[Vhfcn-l] Monday musings

[Gary Thewlis]

I'm going to stay in show business until I'm the last one left.

George Burns

 

Fools rush in where fools have been before.

Unknown

 

A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it. 

Oscar Wilde

 

I stand by all the misstatements that I've made.

Dan Quayle

 

This book fills a much-needed gap.

Moses Hadas 

 

I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools.
Let's start with typewriters.

Solomon Short

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

The Best Offbeat Museums to Visit in All 50 States (And Washington, D.C.)

 

ALABAMA // THE DRIVE-THRU MUSEUM

Location: Seale, Alabama

 

The Drive-Thru Museum isn't the kind of place where you walk around and look
at all sorts of cool things. In fact, you don't even have to get out of your
car at all. The popular roadside attraction, which is an offshoot of Butch
Anthony’s taxidermy shop-turned-Museum of Wonder, is made from several
stacked shipping containers with carefully cut windows that give visitors a
clear glimpse at Anthony’s assortment of quirky treasures. So drive slowly
and enjoy the views.

 

ALASKA // THE HAMMER MUSEUM

Location: Haines, Alaska

 

As the name suggests, The Hammer Museum is dedicated to preserving the
history of hammers. Dave Pahl opened the museum in 2002 as a way to exhibit
his impressive collection of hammers, and to educate the public on the
fascinating history of the tool. Today, the museum houses more than 7000
specimens in total, approximately 2000 of which are on display at any given
time.

 

ARIZONA // WORLD'S SMALLEST MUSEUM

Location: Superior, Arizona

 

Within this cramped, 135-square-foot shed is a host of curiosities and
oddities, ranging from lighthearted bits of state pride to some pieces with
real historical gravitas. The centerpiece of the museum is a large Apache
tear, a semi-precious obsidian gemstone native to the area that the museum
says is the largest in the world. There are also a few items that will catch
the eye of any history buff, like the pins from past presidential campaigns,
a piece of barbed wire from a WWII Japanese internment camp located in
Chandler, Arizona, and a letter written by President John F. Kennedy.

 

ARKANSAS // CHAFFEE BARBERSHOP MUSEUM

Location: Chaffee, Arkansas

 

In 1958—at the height of his success—Elvis Presley traded in his blue suede
shoes for a military look when he was drafted into the Army. On March 24,
1958, the King reported for duty at Arkansas’s Fort Chaffee, while media and
fans camped out around the military base. The next day, Presley walked into
the Chaffee Barbershop and, like his fellow soldiers, got a haircut. This
barbershop-turned-museum, which is also known as the Elvis Barbershop
Museum, is where it all went down. In 2008, to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of that fateful day, the barbershop—which still looks exactly as
it did when Elvis visited—was turned into a museum so that fans around the
world could celebrate this momentous occasion. In addition to Elvis-specific
artifacts, including newsreel footage and a camera that was used to shoot
what became known as "the haircut heard 'round the world," the museum also
traces the wider history of Fort Chaffee itself, making it a great
destination not just for Elvis fans but for history (and military history)
buffs, too.

 

CALIFORNIA // MUSEUM OF JURASSIC TECHNOLOGY

Location: Los Angeles, California

 

The Museum of Jurassic Technology is no less confusing than its name
suggests. Inside, visitors will find microscopic mosaics, artifacts salvaged
from trailer parks, and a gallery of portraits of the dogs of the Soviet
space program. Factual exhibits are mixed in with fabricated ones: One of
the first items guests see is a preserved specimen of the so-called “stink
ant of the Cameroon of West Central Africa"—a creature that doesn't exist.
While most museums are meant to inform, every element of the Museum of
Jurassic Technology is designed to make guests question their reality.

