U.S. Quirky Museums

Jake Cosmos Aller

2 years ago

Quirky U.S. Museum Tours

I am a big fan of quirky, unusual museums. in 2016, my wife and I drove across the country to celebrate my retirement from the U.S. Foreign Service, We covered 10,000 miles in three months hitting 35 States and seeing the sights along the way.

Rapid City Nowhere

In the summer of 2016,
We drove across the country
Just the wife and me

to celebrate
my retirement
from 27 Years
serving the country
as a diplomat

10,000 miles
35 states
Three months
on the road

I now know

why people don’t live
In South Dakota.
Hot, dry dusty
Windy as hell.

Black Hills are nice
But after seeing Mt. Rushmore
There is not much left to do

Rapid City

did not impress me
Nor did Sioux Falls

And “Wall Drugs”
Well, the free water
was nice

But it is a nothing town
In a nothing state.

On the edge of the badlands

And the Sioux reservation

There is a reason
the Indians live there
No one else wanted the land
And they are

warehoused there

So I drove through Rapid City
And thought that
it is the heart of Trump Land
The land of the forgotten
The left behind

Just another

nothing burger of a State
In the middle of nowhere
Truly flyover country

audio clips

https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/bus-rider.mp3?_=1

https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cross-country-.mp3?_=2

https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cross-country-road-trip.mp3?_=3

https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cross-country-travel-part-one-.mp3?_=4

https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/on-the-move-.mp3?_=5

https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/on-the-move-1-1.mp3?_=6

Potato Museum

On the way to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, we stopped off at the Blackfoot Idaho Potato Museum dedicated to the lowly humble Idaho potato. Well worth the stop.

Co-Pilot provides the details:

The Idaho Potato Museum, located in Blackfoot, Idaho, is a unique destination dedicated to celebrating the history and significance of the potato. Housed in the old Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot, the museum offers a fascinating look into the world of Idaho’s famous potatoes ¹.

Here are some highlights:

Exhibits: The museum features exhibits on the history of potato farming, the growing and harvesting process, and the nutritional benefits of potatoes. You’ll also find interesting trivia and educational facts about potatoes ².
Artifacts: One of the standout artifacts is the world’s largest potato crisp, recognized by the Guinness World Records ³.
Potato Cafe: The museum has a cafe where you can enjoy various potato-based dishes, including baked potatoes with a variety of toppings ⁴.
Gift Shop: There’s a gift shop offering unique potato-themed souvenirs ⁴.

The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM ¹. It’s a fun and educational stop, especially if you’re a fan of potatoes!

Wall Drugs

I was not a big fan of the Dakotas. The Badlands were interesting as was the town of Deadwood where we stopped off to drink in the Bar that is legendary where the 19th-century character Wild BIll Hitchcock met his demise cheating at poker – hence the famous Deadman’s hand Full house8s and two aces. Enjoyed drinking the Wyoming Whiskey which is a recreation of the legendary frontier drink.

We also stopped off at Walls Drug store for their legendary free water pit stop which dates back to the 1920s when they build the freeways across the Dakotas. it is about 90 miles from anywhere.

Co-pilot provides the details:

Wall Drug, located in the small town of Wall, South Dakota, is a famous roadside attraction with a rich history and quirky charm. Established in 1931 by Ted and Dorothy Hustead, Wall Drug started as a small pharmacy offering free ice water to attract travelers during the Great Depression ¹. This simple idea turned Wall Drug into a must-stop destination.

Here are some highlights:

Wall Drug is open daily from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM ². It’s a great stop if you’re traveling through South Dakota, especially if you’re visiting the nearby Badlands National Park.

Corn Palace Museum

Another interesting stop along the way was the Corn Palace Museum in Mitchel, South Dakota outside of Sioux City, South Dakota. Another Mitchel attraction we did not stop off at was the George Mc Govern library honoring the late Senator George Mc Govern who famously lost to Richard Nixon in 1974 electoral wipe out, losing 49 states. . He was one the last of the great midwestern progressive populists which was a thing in the 20’s to the 80’s before the Republican party became too conservative for political leaders like Mc Govern.