The Atlas Obscura is the “compendium of the world’s wonders, curiosities and esoterica.” It’s a great directory chock-full of the weirdest and most wonderful places in the world. And this Friday there will be Obscura Day events hosted all over the world to celebrate this particular flavor of oddness. Chicago has a panoply of quirky destinations, but only a couple of destinations hosting Obscura Day events Friday.
Chicago’s choices:
Museum of Surgical Science
In honor of Obscura Day, the Museum’s curator will present 3D stereoscopic photos, chromolithographs, and a magic lantern show depicting skin diseases in gorgeous, gruesome detail.
OR
Busy Beaver Button Museum
The tour will highlight important buttons throughout history and offer a behind the scenes look of our button archives.
It comes down to either and evening of awesome, gross-out, 100 year old science or, you know, buttons. Even if I don’t make it to either of these I’m glad to have the list I’m happy to credit my web-savvy mom with this tip.
Comments
I pick the Button Museum!
Even though I’d like to see the gross stuff–the ticket includes a tour of those flayed, plasticized BodyWorks cadavers–I think the buttons may have it. The button ticket is free after all!
I remember when we were all in Chicago once and we went into this AWESOME button store in an old brownstone. The woman walked up to mom and asked, “Can I help you find something?” and mom said, “Well yes, I’m looking for a button” and we all busted out laughing because it seemed like the silliest question ever and mom gave the perfect answer. The woman, however, did not find it to be a laughing matter. So we left, buttonless.
I was going to mention the ‘button store’ experience in Chicago but decided against it. I am glad you remember it Sara. One of those times where i laughed so hard i could hardly function for about 10 minutes!