The Most Unusual Museums in Indiana You’d Never Expect to Find

Indiana may be famous for basketball and endless cornfields, but tucked away across the Hoosier State are some of the most surprising and unusual museums you could ever imagine.

From spinning jails to superhero shrines, these quirky collections highlight fascinating passions, strange histories, and stories you never knew existed.

Whether you’re a curious traveler looking for an offbeat adventure or a lifelong Indiana resident eager to see your home in a new light, these seven unusual museums promise experiences that will both amaze and entertain.

Prepare to explore the weird, wonderful, and completely unexpected side of Indiana’s museum scene, where curiosity is rewarded and the ordinary gives way to the extraordinary.

1. Rotary Jail Museum

Imagine standing inside a jail where the cells actually spin like a lazy Susan.

That’s exactly what you’ll experience at the Rotary Jail Museum in Crawfordsville one of only three remaining rotating jails in the entire world.

Built in 1882 this architectural oddity was designed to save space and allow one jailer to supervise all the prisoners at once.

The two-story steel drum rotates on a central axis with pie-shaped cells arranged around the perimeter.

To let a prisoner out the jailer would crank a handle to rotate the entire cell block until the correct cell lined up with the single opening.

This bizarre system was supposed to be efficient but it turned out to be dangerous prisoners sometimes got their limbs caught between the rotating drum and the stationary outer wall.

Walking through this museum feels like stepping into a steampunk nightmare mixed with Wild West history.

The original mechanism still works and guides demonstrate how the massive structure turns with surprising ease.

You’ll hear stories about notorious criminals who spent time in these spinning cells including tales of escape attempts and daily life behind these unusual bars.

Located at 225 N Washington St Crawfordsville IN 47933 this museum offers a hands-on look at 19th-century innovation gone weird.

The building itself is a National Historic Landmark and tours provide fascinating insights into prison reform history.

Kids especially love seeing the massive gears and mechanisms that make the jail rotate.

Photography is encouraged throughout the museum so bring your camera to capture this one-of-a-kind attraction.

The knowledgeable staff shares spine-tingling stories that bring the jail’s dark history to life.

After your visit you’ll never think about jails or lazy Susans the same way again.

This is one museum experience that truly sets Indiana apart from anywhere else in America.

2. Indiana Medical History Museum

Step into a perfectly preserved time capsule of 19th-century medicine at the Indiana Medical History Museum housed in the original pathology building of Central State Hospital.

This eerie yet fascinating museum sits on the grounds of what was once Indiana’s largest psychiatric facility.

The building dates back to 1896 and remains virtually untouched with original equipment specimens and even autopsy tables still in place.

What makes this museum truly unusual is its authenticity nothing has been recreated or modernized for visitors.

You’ll see the actual laboratories where doctors conducted groundbreaking research into mental illness and brain disorders over a century ago.

Glass jars containing preserved specimens line wooden shelves and antique microscopes sit ready as if the doctors just stepped out for lunch.

The amphitheater where medical students observed autopsies and dissections remains intact complete with tiered wooden seating.

Sunlight still streams through the same tall windows that illuminated surgical procedures generations ago.

Walking through these rooms gives you an almost ghostly connection to the physicians and patients whose lives intersected here.

Located at 3270 Kirkbride Way Indianapolis IN 46222 the museum offers guided tours that explain the evolution of psychiatric care and medical science.

The beautiful Victorian architecture contrasts sharply with the sometimes disturbing medical practices displayed inside.

Vintage photographs show the hospital grounds in their heyday when thousands of patients lived in massive buildings across the campus.

The museum’s collection includes rare medical instruments patient records and research documents that chronicle changing attitudes toward mental health.

Tours are only available by appointment making each visit feel exclusive and personal.

This museum isn’t for the squeamish but it offers an invaluable look at medical history that you simply can’t find anywhere else.

It’s a sobering reminder of how far medicine has come and how much we’ve learned about treating illness with compassion.

