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The 16 Strangest US Museums

By Every Day Story16 items
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Most museums are a snooze-fest, filled with old stuff, paintings, and sculptures. They can be overrated. But some museums break the mold. Across America, there are freaky museums filled with weird and thought-provoking things: dead bodies, aliens, bananas - you name it. These strange destinations are worth a visit. Add them to your next road trip and brag about the unusual places you've been.

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  • 1
    The Mutter Museum In Philadelphia

    The Mutter Museum in Philadelphia is listed among the 16 Strangest US Museums.Mutter Museum in Philadelphia is a destination for those who like the macabre and the esoteric. The museum opened in 1863 to show medical curiosities and specimens for research. Now, it holds skulls, a tumor from a former U.S. president, and brain tissue slides from Albert Einstein. It shows the real-life version of Sick, Sad World.The Mutter Museum in Philadelphia is a key spot for those who like the macabre and the weird. This is because it holds strange stuff. The Mutter Museum opened in 1863. Its goal was to show medical curiosities and specimens for research. Now, it has skulls, a tumor from a former U.S. president, and brain tissue slides taken from Albert Einstein. It is the real deal.Sick, Sad World.

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  • 2
    Glore Psychiatric Museum In St. Joseph, MO

    The Glore Psychiatric Museum covers the scary and odd history of mental health. It shows 17th-century psychiatric tools and treatments. It displays embroidered ramblings from schizophrenic patients. You see over 100 nails swallowed by one patient. Mannequins show treatment methods from different centuries. It works well for first dates.

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  • 3
    The Museum Of The Weird In Austin, TX

    For weird things, go to the Museum of the Weird in Austin, Texas. This museum shows odd creatures like the Fiji Mermaid and the Minnesota Iceman. They also have a big display of shrunken heads and other odd things. Keep Austin weird.

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  • 4
    National Museum Of Funeral History In Houston

    A hearse used for former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford is just one of the morbid things on display in the National Museum of Funeral History.oneof the morbid things on display in the National Museum of Funeral HistoryNational Museum of Funeral HistoryHouston, Texas.

    Other exhibits cover the history of embalminghistory of embalming, coffins from different time periods, and Ancient Egyptian funerary practices. People who wonder about cremation history should visit. They might not do children's birthdays, but you can find out!

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  • 5

    Twitter reminds people that Vent Haven is a real place. Ventriloquists donated their dummies after they died.

    You will scream the moment you walk through the door.pic.twitter.com/uIEmqFeNiS

    Vent Haven is a museumin Kentucky focuses on ventriloquism. Founder W.S. Berger collected many dummies and ventriloquism items. He opened this strange collection to the public in the mid-1970s. It claims nearly 1,000 retired dummies, from modern to antique. This creepy-doll graveyard is nightmare fuel. Hear about the Vent Convention!Vent Convention!

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  • 6
    International UFO Museum And Research Center In Roswell, NM

    Roswell, New Mexico is known for the 1947 UFO crash. The town also hosts the International UFO Museum and Research Center. The museum opened in 1992. It shows exhibits recreating the Roswell crash, information about ancient aliens, details on crop circles, and facts about Area 51. The museum's research section holds books and documents about worldwide alien and UFO sightings. A man from the History channel does not act as a tour guide.

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  • 7
    The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

    The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum appears in the list 'The 16 Strangest US Museums'.The New Orleans Pharmacy MuseumIt sits in the French Quarter. Like many local spots, it is not for the faint of heart. Exhibits cover centuries. Items show what the city's colorful past involved. Visitors see things made for bloodletting, voodoo potions, 18th and 19th-century surgical tools, and glass containers used for medical mixtures. Save the po' boys for later if you visit this museum.

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  • 8
    The Museum Of Bad Art In Boston, MA

    Dozens of The Museum Of Bad Art In Boston, MA shows up in 'The 16 Strangest US Museums'.Dozens of museums show good art. Only one museum displays the other side. The Museum of Bad Art, located in Boston (nicknamed MOBA), has one real gallery and a large online collection. Both places show many strange scenes, portraits, and more. Visit here if you want to feel better about doodles on napkins.

