Many museums in the world are known for showing some of the greatest things relating to culture, arts, and science. Well, we have something different as we intend to show you museums that are out of the normal. Get ready for a wild ride around the world’s quirkiest museums! From toilets to genitals, these collections will make you scratch your head in disbelief.
Bizarre Museums in the World
1. Cancún Underwater Museum, Mexico
Have you ever heard of the Cancún Underwater Museum in Mexico? It’s pretty cool but not the regular museum. It is one of the 8 underwater museums in the world. It is located off the coast of Cancún, Mexico, and is a unique experience that combines art and marine life.
This museum started in 2009 and was officially opened in 2010. It was created to take pressure off of the nearby coral reefs, which have been heavily impacted by tourism. The Cancún Underwater Museum provides a new way to experience art, while also promoting conservation efforts.
It is now home to over 500 sculptures, all of which have been specifically designed to promote the growth of coral and other marine life. These sculptures have been placed in shallow waters, making it easy for snorkelers and divers to view them up close.
2. The Dog Collar Museum, England
Dog lovers have something great to fall in love with as far as museums are concerned. This is because the Kent Dog Collar Museum, England presents insight into how much people have cared for their dogs since the 15th century.
This is not just the interesting part. The museum consists of collars from all corners of Europe. They were first collected by a couple, John Hunt and Gertrude Hunt. Gertrude later presented a collection of dog collars to Leeds Castle in memory of her husband. This became the beginning of the museum.
The unusual collection and museum have visitors numbering 500,000 yearly.
3. Beijing Tap Water Museum, China
Don’t be fooled by its name, this place is more than just a tribute to water. You’ll be amazed by the impressive range of exhibits and displays that showcase the various technologies and methods used to supply water to the city.
It’s not your typical tourist trap, but if you’re into water systems, this place is worth a visit and you may have the chance to be educated about the history and development of the city’s tap water system, from ancient times to the present day.
In addition to its educational offerings, the Beijing Tap Water Museum is also renowned for its beautiful architecture. The building was originally built in the 1960s and was renovated in 2005 to its current state. The museum’s exterior is adorned with intricate water-themed designs and patterns, while the interior is spacious and modern, with plenty of natural light and open spaces.
4. The Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers
As the list continues, that is how the weirdest museums in the world continue to unfold. It. This particular museum is all about salt and pepper shakers, with a whopping 20,000 pairs on display from every corner of the globe.
Each gallery showcases a different category of shakers, so you can spice up your visit. And get this: the museum was founded by a Belgian archeologist, Andrea Ludden, back in 2002 in Cosby before it made its way to its current home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
There’s more! This museum has a sister site, the Museo de Saleros y Pimetoros in El Castell de Guadalest, Alicante, Spain, founded in 2010.
5. Avanos Hair Museum, Turkey
Who would have thought that a hair museum would ever exist? Not me, that’s for sure! But lo and behold, it’s a real thing! The story behind it is a bit strange. It all started when a local potter named Chez Galio took a lock of hair from a friend and displayed it in his shop as a way to remember her.
As more and more visitors were intrigued by this odd display and story, they began to donate their hair.
Fast forward to 1979, it became a museum and now boasts an impressive collection of 16,000 hair samples from 16,000 women, each with a little note displaying their address. The hair samples hang under Galio’s pottery shop, creating a one-of-a-kind exhibit.
While it may seem a bit bizarre, admission to the museum is completely free. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to donate a piece of your hair to this hairy museum!
6. Museum of Bad Art, United States
In Dedham, Massachusetts, the Museum of Bad Art, also known as MOBA was founded in 1993 by Scott Wilson. The aim is to showcase and celebrate the works of artists regardless of how they are perceived.
The museum is now in Boston and it has more than 700 pieces of “art too bad to be ignored”. Due to the space of the museum, only 50 to 70 of the paintings are shown at a time
The collections to be included in the museums have to pass through rigorous stages before they finally make it to the museum.
7. British Lawnmower Museum, England
Over 300 restored exhibits of antics garden machinery from about 200 years ago are found in this museum. The museum is leading in the industry.
Well, while this museum seems out of the ordinary, it preserves the history of the garden. The British Lawnmower Museum also has unique collections such as Rolls Royce, Royal Enfield, Vicent Dennis, Perkins Diesel, and Hawker Sidley.
8. Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, Japan
Another weird but interesting museum is the Momofuku Ando Instants Ramen Museum in Japan. Now it gets more interesting when you hear the story of how it originates.
Before the story of the origination, let us find out what the museum is all about.
The Momofuku Museum was created to exhibit Momofuku Ando’s personal belongings, his variety and products.
The place also allows people to knead their dough and create their instant noodles. Do you wonder why? Well, this is because Ando created cup noodles just after World War II to help impoverished people eat nutritious food for low prices.
9. Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center, United States
Have you ever heard of a place set aside for celebrating clowns? Well, the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center (ICHOF) was created in 1987 to preserve the advancement of clown art over time.
There are many archives of clown artifacts found at the museum. Also, it hosts performances from clowns.
10. The Bread Museum, Germany
If you thought you’d heard all about the weirdest museums in the world, then you have not heard of the Bread Museum in Germany.
It has 16,000 artifacts related to the history of bread. However, it does not house the bread itself in its displays.,
The Bread Museum also has about 6,000 pieces of written works that give an insight into bread in many forms.