3. WHO North America (Doctor Who Museum)

Wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff comes to life at WHO North America the only museum in the United States dedicated entirely to the British science fiction phenomenon Doctor Who.

Located in a converted church building in the small town of Camby this museum houses the largest collection of Doctor Who memorabilia in North America.

Fans travel from across the continent to see props costumes and collectibles spanning the show’s six-decade history.

The collection includes screen-used Daleks Cybermen costumes and even a full-sized TARDIS that visitors can step inside.

Original scripts concept art and rare promotional materials fill display cases throughout the space.

You’ll find everything from vintage 1960s merchandise to modern collectibles all lovingly preserved and carefully documented.

What started as one fan’s personal collection has grown into an impressive archive that chronicles the show’s cultural impact.

The museum’s founder has spent decades tracking down rare items from every era of the series.

Interactive displays let visitors explore the show’s mythology and video screens play classic episodes and behind-the-scenes footage.

Situated at 8901 S State Road 67 Camby IN 46113 the museum welcomes both hardcore Whovians and curious newcomers.

Special events include viewing parties for new episodes and appearances by actors from the show.

The atmosphere feels like stepping into a fellow fan’s dream collection rather than a formal museum.

Visitors are encouraged to ask questions and share their own Doctor Who stories with the passionate staff.

The museum also functions as a community space where fans can connect and celebrate their shared love of the Time Lord.

Gift shop offerings include hard-to-find merchandise and exclusive items you won’t see anywhere else.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just Doctor Who-curious this quirky museum proves that fandom can create something truly special and unexpected in the heart of Indiana.

4. Antique Fan Museum

Cool off with a visit to the Antique Fan Museum in Zionsville where hundreds of vintage fans spin tales of pre-air conditioning America.

This unusual collection celebrates a household appliance most people take for granted showcasing fans from the 1880s through the 1950s.

The museum demonstrates how something as simple as moving air became an art form during the industrial age.

Display cases feature fans in every imaginable size shape and style from tiny desk models to massive industrial units.

Ornate brass blades colorful enamel finishes and intricate cage designs show the craftsmanship that went into these functional sculptures.

Many of the fans still work and demonstrations let visitors feel the breeze from machines that cooled their great-grandparents.

The collection includes rare brands like General Electric Westinghouse and Emerson plus obscure manufacturers that disappeared decades ago.

Informative placards explain the technological evolution from belt-driven fans to electric motors.

You’ll learn how fan design reflected changing aesthetics and engineering innovations throughout American history.

Found at 10983 Bennett Pkwy Zionsville IN 46077 this museum occupies a charming space filled with the gentle hum of vintage motors.

The owner’s passion for these mechanical marvels is contagious and guided tours reveal surprising details about fan manufacturing and marketing.

Children are fascinated by the different blade configurations and the satisfying click of old oscillating mechanisms.

The museum also explores the social history of staying cool before modern HVAC systems became standard.

Vintage advertisements show how fans were marketed as essential for health and comfort during sweltering summers.

Restoration workshops occasionally open to the public teaching visitors how these antique machines are brought back to working condition.

This breezy museum proves that even the most ordinary household items have extraordinary stories to tell when someone cares enough to preserve and share their history.

5. RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum

Hit the road without leaving the building at the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum in Elkhart the self-proclaimed RV Capital of the World.

This sprawling museum celebrates America’s love affair with recreational vehicles and mobile homes through an impressive collection of vintage campers and trailers.

From tiny teardrop trailers to massive motorhomes the exhibits showcase how Americans have pursued freedom and adventure on wheels.

The collection includes some of the earliest RVs ever built including a 1913 Earl Travel Trailer that looks like a wooden shed on wheels.

You’ll see Mae West’s luxurious custom trailer complete with pink satin interior and Hollywood glamour.

A 1950s Airstream gleams with polished aluminum perfection representing the golden age of American road trips.

Interactive exhibits let visitors step inside many of the vehicles to experience their compact living spaces firsthand.

