World's Smallest Museum

Superior, Arizona

When they say "World's Smallest Museum," they're not joking: a tiny one-room shack, just 134 square feet in area! But it is indeed a full-fledged museum, the walls lined floor to ceiling with glass cases, each loaded with "artifacts of ordinary life" from times both ancient and recent, from locations both near and far.

15 cases along one wall, 15 along the other wall, a walkway between them -- that's the whole museum.
Each case is about 2 1/2 feet square. This one is called Yesterday's Kitchen.
Mining tools. Superior remains an important mining district to this day.
World's Largest Apache Tear. Apache tears are nodules of obsidian (volcanic glass) that can be found in the area.
Photography and motion pictures. Note 1974 photo of Oprah Winfrey taken by Jake Reaney, co-curator of museum -- and Three Stooges Beer.
Collection of political campaign buttons, from WWII to the present. Up to date with Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin buttons.
The Rock and Roll era. The 45 on the record player is Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly.
The computer age. Included are a 1984 Compaq computer (10 MB hard drive) and a Lotus 1-2-3 manual.
Mom's Revenge (Battered Tuba). No explanation given.
Alongside the building are several "junk sculptures" -- this is Hard Labor Falls, a fountain made of old wheelbarrows.

Directions: 1111 W. US Highway 60 (on the western edge of Superior, next to the Buckboard City Cafe). At the time of this writing (April 2009), admission is free but a $1/person donation is asked, and the hours are 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily except closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Call (520) 689-5800 for more information.

Last visited: April 2009.

Standard disclaimer: Sites are described for entertainment purposes only, as they were at the time of my last visit. I can not vouch for the current condition of the site or its accessibility.