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    • Williams
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John Patrick Pullen

A truly odd photo opportunity at the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium.
i
A truly odd photo opportunity at the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium.
Credit: © 2011 Todd Mecklem
Culture / Weird

Keep Portland’s Museums Weird

Unusual exhibits offer extraordinary experiences — and a glimpse of locals' obsessions.

Updated Jan. 20, 2021 3 min read

John Patrick Pullen

If you’ve seen one priceless work of art, you’ve seen them all. Okay, that’s not true. But the reality is that memories are more valuable than anything else, and Portland’s collection of strange-but-true museums will leave you richer with remembrances than most mainstream galleries. See for yourself with a tour of these attractions that are doing their part to keep Portland weird:

What’s more historical — a video store, or a museum dedicated to cinema props? Thankfully, Southeast Portland’s Movie Madness houses both.

The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium

Packed full of creepy but fun exhibits, like Al Capone’s safe, an alien autopsy table and an exhibit on spontaneous combustion, this Northwest Portland gallery and shop serves up original artwork and ice cream. Because everyone likes ice cream, right?

The Hat Museum

With more than 1,000 hats, this Southeast Portland house is brimming with headgear, organized into five different categories: vintage, men’s, novelty, international and fabulous! Just be sure to call in advance, as it’s open by appointment only.

Lincoln Street Kayak & Canoe Museum

Representing hundreds, if not thousands, of years of hunting and fishing, the full-sized canoes and kayaks found here are handmade replicas designed to be seaworthy even today. The only thing strange about this Southeast Portland museum, which is free and open from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesdays, is that it’s totally landlocked in a residential neighborhood.

Related

Museums & History

Delve into the roots of the Portland region and enjoy the art of yesterday and today.

Read more

Kidd’s Toy Museum

That’s no typo — this Southeast Portland collection of toys from 1869 to 1939 belonged to Frank Kidd and includes throwback items such as toy cars, piggy banks, and gadgets like a Dick Tracy wrist radio. It’s open weekday afternoons, and on the weekend by appointment.

Movie Madness

What’s more historical — a video store, or a museum dedicated to cinema props? Thankfully, this Southeast Portland shop houses both, with more than 100 pieces of movie history, like a shower scene knife from Psycho, Julie Andrews’ dress from The Sound of Music, the baby carriage from The Untouchables and more.

Ping Pong’s Pint Size Puppet Museum

Taking up residence in an old corner store in Sellwood, this is where hundreds of puppets, ranging from walking, talking animals to marionette witches, come to life every Thursday through Sunday with live performances. Kids can try their hand at making their own puppets, too.

Portland Police Museum

This arresting collection of artifacts dates back to 1870 and shows how law and order developed in this once wild city. Thumb through early arrest records, try on authentic Portland Police uniforms or clink the door of an original jail cell at this free museum in downtown Portland’s Justice Center, and maybe you’ll get the urge to become a crime fighter, too.

Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals

One of the most extensive collection of minerals in the nation, this Hillsboro, Oregon museum truly rocks. Located just 16 miles west of downtown Portland, the 10,000-square-foot gallery used to be the Rice family’s private home, but now the “Alma Rose” Rhodochrosite from Colorado’s Sweet Home Mine, the world’s largest opal-filled thunderegg and an extensive collection of meteorites live here.

Safety Learning Center and Fire Museum

They always say don’t play with fire, and at the Historic Belmont Firehouse, they mean it. But you can reach out and touch more than 150 years of firefighting equipment and tools along its self-guided tour.

Stark’s Vacuum Museum

Taking up a small wing of a Northeast Portland vacuum store, this collection of 300 antique suction devices from a variety of brands really kicks up quite a fuss. Admission is free, but kindly wipe your feet before entering.

World Forestry Center Discovery Museum

Typically, a collection of trees is called a forest. But this indoor museum, located in Portland’s Washington Park, explores what makes woodlands important through an array of interactive displays and exhibits.

Arts, For Kids, Museums & History, Weird

More Weirdness in Portland

Explore Portland's weird culture with these annual events and quirky attractions.

Go To Weird
The PDX Adult Soapbox Derby returns to Mt. Tabor Park each year.

Weird Portland Round-Up

In 1845, a native of Portland, Maine, won a coin-toss to name the new Oregon city — but the place has been an original ever since.

Dozens of cyclists in David Bowie costumes? Must be June in Portland.

Portland’s Weirdest Events

Portland comes by its eclectic reputation honestly. From quirky to downright bizarre, here are some of our favorite "Keep Portland Weird" events.

Join the parade at the annual McMenamins UFO Festival in McMinnville.

UFO Festival in McMinnville

Every May, thousands of visitors flock to the city’s famous UFO Festival, featuring four days of parades, costume contests, expert speakers

A few of the thousands of participants in Portland\'s 2014 World Naked Bike Ride.
Photo credit: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland, www.bikeportland.org

Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride

Every June, thousands of cyclists cruise commando through Portland streets as part of the World Naked Bike Ride.

Descend beneath the streets of Old Town Chinatown to learn the lore of the Shanghai Tunnels.

Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels

In the late 1850s, a lonely logger might get more than he bargained for at his local tavern. See Portland's historic underbelly on a Shanghai Tunnel tour.

The White Eagle Saloon, circa 1905.

Haunted Portland

Portland is rife with spooky lore and tales of things that go bump in the night; find them with these mysterious spots and spirited walking tours.

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