The U.S. is full of museums, and it's easy to see why most exist. These 20, however, are totally out of left field.
1 of 20
The Bone Museum in Brooklyn, NY
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If the human body fascinates you, there are museums across the world that would trip your trigger. But if bones in particular are your jam, The Bone Museum in Brooklyn, New York, will have your head spinning. It’s relatively new, so head over and find out more about the human skeleton.
2 of 20
Oz Museum in Wamego, KS
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At this point, Kansas just exists to pay homage to The Wizard of Oz. The film deserves a museum because its lore is fascinating. Said lore is a bit inhumane but still fascinating.
3 of 20
Museum of Weird in Austin, TX
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What better way to cement your status as the weirdest city in America than by opening the Museum of Weird? Austin, Texas, is doing things right when it comes to city branding. Take weird here to mean extraordinary and bizarre rather than creepy and odd.
4 of 20
Spam Museum in Austin, MN
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There must be something about naming a town Austin that makes it different. Austin, Minnesota, is home to the Spam Museum. If you’re against eating this divisive food, the Spam Museum will not appeal to you. But if you like Spam, it’s a quick, quirky stop.
5 of 20
Pizza Brain’s Museum of Pizza Culture in Philadelphia, PA
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If there were only one food on the planet deserving of a museum, it would be pizza. This place has all the pizza paraphernalia you can imagine, and, of course, it has lots of pizza that you can eat. What a wonderful world we live in.
6 of 20
Hobo Museum in Britt, IA
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Britt, Iowa, celebrates hobos in many ways. It has a museum dedicated to the group and hosts an annual Hobo Days town celebration. It may seem odd, but visiting the museum may dispel some misconceptions about hobos.
7 of 20
Museum of Death in New Orleans, LA
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There are multiple Museums of Death across the United States, but the one in New Orleans just has different vibes. It’s the perfect U.S. city for such a museum, making it the perfect daytime activity for anyone who’s visiting because of the town’s morbid and spooky history.
8 of 20
Moist Towelette Museum in East Lansing, MI
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Does society need the Moist Towelette Museum? No, probably not. But in the United States, we’re far past the point of having what we need, so why not indulge in the bizarre things that we want?
9 of 20
International Banana Museum in Mecca, CA
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Honestly, is there any other fruit that deserves a museum? The International Banana Museum definitely gives off “there’s always money in the banana stand vibes.” We imagine the Bluth family would approve.
10 of 20
Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, KY
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No, the Vent Haven Museum does not show off a variety of vents. That would be far less creepy. This museum holds a collection of ventriloquial dolls. The museum is only open seasonally, which makes it far spookier.
11 of 20
Hammer Museum in Haines, AK
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The Hammer Museum in Haines, Arkansas, proves that if you gather enough like items and put them on display, you can call it a museum. But if you love hammers or find information about basic technology at all fascinating, this is the place for you.
12 of 20
National Mustard Museum in Middleton, WI
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Some of the strangest corners in the United States exist in Wisconsin. In Middleton, Wisconsin, is the National Mustard Museum, “home to the world's largest collection of prepared mustards and mustard memorabilia,” according to Tripadvisor. Ketchup lovers would be wise to stay away.
13 of 20
Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections in Carmel, IN
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If you want something you love to become even cuter, make it tiny. The Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections gets it. The items on display at this museum might feel like glorified dollhouses, but they’re still intriguing to look at.
14 of 20
Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot, ID
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It would be incredibly disappointing if Idaho didn’t have a museum dedicated to its most famous export. All states need to follow suit. A corn museum in Iowa, an orange museum in Florida. There would be no better way to learn about exports than awesome museums.
15 of 20
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss in Springfield, MA
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Dr. Seuss’ work has been so influential that the man deserves thousands of museums. The people in Springfield, Massachusetts, have got life figured out with the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss museum. Of all the places you can go, this place should be one of them.
16 of 20
International UFO Museum in Roswell, NM
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The International UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico, is another museum that absolutely had to be built. Where would we be in life if it didn’t? Well, most of us would be exactly where we are now, but it’s comforting to know this museum exists.
17 of 20
Garbage Museum in New York, NY
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If you want to see a bunch of trash for free, you could go to a dump. If you want to see a bunch of trash for a cost, you could go to the Garbage Museum in New York City. To be fair, the trash at the museum is much nicer than the trash at the dump.
18 of 20
Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, ME
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Cryptozoology is a little ridiculous, but it’s fun. Although some say that the purpose of a museum is to educate people, it should also be focused on being fun. That’s why the Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine, was such a good idea. Ridiculous and fun while still educational.
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Vacuum Cleaner Museum in Portland, OR
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What other cleaning appliance is interesting enough to have its own museum? The answer is none. You probably won’t spend much time here if you visit, but you’ll be interested in seeing just how far vacuum technology has come.
20 of 20
Dialysis Museum in Seattle, WA
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This museum is just a bunch of dialysis machines. Like every museum on this list, it’s not necessary at all, but there are most certainly people (probably fewer than a dozen) in the world who find it interesting, and that’s what makes Earth so great.
Acacia is a South Dakota-based writer with a love of all things pop culture, particularly music, television, and celebrities. Her previous work can be found on Nicki Swift and Mashed. When she's not writing, Acacia is watching television, listening to music, completing a crossword puzzle, or reading.