Where are you?
Two friends reached out to me at the same time, curious about my location.
Western Nebraska, I replied.
So you're in the middle of nowhere, they both texted back.
That made me think. Earlier, I had flown to Denver and then taken a small plane to Alliance—a pint-sized airport in an out-of-the-way town. Just before receiving their texts, I had been poring over the Atlas Obscura map, identifying eight intriguing spots within a ninety-minute drive that I wished I could explore. I felt a pang of regret about leaving too soon.
So, I shot back: No, I'm in the middle of somewhere.
Fast forward a week, and I found myself in the northwest corner of Alabama, where the Tennessee River bends. I shared that story with my colleagues from Atlas Obscura during our offsite gathering in Florence. Many had never visited Alabama before.
We shaped our itinerary around the state's overlooked corners, including the birthplace of Helen Keller in Tuscumbia and FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, where Aretha Franklin famously recorded "I Never Loved a Man" in just a day in 1967. We enjoyed lunch at the Rattlesnake Saloon, sheltered under an impressive rock overhang, and after dark, ventured to Dismals Canyon—one of the few places on earth where you can witness bioluminescent larvae creating a starry spectacle on cave walls. Virtually every stop we made was already highlighted on the Atlas Obscura map.
Capturing everything that unfolded during our trip is no small feat, so let’s focus on the enchanting moments around these places.
At Ivy Green, Keller Johnson-Thompson, Helen Keller's great-grand-niece, held us rapt with her tales about Keller for a solid thirty minutes. Alecia Dalessio expressed afterward that she could have listened for another thirty. Dan Sobo picked up bookmarks emblazoned with a profound Keller quote—the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart—and shared it with us the next day.
During our visit to Dismals Canyon, Kevin Cheek, the chief operating officer, led us through the pitch-black woods towards a narrow rock slot that we traversed one by one, hand in hand. Above us, glowworms shimmered like a green galaxy. Before we entered, Kevin humorously asked the fairies for permission—though whether he meant it was unclear, and perhaps it didn't matter at all.
Jacquelyn Blackwell, a local from Florence, has visited many times. However, seeing her hometown through fresh perspectives opened her eyes to experiences she hadn’t explored before. Holyn Thigpen called her parents en route home to share everything she’d seen, igniting their interest to replicate our itinerary. Meanwhile, Sam O'Brien contemplated her own adventures, and Daniel McDermon left the experience "almost giddy." Sara Ewell pointed out that the conversations we shared during bus rides and over leisurely lunches could never have happened on Zoom—probably wouldn’t have at all.
Rachel Carson, in her seminal 1965 work, The Sense of Wonder, articulated that children interact with the world in ways that adults often forget; she highlighted the importance of having a companion to rekindle that sense of curiosity. Not a teacher, but a fellow wanderer who still asks what's that? constantly.
That's how we operate at Atlas Obscura. That's what Kevin did for us at Dismals Canyon, what Keller brought to Ivy Green, and what Jacquelyn offered to us in her hometown. The bus rides buzzed with the infectious passion for wonder as individuals shared personal stories that bridged connections.
Two friends told me separately I was in the middle of nowhere. They were relying on an ordinary map. We, however, choose to reject that ordinary view. There’s no “middle of nowhere”—only the middle of somewhere. Those who believe otherwise just need a different perspective. The 50-state quest embodies that philosophy, as does the Atlas Obscura map. Our time in Florence, Alabama, highlighted that concept for fourteen of us who had yet to uncover its treasures.
With forty-six states explored, only four remain: Idaho, Iowa, Washington, and Alaska.
- Louise
The complete Carhenge recap from Nebraska will be featured in my next piece. Sign up for our daily newsletter to stay informed.
