This page features unusual, superlative, or weird
museums. In order to make it on this page, the museum must be unique in some way. This is a work in progress. I have
many more such museums in my files. As I get time, I'll add more. If you would like to nominate others, email them to me
at JohnKremer@bookmarket.com. Thanks!
Alaska
The Hammer Museum, P O Box 702, Haines AK 99827; 907-767-5674. Email:
pahlfam@aptalaska.net. Contains 1,200 hammers representing a wide range of trades,
from colonial times through the industrial age to the present.
Arizona
The Bead Museum, 5754 W Glenn Drive, Glendale AZ; 623-931-2737. — The world's
largest collection of ancient and contemporary beads and bead art.
Besh-Ba-Gowah Museum, Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaelogical Park, 150 N Pine Street, Globe
AZ 85501; 520-425-0320. — Features the world's largest single collection of Salado pottery.
Champlin Fighter Aircraft Museum, 4636 Fighter Aces Drive,
Mesa AZ 85215-2502; 480-830-4540. Email: champlinfighter@worldnet.att.net.
— World's largest fighter aircraft museum.
Meteor Crater's Museum of
Astrogeology, P O Box 70, Flagstaff AZ 86002-0070; Offices:
520-289-5898; Crater: 520-289-4002. Email: info@meteorcrater.com. —
This meteor crater is the best-preserved meteorite impact site on
Earth. At 570 feet deep, it could contain a 60-story building; and at almost a mile across, it could hold 20 football fields.
Pima Air & Space
Museum, 6000 E Valencia Road, Tucson AZ 85706-9403;
520-574-0462. — The largest privately funded air museum in the world.
Tours to Davis Monthan Air Force Base's AMARC facility also originate
from here (520-618-4806). The AMARC facility features the world's
largest air force (made up of moth-balled planes). The museum also
features the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame.
Titan Missile Museum National
Historic Landmark, Titan II ICBM Cite 571-7, Sahuarita AZ
510-625-7736. — The only routinely, publicly accessible missile
complex in the world. First opened in May 1986.
World's Smallest
Museum, Jake Reaney, Curator, 1111 W Highway 60, Superior AZ
85273; 520-689-5857; Fax: 520-689-2707. Email: jake@smallestmuseum.com.
The museum houses the World's Largest Apache Tear and the roof
outside the small structure sports the largest sign made entirely of
beer cans (1800 cans approximately). Adjoining the museum outside is
Avenidas de las Cascadas (Waterfalls Avenue) which has five of the most unique fountains in the world.
California
The Huntington,
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino CA 91108; 626-405-2100. — This museum
features a library, art collection, and 15 botanic gardens. The
Desert Garden features the largest collection of cactus and succulents in North America.
Scripps Institute of
Oceanography, 2300 Exposition Way, La Jolla CA 92093-0207;
858-534-FISH. — The largest oceanographic museum in the United States.
Florida
Salvador Dali Museum,
1000 3rd Street, Saint Petersburg FL 33701-4901; 727-823-3767. —
Features the world's largest collection of Salvador Dali works. Mind-boggling!
Illinois
National Vietnam Veterans Art
Museum, 1801 S Indiana Avenue, Chicago IL 60616;
312-326-0270; Fax: 312-326-9767. Email:
nvvamart@cs.com. — This is the
only museum in the world with a permanent art memorial to honor all
thee men and women who died in Vietnam.
Indiana
Children's Museum of
Indianapolis, 3000 N Meridian Street, Indianapolis IN
46208-4716; 317-334-3322; 800-208-KIDS. — The world's largest children's museum.
The Lincoln
Museum, 200 E Berry Street, Fort Wayne IN 46802;
219-455-3864; Fax: 219-455-6922. The world's largest museum dedicated to Abraham Lincoln.
Iowa
Danish Mill Gift
Shop, P O Box 245, Elk Horn IA 51531; 712-764-7472;
800-451-7960. Email: windmill@netins.net. — The
largest Danish gift shop in the United States. The villages of Elk
Horn and Kimballton make up the largest rural Danish settlement in the U.S.
Maryland
American Visionary Art Museum,
900 Key Highway, Baltimore MD 21230; 410-244-1900. — America's
official national museum, repository, and education center for the
best in original, self-taught artistry.
Chesapeake Bay Maritime
Museum, Mill Street, Navy Point, St. Michaels MD 21663;
410-745-2916. — Features the world's largest collection of Bay boats.
Great Blacks in Wax
Museum, 1601 E North Avenue, Baltimore MD 21203;
410-522-9547. — America's first black history wax museum.
National Cryptologic Museum,
Colony 7 Road, Fort George Meade MD 20755; 301-688-5849. — The only
national museum devoted to cryptology.
Michigan
Ann Arbor Hands-On
Museum, 220 E Ann Street, Ann Arbor MI 48103; 734-995-5439. —
Features the world's largest vacuum cleaner hose.
Minnesota
Science Museum of
Minnesota; 651-221-9444. — Features the first convertible
IMAX Dome in the U.S. (the dome rotates into place in front of a large, flat screen).
Montana
C.M. Russell Museum, 400 13th
Street N, Great Falls MT 59401; 406-727-8787. — Features the world's
most complete collection of Charles M. Russell's original art and personal objects.
O'Fallon Museum, 723 S
Main Street, Baker MT 59313; 406-778-3265. — Features the world's
largest steer outside the museum.
New Jersey
Liberty Science Center,
Liberty State Park, 251 Phillip Street, Jersey City NJ 07305-4600;
201-200-1000. Web: http://www.lsc.org. Features the
U.S.'s largest IMAX Dome theater.
New York
Dole Salad Museum
Texas
Antique Sewing Machine Museum,
804 W Abram Street, Arlington TX 76013-6903; 817-275-0971. — Features
the world's largest working sewing machine (16 feet long by 10 feet high) outside the museum.
Helium Monument, 1200 Streit
Drive, Amarillo TX 79106-1730; 806-355-9548. — This six-story
stainless steel time column commemorates the element of helium, found
near Amarillo in the world's greatest quantity.
Wisconsin
Circus World
Museum, 426 Water Street, Baraboo WI 53913-2597;
608-356-0800; Fax: 608-356-1800. — Among other things, this museum
features the world's largest collection of circus wagons and memorabilia.
George W Brown Jr. Ojibwe Museum and
Cultural Center, 603 Peace Pipe, Lac du Flambeau WI
54538-0804; 715-588-3333. — Features a world-record sturgeon taken from a nearby lake.
Mt. Horeb Mustard
Museum, 109 E. Main Street, Mount Horeb WI 53572;
608-437-3986; 800-438-6878; Fax: 608-437-4018. — Features the world's
largest collection of mustard and mustard-related collectibles.
National Railroad
Museum, 2285 S Broadway, Green Bay WI 54304-4832;
920-437-7623. — Features the world's largest steam locomotive, the Aero train.
Internet Museums
Unusual Museums of the
Internet — Explore such museums as the Tissue Box Cover
Collection, Online Fast-Food Toy Museum, or the British Lawn Mower
Museum, among other wonderful Internet museums.
Museum of Bad Art
— Just one of the many Internet museums you won't find in real life.
Roadside
America — Features 8,000 unusual roadside distractions and attractions.
World's Largest
Roadside Attractions — Check out the world's largest termite, catsup bottle, teapot, etc.
