Visit These Cool Road Trip Museums
Road trips are a great way to travel. There are no missed flights, lost luggage or damaged wheelchairs. But road trips are more than just a means to get from point A to point B. They are destinations on their own, as one of the highlights of most road trips are the stops along the way. Some road trippers search for cool diners, while others seek out vintage attractions, and some folks even look for factory tours enroute. And then there are the museums. Not your big city art museums, but unique, quirky and even offbeat offerings. With that in mind here are a few favorite road trip museums to add to your next cross country itinerary. Even better — they all offer good wheelchair access.
Old Montana Prison
Deer Lodge, MT
emerginghorizons.com/a-chilling-look-at-old-montana-prison/
Located off Interstate 90, this prison museum makes a good stop on the way to Yellowstone National Park. The self-guided tour begins in the historic 1896 cell house, continues out to the prison yard, then concludes in the shower and mess area. Don’t miss the eerie underground surveillance tunnels, where guards once manned gun ports in key locations.
US Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Colorado Springs, CO
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Next up on the list of cool road trip museums is the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum, located just off of Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs. This inclusive museum gives equal weight to both the Olympics & Paralympics and offers a good history of both games. It also boasts a good chunk of interactive exhibits, equipment from medal winners and even the original “Miracle on Ice” scoreboard.
China Lake Museum
Ridgecrest, CA
emerginghorizons.com/china-lake-museum-offers-fascinating-look-at-military-weaponry/
Those interested in military history will want to make a stop at this Southern California gem. This museum offers an interesting overview of the civilian-military projects that were developed at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS). Opened in 1943 as a sister base to Los Alamos, the NAWS provided research, development and testing of the Fat Man atomic bomb, plus a substantial number of military missiles. Exhibits highlight the stark living conditions at the facility, and outline the weapons developed there. Add in some static aircraft out front and you have a pretty comprehensive display.
International UFO Museum and Research Center
Roswell, NM
emerginghorizons.com/roswell-ufo-museum/
A bit off the beaten path, this quirky museum offers a variety of exhibits, from the original Roswell Incident to crop circles, ancient cultures and even alien abductions. A variety of movie props from movies focused on UFOs are also included. Throw in a Bermuda Triangle exhibit, photos of the 2002 Roswell archeological dig, and some great people watching, and you have reason enough to make a stop there.
The Neon Museum
Las Vegas, NV
emerginghorizons.com/neon-lights-galore-in-sin-city/
What better place to locate a neon museum than in colorful Las Vegas? Located in the former La Concha Motel, this museum traces Las Vegas history through a collection of neon signs from the heyday of Sin City. Out back in the boneyard visitors can view the Moulin Rouge sign, the El Cortez neon and even the Lady Luck sign that was featured in Vegas Vacation. The guided tour includes interesting tid-bits from the past, and if you’d like to view some functional neon, then pick up a map that points out some restored signs along Las Vegas Boulevard.
Mob Museum
Las Vegas, NV
emerginghorizons.com/learn-about-organized-crime-in-downtown-las-vegas/
Built with mob money by Bugsy Segal, Las Vegas seems an appropriate locale for a museum that focuses on organized crime. Housed in the building where the Kefauver Committee Hearings on organized crime were held, the museum traces mob history from the immigrant families of the 1800s, through prohibition when gangsters became bootleggers, and into present day mob activities. And giving equal time to the other side, there’s also a gallery about the G-men like Elliot Ness who pursued the gangsters.
Route 66 Kingman Museums
Kingman, Arizona
emerginghorizons.com/explore-route-66-history-at-this-trio-of-kingman-museums/
A must stop on any Route 66 road trip, this trio of Kingman museums offers a comprehensive history of the Mother Road. Located in the Powerhouse Building, The Arizona Route 66 Museum follows Route 66 history, from the Dust Bowl immigrants to the origin of the ubiquitous Burma shave signs. Downstairs, the Electric Vehicle Museum includes an interesting collection of electric vehicles, the oldest of which dates back to 1909. And just a few blocks away, The Mojave Museum of History and Arts features exhibits about Route 66, the Native American people, mining history and local ranching.
Foxfire Museum
Mountain City, Georgia
emerginghorizons.com/discover-appalachian-heritage-in-northeastern-georgia/
Last but not least on our roundup of cool road trip museums is Foxfire. This museum focuses on the Foxfire Movement, which was founded in 1966, in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of the Appalachian wilderness. It includes a series of cabins with the original furnishing, where docents give demonstrations of traditional skills such as spinning and weaving. And if you can’t manage the trail to the cabins, people with mobility issues can also drive. Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop on your way out, to pick up a handcrafted gift made by the talented craftspeople.
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