 

COLORADO // THE NATIONAL MINING HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

Location: Leadville, Colorado

 

The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum may possibly be the
highest-altitude museum in the U.S. It's located in Leadville, Colorado—the
highest incorporated city in the country (altitude 10,152 feet). That's not
its most appealing feature, of course: The 25,000-square-foot "Smithsonian
of the Rockies" features a walk-through replica of a mine, a model house
where you can learn about all the minerals that go into your household
products, and almost 20,000 historic objects, archival documents, specimens
(including a real lunar rock), and more, all related to mining history,
industry, and science.

 

CONNECTICUT // THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF TORT LAW

Location: Winchester, Connecticut

 

Connecticut is home to plenty of unusual museums, but our favorite is
devoted to a subject that rarely gets its due: tort law. The American Museum
of Tort Law, founded by Ralph Nader in his hometown of Winchester, is
devoted to the often under-appreciated right of Americans to sue for
wrongful injury. The museum highlights how trial by jury and tort lawsuits
have benefited consumers in the U.S., holding those in power responsible for
dangerous and defective products, environmental disasters, and malpractice.
Exhibits explore some of the most misunderstood tort cases in modern
American history, like the infamous Liebeck v. McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit.
A visit is sure to make you rethink your views on the American justice
system. It's also a great place to get a T-shirt emblazoned with an
exploding Ford Pinto.

 

DELAWARE // JOHNSON VICTROLA MUSEUM

Location: Dover, Delaware

 

A must-see for lovers of vintage audio technology, this museum in Dover
features a vintage collection of phonographs (also known as gramophones) as
well as plenty of related memorabilia and recordings. It's named for
Delaware native Eldridge Reeves Johnson, who founded the Victor Talking
Machine Company in 1890s and went on to produce—you guessed it—Victrolas.
Docents will even put socks in the Victrolas to control volume—allegedly the
origin of the phrase "put a sock in it."

 

FLORIDA // CORAL CASTLE MUSEUM

Location: Homestead, Florida

 

The whole backstory behind Florida’s Coral Castle Museum may be even more
impressive than the 1100 tons of meticulously carved coral rock that make up
this museum/art installation hybrid. As the story goes, the statues were
crafted by Edward Leedskalnin, a Latvian immigrant who traveled to the U.S.
after his 16-year-old bride-to-be canceled their nuptials the day before the
wedding. Heartbroken, Leedskalnin eventually settled in Florida where he
decided to create this oolite limestone monument to his estranged love, a
feat that took nearly 30 years to complete. To this day, no one quite knows
how the 100-pound Leedkalnin moved the massive stones—there were no
witnesses to the construction. You can now view these sculptures in all
their mysterious glory on the South Dixie Highway in Homestead, Florida.

 

GEORGIA // DAVID J. SENCER CDC MUSEUM

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a federal agency
whose official mission is to work "24/7 to protect America from health,
safety, and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S." The CDC's
scientists work more like a team of detectives to identify public health
mysteries around the world, then apply old-school investigative techniques
to discover their causes—and cures. The organization's Atlanta headquarters
is home to a Smithsonian-affiliated museum that traces the organization's
history and hosts a range of both permanent and temporary exhibitions, like
this year's "The World Unseen," which featured the work of 10 international
artists who look to science—microbiology, biotechnology, anatomy, and
beyond—for inspiration.

 

HAWAII// HALE HO?IKE?IKE AT THE BAILEY HOUSE

Location: Wailuku, Hawaii

 

Run by the Maui Historical Society, the Hale Ho?ike?ike at the Bailey House
is located in a former girl's school and royal residence. The museum
showcases artifacts from the era before native Hawaiians made contact with
Westerners, including religious statues, clothing, and tools, as well as
19th-century items. It's also home to more than 100 landscape paintings by
Edward Bailey (a self-trained artist who once lived in the house) and a
large collection of land snail shells—the most extensive assortment of rare
Hawaiian land snails anywhere.