The history of the museum started with a father and son, Willy Eiselen and Hermann Eiselen. They started a crusty enterprise and later an exhibition.
To go on with the legacy, a foundation named after the father and son took over and is now known to have welcomed over a million people.
11. Siriraj Medical Museum (Museum of Death), Thailand
This museum is even creepier than its name. The Museum of the Death is located in Bangkok, Thailand and its displays may not be soothing for every eye.
But then, one interesting thing about the museum is that it comprises 6 museums known as the Museum of Pathology, a forensics museum, a Museum of the History of Thai Medicine, a parasitology museum, an anatomical museum, and a prehistoric museum.
In the museum, there is the skeleton of the founder, Professor Dr. Aller G. Ellis, MD, an American pathologist. That is not all! It also displays bones, preserved organs, fetuses, the mummified corpse of a notorious killer, and poisonous snakes.
It is usually advised that if you’re not strong enough, stay away from the museum.
Even at that, Siriraj Medical Museum is of great help, especially to people in the medical field.
12. Museum of Enduring Beauty, Malaysia
Also known as the Beauty Museum (Muzium Kecantikan), this is another bizarre museum. This peculiar museum in Malacca City, Malaysia takes us on a journey through various beauty concepts and standards throughout history.
From skin tattoos to lip stretching with round discs to molding heads into oval shapes – nothing is off-limits. It’s like taking a time machine to see how folks defined “beauty” back in the day.
The museum shares a roof with the People’s Museum and Kite Museum and has been enchanting visitors since 1996.
13. Sulabh International Museum Of Toilets, India
From clay pipes to sewers, and toilets, a lot has changed in the history of toilets, and the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets in New Delhi, India tells the story. The museum traces the history of the toilet for the past 4,500 years.
The museum has three sections – the ancient, medieval, and modern toilets.
Over time, it has received people from different parts of the world and has equally received numerous awards of excellence.
14. The Museum of Broken Relationships, Croatia
Like nothing you have probably seen! Nestled in Croatia, this museum gathers artifacts from shattered relationships.
The dynamic duo of Olinka Vištica, a film producer, and Dražen Grubišić, a sculptor founded it.
It started as a traveling collection before it later became a museum in 2010. It later became one of the most visited museums in Croatia.
The museum is divided into three projects such as material remains layout, Virtual Web Museum, and Confessional.
The material layout as the name implies is a segment where objects given by donors are kept. The Virtual Web Museum on the other hand is where the material remains are archived.
Then, the confessional is the interactive part of the museum where people get to store objects, and messages, or record their confessional in a restricted and intimate space.
15. Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments, Amsterdam
Historically, many torture instruments have been used that most people can imagine in this era. Well, since you can’t fully imagine them, the Museum of Medieval Torture showcases them.
Despite its name, the museum’s collection features devices from the 18th century, sourced from different parts of Europe. Some of the exhibits are modern replicas, crafted with wood and metal.
With tourists from all corners of the world walking through the museum’s doors, it’s no surprise that the info boards are in four languages! So, brace yourself for a shocking journey into the past world of torture if you decide to stop at the museum to see things for yourself.
16. Meguro Parasitological Museum, Japan
Have you ever heard of a museum that is devoted to parasites? Weird right? Anyway, this museum is a small science museum in Meguro Ward in Tokyo. It was founded by Dr. Satoru Kamegai in 1953.
Now, the museum has over 60,000 specimens and over 57.300 visitors.
While the museum fits as a weird one, it has served as a great educational center. This contributes to why the museum has 50,000 papers and 5,000 books on parasitology.
17. Icelandic Phallological Museum
No, you’ve not heard it all about museums and weirdness if you’ve not heard about the museum that showcases penis from different mammals.
Since 1997, the museum has gathered over 300 penises from over 100 different species. And get this, the penis includes those of humans, whales, elves, bulls, polar bears, and even kelpies (yes, they’re mythical creatures, but still!).
This unusual museum, also known as the Icelandic Phallological Museum, attracts a whopping 70,000 visitors a year. It’s safe to say it’s got more than just penis worth of appeal! But still weird anyway!
18. The Kansas Barbed Wire Museum
In 1970, the world welcomed a new kind of museum – the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum. Yep, you heard that right, it’s a whole museum dedicated to barbed wire!
With over 2,000 different types of wire and a rich history to boot, this museum is for all wire enthusiasts. But before you scoff and ask why anyone would care about barbed wire and even have a museum for it, remember that this prickly stuff played a vital role in American history.
It was used in the Civil War by the military.
It was also used to the end of the long cattle drives and Indian raids in the 1880s. In addition, barbed wires were used extensively when the US was pushing into the West.
19. Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum, America
The world is full of some downright bizarre museums, but have you heard of the Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum? It’s a real hoot!
Back in 1973, William Shakespeare Berge opened the museum in Kentucky. Now, it’s home to a whopping 1,000+ ventriloquist figures from 20 different countries. Some of these little guys were even used by legendary ventriloquists like Jeff Dunham, Terry Fator, and Darci Lynne.
And, if that’s not enough, the museum has hundreds of photos of many things relating to ventriloquism.
20. Bayernhof Music Museum, Pennsylvania
This is an out-of-the-ordinary museum. It is home to the world’s largest collection of music boxes and other automated musical machines.
The museum also has hidden doors and secret passageways which allow visitors to go through.
One other interesting thing about the museum is that it was the former residence of its founder, Charles B. Brown III. It stands at 19.000 square feet.
