Oddities: Curiosities and Strange Places to Visit (2024)

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Do you love the strange or peculiar? Who doesn’t right? We all love to see things that seem out of the ordinary. Oddities are something cool that most people can come together on.

My mom was an antique dealer while I was growing up. I was always attracted to the weird items that seemed to have a creepy appeal to them.

Anything that stands out as unusual, quirky or eccentric could be considered an oddity. Let’s talk about some of the most unusual oddities and places to visit.

Oddities Around Us ~ Natural Phenomena

Whether it’s a road side attraction or an out of the way adventure, seeing something that is unusual or can’t be explained is very exciting. Many of these places are right in front of us so you can enjoy them first hand.

Sailing Stones (aka Racetrack Playa) – Death Valley, California

Oddities – Natural Phenomena ~ Sailing Stones

The sailing stones are a geographical phenomenon in Death Valley National Park, California. The stones, some as big as 700 pounds, move across the surface of the playa without intervention leaving trails behind them.

The sailing stones remained a mystery for many many years. However, scientists now believe that the rocks move when very thin sheets of ice begin to melt during periods of light wind.

Mystery Hole – Ansted, West Virginia

Oddities – Natural Phenomena ~ Mystery Hole

If you get the opportunity to visit the beautiful state of West Virginia, stop by the Mystery Hole in Ansted to see the laws of gravity defied. First things first, anyone with heart problems or vertigo is urged not to visit the mystery hole.

The Mystery Hole, opened in 1973, has become a favorite road side attraction for those traveling through or vacationing around the New River Gorge area. While pictures are not allowed to be taken in the hole, it’s been said that water flows uphill!

Thor’s Well – Yachats, Oregon Coast

Oddities – Natural Phenomena ~ Thor’s Well (Tom Gainor)

Thor’s Well is a giant hole on the Oregon coast the seems to be draining the ocean. This amazing site was created by the ocean eroding a sea cave causing it to collapse. If you want to see Thor’s Well at it’s best, go during high tide or during stormy weather.

Oddities Around Us ~ Museums of the Unusual

Museums are a great way to learn about history, medicine, science and much more. However, sometimes a museum gives you more than you bargained for. Take these off the wall, peculiar museums for example.

International Cryptozoology Museum – Portland, Maine

Oddities – Museums of the Unusual ~ International Cryptozoology Museum (Atlas Obscura)

Cryptozoology is the study of animals unverified by science. These animals are also referred to as cryptids. Examples in the museum include not only animals such as yetis and sea serpents but also recently discovered animals like the coelacanth and megamouth shark.

The museum has received several awards and accolades. But it’s primary mission still remains to inform the public about what could exist. For instance, if you’re curious about Big Foot or the Loch Ness Monster, this is definitely a place you’ll want to visit!

Museum of Death – New Orleans, Louisiana

Oddities – Museums of the Unusual ~ Museum of Death

Established in 1995 by J.D. Healy and Catherine Schultz, the Museum of Death’s stated goal is to “make people happy to be alive”. The museum itself houses a variety of artifacts surrounding the subject of death and human oddities.

Although no cameras are allowed in the museum, we’ve heard that it houses the severed head of serial killer, Henri Landru. One of the original suicide machines built by Jack Kevorkian is also on display. Additionally, the museum holds an annual Black Dahlia look alike contest.

The Mütter Museum – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Oddities – Hyrtl Skull Collection ~ Mutter Museum

The Mütter Museum is America’s finest museum of medical history and is full of oddities of all sorts. Not only is this museum of curiosity highly educational, but you also get to see amazing things you’ve definitely never seen before.

Wet specimens from every part of the body are displayed as well as some that aren’t supposed to be there. Skeletal exhibits, human oddities, antique medical equipment and a collection of skulls are also on display.

Some of the more interesting exhibits include a piece of Albert Einstein’s brain, the tallest skeleton on display in North America and President Grover Cleveland’s jaw tumor.

Oddities Around Us ~ Strange Road Side Attractions

Cadillac Ranch – Amarillo, Texas

Oddities – Strange Road Side Attractions ~ Cadillac Ranch (Gabriel Tovar)

As a collaboration between The Ant Farm, a San Francisco art collective, and Stanley Marsh 3, the Cadillac Ranch was built. The 1974 build consisted of ten graffitied Cadillacs buried nose-first in a dusty field.