 

IDAHO // IDAHO POTATO MUSEUM

Location: Blackfoot, Idaho

 

Idaho's official nickname may be "The Gem State," but everyone knows that
the potato is its true claim to fame. The Idaho Potato Museum pays tribute
to the simple spud. Located inside a 1912 railroad depot, the museum traces
the evolution of the potato industry, covering such seminal events as the
first potato planted in Idaho and the largest Pringle ever made. And when
all that potato talk inevitably has you craving something starchy, the
onsite Potato Station Cafe's baked potato bar has got you covered.

 

ILLINOIS // INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF SURGICAL SCIENCE

Location: Chicago, Illinois

 

The International Museum of Surgical Science is not the place for tourists
with a weak stomach. The often-overlooked gem of a museum just north of
Chicago's Magnificent Mile explores the surprisingly long history of medical
surgery and features a plethora of antique medical instruments you might not
want to imagine being used on you—from a replica of an ancient Roman
speculum to a 16th-century Austrian amputation saw. There are also plenty of
paintings, drawings, and historical artifacts related to anatomy and the
practice of medicine through the centuries, from paintings of 19th-century
C-sections to Napoleon's death mask to prosthetic eyeballs. On a more modern
note, the museum also runs an artist's residency and hosts contemporary art
exhibitions related to anatomy, the body, and other medical subjects.

 

INDIANA // THE INDIANA MEDICAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

 

What was once the pathology building on the grounds of the Indiana Hospital
for the Insane is now a charmingly creepy museum of preserved medical
artifacts and primitive equipment used during the early days of psychiatric
medical research. Once inside the ominous red structure, patrons can browse
a collection of preserved brains and skeletons, view heart-stopping exhibits
like an early 20th-century autopsy room, and see shudder-inducing artifacts
like an iron lung designed for toddlers with polio. It’s unsettling, it’s
intense, and it’s an absolute must-see if you’ve got a morbid streak.

 

IOWA // MATCHSTICK MARVELS

Location: Gladbrook, Iowa

 

Pat Acton of Gladbrook, Iowa, has chosen a highly specific medium for his
artwork. He builds elaborate structures out of matchsticks, and you can view
his creations at the Matchstick Marvels museum in his hometown. The models
on display include recreations of Notre Dame Cathedral, the United States
Capitol, and Hogwarts Castle. Most exhibits took thousands of matchsticks to
build, and the largest sculptures at the museum contain over 1 million of
them.

 

KANSAS // STRATACA: THE KANSAS UNDERGROUND SALT MUSEUM

Location: Hutchinson, Kansas

 

The town of Hutchinson sits atop a huge geologic feature called the
Wellington Formation. Along with its 300-million-year-old fossils, the
formation is a rich source of salt, which became the basis of a thriving
industry in the early 20th century. This underground museum takes visitors
on a tour by tram of a massive salt mine, with subterranean chambers
featuring exhibits about local geology and mining. You'll also find out why
the Atomic Energy Commission considered Strataca for a nuclear waste storage
site.

 

KENTUCKY // VENT HAVEN MUSEUM

Location: Fort Mitchell, Kentucky

 

If you are afraid of clowns, dolls, or animatronic toys, do not visit the
Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, the world's only ventriloquism museum.
Its founder, W.S. Berger—who was not a ventriloquist—collected hundreds of
ventriloquist dummies and memorabilia during the first half of the 20th
century. Today, the museum owns more than 900 dummies, as well as scripts,
photos, recordings, and more. You can even try your skill at throwing your
voice with a puppet.

 

LOUISIANA // ABITA MYSTERY HOUSE

Location: Abita Springs, Louisiana

 

According to John Preble, founder of the Abita Mystery House in Abita
Springs, the No.1 comment from visitors to this oddball museum is "Oh my
god!" They could be reacting to any of the thousands of folk-art pieces,
artifacts, or junk collections at this classic roadside attraction, from
Buford the Bassigator (a half-fish, half-alligator sculpture) to the
animatronic diorama of a New Orleans jazz funeral and the mosaic-paneled
House of Shards.

