Museum
of Bad Art
Dedham, Massachusetts
Affectionately known as MOBA, the Museum of Bad Art is an awesomely
fun idea. Founded in 1993, MOBA is located the in the basement
of the Dedham Square Community Theatre in Massachusetts. The
museum is the only one of its kind, priding itself on the collection,
preservation, and celebration of bad art in all its forms. MOBA
has collected over 400 pieces of unintentionally awful art,
but due to limited space only 30-40 pieces are shown at a time.
Dreadful clowns, failed attempts at profound abstract art and
grotesque nudes are some examples of the museum's collection.
Jell-O
Museum
LeRoy, NY
There's always room for... a Jell-O Museum? Apparently, in LeRoy,
NY there is. A carpenter named Pearle Wait created America's
favorite dessert in Le Roy in 1897. The museum shares the building
with the town's historical society and pays homage to the hometown
treat. The museum offers a detailed history of Jell-O, trivia,
past recipes and plenty of vintage advertising memorabilia.
Their latest claim to fame is the visit that longtime Jell-O
spokesperson Bill Cosby paid the museum in 2004. If you enjoy
Jell-O or are just interested in it's similarities to our very
own brain waves, a stop at the museum is worthy of a short break.
Tinkertown
Sandia Park, New Mexico
Tinkertown is comprised of one man's collection of tinkerings.
Ross Ward spent more than 40 years gathering glass bottles and
carving wooden objects to create a whimsical, folk art site.
Ward began working on the tiny western town in 1962. His motivation
to create Tinkertown stemmed from his desire to keep the interest
in roadside attractions alive. Ward's desire was realized, as
Tinkertown is a unique addition to New Mexico's roadside stops.
Ward created everything in it, right down to its wooden "people."
The collection includes an animated miniature circus, old west
memorabilia, and an antique 40-foot sailboat that has sailed
around the world. While Tinkertown's beloved designer passed
away in 2002, Ward's family continues to operate the museum
and carry on the tradition of this very special attraction.
National
Museum of Funeral History
Houston, TX
Robert L. Waltrip opened the National Museum of Funeral History
to fulfill his dream of educating the public and preserving
the rich history of the funeral industry. The Museum appears
to be Waltrip's dream come true. Among its exhibitions are examples
of fantasy coffins, (themes and shapes include fish, cars, and
crustacean) elegant early 20th century hearses and a diorama
illustrating Civil War embalming techniques. NMFH also contains
a 1900's Casket Factory, where visitors can witness how caskets
were constructed before the advent of modern machines. For some
reason the Museum holds private parties and corporate events.
An interesting place to visit? Maybe. The perfect venue for
a Sweet 16? I think not...
The
Camera Van
coming to a town near you...
In true Weiner mobile fashion, the Camera Van is a wacky attraction
on the move. In 1995, Harrod Blank took his love for photography
on the road by covering his 1972 Dodge van in cameras - dozens
of working cameras. The Camera Van has taken pictures of perplexed
onlookers from coast to coast across the USA attending all kinds
of events, parades, exhibits and art car festivals. The Van,
with all its dazzling décor, aims to capture a person
in that magical instant of reflex reaction, of bewilderment,
wonder, of curiosity in action. The Camera Van gets 10 miles
to the gallon. Although, Blank likes to mention that in smileage,
though, the van gets 100 smiles per gallon.
South
of the Border
Dillon, South Carolina
No Southern road trip is complete without a stop at South of
the Border. One of the most famous rest stops/roadside attractions
offers shops, six restaurants, gas stations, campground sites,
a motel, and an amusement park named Pedroland Park. Poncho-wearing
Pedro, a stereotypical Mexican figure, is the attraction's mascot.
Pedro is featured on hundreds of highway signs that countdown
the number of miles to South of the Border. Among the intentionally
foolish items written on the signs are: "You Never Sausage a
Place!", "You're Always a Wiener at Pedro's," and
"Chile Today, Hot Tamale!"
South of the Border and all its 'campy' kitsch has steadily
drawn in the southern flow of traffic because it does not take
itself too seriously.
Cooter's
Place
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
If you love "the Dukes of Hazard" you will love a
visit to Cooter's Place. Cooter's Place houses Cooter's Gargage
and the one and only Dukes of Hazzard Museum. This hee haw attraction
is operated by none other than ol' "Cooter" himself.
Ben Jones, who played the Duke Boys brawny sidekick, is the
host at this tribute to life in Hazard County. Cooter's Place
features pictures, props, costumes, and memorabilia from the
1970's sitcom. Ben Jones has been known to hang around and chat
with visitors and fans at both of the Cooter's locations in
Tennessee. Each year Ben and his wife host Dukes Fest, which
features personal appearances by stars from the show, "Hazzard
style" music, and car stunts by the original "Dukes"
stunt drivers. More than 100 General Lees, the name of the Duke
Boys car, are on display at Dukes Fest.