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  • 9
    The National Mustard Museum In Middleton, WI

    The Midwest has a museum for mustard, a game day hot dog favorite. The The National Mustard Museum is listed among 'The 16 Strangest US Museums'.The National Mustard Museum, located in Middleton, Wisconsin, holds everything about mustard. You see over 5,000 mustard types from around the world. There is a display on mustard education, showing how to pick the right type for sandwiches, plus mustard memorabilia. The investigation into military personnel and officers' off-duty activities with candlesticks in the library continues.

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  • 10
    The Idaho Potato Museum

    Idaho is known for potatoes. It now has another tuber fame: the The Idaho Potato Museum is in 'The 16 Strangest US Museums'.This museum in Blackfoot, Idaho, has a potato signed by former Vice President Dan Quayle. It displays farm equipment used for growing potatoes and the history of the vegetable. Visitors can stand outside next to the giant baked potato sign if they like that.

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  • 11
    The International Banana Museum In North Shore, CA

    The International Banana Museum is in North Shore, CA.The International Banana Museum is in North Shore, CA.It has over 20,000 items all about bananas. A museum shows how many things it holds. Items range from banana peels to a banana-shaped record player. The North Shore/Salton Sea museum also displays bananas made from non-edible things like jade and porcelain.

    Visit the International Banana Museum in North Shore, CA. You can eat bananas there. The attached snack shop sells banana milkshakes, banana splits, and banana flavored soda. This is the place to see things at scale.

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  • 12
    The Kazoo Museum In Beaufort, SC

    The kazoo is a strange instrument, possessing the most whimsical name. A museum for this non-flute instrument is quite unusual.The Kazoo Museum is listed among the 16 Strangest US Museums in Beaufort, SC.Located in Beaufort, South Carolina, the Kazoo Museum holds hundreds of kazoos. These range from classic plastic models to others shaped like smaller instruments, like saxophones. The gift shop offers many items.

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  • 13
    The National Cleveland Style Polka Hall Of Fame

    Near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a small museum shows Cleveland Style Polka music. This museum focuses on a different music style.The National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame appears in the list of 16 Strangest US Museums.The National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame shares space with the Softball Hall of Fame and the Shore Cultural Center in Euclid, Ohio. Visitors see an accordion belonging to Johnny Pecon, stage outfits from Frankie Yankovic, and hear the music they made. If this doesn't excite you, you might not like it.

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    🔥 83 up · 67 down
  • 14
    The Oz Museum In Wamego, KS

    The Wizard of Oz is one of the 16 Strangest US Museums.The Wizard of Oz takes place in Kansas. Thus, a museum dedicated to the classic film fits the state.The Oz Museum is listed among the 16 Strangest US Museums in Wamego, KS.The Oz Museum in Wamego displays items from the 1939 movie. It shows two flying monkeys (not alive) and parts of a munchkin house. You also find a first edition book, actor-signed items, and props from the first Broadway run of Wicked.Wicked is listed among the 16 Strangest US Museums.Items from Wicked are on display.

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  • 15
    The Neon Museum In Las Vegas

    Las Vegas, Nevada is known for neon lights. The Neon Museum is the perfect place for a museum about them.The Neon Museum is one of the 16 Strangest US Museums in Las Vegas.The Neon Museum offers a taste of Old Vegas. Displayed casino signs include ones from the Silver Slipper, Binion's Horseshoe, the Lucky Cuss Motel, and the Landmark. Most signs sit outside in the Boneyard area, so wear good shoes. Steve, maybe get some help for your gambling.

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  • 16
    New England Maple Museum

    Maple syrup appeals to communists and puppy-haters. The New England Maple Museum covers this topic.The New England Maple Museum is listed among the 16 Strangest US Museums.The New England Maple Museum focuses on the history of maple syrup, perfect for breakfast. It is in Pittsford, Vermont. The museum displays 17th-century tools for harvesting and processing syrup, old photos, and local history. The gift shop sells Vermont maple syrup and related items. The museum motto is "Get sticky."

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    🔥 74 up · 71 down

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