Connecticut certainly has its fair share of museums, some of which are pretty cool. But we also have a few that tickle your curiosity and make you wonder. This list doesn’t have any of those though, because this list is about those museums that are an ode to strange things, or that leave you baffled as to why there was a need to dedicate a whole museum to the subject in the first place. What makes them awesome is that they’re unlike any other museum you’ve visited, because they aren’t just old paintings and wildlife scenes behind plexiglass. See for yourself!
Please note, The Barnum Museum and Cushing Brain Collection are temporarily closed.
- Museum of Natural and Other Curiosities (Old State House, Hartford)
Pixel/Flickr Founded in 1790, this collection of rare and unusual specimens includes everything from animal heads to the hand of a mummy.
- Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (Storrs)
Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry/Facebook If you aren’t freaked out by all the eyes on you, this place celebrates the artistry of puppets at the only campus in the country that offers a masters in the subject.
- The Barnum Museum (Bridgeport)
The Barnum Museum/Facebook P.T. Barnum was a circus man, fascinated by odd things from across the world. So you can bet his collection is pretty crazy!
- Mattatcuck Museum (Waterbury)
Mattatuck Museum/Facebook Unlike other art spaces, this museum decided not to focus on one specific medium or style, so there’s a little of everything here, including dance and an extensive collection of buttons!
- The Trash Museum (Hartford)
Trash Museum/Facebook Please note, The Trash Museum has permanently closed. See society through its consumption at this educational museum dedicated to garbage.
- Lock Museum of America (Terryville)
Lock Museum of America/Facebook Over twenty thousand locks, organized by manufacturer, including a massive collection of Colonial-era locks.
- The Warren’s Occult Museum (Monroe)
826 PARANORMAL/Flickr Please note, The Warren’s Occult Museum has permanently closed. Opened in 1952, this is every scary, cursed, and strange thing the Warrens collected during their career as paranormal experts. Creepy!
- Zaffis Museum of the Paranormal (Stratford)
Zaffis Museum of the Paranormal/Facebook If the Warren collection isn’t enough, you can also visit their nephew’s collection, who is very experienced in the art of hunting demons.
- Cushing Brain Collection (New Haven)
techbint/Flickr Hundreds of jars filled with brains line the walls of this space, a testament to the work of neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing.
Don’t let the weirdness stop you from paying a visit to any of these places! They just might revive your love of museums.
Pixel/Flickr
Founded in 1790, this collection of rare and unusual specimens includes everything from animal heads to the hand of a mummy.
Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry/Facebook
If you aren’t freaked out by all the eyes on you, this place celebrates the artistry of puppets at the only campus in the country that offers a masters in the subject.
The Barnum Museum/Facebook
P.T. Barnum was a circus man, fascinated by odd things from across the world. So you can bet his collection is pretty crazy!
Mattatuck Museum/Facebook
Unlike other art spaces, this museum decided not to focus on one specific medium or style, so there’s a little of everything here, including dance and an extensive collection of buttons!
Trash Museum/Facebook
Please note, The Trash Museum has permanently closed. See society through its consumption at this educational museum dedicated to garbage.
Lock Museum of America/Facebook
Over twenty thousand locks, organized by manufacturer, including a massive collection of Colonial-era locks.
826 PARANORMAL/Flickr
Please note, The Warren’s Occult Museum has permanently closed. Opened in 1952, this is every scary, cursed, and strange thing the Warrens collected during their career as paranormal experts. Creepy!
Zaffis Museum of the Paranormal/Facebook
If the Warren collection isn’t enough, you can also visit their nephew’s collection, who is very experienced in the art of hunting demons.
techbint/Flickr
Hundreds of jars filled with brains line the walls of this space, a testament to the work of neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing.
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