Museum business is one of the developing areas of culture. The first "temples of muses" appeared in ancient Greece, and came to places of contemplation to reflect on the present and future.
Any areas of human activity need institutions that protect the past for posterity. Most often, visiting such institutions is associated with boredom and order. However, there are unusual museums of the world on our planet where every visitor will spend time not in vain. We present a selection of cultural objects, the existence of which many do not even suspect.
Unusual Museums of the World: List
Traditional institutions no longer awaken the activity of the public, and they are replaced by new ones, with the most unexpected exhibits, where each visitor will find something different. Where can I go looking for new experiences? We made a selection of the strangest and most unusual institutions located in different corners of our planet. These are museums:
- Dead souls - in Rome.
- Burial stories are in Houston.
- Death Museum - in Los Angeles.
- UFO - in Roswell.
- Hair Museum - in Turkey.
- Underwater Museum - in Cancun.
- The Magritte Museum - in Brussels.
- Dreams - in St. Petersburg.
- Laughter - in Wiesbaden.
- Museum of Witchcraft in Bokasl.
Let us dwell on the most interesting of them, the exhibits of which are rather unusual.
Museum of the Lost Souls in Rome
Those who believe in life after death will not be able to ignore a mysterious place where everything silently tells about the other world. The conductor is the abbot of the ancient church in Rome, which stores mystical artifacts. Every day, an unusual museum of the world is visited by hundreds of curious tourists who receive the blessing of a Catholic priest before viewing the exhibition. There is no documented evidence that the souls of the deceased actually come to the living. And all the guests will have to take the word for the rector of the church of Del Sacro-Cuore, who will tell a lot of mysterious stories related to the other world.
On household things, the dead left their marks, and now you can see fingerprints or soles on books, lampshades, clothes. Mystical artifacts are collected from all over Italy, and some are imported from other countries. Visitors are not forbidden to photograph exhibits, but most often the pictures are blurry: it is believed that the souls of the dead, hovering around tourists, do not like to intervene in their world.
Houston Funeral History Museum
What to do, death is an integral part of our lives. People know that they are not eternal, make wills in advance, say goodbye to relatives, visit their graves. The one-of-a-kind museum, designed by the founder of America’s largest funeral corporation, opened its doors to visitors in 1992. Continuing the theme of death, it covers an area of more than three thousand square meters. The unusual museum of the world is a huge exhibition, which shows respect for the ceremony of farewell to the deceased person. And every year the collection is only replenished with new exhibits.
Here you can see how the funeral of the famous stars and politicians took place: M. Monroe, E. Presley, F. Sinatra, M. Jackson, A. Lincoln, R. Reagan. One hall is dedicated to seeing off the Pope to another world, the other will delight or cause fear with coffins in the form of cars, birds, animals and fish, a small corner is allocated to the Unknown Soldier. Visitors will go to the undertaker’s workshop, see the hearse of different times, from wooden carts to luxurious limousines, and examine wreaths and jewelry made from the hair of the deceased.
An unusual modern museum of the world, located in Houston, tells about how they buried in past centuries, and introduces the traditions of the burial of different peoples.
Museum of Death in Los Angeles
Continuing the theme of death, it is worth talking about a non-standard institution, which can be found on Hollywood Boulevard. The founders of the strangest and most unusual museum in the world, created in 1995, claim that everyone wants to solve the eternal secret of being (and non-being), and have put together a huge collection of exhibits that recreate scenes of real murders. They are guided by the slogan: "If we all die, then why not find out everything about death?"
Visitors shudder at the sight of halls filled with funeral attributes, and walls hung with photographs from places of terrible crimes. There are no guides, but this does not stop guests from different countries. At the sight of a collection that evokes mixed feelings, many feel the blood run cold. A video showing various deaths of real people is better not to watch for those who have a weak nervous system. As tourists admit, the main qualities for people visiting a controversial institution are composure and nerves of steel. And its owners every day record numerous cases of fainting. Whatever it was, but one of the most unusual museums in the world does not lack visitors.
UFO Museum at Roswell
There are many unusual phenomena in the world, the nature of which scientists cannot figure out. Since everything mysterious and unknown attracts people, it is not surprising that a landmark appeared in the city of Roswell (New Mexico, USA), which made it a part of modern culture. Here in 1947 a certain object crashed, and disputes about its collapse do not stop to this day. The military claims that it was just an airborne probe, and local residents are confident in the fall of an unidentified flying object.
