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15 of the world's weirdest museums
Tap water, dog collars or the underpants of your favorite celebrities -- here, the niche takes the spotlight
Not every museum is a shimmering beacon of high culture. Some focus on the more exotic aspects of the world.
No matter how bizarre, offbeat or outrageous the subject may be, there’s probably a museum dedicated to it.
1. Beijing Tap Water Museum, China
The exciting side of tap water.
No, it’s not a mistranslation.
This former pipe-house in the center of Beijing has been converted into a museum dedicated to the ins and outs of tap water, including 130 “real objects,” models and artifacts such as vintage water coupons dating to the first tap water company in the capital, the Jingshi Tap Water Company.
But don't be tempted to quench your thirst after all this tap water reading; Beijing residents have long known that the water coming out of their taps is hardly safe to drink.
Don’t miss: The miniature tap water filtration system that gives the Forbidden City a run for its money.
Beijing Tap Water Museum, 6A Dongzhimen Beidajie, Beijing, China; +86 10 64650787
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2. Museum of Bad Art, United States
Think you could do better?
Most of the displays here wouldn’t make it to your mother’s fridge, let alone the Louvre.
But here more than 600 pieces, which in other places might inspire polite nods and insincere compliments, have a place to shine.
Located "conveniently beside the toilets” in an old basement in Dedham, Massachusetts, the museum accepts only art too bad to ignore.
Row after row of misshapen flowers and brightly colored portraits reaffirm that, yes, your five-year-old could probably do that.
Don’t miss: “Lucy in the field with flowers,” a true icon depicting a seemingly floating septuagenarian amongst a slowly swaying field of blossoms.
Museum of Bad Art, Dedham Community Theatre, 580 High St., Dedham Square, Dedham, Massachusetts, United States; +1 781 444 6757; www.museumofbadart.org
3. The Dog Collar Museum, England
Medieval puppies would be rolling in their graves if they witnessed the stylish vests doggies are donning today.
Nearly half a million pet lovers rejoice every year in this one-of-a-kind display of dog paraphernalia, surprisingly the only one of its kind found in Great Britain.
Dogs have always been a presence at the manor at Leeds Castle gracing the side of Lady Baillie, the last owner of the estate, whose love of dogs inspired the creation of the museum.
The display of puppy attire with more than 100 unique items dates back centuries, documenting the history of canine accessories from medieval times.
Don’t miss: Antique collars from the 15th and 16th centuries, sporting a strip of spikes around the neck to protect against attacking beasts.
The Dog Collar Museum, Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent, England; +44 1622 765400; www.leeds-castle.com
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4. British Lawnmower Museum, England
Round up the neighborhood fathers, it's time for a field trip!
What some might consider an icon of the worst aspect of suburbia is cherished at the British Lawnmower Museum, which details the history of the push-powered garden tool.
Want to see the first solar-powered robot grass-chopper, or the original mower itself, transformed from a contraption used to hem guards’ uniforms? This museum is for you.
From royal lawnmowers belonging to Prince Charles and Princess Diana, to the world’s most expensive lawnmowers, this place allows everyone to at least talk up appearances even if you can't keep them.
Don’t Miss: A fully functional lawnmower less than five centimeters high, ready to shave the errant blade of grass off even the tiniest lawn.
British Lawnmower Museum, 106-114 Shakespeare St., Southport, Merseyside, England; www.lawnmowerworld.co.uk
5. Avanos Hair Museum, Turkey
Explore the world’s largest collection of hair gathered from more than 16,000 women.
Avanos, a tiny town in central Turkey, has been famous since antiquity for its remarkable earthenware pottery. In recent years, however, the town has gained fame for a more unusual sight: the caves of the bizarre Hair Museum, created by potter Chez Galip.
The walls under his studio are covered with the world’s largest collection of hair sourced from more than 16,000 women, along with their names and addresses. Locks of every length and color transform everything but the floor in a kind of hairy haven.
Don’t Miss: The exit
Avanos Hair Museum, 50500 Avanos, Turkey; +90 384 511 5758; www.chez-galip.com
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