Buzz
Ever wondered what it takes to create a museum dedicated to your favorite everyday objects? This idea has inspired the creation of ten remarkable museums worldwide, each focusing on a single household item. From folding fans to typewriters and an array of mustards, these institutions pay tribute to the tools and products we use daily.
1. WEIN MUSEUM UHRENMUSEUM (THE CLOCK MUSEUM) // VIENNA, AUSTRIA
The Uhrenmuseum in Germany spans three floors and houses an impressive collection of 3000 clocks. Many of these timepieces chime in unison every hour, creating a symphony of sounds. Established in 1917, the museum features clocks ranging from one smaller than a thimble to another that once adorned a church steeple. According to Atlas Obscura, the museum boasts a 230-year-old astronomical clock with golden gears, meticulously calibrated to keep time until the year 9999.
2. THE FAN MUSEUM // GREENWICH, LONDON
Adrian Long, Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0
The Fan Museum
Established in 1991 in southeast London, this museum boasts a vast collection of approximately 5000 fans and related artifacts, some dating as far back as the 11th century. It offers permanent exhibits that trace the evolution of fans, alongside rotating displays highlighting fans from specific cultures, historical periods, and thematic contexts.
3. THE HAMMER MUSEUM // HAINES, ALASKA
Sean Hoyer, Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Nestled in Haines, known as the “Adventure Capital of Alaska,” The Hammer Museum opened in 2002 and features a striking 19-foot-tall sculpture at its entrance. Entirely operated by unpaid volunteers, the museum highlights the hammer’s role in human progress and innovation, as noted on its website. With a collection of 1500 hammers, the museum is a seasonal attraction, welcoming visitors only from May to September.
4. THE LONDON SEWING MACHINE MUSEUM // LONDON, ENGLAND
Diamond Geezer, Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The London Sewing Machine Museum
Open exclusively on the first Saturday of every month, visiting this museum to see the original Singer or the sewing machine owned by Queen Victoria’s daughter requires careful planning or a stroke of luck. Despite limited online reviews, recent visitors have expressed high praise. Jane, one visitor, described the collection of over 600 machines from 1850 to 1950 as “unexpected treasures” that are “exquisitely curated and presented,” while another reviewer called the antique machines “magnificent examples of mechanical artistry.”
5. THE VACUUM CLEANER MUSEUM // SAINT JAMES, MISSOURI
Established in 2009 by Tom Gasko, a vacuum enthusiast since childhood, this museum celebrates the evolution of vacuum cleaners. Gasko, a lifelong vacuum seller and collector, used his personal collection to create an exhibit featuring over 600 functional models at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum. The collection spans from the early 1900s, and the museum’s website highlights vacuums once owned by famous personalities.
6. THE SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER MUSEUM // GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE
Karen Seifert, Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Founded by a family of avid collectors, the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum showcases approximately 20,000 pairs of shakers in diverse shapes and sizes, some dating back 500 years. From pop culture icons and fast food-themed designs to intricately crafted and feline-shaped shakers, the collection often leaves visitors describing it as “quirky,” “amazing,” or somewhere in between.
7. THE DINNERWARE MUSEUM // ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
This Ann Arbor-based non-profit celebrates the unsung heroes of the kitchen: dinnerware. With exhibits ranging from cake displays to “the art of high chair dining,” The Dinnerware Museum covers every facet of table culture. Highlights include a 2015 cake stand, a 54-piece set from 1968, and an 1800s pearlware bowl, among other unique treasures. If you love table settings, this museum is a must-visit.
8. THE TYPEWRITER MUSEUM // ITALY
For a generation unfamiliar with typewriters, the Peter Mitterhofer Typewriter Museum (named after its inventor) serves as a vital tribute. Established in 1998 in Italy’s Bolzano region, the museum centers on Kurt Ryba’s collection, supplemented by donated models. With over 2000 typewriters spanning 150 years, the collection includes Thomas Edison’s typewriter and one of the first commercially available models.
9. THE LUNCHBOX MUSEUM // COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
From the 1950s to the 1980s, lunchboxes were a stylish way for students to showcase their favorite TV shows, movies, and pop culture icons. Allen Woodall Jr. spent decades amassing a collection of over 2000 lunchboxes and related items like thermoses, now showcased at his The Lunchbox Museum. Featuring designs from Scooby Doo, Rambo, Mork and Mindy, and Double Bubble, the museum is a nostalgic treasure trove accessible for just $5 in Georgia. Watch the video above for a curator-led tour.
10. THE NATIONAL MUSTARD MUSEUM // MIDDLETON, WISCONSIN
National Mustard Museum
Founded by Barry Levenson, the museum was inspired by a trip to the supermarket after his beloved Boston Red Sox lost the 1986 World Series. Today, it houses over 5676 mustards from all 50 states and more than 70 countries. Admission is free, and the on-site store offers some of the rarest mustards globally.
