| They're weird and they're wacky, but they've got a | | | | barbed wire should have its own museum. |
| charm and allure we can't help but appreciate. Here's | | | | Crawl inside the wire and you'll find over 12,000 square |
| our picks for the zaniest, looniest, nuttiest made in the | | | | feet of barbed history packed into this former brassier |
| U.S.A museums: | | | | factory (sorry no underwire on display). Explore |
| 1. National Mustard Museum" Mount Horeb, Wisconsin | | | | hundreds of flesh tearing samples, discover how |
| Excuse me do you have any grey poupon? This is | | | | barbed wire is made, or go all out and bring in some |
| one place where you're all but guaranteed to get a | | | | barbed wire of your own for an appraisal. Yes, you |
| resounding "Yes". In fact, Mount Horeb's National | | | | can have your barbed wire appraised! |
| Mustard Museum is home to over 5000 mustard | | | | If you're still lusting for more barbed wire, head to the |
| varieties, from 50 states and 60 countries around the | | | | Kansas Barbed Wire Museum in La Crosse Kansas. |
| world. | | | | Here, the annual Kansas Barbed Wire Collectors |
| Squeeze inside and you'll discover some of the most | | | | Conference brings close to 100 barbed enthusiasts |
| treasured items from mustard history, including antique | | | | together each year. |
| mustard pots and vintage mustard advertisements. | | | | 5. Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum Fort Mitchell, |
| Next, grab a seat at the famed Mustard Piece | | | | Kentucky |
| Theatre and take in The Spice of Nations, easily, the | | | | I speak for myself and others when I say, "this is one |
| most groundbreaking piece of mustard cinema of all | | | | zany place". |
| time. | | | | Drive into Fort Mitchell, and let ventriloquism history |
| Let it be said that when it comes to weird museums, | | | | expert and curator Lisa take you on a personal tour |
| this one really cuts the mustard. | | | | through this mad house full of talking heads. Along the |
| 2. Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia. Burlingame, | | | | way you'll see everything from clown dummies, to |
| California | | | | Carter and Reagan dummies (though in that case, it |
| Who would have known that those little bricked | | | | might not be easy to tell the difference). |
| shaped candies with the funky dispensers could spark | | | | Vent Haven's pinnacle display boasts rows upon rows |
| a revolution? | | | | of dummies seated cordially at school desks, staring |
| From Mickey Mouse to Abraham Lincoln, nearly | | | | you in the face. One look and you'll be... speechless. |
| everyone has had their five minutes of Pez Fame. In | | | | 6. Liberace Museum: Paradise, Nevada |
| fact, when browsing the thousands of PEZ artefacts | | | | A museum as eccentric and bizarre as the man |
| on display here (the world's largest collection), you'll be | | | | himself. If it glitters, shines or sparkles, you're likely to |
| taken on trip through American cultural history, | | | | find it here. Just remember to keep your sunglasses |
| remembering every fad and fashion along the way. | | | | on as you head inside. |
| You can even immortalize yourself in PEZ history, by | | | | Liberace's personal collection of rare antique pianos, |
| putting your face on a PEZ dispenser of your own. | | | | classic cars, jewellery and what might be the flashiest |
| Sweet. | | | | wardrobe of all time, are all here for your personal |
| 3. Spam Museum: Austin, Minnesota | | | | perusal. |
| Few foods are as revered or as ridiculed as Spam | | | | Before you go, stop for a photo in front of Liberace's |
| that pre-cooked pinkish mystery meat in a can. While | | | | famous 9-foot high mirrored grand piano. You may not |
| its taste is definitely an acquired one, no other meat | | | | be able to play like him, but at least you can look the |
| can claim to have powered the allies to victory in | | | | part. |
| World War Two (our soldiers ate it for breakfast, lunch | | | | 7. Marvin's Marvellous Mechanical Museum: Farmington |
| and dinner). | | | | Hills, Michigan |
| For most of us, Spam is more than just a food, it's an | | | | This is what happens when a hobby gets out of |
| American Icon. An icon surely worthy of 16,500 square | | | | control. |
| feet of museum space. | | | | What started as a personal collection of mechanical |
| Step inside this Spam Mecca (set in the former Harmel | | | | knickknacks and nostalgia has become a 5500 square |
| Foods factory) and you'll find decades of the best | | | | foot museum, packed to the brim with arcade machine |
| Spam memorabilia along with vintage Spam advertising | | | | madness, side shows and memorabilia. Not one square |
| and Spam trivia. You can even try your luck at canning | | | | inch is left unclaimed or undecorated. |
| your own spam and bring it home in time for dinner. | | | | The best part of it all, everything from the ancient |
| Delicious? | | | | fortune telling machines to the miniature |
| 4. Barbed Wire Museum: McLean, Texas | | | | merry-go-rounds are in full working order. Interactive |
| It's guarded our land, defended our countries and kept | | | | exhibitionism at its best. |
| prisoners in check. It's only appropriate then that | | | | Whether for adult or kid, this is one marvellous place. |