The World’s Smallest Museum Is Hiding Right Here In Arizona
By Katie Lawrence|Published November 05, 2018
×
Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
As much as we love museums, they get a bit boring after a while. Even the biggest nerds among us have a threshold for how many endless aisles of exhibits we can wander before our attention span gives out. Luckily, this unique museum in Arizona is the size of your backyard shed and takes about five minutes to see in its entirety. Check out the World’s Smallest Museum:
Taking up a whopping 134 square feet, this tiny shed was built over 20 years ago by Dan Wight and Jake Reaney, owners of the adjacent Buckboard City Cafe. Originally intended to lure tourists into the restaurant, the World's Smallest Museum quickly became a noteworthy attraction of its own.
An incredible amount of innovation went into constructing the building. You'll likely have to do a double-take to notice it, but closer inspection reveals a roof made entirely of recycled cans!
The quirky exterior gives way to an even more eclectic collection of items. History buffs and science geeks alike will find great delight in artifacts ranging from presidential campaign paraphernalia to antiquated computers.
Old newspaper clippings, photos, and cameras paint a picture of what Southern Arizona life was like way back when. Maybe you'll recognize some names of people or businesses!
Ready for a hefty dose of nostalgia? Vintage kitchen staples like coffee cans, Ritz cracker tins, and flour canisters are a one-way ticket to cherished childhood memories.
Mining culture played a hugely important role in our state's development, and plenty of evidence can be found in the museum. Several different ores and even the World's Largest Apache Tear show visitors just how hard workers chiseled away to produce these fruits of labor.
Old-school technology like a giant calculator, mimeograph, and ridiculously outdated HP computer give us a whole new appreciation for the progress our society has made. Does anyone know how to use this dinosaur?
Adding to the offbeat charm is this haphazard display of tires and rusty farm equipment. It has no historical significance, but the giant tower of junk sure keeps visitors rolling in!
Very few people leave without heading next door for a good old-fashioned hearty meal. If this adorable red barn doesn't draw you in with appearance alone, one bite of food certainly will.
Objects that couldn't fit in the museum sit on a ledge, providing effortless topics of conversation for diners. Great food, a unique atmosphere, and the most underrated roadside attraction in Arizona make this one-of-a-kind place an obvious stop anytime you're passing through Phoenix.
Check out this awesome video shared by Arizona Highways TV on YouTube for a peek inside the museum:
Have you ever been to the World’s Smallest Museum? Are there any other “world’s smallest” or “world’s largest” attractions in Arizona? Let us know all the ones you’ve been to!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
