There’s An Evel Knievel Museum In Kansas, And It’s One Of The Quirkiest Places You’ll Ever Go

There are lots of weird places in Kansas, from bizarre roadside attractions to strange stores and more, but if you like your oddities with a bit of education, there's no better place than a Sunflower State museum. We've got the perfect off-the-wall museum in Topeka for you. Evel Knievel is perhaps the best-known daredevil in history; his wild motorcycle stunts and rampant self-promotion made him a legend in his own time. While Knievel was born in Butte, Montana and spent much of his life there, his bright red Mack truck was restored in Topeka, and it's there where you'll find the official Evel Knievel Museum.

Fittingly enough, the museum is located right next to Topeka's Harley-Davidson store. It has two stories and 13,000 square feet of Evel Knievel memorabilia and has several interactive exhibits that are fun for the whole family.

Knievel's career spanned several decades. He broke numerous records for his long jumps on motorcycles, including jumping 19 cars and also 50 stacked cars.

It took over 100 craftsmen to restore Knievel's iconic 1974 Mack truck, nicknamed "Big Red." It's now among the museum's most popular exhibits.

In all, there are more than 10,000 pieces of memorabilia here, including plenty of costumes and helmets.

There's even a virtual reality experience that will allow you to get an idea of what some of Knievel's stunts would feel like, without the risks.

Knievel lived a fascinating life. He passed away in 2007 due to diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 69. Throughout his life, over $125 million in toys were sold bearing his likeness, and he was a household name throughout the 1970s and beyond.

This is such a cool museum that's a remarkable tribute to a fascinating person. For more information, check out the Evel Knievel Museum website or the Evel Knievel Museum Facebook page.