Offbeat Travel – Curious Archive

26 March 2022

The Georgia Guidestones: Secret Societies, Ted Turner, and the Antichrist

Known as an “American Stonehenge”, the Georgia Guidestones were mysteriously commissioned in June 1979 by a man under the pseudonym R. C. Christian and “a small group of loyal Americans”. According to Christian, the anonymous group spent the previous 20 years developing plans for the Guidestones – a structure of five massive monoliths standing 5.87m and weighing a combined 107,840kg...

Offbeat Travel/Weird History

8 August 2020

Quirky Art on the Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, London

There are a million and one reasons to visit Trafalgar Square in central London. The area is home to the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, endless restaurants and cafes, and the famous 169 foot tall Nelson’s Column that towers over Trafalgar Square’s 15 million annual visitors. The Square is also home to the world famous Fourth Plinth, an empty...

Offbeat Travel

26 July 2020

The Dark History of the German Underground Hospital, Guernsey

Located off the coast of Normandy, Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands and the perfect leisurely getaway for those looking to escape the chaos of modern day life. The island maintains a calm and relaxed atmosphere, offering beautiful coastal views and a unique fusion of British and French influence through the architecture, food, and culture. When visiting...

Offbeat Travel/Paranormal Encounters

19 July 2020

Religious Heresy and Public Executions: The History of the Amersham Martyrs Memorial, Buckinghamshire

Tucked within the Chiltern Hills, the town of Amersham is filled with historic buildings, charming pubs, and beautiful footpaths leading deep into the countryside. While towns as old as Amersham are filled with captivating historical tales, some events from long ago inevitably shed light on the more sinister side of humanity, and Amersham’s history is no exception. Nearly 500 years...

Offbeat Travel/Weird History

14 July 2020

Devil Worship and a Ghostly Bride: The Confusing (and Eerie) History of the Hellfire Caves, West Wycombe

Located in the National Trust’s West Wycombe village in Buckinghamshire, the Hellfire Caves are a peculiar landmark alongside an otherwise idyllic high street. Extending a quarter of a mile into West Wycombe Hill, The Hellfire Caves were dug between 1748 and 1752 for two mundane reasons: the relief of local unemployment and to provide chalk for the construction of a...

Offbeat Travel/Paranormal Encounters/Weird History

7 July 2020

Seashells and Big Dreams: How a Determined Monk Built One of the World’s Smallest Chapels on Guernsey

The Little Chapel is one of Guernsey’s most popular and beloved visitor attractions. Located in Les Vauxbelets, the non-denominational structure measures a minute 16 x 9 feet and offers a look into the mind of a determined French monk who almost singlehandedly crafted one of the world’s smallest and ornate chapels. History and Construction The current Little Chapel at Les...