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Museums are typically filled with exhibits like ancient fossils, exquisite artwork, and pivotal historical artifacts—items that naturally belong in such spaces. However, some museums take a different approach, showcasing objects you’d more likely find in your kitchen, cluttered drawers, or even the trash. It takes a unique perspective to recognize that the world might need, for instance, a museum entirely dedicated to urine-related artifacts.
10. Toasters
Toasters, often seen as mundane kitchen tools for crisping bread and bagels, actually have a rich and fascinating history. The Toaster Museum Foundation, a small non-profit, is committed to preserving this history. Although their physical location is currently closed, hopes remain high for its revival. This passion project began with an innovative café concept where each table featured a toaster, allowing patrons to toast their bread to perfection. The founders view their museum not just as a display of toaster varieties but as an exploration of design and artistic trends across the decades represented in their collection.
Toastermuseum.com serves as an online archive dedicated to preserving the legacy of these enduring toasting appliances. Visitors can explore over 600 unique toasters, delve into the rich history of toasting, and learn about the basics of toaster design. The site also features a fascinating section detailing the prices of certain toasters. Would you spend thousands of dollars on one?
9. Bunnies
Not rabbits, but specifically bunnies. While bunnies are undeniably adorable, one couple has elevated their love for them to an extreme, amassing over 28,000 bunny-themed items in their California home. Their collection includes bunny kitchenware, plush bunnies, bunny figurines, and bunny memorabilia—essentially every bunny-related item imaginable, alongside a few live pet bunnies. Their website kindly requests visitors not to bring live rabbits or carrots, though alcohol is welcomed as a gift.
The couple proudly shares that thousands have visited their museum, which is always open by appointment since it doubles as their residence. They describe it as a living museum. The most remarkable aspect isn’t the countless bunny eyes watching visitors but the series of promotional commercials featuring none other than Elijah Wood. Yes, Frodo himself is the face of the Bunny Museum.
8. Hair
Few things are as repulsive as a clump of hair clogging a drain, but for those fascinated by hair, there are museums dedicated to it. In Turkey, the Chez Galip Pottery studio showcases a unique collection. The master potter has spent decades gathering strands of hair from female visitors, amassing over 16,000 samples. The collection began in two possible ways: one story tells of a departing friend leaving a lock of hair as a memento, inspiring others to contribute. Another version suggests it’s a clever publicity stunt, as the studio annually gives away vacations to hair donors.
Leila’s Hair Museum in Independence, Missouri, is another intriguing destination. It features thousands of hair-based jewelry pieces and artworks, including locks from notable figures like Queen Victoria and Michael Jackson. Exhibits include hair wreaths (as bizarre as they sound) and paintings created using crushed human hair. For those interested in historical hairstyles, the Japanese Coiffure Museum offers miniature replicas of Japanese hairstyles from ancient times.
7. Ramen
While Ramen is often seen as a budget-friendly meal for college students in the United States, Japan treats it with much greater reverence. So much so that there are two dedicated Ramen museums. The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum offers insights into Ramen’s history (chicken was the original flavor), allows visitors to craft their own unique flavor combinations, and even provides the chance to cook real Ramen noodles from scratch using basic ingredients.
The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum goes a step further, combining a museum with a shop, a vintage-style café, a candy store, and even slot-car racing. It claims to be the only place where you can sample every global Ramen variety without leaving the country. The museum’s restaurants serve diverse Ramen styles with varying toppings, some featuring up to 45 ingredients. Surprisingly, Ramen didn’t reach Japan until 1859, when Chinese restaurants began appearing nationwide.
6. Dog Collars
While the concept of a dog collar museum might initially seem trivial, it’s genuinely intriguing for dog enthusiasts. Situated at Leeds Castle, the Dog Collar Museum’s name doesn’t do justice to its rich collection. Some exhibits trace back to the Middle Ages, when collars were primarily functional, designed to safeguard hunting and guard dogs. Over time, they evolved into fashionable accessories, mirroring human trends. By the 18th century, collars became ornate, often crafted from silver or velvet, engraved with the dog’s name and owner’s details, and sometimes adorned with family crests.