Most of the exhibits are connected precisely with these events, and the surviving parts of the mysterious disk are represented in the halls. Visitors can only guess about the purpose of many relics. An unusual and interesting museum of the world keeps an archive of the event that happened 70 years ago, and its exhibits tell in detail about the phenomenon. Here are collected photographs, newspaper clippings, eyewitness confessions and military reports, as well as the testimonies of ancient people who painted strange little men resembling astronauts. However, many questions remained unanswered. Seminars are held in one of the halls and lectures on UFOs are given, and visitors can take part in thematic events.
Hair Museum in Turkey
When it comes to the most unusual museums in the world, one cannot fail to mention an interesting institution, the founder of which was a Turkish potter. Once a young man in love was very upset that his beloved had to leave. To console the young man, the girl gave him a lock of her hair, reminiscent of a strong feeling. Since 1979, a blond curl hangs in the most prominent place in the workshop. An adult master told his sad story to each visitor, and women, imbued with a love drama, left hair samples and addresses for memory. So in the city of Avanos (Cappadocia) an amazing attraction appeared, in which there are always a lot of visitors.
For several decades, a huge collection has accumulated, including more than 16 thousand women's strands. The unique exposition even got into the Guinness Book of Records. The gloomy walls and ceiling of the room, resembling a cave, are covered with small locks of hair, to which are attached papers with addresses.
Cancun Underwater Museum
One of the most bewitching and unusual museums in the world, the photos of the exhibits of which make you think about eternal values, is located under water, at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea. At a depth of 10 meters placed more than 400 sculptures made of special material. The Mexican landmark is recognized as the most interesting cultural object on Earth. To enjoy the amazing sight, visitors will have to go down under the water. As tourists say, such diving is not forgotten and leaves a lot of positive emotions. A special atmosphere reigns under water, and it seems that you find yourself in a different dimension.
The original creations were chosen by the marine inhabitants, and we can already say that the task of the founders of an amazing work of art has been completed. They wanted to draw the attention of the general public to the problem of environmental protection, as numerous tourists cause irreparable damage to the local flora and fauna. The artificial reef created by sculptural compositions plays an important role in the nature of Mexico.
Magritte Museum in Brussels
In 2009, a museum was opened dedicated to the work of the Belgian surrealist artist, who often thought about the essence of our being. The exposition includes about 200 works by Rene Magritte: paintings, drawings and sketches, advertising posters, photos and even films. An extensive collection covers all periods of the work of the ingenious master, who has received worldwide recognition. Soon, the institution located on the Royal Square will be turned into a research center for the heritage of the master, who left behind many interesting works.
Tourists who have visited the museum say that a real miracle awaits them at the entrance: it seems as if a theater curtain has moved on a three-story building, hiding a wonderful night landscape under a bright blue sky. And thousands of admiring visitors freeze near a strange building. And inside they are waiting for no less interesting creations, which are real rebuses, which are unrealistic to solve.
Museum of Dreams in St. Petersburg
One of the top 10 unusual museums in the world includes an installation in St. Petersburg dedicated to the dreams and theories of Z. Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. All exhibits are designed for the vivid imagination of visitors who become direct participants in everything that happens.
The museum space is darkened, and it seems to the guests as if they were falling into someone's dream, woven from various images and illusions. Despite the fact that all expositions are located in two small halls, this does not detract from their merits. Curious tourists spend a lot of time here, unraveling the secret essence of the objects presented, immersing them in the world of their own memories and fantasies. On the territory of the museum, located in the building of the East European Institute of Psychoanalysis, it is easy to abandon all worries and take an exciting journey through the dreams of Freud, who did not consider them to be complete nonsense.
Museum of Laughter in Wiesbaden
And those who do not really want to solve the secrets of a talented scientist should go to Germany, to one of the most unusual museums in the world. Photos of exhibits cause a smile and positive emotions, which is not surprising, because in Wiesbaden there is a tourist attraction that will not let anyone get bored. Here are collected amusing exhibits from around the world that are the subject of a raffle, and visitors go on an excursion accompanied by cute clowns who give out slippers in the form of funny animals to the guests.
Bocasle Witchcraft Museum (Cornwall)
The creator of this unusual museum was the famous occultist, whom the locals feared for cursing them. Putting his life to study magic and Satanic rituals, he founded it more than 65 years ago. Among the exhibits there are various magical items used in the case. Hundreds of charms, crystal balls, mirrors, knives, books on witchcraft amaze modern people. There are halls dedicated to the cult of devil worship, as well as a special department, which presents devices that were used in torture.
The list of the strangest museums in the world can be continued, and when you are planning a trip to another country, be sure to ask what cultural institutions you can visit there.