15 Must-See Museums You Didn’t Know Existed

Museums, festivals, workshops, festivals, and fairs are some of the best ways to meet like-minded people. Do you have someone in your life who loves gourmet mustard? Or perhaps they bake fresh bread every chance they get.

If so, there’s actually a museum out there where they can deepen their understanding through fascinating finds that, in some instances, date back thousands of years. Together, let’s take a tour of the quirky side of things and see if anything jumps out at you.

Idaho Potato Museum

Are potatoes a staple in your household? Well, if you’re ever passing through Idaho, why not stop by the Idaho Potato Museum? Located in the old Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot, it’s a cute little spot with interactive exhibits to lead you through the evolution of the prized potato.  

Precious Moments Museum

Did you grow up collecting Precious Moments figurines? Did you know they have a lovely chapel and gardens in Carthage, Missouri, showcasing the art and inspiration of the founding artist Samuel J. Butcher? The murals, figurines, gift shop, and cafe are all heavenly, making this a worthwhile trip for any collector in your life. 

The Neon Museum

Looking for something quirky to do during your time in Vegas? The Neon Museum has you covered. On an outdoor plot of land spanning a little over two-and-a-half acres, you’ll find ancient neon signs from former businesses and casinos. 

Try to go in the evening when, first, it’s cooler outside and, second, all the displays are lit up. It’s a great way to tour the bright lights that light up this neon city. 

Museum of Bread Culture

Let’s make a hard right and sail over to Germany for another study of a food item that has been a staple for centuries. This museum is so in-depth, it takes visitors back 6,000 years in time, proving that bread is an indispensable part of human civilization.

National Mustard Museum

Fancy a little mustard on that bread you’re about to use to make a sandwich? If you can’t get enough of this condiment, head over to Middleton, Wisconsin. Not only will the National Mustard Museum reveal its origin story, but it’ll also walk you through more than 5,500 varieties. 

When you’ve completed your tour, you can indulge in a mustard tasting and then take advantage of the opportunity to line your shopping cart with a few bottles for the road. 

The Museum of Bad Art

Isn’t art subjective? What makes it “bad” vs. “good?” The fine people of Boston are happy to show you when you purchase a ticket to The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA). Located inside the Dorchester Brewing Company, this is your chance to be an art critic and see if you care to make a case for any of the items in this eclectic collection. 

Museum of Broken Relationships

Like something out of a Shakespearean tragedy, this may be the saddest museum in the world. If you find yourself trying to heal a broken heart while in Croatia, come here for a reminder that you’re not alone. In fact, you’re in the leagues of countless others. 

Located inside a baroque palace, this is actually a very interesting exhibition of personal objects and brief synopses of some of the star-crossed lovers who have gone before us. 

Instant Ramen Museum

Back to something a little more light-hearted. How about a museum dedicated to the college staple: CupNoodles? All you have to do is board a plane to Osaka, and you can salivate over 800 different product packages before savoring a cup or two in their tasting room and indulging in a trinket from the shop. 

Museum of Fruit

Let’s get back to the healthier side of things. Over in Turin, Northern Italy, you can enjoy a display of over a thousand pieces of artificial fruit. Even though the pieces are models, you’ll still walk away astounded by the sheer number of varieties of apples that exist in the world and how closely art can imitate life.

Museum of Failure

Doesn’t it always seem like word travels fast, especially when you’re dealing with a failure? Well, the Museum of Failure is a traveling exhibition that takes its failures with it wherever it goes. In the past, it’s set up shop in places like New York City and Washington, D.C. This year, it’s in Budapest. 

Like the Museum of Bad Art, this one is interesting because it takes a look at failed products and services that lacked the innovation to make it big. Conversation starters are ripe for the plucking here. Indeed, you’ll have plenty of fun exploring what was deemed to be a failure and why it didn’t make it. 

Cité du Vin

When people go to Bordeaux, they flock to the vineyards – and rightly so. But don’t overlook Cité du Vin, a sensory experience that is enormously informative about the history and creation of the world’s most beloved drink. One could even say its history gives Bread a run for its money!  

The Lunch Box Museum

If you find yourself in western Georgia, see how close you are to The Lunch Box Museum. This is a cute little spot filled with over 5,000 antique metal lunch boxes, thermoses, and trays. If you have happy childhood memories of taking one of those to school or seeing your Mom fill one up for Dad before work, this could be a happy trip down memory lane. 

International UFO Museum and Research Center

This one you may have heard of. It’s irresistible if you’re convinced there’s life out there. Located in the ever-famous Roswell, New Mexico, you can step inside the fascinating world of UFOs and learn more about the 1947 Roswell Incident. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with keeping an open mind, right? 

National Museum of Funeral History

Who knew Houston took such an interest in the history of death? This is a massive museum, with over 35,000 square feet of artifacts and relics – and it’s much more than meets the eye. It’s not a ghoulish affair at all. 

In fact, some of the exhibits are quite impressive, examining presidential funerals and the Shroud of Turin. Death is the one thing that none of us can escape, so why not take a tour through its history? 

The Mob Museum

How about a better understanding of certain members of society who were rumored to send a few people to a few funeral homes themselves? 

Aptly located in downtown Vegas (who knew the city had so many quirky museums), you can tour four floors of mob-related memorabilia and then wrap things up with an immersive experience through the history of Prohibition in the museum’s basement. 

Education Abounds In Every Corner

No matter where you travel – and no matter your quirky interests – there’s likely a museum out there to help you learn more about it! From mustard to UFOs, the world is your oyster. 

Whether you’re traveling abroad for a new experience or staying in the States, it’s likely we already have a destination guide to help you make the most of your next city. And, if we don’t meet you at a mustard tasting, perhaps we will over a glass of Bordeaux!