Coral
Castle
Homestead, Florida
Coral Castle in Homestead, Florida, is among the world's most
puzzling structures. In terms of accomplishment, Coral Castle
has been compared to Stonehenge, ancient Greek temples, and
even the great pyramids of Egypt. It is rather astounding, considering
that it is believed that the structure was entirely quarried,
transported, and constructed by one man. According to the tale
of Coral Castle, Edward Leedskalnin, a native of Latvia, created
Coral Castle for his ladylove. In true legend fashion, she left
him high and dry and the heartbreak that ensued drove Leedsskalin
to make the castle his life's mission. It is estimated that
1,000 pounds of coral rock were used to construct the castle.
Because nobody can recall ever seeing Leedskalin laboring, or
any modern machinery, it is believed that he possessed supernatural
powers. True or false, the mystery sure makes for a fine story
and continues to draw visitors to the remarkably beautiful Coral
Castle.
Precious
Moments Park & Chapel
Carthage, Missouri
For time immemorial people have collected. Stamps, coins, comics
and baseball cards have always been favorites for collectors.
Then in the 1980's collectors everywhere rejoiced - Precious
Moments had arrived. Surely, everyone has gotten at least one
of those tear drop-eyed, pious little figures at some point
in their lives. You may have liked yours and put it on display,
perhaps you stored it somewhere never to be seen again. The
fact of the matter is there are people who have begun seriously
collecting Precious Moments - enough people in fact - that the
founders created a Precious Moments Park & Chapel. Yes an
entire theme park of sorts devoted to devout Precious Moments
collectors. Located in Carthage, MO the park includes many gardens,
plenty of gift shops, and a chapel. According to the original
Precious Moments artist and founder Sam Butcher, Michelangelo's
Sistine Chapel in Rome inspired the chapel's design. Murals
around the chapel depict Old Testament stories, and the images
of important biblical figures are rendered as - well, none other
than Precious Moments.
Lucy
the Margate Elephant
Margate, NJ
Touted as the eighth wonder of the world, Lucy the Margate Elephant
has stood tall for over 100 years. Margate is a southern New
Jersey shore community that borders Atlantic City. Second only
to the glitz of the casinos and the folly of the boardwalks,
the colossal wood and tin elephant is a beloved tourist attraction.
Over the years Lucy has lived in New York City's Coney Island
amusement park, housed a family, a restaurant, and even a bar.
In the 1960's poor Lucy fell into disrepair. Thanks to the 'Save
Lucy Committee,' the 65 foot tall Asian elephant was moved,
restored, and declared a National Historic Landmark. Today visitors
can tour the elephant's innards and climb to the open-air "howdah"
atop Lucy's back for incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The
Mutter Museum
Philadelphia, PA
Professor
of surgery Thomas Dent Mutter founded the Mutter Museum, part
of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, in 1858. What
started as a personal collection of unique anatomic and pathological
materials, now boasts over 20,000 disturbing objects. Among
them are fluid-preserved anatomical and pathological specimens;
skeletal and dried specimens, and various medical instruments
and apparati. Some of the more popular exhibits are the plaster
cast of the torso of world-famous Siamese Twins, a collection
of 2,000 objects extracted from people's throats, and a cancerous
growth removed from President Grover Cleveland. While the Mutter
Museum also offers changing exhibits on a variety of medical
and historical topics, it is pretty safe to say that the eerie
medical specimens are what make this the ultimate bizarre attraction.
The
Worlds Largest Catsup Bottle
Collinsville, Illinois
Heinz may be the world's best selling ketchup with no 'catch
up' in sight, however Brooks old original rich & tangy catsup
holds the honor of the World's Largest Catsup bottle. Located
in Collinsville, Illinois, ol' Brooks has stood tall for over
50 years, making it a permanent symbol of roadside architecture
at its best. The 70 ft tall bottle is actually a water tower
that stands atop 100 ft legs, combining functionality with fun.
While Brooks Catsup has conformed and changed its name to Brooks
Ketchup, the newly restored tower still remains an original
roadside classic.
The
Dr. Samuel Harris National Museum of Dentistry
Baltimore, Maryland
This unusual museum, complete with a set of George Washington's
dentures on display (and no they are not wooden), is located
on the Baltimore campus of the University of Maryland, the world's
first dental school. Also on display are a set of gilded dental
instruments used on Queen Victoria, and a clever Tooth Jukebox
that plays vintage dental commercials. Equally amusing are the
names of their temporary exhibitions, which include Out of the
Horses Mouth: Animals Need Dentists Too and Saliva: A Remarkable
Fluid. Informative and fun, the world's only museum dedicated
to dentistry is sure to be mildly entertaining and certainly
less painful than a visit to the actual dentist.
Wall
Drug
