Niche Museums for Your Inner Weird
May 24, 2017 8:20 AM Subscribe
Toilet seat art? Currywurst? Mammal penises? A clickable list of 86 very specific museums around the world.
I'm proud of how many of these I've been to so far!
And of course the British Lawnmower Museum, immortalized forever in What Does a Dibber Do? (WILTY link)
posted by barchan at 8:30 AM on May 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
And of course the British Lawnmower Museum, immortalized forever in What Does a Dibber Do? (WILTY link)
posted by barchan at 8:30 AM on May 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
I have been to Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum. He's an older gentleman who used to be a master plumber and started doing various kinds of art on unused toilet seats. It's all out in his garage in San Antonio, and it's not air conditioned so summer is not the best time to visit. I had a great time seeing this, and he's a sweetheart.
I've also been to the Umbrella Cover Museum on Peak's Island, which is a quick ferry ride out from Portland, Maine, and found it utterly charming - it's the owner's personal collection of umbrella covers from all over the world, and at some point she decided to exhibit them. The adult-rated ones are in the bathroom, so that there's a door that can be closed and people can opt to see them or not.
Thanks so much for posting this, I'm going to take it as a list of things to run down and check out!
posted by bile and syntax at 8:57 AM on May 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've also been to the Umbrella Cover Museum on Peak's Island, which is a quick ferry ride out from Portland, Maine, and found it utterly charming - it's the owner's personal collection of umbrella covers from all over the world, and at some point she decided to exhibit them. The adult-rated ones are in the bathroom, so that there's a door that can be closed and people can opt to see them or not.
Thanks so much for posting this, I'm going to take it as a list of things to run down and check out!
posted by bile and syntax at 8:57 AM on May 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Toilet seat art? Currywurst? Mammal penises?
This is one museum right?
posted by srboisvert at 8:59 AM on May 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is one museum right?
posted by srboisvert at 8:59 AM on May 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
On our upcoming trip to Amsterdam by way of Iceland, we are absolutely planning to see the Icelandic Phallological Museum and the Tassen Museum of Bags and Purses.
posted by briank at 9:03 AM on May 24, 2017
posted by briank at 9:03 AM on May 24, 2017
I've been three times. I've even performed a wedding there. I'm still not entirely sure what they are a museum of, but I would add to this list the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles. They say they are dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic.
posted by Sophie1 at 9:22 AM on May 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 9:22 AM on May 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
Miniature Book Museum: reason #43765 to visit scenic Azerbaijan!
Missing from the list: the hosiery museums in Dekalb, AL and Germany
posted by carsonb at 9:31 AM on May 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Missing from the list: the hosiery museums in Dekalb, AL and Germany
posted by carsonb at 9:31 AM on May 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm super disappointed at the demise of the Moxie Museum, (and the passing of its founder), as I've finally convinced mrsozzy to go to the Moxie Festival this summer. I can't wait to load the car up with Moxie for the ride home.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:48 AM on May 24, 2017
posted by uncleozzy at 9:48 AM on May 24, 2017
When I visited the Icelandic Phallological Museum there was several things I noticed. It is very well lit and it seemed to employ a lot more people then I expected (I counted at least 5 people when I was there) - these were the good things. However, I think all of our group who went found it unpleasant. I think it was mostly because of the penis skin lamps.
posted by Ashwagandha at 10:15 AM on May 24, 2017
posted by Ashwagandha at 10:15 AM on May 24, 2017
That's the third time in 24 hours I've seen something about the Greyhound Bus Museum in Hibbing, MN. I'm going to be up that way in August and I might just have to stop by.
These are great all around, but some aren't that weird. The two here in MN, Spam and Greyhound, are at the headquarters of those companies. Also, Zippo, Jell-O, etc. I do really want to go to the Hovercraft Museum which looks neat. The World's Largest Small Electric Appliance Museum has 700 toasters. Something about that makes me happy. I don't really want 700 toasters but I understand it. There are things I'd like to have 700 varieties of for no really good reason.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 10:37 AM on May 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
These are great all around, but some aren't that weird. The two here in MN, Spam and Greyhound, are at the headquarters of those companies. Also, Zippo, Jell-O, etc. I do really want to go to the Hovercraft Museum which looks neat. The World's Largest Small Electric Appliance Museum has 700 toasters. Something about that makes me happy. I don't really want 700 toasters but I understand it. There are things I'd like to have 700 varieties of for no really good reason.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 10:37 AM on May 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've been three times. I've even performed a wedding there. I'm still not entirely sure what they are a museum of, but I would add to this list the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles. They say they are dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic.
I would vote the MJT as being far weirder than the Bunny Museum, but what they say they are dedicated to may not necessarily translate to being "specific". However, there are quite a few museums in LA that fit the bill, so why only the Bunny Museum in Altadena is listed for Southern California makes this "ultimate list of wonderfully specific museums" suspect.
