Top 10+ of the most unique museums in the United States

What do ice cream, death, aliens, and espionage have in common? Other than a strange recipe for a thriller novel, each are topics of shared fascination among Americans who visit museums across the country to indulge their curiosity. At their core, museums are collections of objects all related to a particular subject, ranging from vast topics like natural history or art to strangely specific ones, such as mustard or potatoes. The subject of many museums might not sound interesting as a singular item, but put enough information and a large enough collection together and even the most banal objects become fascinating to study. So what are the most unique museums in the United States? Read on to find out.

Idaho Potato Museum, Blackfoot, Idaho

Located in Blackfoot, Idaho, the Idaho Potato Museum strives to educate visitors about their state’s humble potato through an informative look at spud history. Visitors to the museum are greeted with a fantastic photo opportunity, with a giant potato that sits outside the entrance. Don’t forget to stop by The Potato Station Cafe, serving up fries, baked potatoes, potato chips and other potato treats. It also has an incredible gift shop, where guests can pick up novelty shirts and other potato themed gifts such as a poster of Marilyn Monroe wearing a potato sack dress.

Neon Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada

Even if you’ve never been to Las Vegas you’re probably familiar with the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” neon sign that sits just on the limits of the Las Vegas Strip. In fact, Las Vegas has a rich history with neon lighting, which instills a sense of glamor, wealth, and entertainment that awaits under the bright glow of the casino and restaurant signs. The Neon Museum in Las Vegas pays homage to the city’s neon signs through the years, telling its history through the more than 250 restored neon signs on display in the Neon Boneyard.

Spam Museum, Austin, Minnesota

Spam has been making a comeback in recent years, making rounds on social media with unique recipes and innovative ways to use the canned meat product. Whether you’re a newcomer to Spam or you've had it in your pantry for years, you’ll find plenty to love at the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota. The 14,000 square foot museum offers free admission year round and features interactive exhibits and games that are sure to give you a new appreciation for Spam and its rich history.

Museum of Bad Art, Boston, Massachusetts

When you go to an art museum you expect to see the best of the best, art that’s so good it must be displayed and admired. At the Museum of Bad Art, located in Boston, Massachusetts, you will certainly see the best of the best… bad art. The worst art. Art so bad it must be seen. The museum has been a huge success ever since its first show in 1994, and it's a must see if you’re in the Boston area.

Museum of Ice Cream, New York, New York

Bring out your inner child (or actual child if you have them!) at the Museum of Ice Cream in New York City where visitors are invited to eat unlimited ice cream, learn about the history of ice cream, and play in one of the many colorful exhibits dedicated to America’s favorite treat.

Spy Museum, Washington, DC

Test if you have the skills to become a spy by assuming an undercover identity and performing a mission during your visit to the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. Discover various methods of how to steal secret information, try to decipher codes, and learn about some of the greatest spy missions in history at this highly interactive museum.

International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, New Mexico

The International UFO Museum and Research Center is largely centered around the 1947 “Roswell incident,” where an unidentified flying object was reported to have crashed in Roswell. The museum doesn’t aim to convince visitors that aliens did visit, but presents evidence and information that was documented from the time of the crash, to let the visitors decide for themselves.

National Mustard Museum, Middleton, Wisconsin

Resigning from a job as Assistant Attorney General to open a Mustard Museum is a road so less traveled, that even Robert Frost would tip his hat. That is exactly what Barry Levenson did in 1992, when he opened the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin, and put his mustard jar collection on display. Today, the collection has grown to over 6,500 mustard jars from more than 70 countries and is the largest collection of mustard and mustard memorabilia in the world.

Museum of Death, multiple locations

Called one of the most bizarre and shocking museum-going experiences on Trip Advisor, the Museum of Death serves up the macabre on a silver platter. The small museum, with locations in Los Angeles and New Orleans, features exhibits from explanations of autopsies and embalming, to criminal deaths, and a serial killer room, with letters and drawings from famous serial killers.

Silverball Museum, Asbury Park, NJ

Most museums don’t let you touch the displays, but it’s the very opposite at Silverball Museum, Asbury Park’s pinball and video game museum. With a rotating roster of over 600 retro games dating back to the 1950s, Silverball is a museum you can play. Each classic game has cool information about the game’s history to read, so visitors can play and learn about each game as they journey through Silverball’s nostalgic arcade.