Quirky Museums Near You

Museums exist for almost every interest. While there’s the usual natural history and art museums, there are also many Northeast museums dedicated to eccentric subjects, from puppets to stamps to sharks.

For curious visitors and unique hobbyists, here are 12 off-the-beaten-path museums in the region. Most on this list can be perused in an hour, making them good pitstop attractions. Plan your visit ahead of time, though, as admission hours of these quirky museums vary widely. 

Connecticut

Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry

Storrs

This museum houses some 3,000 puppets from around the world and regularly hosts performances, workshops and forums. Connected with the University of Connecticut’s School of Fine Arts, the Ballard Museum seeks to educate visitors about the history and future of this revered theatrical artform. Admission to the museum is free.

Lock Museum of America

Terryville

Here you’ll find the largest collection in the world of locks, keys, handcuffs and ornate door hardware, with many pieces of the collection made in Connecticut. Housed in what was once the headquarters for an important lock-making company, the museum also periodically hosts escape room challenges. Admission: $3-$5.

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Massachusetts

Museum of Printing

Haverhill

Experience 500 years of printing history, from antique printing presses to word processors. The museum houses many exhibits, including what may be the world’s only collection of phototypesetting equipment. Admission: Free for students and Haverhill Library card holders; $10-$15 for others.

National Streetcar Museum at Lowell

Lowell

This small museum is a hands-on exhibit dedicated to trolleys and other street cars. The museum is housed within the Lowell National Historical Park’s visitor center, and visitors can hop on the park service’s free trolley service at certain times of the year. If you like this museum, it is part of a larger network of streetcar museums, which includes exhibits throughout New England and New York. Admission: $2-$3, cash/check only if purchased at the museum.

Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History

Weston

This quirky museum at Regis College is born from the stamp-collecting passion of a globetrotting Catholic cardinal. It contains a large library of national and international stamps, as well as exhibits on the history of stamps and Massachusetts post offices. The gift shop will be an important stop for any stamp collector. Admission: $2-$8; $20 maximum for families.

New Jersey

Museum of Early Trades & Crafts

Madison

This museum focuses on the work of past generations of New Jerseyans, from farmers to blacksmiths to millworkers. It also hosts many different hands-on learning opportunities for makers of all ages. Admission: $3-$6; $15 maximum for families.

Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center

Little Falls

While this museum on the Montclair State University campus is dedicated to the great, oft-quotable legacy of one of baseball’s greatest catchers, it also offers many opportunities for hands-on learning opportunities on sports science and thoughtful discussions on baseball’s racially segregated past. Admission: $10-$15; free for members of the military and Montclair students.

New York

The AKC Museum of the Dog

Manhattan

Hosted by the American Kennel Club, this museum highlights artwork dedicated to our canine companions. Here you will find watercolors, bronze sculptures, textile art and interactive exhibits, all focused on the foibles and exploits of four-footed best friends. Admission: $5-$15.

H. P. Sears Oil Co., Inc. Service Station Museum

Rome

This roadside attraction is dedicated to a time when gas stations were full-service stops. In the mid-20th century, there were several dozen of these distinct red, white and blue art-deco service stations in the Northeast, but this is the only fully restored station left. Visitors can also explore a small showroom of antique gas station paraphernalia when it is open. Admission is free.

Museum at Bethel Woods

Bethel

This museum is dedicated to the legacy of the Woodstock Music Festival of 1969, which took place on the same property when it was privately owned farmland. Exhibits include a lot of psychedelic artifacts, film clips of the festival and oral histories from those who were there. Bethel Woods also continues to host music festivals, of course. Admission for the museum is $5-$22.69.

Rhode Island

The Artillery Company of Newport Museum

Newport

This museum is housed in the headquarters of a now-ceremonial Rhode Island militia that dates back before the American Revolution. Here, you will find an eclectic mix of military artifacts, including a bronze cannon cast by Paul Revere and VIP military uniforms from dignitaries of England, Egypt and Jordan. Admission is free.

Living Sharks Museum

Westerly

Dedicated to advancing shark preservation through education, this small museum stakes its claim as being the first shark museum in the United States. It features artifacts from around the world, including an exhibition on the movie “Jaws” in celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2025. Admission is free.

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Do you have a favorite quirky museum in the area? Tell us about it in the comments.

Featured photo: Courtesy of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.