The ingenuity of fold-out beds hidden storage and miniature kitchens amazes anyone who’s never considered RV life.

Displays explain the manufacturing processes that made Elkhart the epicenter of RV production in the United States.

Located at 21565 Executive Pkwy Elkhart IN 46514 the museum sits in the heart of RV manufacturing country.

The Hall of Fame section honors industry pioneers and innovators who shaped recreational vehicle design and production.

Temporary exhibits rotate throughout the year featuring everything from vintage camping gear to modern eco-friendly RV technology.

The museum’s library contains extensive archives of RV history including vintage brochures advertisements and manufacturing records.

Special events bring together RV enthusiasts from across the country to share stories and celebrate mobile living.

Even if you’ve never owned an RV the museum captures the American spirit of adventure and independence.

It’s a fascinating look at how transportation and housing merged to create a uniquely American lifestyle that continues to captivate millions of travelers today.

6. International Circus Hall of Fame

Step right up to Peru Indiana once known as the Circus Capital of America and home to the International Circus Hall of Fame.

This museum preserves the golden age of traveling circuses when Peru served as winter quarters for several major circus companies.

The collection includes wagons costumes posters and equipment from the greatest shows that ever toured America under canvas tents.

Ornately carved and painted circus wagons fill the main exhibition hall each one a masterpiece of folk art and functional design.

These rolling palaces once transported performers and animals while also serving as mobile advertisements for the show.

The detail work on these wagons from gilded scrollwork to hand-painted scenes represents a lost art form.

Costume displays feature sequined leotards feathered headdresses and the elaborate outfits worn by acrobats clowns and animal trainers.

Vintage posters advertise death-defying acts and exotic attractions that drew crowds in towns across the country.

Photographs and personal items from famous performers provide intimate glimpses into circus life on the road.

The museum sits at 3076 E Circus Ln Peru IN 46970 on the actual grounds where circuses once set up their winter camps.

During summer months the facility hosts circus performances featuring traditional acts performed by modern artists keeping old skills alive.

The Hall of Fame section honors legendary performers whose names may be forgotten but whose talents thrilled generations.

Interactive exhibits teach basic circus skills letting visitors try juggling plate spinning and balancing acts.

The museum also documents Peru’s unique history as a circus town where local families worked in the industry for generations.

Old film footage shows spectacular parades and performances from circuses that once called Peru home.

This museum captures the magic danger and spectacle of an entertainment form that shaped American popular culture for over a century.

7. Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum

Unleash your inner superhero at the Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum in Elkhart where comic book dreams become three-dimensional reality.

This colorful museum celebrates superhero culture through an extensive collection of costumes props and memorabilia from movies television shows and comic books.

From vintage Golden Age comics to modern blockbuster movie props the collection spans the entire history of superhero storytelling.

Life-sized statues of beloved characters greet visitors at the entrance setting the tone for an adventure through superhero history.

Display cases showcase rare comic books including first appearances of iconic heroes and villains.

Screen-used costumes from superhero films let you get up close to the actual suits worn by actors in blockbuster movies.

The museum doesn’t just focus on mainstream Marvel and DC heroes it also celebrates independent comics and lesser-known characters.

Interactive exhibits let visitors try on replica costumes and pose with props for memorable photo opportunities.

Video displays show the evolution of superhero special effects from early television shows to modern CGI spectacles.

Located at 1915 Cassopolis St Elkhart IN 46514 the museum attracts fans of all ages who grew up reading comics or watching superhero adventures.

The collection includes original artwork from famous comic book artists showing the creative process behind iconic images.

Rotating exhibits ensure that repeat visitors always find something new to discover.

Special events include comic book creator appearances costume contests and viewing parties for new superhero movie releases.

The museum’s mission emphasizes the positive values superheroes represent courage justice and helping others.

Educational programs teach kids about storytelling art and the cultural impact of superhero narratives.

Whether you’re a lifelong comic collector or simply enjoy superhero movies this museum offers a fun and inspiring celebration of characters who remind us that heroism comes in many forms.