1

The Spam Museum

Image: Hannes Johnson

Spam, Spam, Spam! In Austin, Minnesota, you can walk into a playful, interactive, and nostalgic tribute to the iconic canned meat.

If you are interested, you can learn everything about Spam’s history, its production, and its cultural impact. Maybe we can understand why unwanted emails came to be called after it!

2

The International Banana Museum

Image: Aleksandar Pasaric

Would you be interested in walking around a banana museum? In Mecca, California, you can. A bright yellow wonderland dedicated to all things this fruit.

Banana phones, banana toys, and even banana-flavored candies are some of the gems you can find there. The museum's curator spent decades assembling this collection, the world’s largest assortment of banana-related items, according to Guinness World Records.

3

The Burlingame Museum of PEZ Memorabilia

Image: Jason Leung

Did you ever get a PEZ dispenser that you kept for years and years? That sort of nostalgia is what’s behind this museum in Burlingame, California.

You can take a trip down memory lane celebrating iconic PEZ dispensers that people loved. It includes vintage and interesting models, fun for collectors, enthusiasts, and PEZ fanatics.

4

The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum

Image: Tim Mossholder

Do you remember the cutest, funniest, or cleverest salt and pepper shakers you’ve ever seen? You may find a similar set in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

This museum displays the incredible variety and artistry of salt and pepper shakers. Sets range from vintage to modern, made from materials like porcelain, wood, and metal.

5

The Neon Museum

Image: Ben Lambert

The Neon Museum is in Las Vegas. Where else? It preserves and displays the dazzling history of Sin City's neon signs.

The "Neon Boneyard" features iconic signs from closed casinos and businesses. It's a vibrant glimpse into the city's past and design aesthetic.

6

The Museum of Bad Art

Image: Melissa

The point of this museum in Somerville, Massachusetts, is to expose art that is "too bad to be ignored."

Sure, appreciating technically perfect and beautiful paintings is easy. But a far more interesting outing would be to walk around this museum smiling at pieces that look like painters’ bloopers! What is a bad painting, anyway?

7

The American Sign Museum

Image: Mikechie Esparagoza

Not for the sensitive ones; you might be overstimulated at the Sign Museum! Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this one traces the evolution of American signage and advertising culture , from hand-painted signs to electric displays.

8

The National Mustard Museum

Image: Simona Sergi

If you do not like mustard, you might want to steer clear of the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin. This is a flavorful exploration of the condiment, with thousands of international varieties.

Visitors can sample different mustards and learn about their origins. It’s the largest collection of mustards in the world!

9

The Houdini Museum

Image: Hugh Green

Yes, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, there is a museum dedicated to the life and illusions of the legendary Harry Houdini. Exhibits include his personal artifacts, magic props, and escape tools. If you are interested in the world of magic and illusion, this is a must-see!

10

American Oddities Museum

Image: Giorgio Trovato

Home to the bizarre: The museum celebrates the weird history of America, with exhibits on UFO sightings, haunted dolls, and outlandish inventions.

This might be a spooky kind of museum, but endlessly intriguing. It holds everything from skeletons of two-headed animals to eerie antique medical devices. Fans of the strange and unexplained will love the collection.

11

Arcadia: America's Playable Arcade Museum

Image: Garrett johnson

Located in McLean, Illinois, this place is a paradise for retro game lovers. It’s packed with classic pinball and vintage video games from the golden era of gaming.

The collection spans decades, featuring everything from Pac-Man to rare, forgotten arcade cabinets. Unlike many museums, visitors can actually play the exhibits —so prepare to challenge friends and relive childhood memories!

12

The National Museum of Funeral History

Image: Suhyeon Choi

It’s not as sad as it seems, we promise. This museum in Houston, Texas, gives a respectful and informative look at funeral customs across cultures and time.

Its goal is to explore the universal human experience of death and mourning by looking at how several cultures deal with someone’s passing. Displays include hearses and ornate items from Egyptian mummification rituals to presidential funerals.

1

Townhouse

Image: Aman Kumar

Most commonly found in cities, townhouses have spacious layouts, more amenities than the condo styles, and lower maintenance than most residential homes. They’re typically two or three-story homes, usually sharing one or two walls with adjacent properties, and a rooftop deck to enjoy sprawling views.

While the most famous examples are the ones from New York or San Francisco, thanks to TV series and movies, these types of homes can be found all over the country.

2

Cape Cod

Image: Phil Hearing

Cape Cod houses bring to mind the classic American cottage style but with a weekend feel to them. This type of home design migrated from the UK to the United States, maintaining its symmetrical design and central chimney.

These houses feature a steep roof to keep snow from accumulating, dormer windows for added light, wood siding and shutters to keep the heat in, and hardwood floors for comfort and practicality.

3

Modern

Image: Avi Werde

Funny how the word "modern" is used to define things that happened 100 years ago, right? Emerging in the 1920s to embrace minimalism and reject the more ornate house styles, modern house styles include progressive elements such as asymmetrical exteriors, flat roofs, and integrated outdoor spaces.

Many modern interiors also feature minimal to zero molding and trim, neutral color palettes, and metal accents to accentuate the simplicity of its design.

4

Farmhouse

Image: Raychel Sanner

A house design that has been around for a long time, the farmhouse style was created back in the early 1700s, as housing for farmers and is all about practicality.

Modern farmhouses still showcase many of the same features from the original design such as large, wraparound front porches, clapboard siding, large fireplaces, wood floors, eat-in kitchens, and oversized kitchen sinks.

5

Craftsman

Image: Lernestorod

This style became increasingly popular in the 1900s and has remained a staple throughout the 21st century. Craftsman style adds charm to any neighborhood with its exterior features, including shingles, low-pitched roofs, and covered front porches.

