1. The Museum of Bad Art – Somerville, Massachusetts
The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) proudly showcases art that’s “too bad to be ignored.” Nestled in the basement of the Somerville Theatre, this place isn’t trying to mock—it celebrates artistic effort gone wonderfully wrong, according to Nell Porter-Brown from Harvard Magazine. The collection includes works like “Lucy in the Field with Flowers,” a painting where the background might be nature or possibly outer space. It’s oddly comforting to know there’s a museum out there that truly values passion over polish.
What makes MOBA unique is its dead-serious devotion to its hilarious mission. Each piece is carefully curated and comes with a tongue-in-cheek caption that somehow adds to the appeal. This museum reminds us that failure, when framed properly, is kind of beautiful. And hey, admission is usually free—how can you not peek?
2. The Idaho Potato Museum – Blackfoot, Idaho
Located in a former railroad depot, the Idaho Potato Museum takes its spuds seriously. This is the place to learn how Idaho became synonymous with potatoes, from agricultural science to pop culture references. Exhibits include the world’s largest potato chip (according to Guinness), a potato-themed gift shop, and yes, a potato selfie station. If you’re lucky, they’ll even give you a free baked potato.
While it sounds like a gimmick, the museum offers legit insight into how potatoes shaped Idaho’s economy and global reputation. It even covers culinary trends and potato history dating back thousands of years. For a veggie with such humble roots, it sure has a star-studded résumé. And honestly, the pun potential alone makes it worth the trip.
3. International Cryptozoology Museum – Portland, Maine
Ever wonder where you can see a plaster cast of Bigfoot’s foot? Look no further than Portland, where the International Cryptozoology Museum explores creatures that science hasn’t exactly confirmed—like the Loch Ness Monster or the Jersey Devil. Founded by cryptozoologist Loren Coleman, this museum is part science, part speculative wonder. It’s a treasure trove for fans of the mysterious and maybe-just-mythical.
Despite its fringe subject, the museum takes its mission seriously, with exhibits on zoology and myth blending in fascinating ways. There’s even hair supposedly from an “unknown primate,” which you can examine and decide for yourself. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, you’ll walk out questioning what’s really out there. It’s like X-Files had a baby with a natural history museum.
4. The Vent Haven Museum – Fort Mitchell, Kentucky
Dummies. Hundreds of dummies. The Vent Haven Museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to ventriloquism, housing over 900 ventriloquist figures from decades past, according to Callie Budrick from Visit Cincy. If that doesn’t sound slightly unsettling, you’re stronger than most.
Started by a passionate collector named W.S. Berger, the museum includes not just the figures but letters, scripts, and photos from ventriloquists all over the globe. Some dummies are famous, others are forgotten, but all of them stare at you like they know your secrets. Guided tours are required—probably so no one runs screaming without context. It’s niche, creepy, and oddly heartfelt.
5. The Kazoo Museum – Beaufort, South Carolina
Kazoos: the world’s most underappreciated instrument. The Kazoo Museum in Beaufort offers a surprising depth of history behind this humble noisemaker, tracing its evolution since the 1840s. It’s attached to a working kazoo factory where you can even build your own instrument. It might sound like a punchline, but it’s actually kind of magical.
The museum showcases antique kazoos, bizarre designs (kazoo guns?!), and their role in American music. There’s a genuine appreciation here for how something so simple can bring so much joy. And yes, there’s plenty of hands-on kazoo playing, so come ready to hum. It’s goofy, joyful, and strangely inspiring.
6. The Museum of the Weird – Austin, Texas
Tucked behind a gift shop on 6th Street, the Museum of the Weird lives up to its name. Originally part of the Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts store, it’s filled with mummies, shrunken heads, and other oddities that feel lifted from a traveling sideshow. There’s a supposed “ice man” on display—a frozen humanoid figure with a mysterious backstory. Whether real or fake, the exhibits are dripping with campy creepiness.
The museum pays tribute to the old dime museums of the 19th century, which were less science and more spectacle. You’ll also get live sideshow performances depending on when you visit. Think sword swallowing, fire-eating, and heavy doses of “what did I just see?” It’s Austin keeping it weird, museum-style.
7. The Neon Museum – Las Vegas, Nevada
When old Vegas signs die, they don’t go to heaven—they go to the Neon Boneyard, according to Andrea Bennett from Condé Nast Traveler. The Neon Museum rescues and restores historic neon signs that once lit up the Strip in all their glitzy glory. Walking through feels like a stroll through time, with signs from long-gone casinos, motels, and diners. Some are restored, some are artfully decayed, but all are captivating.
The museum offers night tours where many of the signs are illuminated again, casting a nostalgic glow on the desert floor. It’s an oddly poetic tribute to Vegas’ ever-changing identity. You’ll see how design trends evolved, and how even a broken sign can still shine. Bring your camera—it’s impossible not to.
