The Museum of Ice Cream, the Museum of Broken Relationships, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum … if people have an interest in it, there’s a curated collection dedicated to it. The same is true for the strange and unusual, as the more perplexing sides of life (and what lies beyond) make for fascinating subject matter for macabre displays and extraordinary stories. From extraterrestrial beings and unexplainable creatures to cursed objects and ancient crafts, these memorable museums feature exhibits that might leave travelers with more questions than answers.
International UFO Museum and Research Center
As “The X-Files” says, “The Truth Is Out There,” and at the International UFO Museum and Research Center in, where else, but Roswell, New Mexico, visitors can learn all about unidentified flying objects and the otherworldly beings that are theorized to pilot them. As the site of the 1947 “Roswell Incident” where a mysterious craft (and rumored alien bodies) crash-landed in the high desert, we can’t think of a better location for a museum dedicated to UFO history, events and research than the Pearl of the Pecos. Those in the market for alien souvenirs — honestly, a must for anyone visiting the area — will want to be sure to check out the International UFO Museum and Research Center’s gift shop where they can browse a wide selection of extraterrestrial-themed merch and more.
VAMPA, Vampire and Paranormal Museum
Vampiric lore comes to life at VAMPA, Doylestown, Pennsylvania’s delightfully spooky museum “dedicated to exploring the intersection of the supernatural, folklore, myth, and faith through the ages as expressed through art,” according to VAMPA’s website. Sitting atop five beautiful acres, a visit to VAMPA will surprise ticket holders from the start as they’ll find an onsite dinosaur park, Zen Garden and peacocks waiting for them before walking through the museum’s front doors. As for the building itself? It’s listed as a designated Historic Place under the Heritage Conservancy, setting the scene nicely for the dark wonders that await within including vampiric and occult-inspired art, antiques and artifacts, some of which date past the 1700s. From real vampire killing tools and old-timey talking boards to strange sculptures and an intact exorcism chair, an outing here is one that travelers won’t soon forget.
Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum
Perhaps Las Vegas’ scariest tourist attraction — if you don’t count the pricey food and drinks — Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum is a must-visit for fans of long-running television series “Ghost Adventures.” Even if they don’t tune into the show, paranormal enthusiasts will find themselves enthralled by what waits within the walls of this 1930s mansion-turned-museum, the likes of which Bagans says was rumored to be the site of “dark rituals” conducted by the home’s former owners. Adding to the scare factor is the waiver guests are required to sign before entering, as museum staff say the unique exhibits pose potential physical, psychological and paranormal risks for guests. If they’re brave enough to sign both their spiritual and physical life away, visitors will find 30+ elaborately decorated rooms waiting inside, with the most iconic displays including Dr. Death’s Van (the actual VW “death van” of Dr. Jack Kevorkian), Peggy the Doll (one of the world’s most haunted dolls), Bobby Mackey’s Music World (parts of the building that kicked off the very first episode of “Ghost Adventures”), Demon House (the “staircase from hell” from Bagans’ “Demon House Documentary”), The Devil’s Rocking Chair (an artifact from Ed and Lorraine Warren’s “The Devil Made Me Do It” case) and finally the Dybbuk Box (an item Bagans claims to be “The Most Haunted Object in the World”).
Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft
Are you a fan of fashion? Why not try on a pair of necropants for size? A term we wish we were making up, although it is kind of metal, travelers who make a pitstop at Iceland’s Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft will find “necropants,” the world’s only known pair of 17th-century “sorcery trousers” made from human skin, on display among other curious artifacts. Located about three hours north of Reykjavik by car in the tiny town of Hólmavík, this one-of-a-kind museum tells tales of magic, collecting, preserving and sharing the knowledge of Icelandic enchantment of all varieties with those who are curious enough to seek them. Inside the award-winning attraction, guests will learn about the trials and punishments of 17th century Icelandic witch hunts, gaze upon bespoke objects, hear tales of regional folklore, view copies of magic scrolls and more.
Ghost Museum
Whether they find themselves a skeptic or true believer of things that go bump in the night, Berlin, Maryland’s Ghost Museum offers visitors plenty to ponder by way of spectral stories and sightings. Founded in 2024, Ghost Museum was designed as a space for visitors to explore different aspects of the paranormal, and they’ll love browsing the museum’s collection of strange showcases, each of which comprises artifacts, legends and historical accounts of ghost sightings and other unexplainable encounters from around the world. As an aside, those looking for a creepy addition to their social media feed will find Ghost Museum’s abundance of ghoulish sculptures present the perfect opportunity to strike a scary pose.
International Cryptozoology Museum
Defined by Merriam-Webster as “an animal that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist,” cryptids have long-captured man’s imagination. Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and Mothman are among the most infamous of these beasts, but they are far from the only bizarre creatures to earn cryptid status. Showcasing “remarkable evidence” of unexplainable critters is Bangor, Maine’s International Cryptozoology Museum, a one-of-a-kind attraction with exhibits on Yetis, Bigfoot, lake monsters, sea serpents, strange mammals and more. Some of the museum’s most notable artifacts include P.T. Barnum’s FeeJee Mermaid (a now-confirmed hoax comprising the mummified torso and head of a small monkey sewed onto the tail of a fish), a life-size model of an African coelacanth (an ancient deep-dwelling fish dating back millions of years that was thought to be extinct until it was later rediscovered in the 1930s), hair samples from various ape-like creatures, as-seen-on-TV “authentic” Yeti scat and more.
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