Museums are known for being educational experiences. Some people might even say they are life-changing. Most museum-goers are used to viewing art or other artifacts behind glass. But have you ever been to an extremely quirkymuseum, one that went against the norm? Search your area for the nearest museum; you might be surprised by what there is to learn.
Photo by Jonathan Noechel-ShunnHastings Museum of Natural and Cultural HistoryThis museum’s biggest attraction is the Kool-Aid exhibit. Have you ever wondered who invented the delicious drink? Or what its old packaging looked like? Or what flavors are now discontinued? A large part of this museum is all about Kool-Aid and the history behind it. Come learn and take a picture with the Kool-Aid Man himself.
Photo by vickisee.comSalt and Pepper Shaker MuseumFounder Andrea Ludden loved her mother’s collection of salt and pepper shakers so much that Ludden decided to make a museum out of all the different kinds of seasoning partners out there— over 20,000 to be exact.The shakers are organized by category and color. From shakers that look like multiple different items on a McDonald’s menu to almost every US president, if there’s a certain shaker duo you’re looking for, it’s more than likely in Tennessee.
Photo by Thomas HawkBurlingame Museum of PEZ Memorabilia
Known as “a top 50 American roadside attraction,” the Burlingame Museum of PEZ Memorabilia is definitely a site to see. Because PEZ has been dispensing all sorts of fun for over 60 years, there are now over 1,000 different dispensers you can view as you tour its memorabilia. It even has a giant snowman, which is the world’s largest PEZ dispenser. If you’re truly obsessed with this candy contraption, there are celebrity autographed dispensers! Book a tour with the museum and you can even have a candy tasting session. Two small rooms filled full of PEZ fun—pull over and take a look for yourself.
Photo by Nats Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat CollectionBarney Smith is a ninety-seven-year-old toilet seat artist who has created over 1,350 works of toilet seat art. He has always loved art but was born into the family pluming business, so he soon combined the two. Barney has created new pieces of toilet seat artwork after important news events, historical moments, tragic deaths, and other memorable moments that have sparked creativity within him. You name it, there’s a toilet seat for it. Flush out some time to visit Smith and his beauties; all he asks is that you call beforehand so he knows to expect you.
Want to know about more random museums? Check out BYUradio’s show Special Collections for more information on museums, attractions, and other places that spark an interesting story. They could possibly be new pit stops on your future family vacations.