8. The Spam Museum – Austin, Minnesota
Yes, there’s an entire museum dedicated to canned meat, and it’s oddly delightful. The Spam Museum dives deep into the history of this iconic food, from its wartime contributions to its pop culture status (hello, Monty Python). You’ll find vintage ads, recipes, and a wall of Spam from around the globe. Plus, staff members known as “Spambassadors” are on hand to answer any burning questions.
The interactive exhibits are surprisingly engaging—kids can pretend to package Spam on a simulated assembly line. It’s a feast of nostalgia, salt, and curiosity. Whether you love it or gag at the thought, you’ll leave understanding why Spam has stuck around for nearly a century. Admit it: you kind of want to go now.
9. The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum – Gatlinburg, Tennessee
This museum contains over 20,000 pairs of salt and pepper shakers from around the world. Run by a husband-and-wife duo, it started from a personal collection that simply got out of hand—in the best way possible. You’ll see shakers shaped like everything from presidents to penguins to outhouses. It’s a delightfully obsessive tribute to kitsch.
The museum also offers a quirky look at cultural design across decades and countries. Who knew spice dispensers could be so diverse and expressive? There’s even a European sister museum in Spain run by the same family. Gatlinburg’s might just be the most flavorful museum in America.
10. The Museum of Jurassic Technology – Los Angeles, California
This place defies explanation and that’s kind of the point. The Museum of Jurassic Technology walks the line between fact and fiction, blending real scientific exhibits with myth and mystery in a shadowy, surreal setting. You might read about a dog that could diagnose diseases or view microscopic sculptures inside the eye of a needle. And you’ll leave unsure which parts were real.
It’s part art installation, part philosophical rabbit hole. Visitors are encouraged to suspend disbelief and let the strangeness wash over them. The museum is beautifully curated with antique cabinets and dark, labyrinthine rooms. It’s like stepping into the brain of a curious Victorian who may or may not have been totally sane.
11. The UFO Watchtower – Hooper, Colorado
The UFO Watchtower isn’t just a museum—it’s a vortex, a campground, and a stage for alien encounters. Located in the San Luis Valley, a hotspot for UFO sightings, it offers a panoramic view of the sky and, if you believe the stories, something far beyond. The small indoor exhibit includes alien dolls, newspaper clippings, and tinfoil hats galore. There’s also a “healing garden” said to have paranormal energy fields.
This place was started by a former rancher who simply got tired of ignoring all the UFO buzz. The Watchtower embraces the weird with open arms and a telescope. Whether you’re a believer or just want a good story, the stars feel just a bit weirder out here. It’s kind of like X-Files meets Burning Man.
12. The Bunny Museum – Altadena, California
With over 35,000 bunny items and counting, The Bunny Museum claims to be the “hoppiest place in the world.” It started as a couple’s inside joke and snowballed into a fluffy obsession, now housed in a residential-style building bursting with rabbit memorabilia. Plush toys, figurines, costumes, even actual live rabbits hop around. It’s like stepping into an Easter basket that exploded.
The museum is open daily (including holidays, no joke), and everything about it feels deeply personal and strangely touching. It’s whimsical and chaotic in a way that makes you root for the passion behind it. Visitors either love it or leave stunned, but few forget it. It’s proof that love—and bunnies—multiply fast.
13. The Museum of Death – New Orleans, Louisiana
Not for the faint of heart, this museum confronts mortality head-on. The Museum of Death explores everything from funerary practices to serial killers with an unflinching eye and a hefty dose of morbid curiosity. You’ll find crime scene photos, body bags, and antique embalming tools among the artifacts. It’s meant to educate, disturb, and maybe desensitize all at once.
Originally based in California, this New Orleans branch keeps things extra gothic with its French Quarter backdrop. Visitors walk away a little shaken and a lot more informed about the business of dying. It’s definitely not a place for kids—or light lunch. But for the morbidly curious, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience.
14. The Clown Museum – Lake George, New York
Clowns might terrify some, but this museum aims to preserve their legacy. The Clown Museum at the House of Frankenstein Wax Museum showcases everything from classic circus clown memorabilia to terrifying pop culture interpretations. Think vintage posters, clown shoes the size of small boats, and porcelain dolls with questionable intentions. Whether you laugh or scream is entirely up to you.
Founded to honor the tradition of clowning, it walks the tightrope between tribute and horror. The museum doesn’t shy away from creepy associations, leaning into the full emotional spectrum clowns evoke. It’s silly, nostalgic, and a little spine-tingling. For better or worse, you won’t forget it.
15. The Vacuum Cleaner Museum – St. James, Missouri
Who knew vacuuming had a backstory? The Vacuum Cleaner Museum offers a surprisingly engaging look at the evolution of this essential household gadget. You’ll find dozens of models from different eras, including those once sold door-to-door with full-on sales pitches. There’s even a 1930s Hoover that could double as a piece of industrial art.
The museum is run by the Tacony Corporation, a vacuum manufacturer that decided to turn their showroom into a shrine. Each model comes with tidbits about its technological and social impact. It’s cleaner history than you’d expect (sorry). And yes—you’ll leave weirdly grateful for your modern cordless vacuum.