 

MAINE // INTERNATIONAL CRYPTOZOOLOGY MUSEUM

Location: Portland, Maine

 

Serious scholars of cryptozoology (the study of mysterious and unknown
animals, duh) come to Loren Coleman's famous museum in Portland to examine
evidence of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and many more pseudo-real
creatures. On display: a plaster cast of a Thylacine (a.k.a. Tasmanian
tiger) footprint, hair samples from Sasquatches and Abominable Snowmen, a
movie prop of a FeeJee Mermaid, and the pièce de résistance—Yeti poop.

 

MARYLAND // HAVRE DE GRACE DECOY MUSEUM

Location: Havre De Grace, Maryland

 

Even if you don't know mallards from teals or canvasbacks from gadwalls, you
can appreciate the artistry and skill behind this museum's collection of
duck decoys. Originally a craft of necessity—duck hunters used decoys to
lure actual birds within shooting range—decoy carving eventually grew into a
form of folk art. Some pieces by known artists now go for more than $10,000
on eBay. At this museum on the Chesapeake Bay, you can browse fine examples,
including a massive mute swan and a diminutive bufflehead.

 

MASSACHUSETTS // MUSEUM OF BAD ART

Location: Somerville, Massachusetts

 

If you're tired of going to museums to admire priceless masterpieces, make a
trip to the Museum of Bad Art in Somerville, Massachusetts. MOBA is
dedicated to celebrating the tacky, amateur creations that usually end up in
second-hand stores and trash bins. Collection titles include "Poor Traits,"
"Oozing My Religion," and "In the Nood." Note: The museum's gallery is
currently undergoing renovations, so be sure to check with the museum before
dropping by.

 

MICHIGAN // MARVIN'S MARVELOUS MECHANICAL MUSEUM

Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan

 

The late Marvin Yagoda’s 5500-square-foot establishment in Farmington Hills
combines all the interactive childhood fun of playing games at an arcade
with the mysterious, macabre fascination of exploring the animatronic
oddities at a circus sideshow. Some of the coin-operated machines act out
medieval torture scenes or real-life historical murders, but if mechanical
horror isn’t your thing, you can always stick to traditional games like
Pac-Man and Skee-Ball—and you can even trade in your tickets for prizes at
the end of your visit. Admission is free, but you might end up spending your
weight in quarters at this jam-packed, marvelous museum.

 

MINNESOTA // SPAM MUSEUM

Location: Austin, Minnesota

 

Even if you think it’s best not to ask too many questions about canned meat,
the SPAM Museum is too fantastic not to visit if you’re ever near Austin,
Minnesota, the birthplace of Hormel (the makers of SPAM and other meat
products). Walk through vibrant displays that chronicle the history of SPAM
and its perhaps surprising impact on the world since it landed in casserole
dishes and military supply packs in the late 1930s. Find out how many SPAM
cans tall you are, learn how to package SPAM like a factory professional,
and sample some salty SPAM yourself—served on pretzel sticks to eliminate
waste.

 

MISSISSIPPI // THE APRON MUSEUM

Location: Iuka, Mississippi

 

The secret behind America’s only museum devoted to aprons is its
enthusiastic owner, Carolyn Terry. She started to build her collection from
estate sales, and has now amassed more than 3500 aprons, some dating back to
the Civil War era; one woman in Denmark even donated her grandmother’s dowry
aprons from 1922. There’s no need to sift through placard upon placard to
learn the unique, intimate details about each apron—Terry will answer any
questions you might have, personalizing your museum experience based on your
interests. “If you’re into art, we can look at how artists drew their aprons
out. If you’re into history, we can get into the needleworks of a time
period. If you’re creative, it’ll move you up a notch,” Terry told
Mississippi Today. “Sometimes there are surprises.”

