The United States is known for the strangeness of some cities, from attractions that break world records and attract thousands of tourists to ghost towns where it is impossible to live. For example, in Illinois you can find the largest bottle of ketchup on the planet, and if you travel to Kansas you can have a photo with the largest ball of yarn in history.
SEE ALSO:
- 11 Things More Worn Out Than Your Hope Of Getting Back To Normal
- Jacob’s Well – a place as beautiful as it is dangerous
- 17 People Who Forgot Their Luck at Home
Here are some interesting American cities that attract the attention of thousands of tourists and make them stand out from other places in the world.
1 – The Witch’s Cave.
In the 19th century, the legend surrounding The Bell Witch said that the place was haunted and inhabited by the spirit of an evil witch. According to rumors, the Bell Witch’s real name was Kate Bates, a woman whose family became embroiled in a land conflict with their neighbors, the Bells. When Kate learned that the Bells had set a trap for her to seize her property, she vowed to bewitch them.
Rumors about Kate’s supernatural abilities seemed to be confirmed after a daughter of the Bells began showing signs of demonic possession and aggressive behavior. For more than two hundred years, locals have claimed that when they approach The Witch’s Cave they are overcome by a feeling of apprehension.
The biggest challenge of this tourist attraction is repeating the witch’s real name three times in front of a mirror.
2 – The capital of lost luggage.
Scottsboro, Alabama, is the popular destination for luggage lost during flights. It happens that, many times, passengers do not claim lost luggage or airlines are unable to locate the owners of the suitcases, so all kinds of objects end up in the “Unclaimed Baggage Center“.
In downtown Scottsboro it is still possible to purchase some of these lost items at the aforementioned store. Among the things that ended up being sold here are ancient archaeological pieces, secret documents, and even a 5.8-carat diamond ring.
3 – The City of Slabs.
Nearly 240 kilometers northeast of San Diego, California, is Slab City, a city whose inhabitants are called “Slabbers,” as a reference to the concrete constructions (“Slab” in Spanish) that remained in the area after the U.S. military ceased operations here after the end of World War II.
It is a place known for its anarchic and lawless lifestyle, where some migrants from the northern regions of the country, called snowbirds, come to spend the winter, since the area is very warm. The community of slabbers is made up of people in conditions of poverty, mainly vagabonds, hippies, drug addicts, adventurers and the occasional curious person who can add up to four thousand inhabitants in the busiest seasons. It is known as the “last free place in the United States” because it is not under the jurisdiction of any police department and is not controlled. There is no electricity, drainage, drinking water or garbage collection here.
In this enclave of American anarchy, scenes of utter chaos are often observed, with tents or mobile homes being incinerated and even duels and shootouts.
4 – The Devil’s Crossroads.
Robert Johnson, one of the most important figures in the history of the blues, has his own legend in the style of Niccolò Paganini. The story goes that when the Delta Blues King was still very young, he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for an unheard-of talent for music.
It is said that the young Johnson dreamed of becoming a blues legend, when strange voices told him to pick up a guitar at midnight and wait at a certain point in the city. Then, a strange guy showed up to swap the guitar, and from then on Johnson manipulated the instrument with impressive mastery.
This would have happened in the city of Clarksdale, Mississippi. In fact, the intersection where Robert Johnson supposedly exchanged guitar with the devil is known as Crossroads, as it is where Highways 69 and 41 converge in the United States.
Truth be told, Mississippi saw the birth of great blues stars such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and John Lee Hooker. But, the legend still proves effective when it comes to attracting tourists to the city.
5 – The city that lives in a building.
Whittier, Alaska, has a population of 218 and most of them live in the same building. This is Begich Towers, a 14-story apartment complex that functions as a tiny town with a police station, church, postal service, and even shops.
In the 1950s, the building was built to serve as an army barracks, but in 1969 it was converted into a residential complex. Whittier is a town located between a mountain range and the Gulf of Alaska, so it is only possible to get there by boat.
6 – The City of Eternal Fire.
The Pennsylvania city of Centralia has been on fire for nearly six decades, when a fire broke out in a coal mine beneath the small town. It has become a ghost town because of the danger of death posed by living around here, where cracks in the ground, toxic smoke, and explosions are an everyday occurrence.
By 2010, the inhabitants of Centralia could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Estimates suggest that the subsurface will continue to burn for at least another quarter of a century.
Related: 15 Fun Facts About Everyday Life in South Korea
Comments