Recently I was talking to a friend (Hi Catherine!) and somehow we got on the subject of the Devil’s Rope Museum on Route 66. Years ago, I planned a road trip along parts of Route 66 with a boyfriend who was particularly into that historic byway. I even did all the driving. (And yet his family maintains that I was mean, inconsiderate, and selfish. That should have told me everything I needed to know about how he was promoting me, and therefore should have given me the excuse I needed to leave even sooner than I did. Hindsight.)
One of the things I was looking forward to on that particular stretch of the trip was that museum. I wanted to see how much one could say about barbed wire. Enough to make a museum? Surely not. But apparently so.
I never got to find out, though, because when we finally rolled up on McLean, Texas (Population 665), the museum was closed, despite what my guidebook said. And it was impossible to see anything through the grimy, fenced off windows. What a crushing disappointment.
I do love quirky little museums. America is full of them, if you take the time to look. What follows are just a few museums I’d love to check out if I ever find myself in their neighborhoods.
Point Pleasant, West Virginia is a quaint little town, and it also happens to be the home of the Mothman Festival, the Mothman Statue, and the Mothman Museum. If you’ve never heard of the Mothman, first of all, where the hell have you been? I mean, this creature destroyed an entire bridge in 1966, and they have the witnesses handwritten police reports to prove it! Come see for yourself. You can also check out a lot of the original props from the Sony Pictures Movie The Mothman Prophesies. It stars Richard Gere and Laura Linney, but IMDB only gives it a 6.4 out of 10, so watch at your own risk.
I also tried to check out the 24 hour Mothcam, but sadly, it appears to be offline. Maybe the Mothman doesn’t like to be watched.
Another museum I seem to have overlooked on my Route 66 trip is the Poozeum in Williams, Arizona. Perhaps it was because I was anxious to get to the Grand Canyon. It’s a museum of dinosaur poop, the largest collection in the world, including the largest specimen ever discovered (about 26 1/2 inches long). It’s a free museum, but there is a gift shop. Lucky you.
Now, this next one would be a little hard to pin down. The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things has its home base in Lucas, Kansas, and it intrigues me more than any other place. But the info on it is rather maddening. It doesn’t really specifically say when or where it is on its official website. You get the impression that its traveling exhibit travels around the country with its owner, but when you try to check out its Facebook page, it doesn’t exist, and the last blog post is from about 2012. But then I did find this article from Smithsonian Magazine from 2024 that leads one to believe that she’s still going strong, and that the exhibit in Lucas, KS is open daily from April through October, and it makes mention of her going to various art festivals, but again, no secondary verification anywhere… so who knows? So I’d just say if you’re ever in the neighborhood, cross your fingers and hope for the best.
The National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin sounds fun. The museum is about its history, agricultural roots and culinary uses, and there’s a tasting bar. And they sell flavors such as Ginger Curry Mustard, Raspberry Honey Mustard, Champagne Garlic Honey Mustard, Root Beer Mustard, Smokey Maple Bacon Mustard, Lavender Wine Mustard, Blood Orange Sangria Mustard, and Key Lime Mustard Sauce. And great news, Dear Reader! If you’re feeling brave, you can buy them online!
I wish I had known about the Museum of Osteology when I went through Oklahoma City, because I love a good skeleton. This one displays over 500 of them, from mice to a humpback whale. It is known for its scientific accuracy, and academic researchers often make use of the collection, which includes an additional 6,500 bones not on display.
The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures in Tucson, Arizona also looks interesting. I always admire things I know I’d be incapable of doing. I have neither the manual dexterity nor the patience to do tiny things with any accuracy, and it is said that some of these doll houses and room boxes are so detailed that it’s almost unsettling. The displays take you back in time to different places and cultures, show you different types of architecture, tell you stories, let you explore seasonal villages, and even take you to fairy castles. Cool!
Now, this museum might just be worth a road trip in and of itself. Located in Culver City, California, the oddly named Museum of Jurassic Technology appears to be so odd, in fact, that at first I wasn’t sure if it really existed, or if it was just one of those parody websites that I love so much. The fact that it doesn’t allow photos or videos inside means that evidence of its existence beyond its façade is rather thin on the ground, but there are enough reviews, and there’s enough buzz online that I’m now convinced. It’s also on Trip Advisor, Yelp, and is listed with the Chamber of Commerce. One thing everyone seems to agree on is that it’s not recommended for kids. Call or reserve in advance to make sure you’ll be able to get in, you might want to bring a pen light as the displays can be dark, and… the experience is really hard to describe.
Here are some of my favorite reviews: “It’s like having a half-awake, half-asleep fever-nightmare as you float through a dark tunnel lined with the upside down pages of a dusty encyclopedia written by sedated, lobotomized librarians, in a good way.” “A cabinet of curiosities.” “Bizarre, weird, meaningless, and disturbing.” “Not a great place to bring a first date.” “????” “Second best museum in the world.” “A perfect institutional critique.” “Can only be appreciated if you leave pretense on the sidewalk.”
Damn, if gas prices weren’t so high, I’d be driving there right now. But enough of that oddness. On to a respite from oddness. Sort of.
As an Autistic person, I’ve always viewed Las Vegas as one of the circles of hell in Dante’s inferno that everyone forgets to warn you about. Yet somehow I have found myself there multiple times. I usually manage to make the best of it, all things considered. I try to go toward the natural outskirts whenever possible, and indeed, the desert has a lot of beauty in those places where modern man has managed to leave it alone.
But there is one place I’ve always meant to go, but always seem to have forgotten about in the midst of my overwhelm. And that’s the Neon Museum. It’s open every evening, and it’s an outdoor museum that covers more than 2 acres, and preserves the city’s iconic decommissioned neon signs. It houses 250 signs in various states of repair. 30 have been completely re-illuminated by this non-profit organization. It’s north of the strip, so a bit a way from the hustle and bustle. Still bright lights, but from a quieter time, in a quieter place. That appeals to me.
My final suggestion for you, Dear Reader, is the Museum of Bad Art in Boston, Massachusetts (with a branch in Quebec, Canada). This collection began from one piece that was retrieved from the trash, because it was so bad that it was good, and it quickly expanded from there. It is not exactly a mean-spirited exhibit. In fact, many of the pieces have been donated by the artists themselves. Some, however, have been found in thrift stores or garage sales, and the artists are anonymous. The curators claim that this museum celebrates art that goes wrong in memorable ways. Visiting the website alone is highly entertaining, because the collection is eye-opening, and the descriptions for each piece are quite fun to read.
This museum definitely makes you think. Who gets to decide what makes art good? In fact, while perusing their collection on line, I must admit that there were two or three images that I would enjoy having on my wall. But then, I have always preferred art that made me smile inside.
If you ever get a chance to visit any of the museums mentioned above, or know of any other quirky museums that I should check out, let me know in the comments below!
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