The museum highlights humanity’s enduring bond with dogs, showcasing how deeply we’ve cherished our canine companions. Its popularity is evident, attracting around 500,000 visitors annually. The collection was initially curated by a scholar in medieval history and later donated to Leeds Castle following his passing.
5. Menstruation
This online museum offers a surprisingly engaging experience, particularly with its display of hate-mail comments it proudly shares. While the Museum of Menstruation and Women’s Health might not appeal to the squeamish, those who explore it will find a treasure trove of information. It delves not only into the science of menstruation but also examines its social and cultural impacts on women. Exhibits include historical engravings of ceremonial attire for girls experiencing their first period and images of secluded huts where women were sent during their menstrual cycles.
The museum also explores fascinating myths surrounding menstruation: Ancient Greeks believed dogs would go mad near menstruating women, while Orthodox Jewish traditions included ritual bathing and, unofficially, mothers slapping their daughters during their first period. Additionally, the museum features a vast collection of vintage ads from around the world.
4. Urology
The William P. Didusch Center for Urologic History is a must-visit for anyone fascinated by urology, urine, bladder stones, or catheters. Founded in 1971 and managed by the American Urological Association in Maryland, the museum houses an extensive collection of urological artifacts. Its ever-expanding exhibits include medical textbooks, historical and modern illustrations, and tools like laparoscopes for minor surgeries and various catheters.
Catheters, surprisingly, have a more intriguing history than one might assume. Early versions were crafted from materials such as wood and precious metals, and in the 19th century, people discreetly carried them in various clothing accessories. The museum features rotating annual exhibits and includes sections on urology-related fields like infertility and incontinence treatments. They actively seek volunteers and donations to expand their collection.
3. Leftovers
While most discard dinner remnants or save them for later, the Museum of Celebrity Leftovers treats them as cherished mementos. This unique exhibit, more of a display stand, features rows of mineral specimen jars, each containing leftovers labeled with the name of the celebrity who dined at the seaside café. Highlights include fruitcake remnants from Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, Cornetto wrapping from actor Eddie Marsan, and a sugar packet used by actor Mark McGann. The crown jewel? A piece of bread pudding left by the Prince of Wales.
The museum began when café owners Michael and Francesca Bennett hosted photographer David Bailey and sought to commemorate the occasion. Although the museum is now closed, its closure wasn’t due to lack of interest. The owners shifted their focus from the café to their artistic pursuits, changing the direction of their careers.
2. Pencils
The Cumberland Pencil Museum claims to house the world’s first pencil, though this didn’t spare it from being listed by The Telegraph as one of the worst ways to spend a day in Britain. For those curious about pencil production—from the discovery of graphite in Borrowdale to the invention of machinery for carving wooden grooves, and the revolutionary creation of colored pencils—this museum is a must-visit. The process is surprisingly intricate, involving woodworking, graphite shaping, gluing, sanding, finishing, labeling, and packaging.
The museum offers a wealth of information, contextualizing its timeline with major historical events like World War I and Queen Victoria’s reign. Visitors can participate in a graphite-only fairground design contest, explore an arts and crafts trail, and view the World War II Secret Pencil exhibit. Additionally, the museum hosts family fun days, group art demonstrations, drawing competitions, and features a coffee shop for refreshments.
1. Mustard
Given the global abundance of mustard, it’s no surprise there are multiple mustard museums. The Colman’s Mustard Shop & Museum in Norfolk, England, celebrates what many consider the most iconic mustard brand. With nearly 200 years of history, the museum showcases mustard tins and pots that reflect evolving artistic trends over the decades. Visitors can also explore the mustard-making process and learn how Colman’s grew into a mustard powerhouse.
Across the Atlantic lies an even quirkier mustard museum. The National Mustard Museum, founded in 1992 by a former Assistant Attorney General, was inspired by a late-night grocery store mustard aisle visit. The museum boasts over 5,600 mustard varieties. The founder credits his Supreme Court victory, achieved with a mustard jar in his pocket, as a sign he was destined to create the world’s largest mustard collection. Today, the museum hosts annual National Mustard Day festivities.