There is the Museum of Death, Velveteria - The Museum of Velvet Paintings, the Museum of Broken Relationships, and the the Museum of Ice Cream, for starters.
And if it isn't just weird but about wonderfully specific museums, the Petersen is about cars, the La Brea Tar Pits is very specifically about itself, there's a fun tiny track Los Angeles Live Steam Railroad Museum, a Cold War museum, and a museum dedicated to illustrating in three dimensions the text of a single book. There used to be a museum for miniatures across the street from the LACMA, but it's gone (not a big loss, really).
posted by linux at 10:40 AM on May 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
I would vote the MJT as being far weirder than the Bunny Museum, but what they say they are dedicated to may not necessarily translate to being "specific". However, there are quite a few museums in LA that fit the bill, so why only the Bunny Museum in Altadena is listed for Southern California makes this "ultimate list of wonderfully specific museums" suspect.
There is the Museum of Death, Velveteria - The Museum of Velvet Paintings, the Museum of Broken Relationships, and the the Museum of Ice Cream, for starters.
And if it isn't just weird but about wonderfully specific museums, the Petersen is about cars, the La Brea Tar Pits is very specifically about itself, there's a fun tiny track Los Angeles Live Steam Railroad Museum, a Cold War museum, and a museum dedicated to illustrating in three dimensions the text of a single book. There used to be a museum for miniatures across the street from the LACMA, but it's gone (not a big loss, really).
posted by linux at 10:40 AM on May 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
One more I'll tack onto linux' awesome comment: The Museum of Neon Art is in Glendale and I'd go so far as to say a 'shining beacon' of niche museums.
posted by carsonb at 11:48 AM on May 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by carsonb at 11:48 AM on May 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Currywurst Museum in Berlin was good fun (a shade pricy though). Actually made a really good point that currywurst was a particularly Berliner dish as after the war there were shortage so people tried new combinations of food and in Berlin they had acces to both American ketchup and British curry powder.
posted by stanf at 11:51 AM on May 24, 2017
posted by stanf at 11:51 AM on May 24, 2017
Like stanf, I came to say that the Currywurst Museum is good fun. It's right near Checkpoint Charlie, so it's heavily in tourist town, but it's a surprisingly meaty visit; there are some educational things to learn, a decent (English language, from memory) half-hour documentary, and fun interactive things to play with. The staff don't mind if you use the giant chips to fight with, as we found out, and then at the end you get a small pot of currywurst with your regular ticket. Vegetarian currywurst available!
posted by The River Ivel at 1:33 PM on May 24, 2017
posted by The River Ivel at 1:33 PM on May 24, 2017
The Umbrella Cover Museum is the only one on the list I've been to. It's a very odd establishment. Nancy has a lot to say about the things when she is not burning it up on the accordion.
It should be said that this place is ON AN ISLAND, and there isn't much to do there, so if you are on Peak's Island, fifteen minutes--by ferry--from Maine, you are sure to run into it.
Great compendium!!!
posted by kozad at 2:25 PM on May 24, 2017
It should be said that this place is ON AN ISLAND, and there isn't much to do there, so if you are on Peak's Island, fifteen minutes--by ferry--from Maine, you are sure to run into it.
Great compendium!!!
posted by kozad at 2:25 PM on May 24, 2017
So I was actually at the Icelandic Phallological Museum last week. Honestly? Meh. I mean, I love strange museums, but it turns out that hundreds of penises in specimen jars gets a little boring :(. It's also basically the size of a small shop, and costs like 1500 ISK.
So by all means, go if you have your heart set on it, but don't get too excited
posted by KirTakat at 3:02 PM on May 24, 2017
So by all means, go if you have your heart set on it, but don't get too excited
posted by KirTakat at 3:02 PM on May 24, 2017
Has anyone ever been to the Vent Haven Museum (you know the ventriloquism museum)? I've always been curious about it.
Also how does the Eden NY Kazoo Museum compare with the one in Beaufort, SC?
posted by Ashwagandha at 3:52 PM on May 24, 2017
Also how does the Eden NY Kazoo Museum compare with the one in Beaufort, SC?
posted by Ashwagandha at 3:52 PM on May 24, 2017
I saw the Icelandic Phallological Museum on vacation in 2003. When I returned, I asked an Icelandic colleague about it and she replied "Yes, the guy who started/runs it was my elementary school teacher." Things are different in Iceland.
posted by batou_ at 4:54 PM on May 24, 2017
posted by batou_ at 4:54 PM on May 24, 2017
« Older Avril, like Paul, yet lives | Every bit as fair as when you raced against your... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Nelson at 8:25 AM on May 24, 2017