Vivid images of San Francisco’s shifting South Bay

Eat like an astronaut, visit a heartwarming bridge, and more. Happy Wednesday! Looking for some mid-week wonder? We have just the ticket. Today, we're learning [how to make a dessert fit for the first American men who landed on the moon]( diving into the stories behind [13 murals honoring local heroes]( and [how to deliver mail to Hell.]( (Not literally.) Come sate your curiosity here! San Francisco’s Salty South Bay As you descend into San Francisco International Airport, you might see an otherworldly landscape of geometric lines and vibrant colors fringing the jagged coastline of the Bay—the result of more than 150 years of industrial salt mining. For two years, photographer joSon documented these fields, and in the course of doing so, noticed shorebirds returning to the South Bay. It turns out joSon was documenting one of the largest wetland restoration projects in United States history. [READ MORE →]( Places of the Day Canyon Ferry Lake's Cemetery Island Helena, Montana Founded in the 1860s, this cemetery was perched on top of a hill high enough to escape being flooded during the construction of a dam. [READ MORE →]( Mile High Swinging Bridge Linville, North Carolina This bridge was built by a grandson who wanted to help his grandmother enjoy the views from the summit, without having to hike up it. [READ MORE →]( Hand-Carved Caves New Mexico For over 25 years, New Mexico artist Ra Paulette has been creating natural crevasses in the New Mexico wilderness by painstakingly chiseling, digging, and carving intricate underground wonderlands. [READ MORE →]( Eat Like an Astronaut The year: 1969. Neil Armstrong, Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins had just returned from landing on the moon, and were heading in for a White House state dinner. But what exactly do you serve America’s “Moonmen”? Well, if you’re pastry chef Ernest Mueller, you whip up a dessert known as Clair de Lune: meringue-covered ice cream bombes, surrounded with a pool of dark-purple blackberry sauce. And now you too, can whip this up in your kitchen. [READ MORE →]( 13 Murals for Local Heroes When we think of heroes, often the figures that come to mind are larger-than-life personalities who are known all over the world for accomplishing incredible feats. However, not every hero’s story is known the world over. Here are 13 murals dedicated to local heroes who made a difference in their communities. [READ MORE →]( Anne Spencer’s Garden In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit a garden in Lynchburg, Virginia, that is the key to unlocking the writing and mind of Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer. This garden was her muse and refuge, and is where she hosted the great minds of her day, including Langston Hughes and W.E.B. Du Bois. [LISTEN ON OUR SITE →]( [LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS →]( [LISTEN ON SPOTIFY →]( [LISTEN ON STITCHER →]( Delivering Mail to Hell Well, specifically—Hells Canyon. For decades, Jill Koch and her husband Jim have weathered storms, swirling currents, and other perils to bring mail, year-round, to the residents of Hells Canyon National Recreation Area—a desolate expanse of the Snake River that traverses Eastern Oregon and Northern Idaho. It’s one of the most remote mail routes in the Lower 48, and has been in operation since 1919. [READ MORE →]( Engage With Us Design Your Own Murder Mystery Party Nothing brings people together quite like donning period costume and framing friends and family for fictional murder! In this five-part lecture series, Abi Inman will walk you through researching, writing, and hosting your own murder mystery party. [ENROLL IN THIS COURSE →]( Explore The Marvels of Ancient Egypt Follow in the footsteps of explorers and royalty and experience the thrill of discovery while exploring the Great Pyramids of Giza, traversing the Avenue of the Sphinxes, and climbing into the Tomb of Tutankhamun. Gain an insider’s perspective on the bustling city of Cairo and the world-renowned sites at Giza, Saqqara, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel. [BOOK THIS TRIP →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Link]( [Website]( Copyright © 2022 Atlas Obscura Inc., All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you once requested to be included on the Atlas Obscura Newsletter mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time. Our mailing address is: Atlas Obscura Inc. 61 Greenpoint Ave Suite 210Brooklyn, NY 11222 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.