of fairy lore. → Read More
Meet the Meteorite Hunters Who Rush In When Space Rocks Crash to Earth
For this community of “space cowboys,” entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts, a fireball streaming across the sky offers big risks and bigger rewards—and new tech is heating up the competition. → Read More
Remembering the 'Ice Widows' of a Doomed Antarctic Expedition
For more than a century, their stories were ignored—until now. → Read More
Our Favorite Funky Ferry Rides
Getting there is half the fun. → Read More
The Mughal Women Who Wouldn’t Stay in the Harem
From musket-wielding empress Nur Jahan to writer Gulbadan Begum, meet the influential women of the early-modern Muslim empire. → Read More
Mary Edwards Walker and the Queer Suffragists Who Changed History
They wore pants, advocated for free love, and refused to back down. → Read More
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. → Read More
Sudd Wetland – South Sudan
The inhabitants of the world’s largest wetland have learned to navigate its dramatic seasonal changes. → Read More
Goz Abu Goma Bridge
One of the largest early 20th-century bridges in Sudan. → Read More
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. → Read More
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. → Read More
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. → Read More
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. → Read More
The Real Women Behind Art’s Masterpieces
History’s best-known muses were artists in their own right. → Read More