These types of houses feature interior details such as thick trim, prominent ceiling beams, and built-in shelving and seating.

6

Contemporary

Image: James Kovin

A style often compared to modern style architecture, contemporary is very much a trend these days among house builders. These homes have simple forms without elaborate ornamentation or detail.

Showcasing geometric lines, large windows and doors to bring in light, and open floor plans, contemporary homes often incorporate sustainable and eco-friendly building materials, textures, and components, exposed roof beams, and flat or low-pitched roofs.

7

Cottage

Image: Czapp Botond

As the name implies, cottage houses of the 1920s and 30s were inspired by the cozy cottage-style houses of the English countryside, but with a more modern twist.

This style of house typically has a steep, thatched roof, arched doorways, and shuttered windows. They can be found in semi-rural areas, closed communities, and holiday spots, among other places.

8

Mid-Century Modern

Image: Lenalensen

A style that has been well represented in modern media, the mid-century modern style is part of the modernism movement and dates back to post-World War II, and remained popular throughout the 1970s.

This design is characterized by minimalism. Think of clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows, open layouts, and a mix of natural and manufactured materials for the interior elements like wood, stone, steel, and plastic.

9

Colonial

Image: Mateus Campos Felipe

Another early style, colonial architecture has maintained its allure in many parts of the United States. These classic homes are known for their vintage charm, decorative doorways, and symmetrical window placement.

Many of these houses will be similar to the Cape Cod-style home because of their symmetry and side-gabled roofs but with two or three stories, fireplaces, and brick or wood exteriors.

10

Ranch

Image: Michal Průcha

A style that dates back to the 1930s, ranch homes grew in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, and are still popular today. This architecture is known for its simple, single-story floor plan, low-to-the-ground look, often with an open layout and occasional basement.

With a smaller yard, attached garage, and a low-pitched roof, the ranch-style home often features large windows and sliding glass doors, encouraging an indoor-outdoor living style. A ranch can also be called a ‘rambler,’ depending on which region in the country it is located.

1

The US touches three oceans

Image: Daiwei Lu

Most people remember the Atlantic and the Pacific, but the Arctic often gets overlooked. Alaska’s northern edge dips into icy Arctic waters, technically giving the US access to all three. From sunbathing to snowshoeing, we’ve got the full spectrum of ocean vibes covered!

2

America has the shortest river in the world

Image: Gaurav Kumar

Montana is home to the Roe River, which runs for just 201 feet. That’s shorter than a city block! It flows from its source at Giant Springs to the Missouri River near Great Falls. Sure, it’s not as mighty as the Mississippi, but it holds the record for shortest river, and that’s enough to brag about.

3

Some NYC buildings are big enough to have their own zip codes

Image: Andrew Jephson

Most of us share a zip code with our neighbors. In New York City, though, some skyscrapers are so massive they have one all to themselves. You know the Empire State Building? Yep, it has its own zip code: 10118. The same goes for the MetLife and Chrysler Buildings. Manhattan alone has over 300 zip codes!

4

Alaska is the westernmost and easternmost state

Image: Rod Long

That’s right: Alaska holds the title as both the farthest west and farthest east state in the United States. How is that possible? Well, the Aleutian Islands, which belong to Alaska, stretch so far out that they cross the International Date Line and enter the Eastern Hemisphere. Isn’t that just fascinating?

5

From Stamford, CT, all roads lead to New York

Image: Matt Foxx

Picture this: no matter which direction you drive—north, south, east, or west— you can end up in New York if you start in Stamford, Connecticut. Heading east requires a boat, of course, but it still counts!

6

Florida and California don’t have the longest coastline

Image: Jakob Owens

Think sun and sand, and Florida or California might come to mind. But the state with the longest coastline is actually Alaska, by a long shot. With over 6,600 miles of shoreline, it beats the combined coastlines of all other states. Snow lovers will enjoy this one!

7

California has almost as many people as all of Canada

Image: Joseph Chan

Yes, the Golden State is that packed. California’s population hovers around 39 million, not enough to beat Canada, which has roughly 41 million. But give it two more years, and we’ll discuss this again. This may not sound so surprising, but bear in mind that we’re comparing a single state to a whole country!

8

Only two states are truly off on their own

Image: Dave Hoefler

Most states have neighbors, but that’s not the case for Alaska and Hawaii. They’re the loners of the country, separated by either the ocean or international borders. Meanwhile, Missouri and Tennessee are the social butterflies of the map, each touching eight other states. Whatever the number of neighbors, we love them all!

9

The four largest US cities (by area) are in Alaska

Image: Kedar Gadge

When we talk about big cities, most folks think of population. But if you’re measuring square miles, Alaska takes the cake. Sitka, Juneau, Wrangell, and Anchorage are the four largest cities by land area. You could fit entire states inside some of these!

10

The first US capital wasn’t D.C. or Philly

Image: Florian Wehde

Washington, D.C., may be the capital now, but it wasn’t the first, you know? That honor goes to New York City, which held the title for a couple of years after the Constitution was ratified. The capital later moved to Philadelphia and then finally settled in D.C.

11

Los Angeles had a name as long as your arm

Image: Roberto Nickson

Before it was known for Hollywood, Los Angeles had a name that would never fit on a postcard. The original Spanish settlers called it El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula . Translation? You try saying that! Thankfully, we shortened it. "L.A." is just easier for everyone.

12

Nebraska is the only triply landlocked state

Image: Laura Seaman

If you’re in Nebraska and want to see the ocean, you’ll have to cross at least three states. That makes it the most landlocked state in the U.S.—"triply landlocked," to be exact. For those craving a beach day, that’s a bit of a hike. But for folks who love open plains, it’s prime real estate.