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5 family-friendly Midwest museums

Prepare to be wowed, shocked and intrigued by our selection of the quirkiest, most awe-inspiring museums in the Midwest. With something for every interest it will keep kids and adults entertained.

Prepare to be wowed, shocked and intrigued by our selection of the quirkiest, most awe-inspiring museums in the Midwest. With something for every interest it will keep kids and adults entertained.

The Children’s Museum

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As the name suggests The Children’s Museum is dedicated to kid-focused fun.

With five floors of interactive exhibits, educational tours, and a life-sized dinosaurs bursting through the exterior, it’s no surprise it’s the biggest children’s museum in the world.

Over 1 million tourists visit each year to touch see dinosaur fossils and more at ‘Dinosphere’, get whisked away on a magical carousel, explore the tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh and be transported into a world of stars, galaxies, solar systems as they learn about the cosmos.

Details

Address: 3000 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208-4716

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, 7 days

Admission: $27 adults, $24 kids

 

Warther Museum

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Home to intricate wood carvings, a replica of the funeral train of Abraham Lincoln and a knife making workshop, the Warther Museum is worth a trip.

Dedicated to Ernest “Mooney” Warther, a master carver of steam trains and more, it houses his priceless works of art and the the impressive wood carvings he created during his lifetime.

After your tour head through the beautiful grounds to The Button House, where 73,000 buttons collected by Mooney’s wife, Freida Warther, are displayed on the walls and ceilings.

Details

Address: 331 Karl Ave Dover, OH 44622

Opening hours: 9am to 5pm, 7 Days

Admission: $17 adults, $6.50 kids

 

National Mustard Museum 

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Whether you like it hot, grainy, mild or smooth, with over 5,676 mustards from across the US and around the world the National Mustard Museum is a sight to behold. One of Wisconsin’s most popular attractions, Barry Levenson, founded the museum after his favorite baseball team, the Boston Red Sox, lost the World Series in 1986.

Apparently Levenson was so upset, he went to a supermarket to seek out the meaning of life where he heard the mustard ‘talk to him’. As unusual as it sounds, the concept worked and the museum has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

From the exquisite Gibbons Collection of mustard pots to antique tins and vintage advertisements, the National Mustard Museum is a homage to the “King of Condiments”.

Details

Address: 7477 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, 7 days

Admission: Free

 

Historic Auto Attractions

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Go Back to the Future and see cars and costumes from classic movies such as Batman and Ghostbusters at Historic Auto Attractions which combines history and entertainment in a fun and educational way.

Journey through time with over 75 historic autos, including the world’s largest collection of presidential and world leaders limousines, John Dillinger’s getaway car, and Elvis Presley’s personal car.

Kids will love the Nasa exhibit where you can learn all about space shuttle programs, revheads will love the World of Speed area, TV fans can look back at cars from 70s, 80s and 90s shows, and Lincoln fans should visit The Lincoln Room, which is full of one-of-a-kind memorabilia spanning the American presidents life.

Before you leave make sure all the family has a Facebook-worthy snap in front of National Lampoon’s family truckster.

Details

Address: 13825 Metric Drive, Roscoe, Illinois 61073

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, closed Mondays

Admission: $15 adults, $6.50 kids

 

The Wizard of Oz Museum

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Follow the yellow brick road and head off to see the Wizard at the wonderful Oz Museum.

Located outside of Kansas it offers a truly enchanting experience and has more than 2,000 Wizard of Oz artefacts on display, including two flying monkeys that were used in the film.

It also boasts the first edition book of The Wizard of Oz printed in 1900, to props from 1978’s to present day.

With annual events like Night at the Museum and Oztoberfest as well as welcoming staff the tongue-in-cheek museum feels, as Dorothy would say, ‘a place like home’.

Details

Address: 511 Lincoln, Wamego, Kansas 66547

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, (Sundays 12pm to 5pm)

Admission: $10 adults, $6.50 kids

Which of these unique museums would you most like to visit?