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15 Best Unusual Museums in the US

If you’re thinking about going to a museum, what is the first thought that comes to mind? Is it a classic art museum filled with only works by Italian Masters?

Maybe a historical museum that tracks civilizations in a particular region to the Neolithic Age?

With these unusual museums in the US, you won’t find any of them! Instead, you’ll find some remarkable tributes that are genuinely unique. Here are the best of the best that the US has to offer.

Best Unusual Museums in the US to Visit

Set aside some time and visit these best strange museums in America.

1) The Toilet Seat Museum

Toilet Seat Museum - Best Unusual Museums in the US
Photo: juliegomoll

Located in Alamo Heights, TX, over 1,000 uniquely decorated toilet seats are hanging on the wall like trophy heads. Each one has something different. Some have license plates, others have duck heads, and the one that covers cosmetic dentistry is priceless.

For owner/operator Barney Smith, toilet seat art is his medium, and he loves to share it with the world. If you ever lose your marbles, there’s a good chance that Barney has put them onto a toilet seat. This museum might be a bit of a stinker, but there’s something to be said for using crappy puns

See Related: Visiting the Blue Mosque of Istanbul

2) The National Mustard Museum

National Mustard Museum
Photo: McBeth

Located in Mt. Horeb, WI, and open seven days a week, everything you ever wanted to know about mustard can be found within this museum’s walls. There are old newspaper ads for mustard products and other memorabilia, but the highlight of a visit here is to see the mustard.

With a collection of over 5,600 different varieties from over 70 countries and all 50 states, you can even purchase many of the mustard varieties that are on display. Don’t want to go to Wisconsin to buy mustard? There’s an online store that will accommodate your cravings too. Do you have any Grey Poupon?

See Related: Most Beautiful & Best Vacations in the US

3) Tinkertown Museum

Tinkertown Museum
Photo: Robin Riat

Located in Sandia Park, New Mexico, this museum features more than 20 rooms filled with wood carvings. That doesn’t seem unusual until you realize that all carvings are from one artist.

It took Ross Ward over four decades to create the figures in the museum, and you can’t go wrong with the 50k glass bottles surrounding it. Or the fence of bicycle wheels. The fact that some of the displays are animated adds to the unusual nature of the museum.

4) The National Museum of Funeral History

Museum of Funeral History
Photo: Robert Kimberly

Located in Houston, Texas, The National Museum of Funeral History will let you see the country’s most extensive collection of funeral-related items. For added fun, rotating temporary exhibits will allow you to see specific niche funeral events, such as a rural family farm funeral home.

If you’ve ever wanted to trace the history of embalming or learn about fantasy coffins, The National Museum of Funeral History is the place for you! There is an admission fee for adults, seniors, and kids over 12, so trying to sneak in for free would be “dead” wrong.

5) Leila’s Hair Museum

Leilas Hair Museum
Photo: Missouri Division of Tourism

Hair is a personal art form, but what if you used hair to create portraits, landscapes, and jewelry? You’ll find the answer to your quest. You’ll find this museum in Independence, MO.

There’s even famous hair there, too; there’s Marilyn Monroe to Queen Victoria. With more than 600 wreaths and over 2,000 items of jewelry, you’re in for a “hairy” good time!

6) Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

Stabler Leadbeater Apothecary
Photo: Julian Dunn

Closed in 1933 because it was sold to a Quaker family, this museum in Alexandria, VA, is like taking a step back. Remember when you could drink a magic elixir and suddenly feel better?

Or snort some toad’s wort and wing of newt up with a mortar and pestle because you had a runny nose? You’ll get to explore the science beYou’llarry Potter or see how the Americans tried to win the War of 1812 as you stand in the footsteps of Martha Washington and Robert E. Lee.

Make sure you take two pills before visiting, and then call your doctor in the morning.

7) The Museum of Bad Art

Museum of Bad Art
Photo: Chris Devers

It could be said that all museums have a section of lousy art within them, but only this offering in Somerville, Massachusetts puts the best of the best bad art on display in one central location. How can you not love a museum that started in someone’s basement?

There’s so much bad art that deserves to be seen. If you see something you love that’s bad, there’s even a chance they put it on a t-shirt for you.

See Related: Best Places to Visit in Massachusetts

8) Spam Museum

Spam Museum Exhibit
Image by Myotus is licensed under CC 4.0

The Spam Museum is located in Austin, Minnesota, and is dedicated to the canned, processed meat product called spam. The museum has exhibits on the history of spam, how it is made, and how it is marketed. There is also a gift shop that sells spam-themed products.

The Spam Museum is a great place to learn about the history and production of spam. There are exhibits on the history of spam, how it is made, and how it is marketed.

The museum is free to visit and open seven days a week. It is popular with tourists, averaging around 10,000 visitors a year. Admission is free for all visitors.

See Related: Best East Coast Vacation Spots in the US

9) International UFO Museum

International UFO Museum Building
Image by tochichi is licensed under CC 2.0

The International UFO Museum is located in Roswell, New Mexico. It is dedicated to the study of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The museum exhibits the history of UFO sightings, the government’s response to UFOs, and the government’s UFO sightings.