 

MISSOURI // LEILA'S HAIR MUSEUM

Location: Independence, Missouri

 

Next time you’re unclogging your shower drain, just remember that soggy mess
of matted hair could be museum-worthy. At Leila's Hair Museum in
Independence, Missouri, patrons can observe the follicular beauty of wreaths
(600-plus pieces), jewelry (2000-plus pieces), and other items, all made of
human hair, preserving a tradition that can be traced back to the 12th
century. Owner Leila Cohoon’s collection spans centuries and comes from all
over the globe, with the oldest brooch in the museum dating back to 1680.
Her assortment of hair art has been collected by her and her family through
art auctions, garage sales, estate sales, and antique dealers, and it’s
still growing to this day. (The collection, not the hair itself.)

 

MONTANA // HISTORIC DUMAS BROTHEL MUSEUM

Location: Butte, Montana

 

This two-story brick building didn't start off as a museum. In fact, it was
a brothel from 1890 until 1982, making it America's longest-running house of
ill repute. Now, it serves as a museum filled with historic artifacts, and
the new owners are working to preserve and protect this iconic building.
It's also a supposed paranormal hotspot.

 

NEBRASKA // HASTINGS MUSEUM KOOL-AID EXHIBIT

Location: Hastings, Nebraska

 

Simply being known as the birthplace of Kool-Aid wasn’t enough for the city
of Hastings, Nebraska—instead, an entire wing of the city’s museum is
dedicated to this sugary childhood staple. “Kool-Aid: Discover the Dream” is
a crash-course in all things Kool, featuring relics from the drink’s
history. Vintage advertisements, old-school merchandise, and endless packets
of multi-colored powder fill display cases just blocks from where Edwin
Perkins invented the drink nearly a century ago. The crème de la crème,
however, may be the museum’s display of the original Kool-Aid Man suit. For
novelty beverage aficionados, this is basically their Graceland.

 

NEVADA // THE NEON MUSEUM

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

 

The Las Vegas strip has been home to an endless array of neon signs
advertising everything from casinos to motels to 24-hour restaurants. The
Neon Museum is a kind of retirement home for the signs, which are often
massive and have intriguing stories behind them. Be sure to check out the
giant pirate skull from the now-defunct Treasure Island casino and take in
the splendor of the décor from the Liberace Museum.

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE // WOODMAN MUSEUM

Location: Dover, New Hampshire

 

An eclectic display of taxidermy, old medicinal cures, and other remnants of
New Hampshire history are on tap at the Woodman Museum in Dover. Four
separate and historic homes (including the Damm Garrison House, the oldest
house in Dover) showcase the exhibits, including a selfie-ready stuffed
polar bear.

 

NEW JERSEY // INSECTROPOLIS

Location: Toms River, New Jersey

 

Get a buzz on at Insectropolis, a museum in Toms River devoted to all things
insect. This “bugseum” puts live and preserved creepers and crawlers on
display. Now you can safely observe a beehive without having to flee.

 

NEW MEXICO // AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL RATTLESNAKE MUSEUM

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

 

Satisfy your curiosity for rattlers alive and dead at the American
International Rattlesnake Museum, an Albuquerque den that lets you get up
close and personal to these misunderstood—but still unnerving—creatures.

 

NEW YORK // JELL-O GALLERY MUSEUM

Location: Le Roy, New York

 

The history of this gelatinous treat gets the deluxe treatment at the Jell-O
Gallery Museum in its birthplace of Le Roy, New York. Check out vintage ads,
marvel at the iconic boxes, and grab some unique recipes.

 

NORTH CAROLINA // NORTH CAROLINA MARITIME MUSEUM

Location: Beaufort, North Carolina

 

The North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort covers nautical history in
the state. From artifacts taken from Blackbeard’s wrecked flagship to the
skeleton of a sperm whale, you’ll feel as though you’re practically
underwater.

 

NORTH DAKOTA // NATIONAL BUFFALO MUSEUM

Location: Jamestown, North Dakota

 

The National Buffalo Museum is home to a 26-foot-tall, 46-foot-long, 60-ton
buffalo statue named “Dakota Thunder” as well as a herd of much smaller,
living buffalo (a.k.a. bison). For years, another major draw was the herd’s
rare albino mother-and-son pair, White Cloud and Dakota Miracle. Though
they’ve both passed away, you still have the opportunity to see an albino
buffalo up close: The taxidermied White Cloud is on display inside the
rustic log museum, along with other buffalo relics including a
10,000-year-old bison skull and a complete bison skeleton.