Not only are visitors strongly encouraged to come to Cadillac Ranch, but they are also encouraged to leave their own graffiti on the cars!

South of the Border – Hamer, South Carolina

Oddities – Strange Road Side Attractions ~ South of the Border

South of the Border is definitely unique. Not only is it an awesome road side attraction, but it also houses an AMA motocross track and training facility.

Attractions offered by SOB include a viewing tower with arcade, a small amusement park (aka Pedroland Park) and the largest indoor reptile display in the US. The area offers lodging, a campground, restaurants and gift shops.

World’s Largest Collection of World’s Smallest Versions of World’s Largest Things – Lucas, Kansas

Oddities – Strange Road Side Attractions ~ World’s Largest Collection of World’s Smallest Versions of World’s Largest Things

Well that was a mouthful! This collection is exactly what the name suggests. For example, you might see the smallest version of the world’s largest ketchup bottle on display.

Creator, Erika Nelson, is one of America’s foremost experts on the World’s Largest Things. Nelson visits and photographs the World’s Largest Things then recreates them in their smallest versions. Sometimes she even goes back to the site to photograph the two together.

Trundle Manor – Swissvale, Pennsylvania

Oddities – Strange Road Side Attractions

Trundle Manor is a private collection of weird things. The Victorian property is ran by Mr. Arm and Velda Von Minx. In addition, it is currently the headquarters of the Secret Society of Odd Acquisition.

As a result of years of collecting weird stuff, the owners have an amazing array of oddities. For example, antique taxidermy, bizarre weaponry and jarred animals are on display. Also, nothing is fake in this collection!

Oddities Around Us ~ Curiosities for Sale

Wooly Mammoth – Chicago, Illinois

Oddities – Curiosities for Sale ~ Wooly Mammoth Chicago

Wooly Mammoth Chicago is a curiosity cabinet where you can buy oddities and antiques. If you’re looking for jars of old teeth or pickled pig fetuses, you’ve looked in the right place.

Wooly Mammoth curiosities shop houses a wide variety of the unusual. For instance, vintage toys, antique taxidermy and anatomy items can all be witnessed in the shop. Certainly this is a great spot to add some oddities to your collection.

Paxton Gate – San Francisco, California

Oddities – Curiosities for Sale ~ Paxton Gate

The philosophies of Paxton Gate were inspired by the fascination of the natural world. Thus the shop is filled with all sorts of unusual items from nature.

Paxton gate offers unique taxidermy such as a mouse on a tire swing or a baby beaver. Moreover, they even offer classes in taxidermy. Coyote ribs, raccoon claws and human molars are among the offerings. Finally, it should be mentioned that they offer a host of their items online.

Artem Mortis – Online

Oddities – Curiosities for Sale ~ Artem Mortis

Artem Mortis began its days on Etsy. However, Etsy has strict rules regarding certain oddities. As a result, the owners created their own website and it is unique!

Artem Mortis oddities website goes above and beyond your typical curiosity store. For example, you can purchase a mummified human fetus or a hand typed signed letter by Aleister Crowley.

In my humble opinion, this online shop is absolutely fascinating. Antiques and human oddities, specimens and “murderabila” are all up for grabs as well as lots of other interesting oddities. I’m definitely planning on adding something to my own collection from Artem Mortis!

The Oddities Flea Market – Traveling & Online

Oddities – Curiosities for Sale ~ The Oddities Flea Market

In addition to shops and online stores, there is also an Oddities Flea Market for your enjoyment. Vendors can also sell directly online or in an online auction every Saturday. Above all, there are some very strange items that go through the flea market.

You might literally find anything at the Oddities Flea Market. That is to say, these items are the cream of the crop in oddities. For instance, strange antique toys, human teeth and bones and religious artifacts are all up for sale.

In conclusion, I hope you enjoyed Oddities: Curiosities and Strange Places to Visit! Thanks for visiting Badash Life and make sure to sign up for email updates on your screen ❤