11 Delightfully Strange Museums Along the Historic Route 66

Fun & Weird Museums on Route 66

Stretching over 2,000 miles through eight states, Route 66 is packed with oddball attractions, and at least 20% of all U.S. roadside museums sit along this famous road. Here are 11 of our favorites.

The Devil’s Rope Museum

There’s nothing devilish about this museum. And technically, there’s no rope here either.

The Devil’s Rope Museum is all about the barbed wire. They have a 1950s-era theater playing films about the barbed wire’s history. Old papers related to barbed wire patents. Tours explaining how barbed wire helped settle the American West.

And naturally, a gift shop that sells barbed wire-themed souvenirs and books.

The Cadillac Ranch

Why are these cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground? We have no idea. They do say that the cars lean at the same angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza. Either way, don’t forget to bring a spray can with you so you can tag it.

The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

It’s all about the A-bomb at this Route 66 classic. The museum has a life-size copy of the Fat Man bomb that the U.S. dropped on Nagasaki.

You can also check out old nuclear submarines and aircraft, plus old Cold War survival kits and emergency supplies. Outside, you can walk among real rockets and missiles.

The International UFO Museum and Research Center

Of course there’s going to be aliens somewhere along Route 66. And where else would they be but Roswell, New Mexico?

Everything you want to know – or ever suspected – about the supposed 1947 Roswell UFO crash is laid out in this museum.

Recreated alien autopsy rooms. UFO crash sites. 7,000 books on UFOs and extraterrestrials. Interactive displays that let visitors share their own UFO stories. Every year, the museum even throws a UFO festival that brings in thousands of fans.

The Route 66 Car Museum

The collection includes a DeLorean that looks just like the one from Back to the Future. There’s also the 1963 Corvette that astronaut Gus Grissom once owned, including several Rolls-Royces AND a rare 1925 Silver Ghost. Vintage gas pumps and car-related collectibles fill the space. Don’t miss the “touch-a-car” experience.

The Precious Moments Chapel

Yep, the figurines, and there are over 5,000 of them here. The chapel’s ceiling is covered with hand-painted murals of Bible stories.

Ever dreamt of having a Precious Moments wedding? They have a special spot for that in the garden.

The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

What better way to stretch your legs than walking through a life-size replica of an old Western town? One of the museum’s highlights are hands-on exhibits that recreate a cattle drive.

It also has world’s biggest collection of rodeo photos and trophies, plus Native American art and artifacts.

The American Pigeon Museum

In case you didn’t know, pigeons are kinda hard core. Don’t believe us? Stop by this museum to learn all about how pigeons carried messages during wars and how they find their way home. And yes, there are live pigeons here as well.

The Toy and Action Figure Museum

The name might be generic-bordering-on-boring, but this museum is a comic book nerd’s dreams come to life. But honestly, it’s an amazing place to visit even if you’re not into this stuff.

The museum’s packed with over 13,000 action figures from the 1970s and 1980s. They also display original comic book sketches and drawings.

A special section celebrates Oklahoma-born cartoon characters and superheroes like Owlwoman, Wyatt Wingfoot, and Doc Samson.

The Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store

They have a “Funnel of Love” exhibit that makes you feel like you’re getting flushed down a giant toilet. That’s tells you everything you need to know about The Uranus Fudge Factory. Their homemade fudge is amazing as long as you don’t let your imagination get away from you.

The Pontiac-Oakland Museum

We’ve got another car museum on Route 66, and this one puts the spotlight on over 30 fully restored Pontiac and Oakland cars. You can check out rare prototypes and concept cars that never made it to production. The museum also shows off old Pontiac and Oakland ads, signs, and collectibles.