 

OHIO // LUCKY CAT MUSEUM

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

 

According to Japanese lore, a maneki-neko—a cat figurine with its paw
raised—is supposed to bring good fortune to those who look upon it. So
exactly how much good fortune will seeing hundreds of lucky cats bring you?
Only a visit to Cincinnati’s Lucky Cat Museum can answer this question. The
collection includes Pokemon cats, Hello Kitty cats, inflatable cats, wooden
cats, dancing cats, and even one with his paws crossed in an apparent act of
defeatism. As museum owner Micha Robertson explained to a Cincinnati Public
Radio program in 2015, she loves the cats for their eccentricity and
individuality along with their alleged luck-bearing qualities.

 

OKLAHOMA // MUSEUM OF OSTEOLOGY

Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

After Jay Villemarette's skeleton supply company Skulls Unlimited built a
reputation among academics, veterinarians, and hobbyists, he decided to open
a museum nearby. His Oklahoma City-based Museum of Osteology is distinctive
for a few reasons. Upon entering the building, you’ll get to see
flesh-eating beetles cleaning the carrion from a soon-to-be-displayed
skeleton. And, while Villemarette houses normal bones from animals like
elephants, giraffes, and whales, he also exhibits plenty of bizarre ones,
like those of a two-headed calf and hunchbacked human skeleton. The
skeletons are also arranged in ways that suggest movement, life, and even
personality—take, for example, the raccoon skeleton clutching a box of Milk
Duds.

 

OREGON // NATIONAL HAT MUSEUM

Location: Portland, Oregon

 

Celebrate the history of headgear at Portland's National Hat Museum, which
features almost 2000 hats dating back to the early 1800s. Make a reservation
(they're required for a visit), and a docent dressed in 19th-century attire
will guide you through the collection. You'll see hats from Hollywood and
famous designers, as well as millinery made from surprising materials like
cork and mushrooms. You'll also learn how war and industry has literally
shaped hats, and why hat-wearing is on the decline. The museum's website
promises, "You will leave this experience armed with enough information to
speak confidently with others on the subject of hats."

 

PENNSYLVANIA // MÜTTER MUSEUM

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

In the 19th century, a surgeon named Thomas Dent Mütter went out of his way
to collect remarkable medical tools and specimens that could be used for
education. Today that collection makes up the bulk of the Mütter Museum in
Philadelphia. The institution is home to more than 5500 medical instruments,
100 skulls, and 2300 swallowed objects removed from patients. Some oddities
come from noteworthy sources: A piece of John Wilkes Booth’s vertebra and
Albert Einstein's brain are both on display (and you can get a peek on some
things you won't see on display here).

 

RHODE ISLAND // NEWPORT TOWER MUSEUM

Location: Newport, Rhode Island

 

This museum aims to answer a single question: Who built the Newport Tower?
To conventional historians, the squat stone tower in the city's Touro Park
resembles the remains of a windmill-type structure, and carbon dating of the
building material indicates that it was constructed in the 1600s. To Jim
Egan, founder of the Newport Tower Museum, the mysterious building has a
more esoteric provenance. He argues that the tower was built in 1583 using a
design by John Dee, an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. Its purpose? To serve
as a celestial timekeeping device for a new English colony in what is now
Rhode Island. But that colony apparently dissolved before it began, leaving
a tower with few clues to its reason for being there. Find out more at
Egan's jam-packed museum.

 

SOUTH CAROLINA // KAZOO MUSEUM

Location: Beaufort, South Carolina

 

The Kazoo Museum in Beaufort contains one of the world's largest collections
of the buzzy musical instrument. The historical gallery is attached to the
Kazoobie Kazoo factory, so visitors can take a guided tour of the facility
to see how kazoos are made from beginning to end. You can even design a
kazoo to take home as a souvenir, making this museum entertaining for all
ages.

