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If adding a museum to your travel itinerary usually raises an eyebrow, try one of these seven unusual and entertaining museums around the world. They range from comedic and quirky to scientific and culinary—far from the typical dusty gallery experience. -
The National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, celebrates the craft and history of comedy with interactive exhibits and immersive experiences. Located in Lucille Ball’s hometown, this hands-on museum personalizes the story of comedic voices across generations and formats.
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The V&A Museum of Childhood in London offers a rich collection devoted to the experience of growing up. From historic children’s clothing and dolls to iconic action figures, games and puzzles, the museum appeals to visitors of all ages and evokes nostalgia without feeling solely geared toward families.
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The Icelandic Phallological Museum is one of the planet’s most singular collections, with more than 280 phallic specimens from over 200 species. It’s a museum for the curious-minded, offering bizarre and scientific insight into the natural world’s diversity.
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Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum showcases medical history through striking and sometimes unsettling specimens. Highlights include a historic skull collection and rare neurological artifacts, offering a compelling look at the development of medical science and anatomy.
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The Cup Noodles Museum in Osaka turns instant ramen into culture. Celebrating Momofuku Ando’s 1958 invention, the museum blends history, design and tasting—visitors can explore extensive packaging archives and create their own ramen cup in an interactive workshop.
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The International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., houses an extensive public collection of espionage artifacts. It reveals the clever tools and tradecraft used by spies over the decades and invites visitors to try their hand at spy missions and interactive challenges.
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The American Sign Museum in Cincinnati preserves the visual history of advertising and signage, from hand-carved wooden signs to classic neon. Compact and photogenic, it’s a great stop for design enthusiasts and photographers alike.
