10 Weird American Museums

If you're in the mood to take in a little culture, but in a more offbeat (and possibly less stuffy) kind of way, there are plenty of places in the United States that can scratch that itch. From UFOs to voodoo to bad art and to even mustard, there is a museum tucked away somewhere in this great land to suit anybody's taste -- no matter how macabre or bizarre. In ascending order:

1. The Mutter Museum: Of course no list of unusual museums would be complete without inclusion of the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I had the unique pleasure of visiting the Mutter and it rates as one of the most interesting and profound experiences of my life. The collection once sought to educate medical students about human anatomy (especially conditions resulting in abnormalities), but the collection of over 20,000 items is now on display for the public. The preserved babies suffering various deformities that line some of the shelves hauntingly look at you from inside their jars. The display about Siamese twins, including a cast of Chang and Eng invoke a sense of sympathy for their plight of never being able to really be alone. Also notable were displays of the "Soap Lady," a giant colon, cross-sections of various organs and structures, skeletons of a "giant," a "little person," and diseased skeletons, and over 2,000 small items removed from people's throats. The collection contains an overwhelming amount of information all packed into a not-so-large area, so prepare to be assaulted visually. The mood in the museum is quite sedate, and on the day I visited there was a man dressed in a suit acting as "security"-mainly because the museum has a strict no-photos policy.

19 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
General Admission is $14 with special rates for children, seniors, and military.

2. The Museum of Death is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. Originally housed in one of San Diego's first funeral homes, this museum (in its new location in Hollywood) offers a shockingly real look at death through exhibits and films. Visitors can view photos from the famous Manson family murders and the Black Dahlia murders and watch footage from actual autopsies and deaths caught on film. Autopsy tools, coffins, body bags, and devices used in mortuary science are also displayed. A vast collection of artwork created by serial killers also made its way to the Museum of Death. Human death is not the only focus, as there is a section devoted to pet taxidermy.

6031 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
(323) 466-8011
Open 12 p.m.-8 p.m. daily, with later hours on Fridays and Saturdays
Admission: $15

3. If mysterious rituals and zombies are more of your bag, I've found a museum for you. Where else could it be than the French Quarter in New Orleans , Louisiana? The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum features a cemetery walking tour where you'll visit the tomb ofMarie Laveau. You'll also learn about the fascinating history and folklore of voodoo, and you can even get a referral to schedule a reading, gris-gris, or other ritual with a psychic (for an extra fee.) The museum can be found at 724 Dumaine Street and is open seven days a week (and some holidays) from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00p.m. Admission is $7, with special discounts for seniors, college and high school students, children, and the military.

4. The Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri, is a must-see for anyone curious about the history of the treatment of mental illness. Originally the museum was a part of the former "State Lunatic Asylum #2," but has been moved into a newer facility, and the asylum transformed into a prison. Despite the venue change (just next door), the collection is still worth a look-see. Visitors will get a good look at how inhumane the treatment of mental illness was in the distant and the not-so-distant past. People burned and dunked in ice water as "witches," lobotomies, hydrotherapy, a patient treadmill (think hamster wheel), and other cruel "treatments" are depicted through models, displays, photos, and psychiatric documents. There is also a display of over 1,400 objects removed from a woman's digestive system. The woman died during the operation to remove various safety pins, nails, screws, etc.

3406 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph, MO
Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Adult Admission: $5 (Special rates for seniors, children, and adults)

5. The Oasis Bordello Museum in Wallace, Idaho was once the home of a booming brothel. In 1988, the ladies fled from a raid on the building, leaving everything behind, from their lingerie to food in the kitchen. The brothel was pretty much left the way it was abandoned and during the tour visitors will gain some insight into the personal lives of the prostitutes through information gathered from a variety of sources, including people who knew the workers personally. Admission to the upstairs, where the guided tour takes place, is $5. The museum hours are April 20-October 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 605 Cedar St., Wallace, Idaho
Telephone: (208) 753-0801

6. If you're interested in prisons but don't actually want to get locked up in order to explore them, you should check out the Museum of Colorado Prisons in Canon City, Colorado. Visitors can explore historical prison items and exhibits including the noose from the last Colorado hanging, art created by former prisoners, a gas chamber, items used to control and discipline inmates from as far back as 1871, weapons fashioned by prisoners, and photos from the past that will give you a glimpse into how prison life was at the facility. The museum is open now for winter hours (October-April) Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours for the Summer and Off-Season are different. Admission is $7.00 for adults with special rates for children and seniors.

Address: 201 North 1st Street, Canon City, CO

7. If you're in Salem, Massachusetts you'll no doubt find yourself "bewitched" by various shops and museums based on the infamous Salem Witch Trials. The Spellbound Museum boasts a collection of unusual and bizarre supernatural artifacts, including the "Feejee Mermaid," a kit for killing vampires, voodoo altars and paraphernalia, and medical curiosities. In the Ghostly Theatre, internationally-known ghost hunter Mollie Stewart (who runs the museum) will spin a yarn of horror for your enjoyment in a Victorian-style parlor. Spellbound Tours offers a Vampire and Ghost Hunt tour through documented haunted areas and the website warns that people have actually fainted on this tour. So consider yourselves warned, things could get spooky. Because the hours and admission fees for the museum and the tour are different, it would be a good idea to contact Spellbound at (978) 745-0138 for specific information.

8. Are you a mustard aficionado? If so, then you need to visit The Mount Horeb Mustard Museum in downtown Mount Horeb , Wisconsin . Here you can revel at over 5,000 containers of mustard from all over the globe as well as vintage mustard jars, ads, and other items important to the history of the condiment we've loved and adored throughout our lifetimes. Near the gallery is "The Gift Shop and Fancy Food Emporium," where you can taste hundreds of varieties of mustards and other delicious sauces. The Mustard Museum is located at 100 West Main Street with the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except for New Years, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

9. The Museum of Bad Art began in a private basement in Boston in 1993 and serves as a shrine to some of the greatest "bad art" ever found in the garbage or thrift store. The collection is divided into categories such as: "In the Nood," "Blue People," "Here the Symbols Crash," and "Poor Traits." You know what they say about one man's trash, don't you?

MOBA now has two locations, the original is at the Dedham Community Theatre, 580 High Street, Dedham, Massachusetts 02026-1845. Admission is free, but because the site says the hours are "Usually" Sunday-Thursday 2 p.m.-9 p.m. and Friday, Saturday, Holidays, 1-10p.m., you may want to call first. (1-781-444-6757) The second location is at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square , Somerville MA , 02144 . Admission at the Somerville MOBA is free with the purchase of a theater ticket and they are open when films are playing, so again, you may want to call confirm hours.

10. The Land of Witches and Pirates in Salem, Massachusetts consists of three museums: the New England Pirate Museum, the Witch Dungeon Museum, and the Witch History Museum. The pirate museum at 274 Derby Street features an interactive walking tour complete with a pirate ship, a cave, and "hidden booty." You can explore the lives of New England pirates daily during May - October from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. with some open dates in April and November. Admission is $8.00 for adults with lower rates for children and seniors.