 

SOUTH DAKOTA // INTERNATIONAL VINEGAR MUSEUM

Location: Roslyn, South Dakota

 

You may not consider vinegar the most exciting subject, but after a visit to
the International Vinegar Museum in Roslyn, you'll hopefully have a new
appreciation for the acidic liquid. The institution claims to be "the
world's first and only museum dedicated to the wonder that is vinegar." In
addition to educating the public about how vinegar is made and the dozens of
uses for vinegar, the museum also hosts the annual Vinegar Festival.

 

TENNESSEE // CHASING RAINBOWS MUSEUM

Location: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

 

No visit to Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains would be complete without a
visit to Dollywood, Dolly Parton's famed theme park in Pigeon Forge. And no
visit to Dollywood would be complete without a stop at the Chasing Rainbows
Museum. If you want to experience what it feels like to walk in Dolly's
shoes—and see just how sparkly those sequined dresses she's so famous for
are—this interactive museum offers a treasure trove of memorabilia from the
singer-actress-pop culture icon's career, including a collection of her
Grammy, CMA, and People's Choice Awards gowns, as well as some of her most
famous costumes from movies like 9 to 5.

 

TEXAS // NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FUNERARY HISTORY

Location: Houston, Texas

 

If you're the type who's more fascinated than fearful when it comes to death
(or if those emotions balance each other out), you'll love the
30,500-square-foot National Museum of Funeral History in Houston. The 15
major exhibits include a collection of vintage hearses, caskets, and coffins
from around the world, sections devoted to the history of cremation and of
embalming, memorabilia from famous funerals, 19th-century hair art, and much
more. Plus, their motto is memorable: "Any day above ground is a good one."

 

UTAH // PIONEER MEMORIAL MUSEUM

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Next time you take a plane across the country, spare a thought for the
pioneers who made the trek in Conestoga wagons. At the Pioneer Memorial
Museum in Salt Lake City, you'll find artifacts associated with the area's
early settlers, from the relatively expected (quilts, guns, a stagecoach) to
the more uncanny (a jar of human teeth). They also have a large collection
of Victorian-era hair art, which was an important part of 19th-century
mourning traditions—key in an era where you were lucky if you didn't die of
dysentery.

 

VERMONT // MUSEUM OF EVERYDAY LIFE

Location: Glover, Vermont

 

While many museums build their collections by curating the rare and unusual,
the Museum of Everyday Life in Glover does just the opposite. Everything
about what they have dubbed an "exhibition barn" is different. First, it's
completely self-service—you walk in on your own, turn on the lights, and
leave a donation at the door. Then you make your way through the space,
which is exactly what its name advertises: an assemblage of items you see
and probably use every day, like a toothbrush. As the museum's website
explains, "We celebrate mundanity, and the mysterious delight embedded in
the banal but beloved objects we touch everyday." They're not kidding. But
there is something about seeing these items put on display in an unheated
barn in the middle of nowhere that creates a sort of contemplative
experience that allows you to realize the beauty in commonplace things. A
rotating series of exhibitions give context to the artifacts, explaining
their history and relevance to our daily lives. You'll never look at a
simple safety pin the same way again. Most importantly: Be sure to turn the
lights off when you leave.

 

VIRGINIA // POE MUSEUM

Location: Richmond, Virginia

 

Once upon a midnight dreary ... Edgar Allan Poe spent his formative years in
Richmond. It was here that he first began his career as an assistant editor
at the Southern Literary Messenger, a literary magazine. He was fired just a
few weeks later for being drunk on the job, but that didn't matter. When the
building that housed the magazine was being demolished, its pieces were used
to create a memorial garden to the late writer. In the nearly 100 years
since the Poe Museum and Enchanted Garden were opened to the public, the
museum has acquired more of "The Raven" author's personal possessions than
any other institution in the world. In addition to personal artifacts, like
his boyhood bed and a staircase that once stood in his childhood home,
there's also a research library that is home to an enviable collection of
Poe's manuscripts, personal correspondences, and first-edition copies of his
work.

