If you're anything like me, you love bizarre things and museums, so what could be better than combining the two? Not every museum has to be a high-brow beacon of culture, and plenty of exhibits are dedicated to some very outrageous items.
Museum directors around the world have curated some offbeat and downright weird displays, from tap water to lawnmowers to mere salt and pepper shakers.
So, take note and add a weird destination or two to your bucket list.
Beijing Tap Water Museum (China)
A converted pipe house in the center of Beijing is a museum dedicated to all things tap water. The Beijing Tap Water Museum boasts over 130 "real objects," such as vintage water coupons dating back to the first water company, the Jingshi Tap Water Company.
Residents of the Forbidden City might not have the cleanest drinking water, but that didn't stop the curators from creating a space paying homage to appliances, models, and artifacts related to the nectar of life. A must-see of the exhibit is the miniature tap water filtration system.
Museum of Bad Art (United States)
No, not your refrigerator, which is cluttered with your child's stick figure drawings, which they think are the greatest creation next to sliced bread, but rather the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) in Boston, Massachusetts. MOBA is dedicated to collecting and celebrating art, whether a happy little accident or not, resulting in what some curators would consider a creative and frame-worthy piece.
Located inside the Dorchester Brewing Company, MOBA's operating hours are the same as those of the breweries. It offers free admission and will reaffirm your conviction that "yes, even a child could do that."
The Dog Collar Museum (England)
Dog lovers around the world unite! England's Dog Collar Museum, located in Leeds Castle, has the only exhibit of paraphernalia dedicated to all things canine. The oldest item in its collection is a Spanish iron herd mastiff's collar from the late 15th century.
The last owner of the estate, Lady Baillie, loved dogs and was never seen without her beloved pets at her side. This love inspired the creation of the museum. Be sure to check out the antique collars dating back to medieval times, which show collars sporting spikes that protected them from wild beast attacks.
British Lawnmower Museum (England)
Round up the neighborhood fathers and prepare your best dad jokes because we're heading to the British Lawnmower Museum in Southport, England. Started by Ex-Racing champion Brian Radam, who became interested in lawnmower equipment as a young boy, the museum has become a leading authority on vintage lawnmowers. It now specializes in antique garden machinery and provides needed parts and the conservation of manuscript materials.
The museum's guests can see lawnmowers owned by British Royalty, the world's most expensive grass-cutting equipment, and the first solar-powered robot grass-chopper.
Avanos Hair Museum (Turkey)
In Avanos, Turkey, guests of the Hair Museum can view exhibits of hair gathered from over 16,000 women. This small Middle Eastern village is known for its incredible earthenware pottery and antiquities, but potter Chez Gallip created the museum in the caves under his studio.
The locks of every length and shade also come with the names and addresses of the women to whom the hair once belonged. I like weird places, but this one might have me running for the exit.
Museum of Bread Culture (Germany)
This unique Southern German museum dedicates itself to the 6,000-year history of bread making and explores its historical impact on worldwide civilizations and societies. The Museum of Bread Culture was founded in 1955 by Willy Eiselen and his son Hermann in Ulm, who were manufacturing suppliers to the industry.
However, we recommend you pack yourself a lunch when you visit because there isn't one edible loaf in the whole place.
Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum (United States)
When does collecting certain items stop being a hobby and become an obsession? We turn to the expert, Andrea Ludden, who opened up the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, TN, after her small collection gradually turned into 22,000 pairs of shakers. Visitors can also check out the vast pepper mill collection while there.
In this Smoky Mountain museum, Miniature McDonald's menu items, dog and fire hydrant figurines, skeletons, and vegetable shakers represent small-town Americana. Of course, guests can always pick out their own pair of shakers in the gift shop to take home with them.
Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum (Japan)
If you've ever been a broke college student or unemployed and living on a shoestring budget, you probably have eaten your fair share of Ramen noodles. And what better way to pay homage to this tasty little meal than visiting the Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka, Japan?
This interactive museum displays several exhibits dedicated to Momofuku Ando, the inventor of Ramen, and the entire catalog of every Nissin instant noodle product. It also has a kitchen where visitors can create their own instant chicken substitute meal in a bowl. Hot water is provided.
Museum of Death (United States)
New Orleans, Louisiana, is known for its colorful and rich history, shrouded in mysterious deaths and ghost hauntings. The Crescent City also hosts the Museum of Death in the infamous French Quarter. Patrons can explore the myriad of antique medical utensils used during autopsies, the history of cannibalistic societies, crime scene photos, and so much more.
The morbidly curious will get their fill of weird and gross paraphernalia, but the museum does have a warning label—enter at your own risk.
The Kuntskamera (Russia)
Russia's first museum, The Kuntskamera, might not seem all that weird initially, but upon closer inspection, visitors will see exactly how bizarre it is. Peter the Great assembled a massive collection of more than 200,000 natural and human oddities as a means to dispel the Russian people's belief in monsters.
The most notable of these curiosities is the collection of preserved human fetuses showcasing anatomical mutation. Located in St. Petersburg, the building is also home to the modern Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography.
Museum of Enduring Beauty (Malaysia)
If you're feeling pretty, oh so pretty, you should visit the Museum of Enduring Beauty in Malacca, Malaysia. Located on the third floor of the People's Museum, this unique place opened in 1996 to showcase beauty standards and concepts.
With displays of foot binding, corsetting and shaping, lip stretching, and tattooing, this Malaysian museum makes wearing stilettos a walk in the park (or on the runway). The cost of entry is only about 0.50 cents, but the building doesn't have air conditioning, so your mascara might run down your face.
Cathedral of Junk (United States)
It is not your typical museum, but it is more like a living art gallery. The Cathedral of Junk in Austin, Texas, is one of the weirdest places you can visit. As a local, I've often visited this whimsical, multilevel shelter made with 60-plus tons of discarded furniture, home goods, dolls, mannequins, and other items.
Located in the backyard of artist Vince Hannemann, the Cathedral wasn't started to get attention; instead, he just wanted to create something uniquely weird with recycled items that no one wanted. Exploring the Cathedral is by appointment only and is free, but donations are appreciated.
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