6 Unique and Strange Museums Across the U.S.

Museums are a staple of entertainment and learning, making for an easy stop to fit into any vacation road trip. However, not every museum is filled with artwork or dinosaur fossils. There are many strange and unique museums across the U.S. that cater to topics that are as niche as they are educational. If you’re looking for something beyond the ordinary, these six museums offer memorable experiences that are as entertaining as they are unexpected.

The House on the Rock

Spring Green, Wisconsin

Recommended Stay: The AAA Diamond Approved Spring Valley Inn

Nearby Attractions: See formations at Cave of the Mounds

The House on the Rock is an enormous museum complex filled with imaginative galleries, oversized musical instruments, intricate mechanical displays, model ships, carousel collections, and countless curiosities. Its surreal atmosphere and larger-than-life exhibits make it one of America’s most unforgettable attractions.

The SPAM Museum

Austin, Minnesota

Recommended Stay: The AAA Diamond Approved AmericInn by Wyndham Austin

Nearby Attractions: Discover art at the Austin ArtWorks Center

Dedicated to the iconic SPAM brand, The SPAM Museum explores the product’s history, its role during World War II, and its surprising influence on cultures around the world. Interactive exhibits and hands-on displays make this quirky destination fun for visitors of all ages.

The Titanic Museum

Branson, Missouri

Recommended Stay: The AAA Diamond Approved Ozarker Lodge

Nearby Attractions: Branson Landing shopping and entertainment district

Step aboard history at the Titanic Museum, where authentic artifacts, recreated rooms, and interactive exhibits tell the story of the legendary ship. Walk a replica of the Grand Staircase, touch an iceberg, and experience one of history’s most infamous voyages through immersive storytelling.

City Museum

St. Louis, Missouri

Recommended Stay: The AAA Three Diamond-designated Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Union Station

Nearby Attractions: Explore the St. Louis Aquarium and ride The St. Louis Wheel

Part museum, part playground, and part art installation, City Museum transforms reclaimed architectural pieces into tunnels, slides, climbing structures, caves, and even rooftop attractions. It’s an imaginative destination where art and adventure collide.

Shelburne Museum

Shelburne, Vermont

Recommended Stay: The AAA Three Diamond-designated Holiday Inn Express South Burlington

Nearby Attractions: Smugglers’ Notch State Park

Spread across more than three dozen historic buildings, Shelburne Museum showcases American art, folk traditions, decorative arts, and quilts. One of its most remarkable exhibits is the fully preserved 19th-century steamboat Ticonderoga, making this open-air museum unlike any other.

Mothman Museum

Point Pleasant, West Virginia

Recommended Stay: The AAA Three Diamond-designated Hampton Inn Gallipolis

Nearby Attractions: Tu-Endie-Wei State Park

The Mothman Museum chronicles the mysterious creature reportedly spotted in the 1960s through eyewitness accounts, newspaper archives, memorabilia, and movie props. The town fully embraces its famous legend with themed shops, public art, and an annual festival celebrating its most notorious resident.

Plan Your Museum Road Trip with AAA

Join the over a million people who are AAA members and start planning your trip to see some out-of-the-ordinary museums today. Dream up the perfect trip with our Trip Canvas research tool and use your membership to get the best discounts on hotels, rental cars and entertainment tickets.

Hertz Makes Your Trip Easier

Make exploring a breeze with a Hertz rental car. Skip the extra wear and tear on your own vehicle and choose the perfect ride for your trip, whether you need fuel efficiency, extra cargo space or room for the whole family. Hertz has it all.

Hit the road with Hertz and AAA

The journey is part of the adventure when you're visiting these one-of-a-kind museums. With a rental car, you can explore these quirky destinations and the scenic drives, local eateries, and nearby attractions between them. AAA Members enjoy added perks when they book with their Hertz rental through AAA.

AAA Member benefits* with Hertz include:

• Exclusive savings on rental base rates
• Up to four free additional drivers
• Complimentary child safety seat use
• Discount on prepaid fuel option
• Young renter fee waived for drivers 20-24
• Free Hertz Gold+ enrollment & one free day after your first Gold rental

Make exploring a breeze with a rental car. Skip the extra wear and tear on your own vehicle and choose the perfect ride for your trip, whether you need fuel efficiency, extra cargo space or room for the whole family.

Plus, your AAA Membership can help you get more value from your rental. Book your car, pack your bags and set off to explore one of these unique destinations.