- Museums
- Art
- See & Do
written by Tamara Hinson
updated 12.12.2018
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written by Tamara Hinson
updated 12.12.2018
If dusty fossils don’t do it for you, these strange venues offer something a little different. We’ve rounded up ten of the world’s weirdest museums.
One particularly gruesome exhibit is the 8m-long tapeworm, handily displayed next to a length of white ribbon designed to emphasise the creature’s horrifying length.
© Aut Pantian/Shutterstock
The museum was founded in 1977, when antique collector Gertrude Hunt presented her beloved collection of 60 dog collars to the castle. Since then, the museum has continued to expand, and there are now more than 130 exhibits, dating from the sixteenth century.
© Ari N/Shutterstock
The Big Mac Museum in Pennsylvania was founded by Jim Delligatti, the franchisee who opened Western Pennsylvania’s first McDonald’s restaurant. He also created the Big Mac, an item which first went on sale in his restaurant in 1967, with a price tag of just 45 cents.
Visitors can learn all about the brand’s history and browse the collection of McDonald’s memorabilia, which includes the world’s largest (albeit plastic) Big Mac.
© Hong Vo/Shutterstock
It soon became a museum, which is now run by a charitable foundation. Visitors can check out fascinating displays of baking tools, admire bread-related art and learn about bread’s importance to food security. We’re feeling bloated just thinking about it.
© Antonio Ovejero Diaz/Shutterstock
In the modern section you’ll find hi-tech Japanese and Korean toilets along with a replica of the world’s largest “toilet complex”, which can be found in Maharashtra in west-central India.
© wiktord/Shutterstock
On guided tours visitors can see an enormous selection of tools, ranging from pruning knives and shears to grape presses and wine barrel spigots. Many are hundreds of years old, so it’s a great way to learn about the history of viticulture, too. The majority of exhibits were donated by Phillippe Bérard, a world-renowned vineyard owner with a passion for antique wine tools.
© Historisches Auge Ralf Feltz/Shutterstock
There’s also a huge collection of currywurst literature to peruse, should you wish really torture your stomach.
© KarepaStock/Shutterstock
A handful of mementoes grew to an enormous collection as word spread and broken-hearted singles from around the world donated items. Notable exhibits include the “therapy instrument” (axe) used by its donator to smash the furniture of a cheating partner, and a pair of bright orange pants given to a man by his ex-girlfriend.
© TaraPatta/Shutterstock
The exhibits include specimens from polar bears, seals, foxes and reindeers. There’s also a 1m-long blue whale penis, which was once apparently used as an oar for a canoe.
© iceink/Shutterstock
This museum has more than 2000 types of barbed wire on display, and you can brush up on your knowledge at the learning centre, where you’ll find newsletters from America’s top barbed wire appreciation clubs (yes, those are a thing) and an extensive collection of fencing tools.
Visit in May and you’ll be able to participate in the annual Barbed Wire Swap and Sell and take part in the barbed wire splicing contest. Seriously.
© Hi JOE/Shutterstock
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Top image © AlexandrBognat/Shutterstock
written by Tamara Hinson
updated 12.12.2018
Tamara is a former snowboard instructor who's been a freelance travel writer for 12 years. She loves snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking and scuba diving, and the regions she knows best are Asia, America and Africa. Europe-wise she knows Germany and France very well. In normal times she does two or three trips a month. Follow her on Twitter @tamarahinson
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