When you visit this International Museum, you can learn about the history of unidentified flying objects and their sightings. The museum has exhibits on the government’s response to UFOs, as government science of UFO sightings.

The museum is open seven days a week. Admission is free for all visitors. It is popular with tourists, averaging around 9,000 visitors a year.

See Related: Best Ski Resorts in America

10) International Banana Museum

Exhibit at International Banana Museum
Image by m01229 is licensed under CC 2.0

The International Banana Museum is home to the world’s most extensive collection of world’s-related items. It was founded by Bob Hope and opened in 1992. The museum contains more than 20,000 items related to bananas, including artwork, clothing, gadgets, and even a banana-shaped swimming pool.

The best artifact in the International Banana Museum is a life-sized banana made of plaster. It was created by artist Margie Stivers in 1997 and is one of the most popular items in the museum. The banana is displayed in a glass case next to a sign that reads, “This is not a banana.”

11) Orleans Pharmacy Museum

Old Medicine Bottles Exhibit at Orleans Pharmacy Museum
Image “y octal / Ryan Lackey is licensed under CC 2.0

The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is a museum that is dedicated to the history of pharmacies and pharmacists in the United States. It is located in Orleans, Massachusetts, and was founded in 1992.

The museum is home to exhibits showcasing different aspects of pharmacy history. Some shows include a recreated apothecary, an early American drugstore, and a nineteenth-century soda fountain. Numerous interactive displays allow visitors to experience what it was like to be a pharmacist or patient in different eras.

The most attractive feature is the recreated apothecary. This exhibit is home to various items that pharmacists used in the past. It’s exciting to see all the differeIt’sools and equipment used to mix and create medicines.

See Related: Best National Parks in the United States

12) Idaho Potato Museum

Idaho Potato Museum Building

Have you ever seen an entire museum dedicated to potatoes? Probably not, unless you visit this bizarre museum. The Idaho Potato Museum is a museum in Blackfoot, Idaho, the United States, that celebrates the history of the potato. The entire museum has exhibits on the potato’s history, its importance to the potatoes of Idaho, and the many different ways that potatoes are used. The museum also has a gift shop and a theater.

The most attractive part of the Idaho Potato Museum is its exhibits on the potato’s history and how it is used. Potato exhibits provide much exciting information about potatoes and are very educational. The museum’s gift shop is also great formuseum’sthemed souvenirs.

See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Idaho Falls, Idaho

13) Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

Interior of the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
Management / Tripadvisor

The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is a museum that is dedicated to the history of timekeeping. It is located in Tuscon, Arizona, and was founded by Dr. Fred Espenak in 2006.

This weird museum has a collection of timepieces from different historical periods, including watches, clocks, and other devices for measuring time. It also has an array of rare books and manuscripts on timekeeping.

The most interesting artifact in the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is probably the pocket watch that Abraham-Louis Breguet made in 1815. This watch is notable because it is one of the first to be made with a silicon balance spring, making it more accurate than traditional watches.

14) Neon Museum

Outdoor Display at Neon Museum
Image by Gilda is licensed under CC 2.0

The Neon Museum is a museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, dedicated to preserving neon signs. The museum has a collection of more than 150 neon signs from different businesses and organizations.

The Neon Museum is a great place to visit if you want to learn more about the history of neon signs. It also has some g and unique characters that you find anywhere else.

The most interesting artifact in the museum is probably the sign made for the Moulin Rouge nightclub. This sign is notable because it is one of the oldest surviving neon signs in Las Vegas.

It was initially installed in 1942 and is still in working condition. Like what you are hearing? Check out these other best things to do in Las Vegas.

15) The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum Gatlinburg

Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum
Image by Aludden1 is licensed under CC 4.0

The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a tribute to one of the most common kitchen items. The museum has more than 35,000 shakers on display from all over the world. The collection includes shakers in all shapes and sizes made from various materials.

Some of the unique shakers in the collection were those created as promotional items. For example, there are shakers in the shape of Coca-Cola bottles and Volkswagen Beetles. There are also shakers in the form of presidents, animals, and other objects.

There are so many weird and unusual museums in the United States it was hard to choose just a few. From a museum of ice cream to one dedicated to toilets, there is something for everyone who wants to see American culture’s strange and bizarre side. If you’re ever in these states, check out you’re wacky museums!

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Kate @ Babaganosh.org

Sunday 27th of July 2014

What a fun list! The museum of bad art, the funeral museum and the apothecary museum sound interesting.

The hair museum would make me feel a little sick I think. When we were in New Orleans visiting the 1850 house they told us that back then people used to make hair wreaths and hair art out of dead people's hair, and we saw a couple of the pieces hanging up on the wall. I don't know why but the thought of having to make crafts out of dead people's hair made me feel a little sick inside. Although I do have to admit that the flowers and shapes they are able to make out of hair are very impressive!