10 of the Best and Most Unique Museums in the US
Museums often serve as gateways to knowledge, exploration, history, art, and culture. The world is filled with regular, everyday museums (sorry art museums we love you!), but scattered throughout it, and especially in the United States, is a remarkable collection of bizarre and unique museums. We wanted to put together a small list of some of our favorite museums, that are not just weird, but they're also unique to their home city, and in some ways define it. So here are the best and most unique museums, that you can only find in these cities:
The Mütter Museum (Philadelphia, PA)
You can't come to Philly, and miss The Mütter Museum. It is a captivating yet eerie collection of medical oddities, and shed light on our medical history. It houses an assortment of specimens in jars, old medical instruments, and curiosities, allowing visitors to delve into the fascinating world of medical history, pathology, and of course- Skulls!
USS Midway Museum (San Diego, CA)
Brimming along the San Diego coast is the USS Midway Museum, which offers visitors an opportunity to step aboard an iconic aircraft carrier. Exploring the immense ship-turned-museum, visitors can delve into the history and experience the daily life of sailors through captivating exhibits and interactive displays. Visitors can learn the history of American battles, tour the battleship, and get up close and personal with real aircraft.
Museum of Sex (New York, NY)
Situated in the heart of New York City, the Museum of Sex presents a thought-provoking exploration of human sexuality and its cultural significance. Through engaging exhibits, artworks, and multimedia installations, this museum challenges societal taboos and promotes dialogue on a subject often shrouded in secrecy, it's also very pretty and very bonkers at the same time.
Meow Wolf (Santa Fe, NM & Denver, CO)
Meow Wolf is an art exhibit featured in Santa Fe and Denver, and is sponsored by Game of Thrones author, George R.R. Martin. It is an immersive art installation that defies conventional boundaries, as everything you encounter is made with some of the strangest and most household, everyday materials. Visitors step into a surreal and interactive world, where art, technology, and storytelling intertwine to create an otherworldly experience.
Negro League Baseball Museum (Kansas City, MO)
In Kansas City, Missouri, the Negro League Baseball Museum pays homage to the rich history and contributions of African American baseball players. Through multimedia exhibits, artifacts, and personal stories, the museum sheds light on the challenges faced by these athletes and their remarkable achievements.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, MA)
Tucked away in Boston, Massachusetts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a unique blend of art, architecture, and history. Housed in a stunning Venetian-style palace, the museum showcases Isabella Stewart Gardner's personal collection, including masterpieces by renowned artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Sargent. It became very famous in 1990, when the greatest art heist of all time was pulled off, robbing the museum of dozens of painting worth up to 250 million dollars! Because the founder of the museum stated if any changes were made to the museum, they'd want it shut down, the empty frames where the paintings used to be, still remain in place to honor Isabella Stewart Gardner's wishes. You can watch the Netflix show "This is a Robbery" to learn all about the robbery, and how the paintings have never been found to this day.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (Los Angeles, CA)
Well if there is one thing Los Angeles is known for, it's Hollywood! That's why it doesn't make any sense to go to the "City of Angels" without dropping into the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. One of our favorite museums in the world, it celebrates all things cinema, from sound, to cinematography, to it's history, and of course to it's costumes and characters. Cruise the halls of this museum and see authentic scripts from famous filmmakers, their hand drawn notes, typewriters, props, costumes, and visual tributes to some of the greatest and most iconic films of all time. You can even hold an Oscar, and view almost any acceptance speech on a large screen. So go learn how they make the sound effects for movies, get a picture with R2D2, and don't forget to stop in their amazing gift shop for movie posters, books, and so much more. It's a movie museum by people who really get cinema, and appreciate all of it's forms.
The Neon Museum (Las Vegas, NV) & The American Sign Museum (Cincinnati, OH)
In Las Vegas, Nevada, the Neon Museum preserves and celebrates the iconic neon signs that once adorned the city's vibrant streets. Through guided tours, visitors can explore a mesmerizing outdoor gallery filled with beautifully restored neon signs, gaining insight into the history and visual culture of Las Vegas. There is also a sister museum in Cincinnati, OH which features vintage signs from old restaurants, highways, hotels, and so many more iconic businesses, it's another can't miss museum.
The Freakkybuttrue Pecularium and Museum (Portland, OR)
Ironically found in the city that WANTS to be called Weird you can find the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium in Portland, OR. It's a museum that delves into the world of hidden or mythical creatures. Exhibits showcase cryptids like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Chupacabra, as well as exploring the cultural fascination and scientific investigations surrounding these creatures, as well as aliens, cartoons, and lots of other... weird things.
International Spy Museum (Washington, DC)
Often overlooked. because it's Washington DC which has no shortage of famous Museums and Memorials, The International Spy Museum is thrill that shouldn't be missed. The museum invites visitors to become secret agents for a day. it provides a captivating look into the world of espionage, featuring interactive exhibits, spy artifacts, and intriguing stories that unveil the secrets of intelligence operations.