 

WASHINGTON // SPARK MUSEUM OF ELECTRICAL INVENTION

Location: Bellingham, Washington

 

Take a trip through the history of electricity at the small but jam-packed
SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention in Bellingham. The collection includes
a Tesla coil, Leyden jars, Edison light bulbs, manuscripts by Galileo and
Benjamin Franklin, and the largest assemblage of 19th-century
electromagnetic apparatus in any private collection in the world. Many of
the exhibits are interactive, and if you time your visit right, you can
catch live demonstrations in the auditorium.

 

WEST VIRGINIA // MOTHMAN MUSEUM

Location: Point Pleasant, West Virginia

 

Mothman is one of the more obscure cryptids to have a whole museum dedicated
to him, but the fabled creature—supposedly a large man with moth-like
wings—is a local celebrity in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Head to the
Mothman Museum to learn about the history of the figure, from the first
sightings in 1966 to how the 2002 movie, The Mothman Prophecies, made him
famous.

 

WISCONSIN // NATIONAL MUSTARD MUSEUM

Location: Middleton, Wisconsin

 

Do you feel like you just don’t quite know enough about mustard? Well, you
can make those fears a thing of the past at the National Mustard Museum in
Middleton, Wisconsin. Within these stone-ground walls are more than 5600
mustards from all 50 states and 70 countries. The museum is a collision of
eras—ancient tins of Colman’s mustard stand alongside modern German,
Scottish, and French imports you won’t find in any supermarket. You can do
more than browse, though—at the National Mustard Museum you can take part in
taste tests and purchase your own jars of whatever mustard you desire,
curated by the museum's founder, Barry Levenson.

 

WYOMING // WYOMING FRONTIER PRISON

Location: Rawlins, Wyoming

 

Originally opened in December 1901, Wyoming’s first state penitentiary is a
notorious relic of Western folklore. It housed more than 13,000 inmates
during its existence and was known for its brutal forms of discipline
designed to quell unruly inmates, including the use of a literal dungeon.
When a new, more modern prison opened up nearby in 1980, the old one was
declared a historic site and turned into a museum called the Wyoming
Frontier Prison. Now, you can tour this abandoned prison and its seemingly
endless rows of haunting, old-timey cells.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. // NATIONAL BONSAI AND PENJING MUSEUM

 

Our nation's capital is overstuffed with world-renowned museums and opulent
art collections. Think of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum as an
antidote to the big, crowd-pleasing collections on the Mall. (Penjing is the
Chinese version of Japanese bonsai). In this small, peaceful gallery on the
grounds of the National Arboretum, you can browse the outdoor display of
teeny-tiny trees and marvel at their resilience. Some bonsai have been
"trained"—carefully shaped and pruned to a miniature size—for more than a
century.

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

What employee-grooming regulation at Disney World would prevent the hiring
of Walt Disney--if he were alive and job hunting today?

A: The ban on facial hair. Disney had a mustache.

 

What was put between the steel framework and the copper skin of the restored
Statue of liberty to prevent corrosion?

A: Teflon.

 

On the reverse side of the $100 bill, what time is shown on the Independence
Hall clock?

A: 4:10.

 

In what state can you find the towns of Romance, Sweet Home and Success?

A: Arkansas.

 

Where are the only remaining free-roaming panthers in North America?

A: In Southern Florida--in the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp.

 

Why was the entire village of Hibbing, Minnesota, relocated?

A: The village was sitting atop huge beds of iron ore.  After it was moved
south, the original site became one of the largest open-pit iron mines n the
world--covering over 1,600 acres and running 535 feet deep.

 

What physical handicap afflicted Juliette Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of
America?

A: She was deaf.