As a kid, I saw a lot of museums. I've said before that I've seen most of this country from the back seat of my parents car, but we did stop the car occasionally, and when we did it was often in front of a museum of some sort. If you want museums, Illinois is your spot.

The photo above shows you the Superman Museum in Metropolis, Illinois. My son Spencer and I took a road trip to Metropolis in early June for their Superman festival, and of course, wound up spending more time in the Superman Museum than two adult males probably should have.

Natalie Crawford, writing for Reboot Illinois, shines the spotlight on some of Illinois' best (and most unusual) museums, and I'm willing to bet that you're not aware of all of them.

For example, have you seen:

The Funk Prairie Home Gem and Mineral Museum in Shirley, Illinois

According to the website, this gem and mineral collection is the largest one-man collection in the world. Started by LaFayette Funk II, the minerals come from all over the world, including some even the Smithsonian doesn’t have. It’s a definite must visit!

Spinach Can Collectibles Museum in Chester, Illinois

Popeye has been teaching kids that spinach is good for decades, and this is a shop and museum dedicated to him. It’s a one-of-a-kind place, and if you’re a fan of the sailor or perhaps just spinach in general (blech!), then you need to visit this museum.

American Toby Jug Museum in Evanston, Illinois

What is a Toby Jug, you ask? According to the museum’s website, it’s “a figural ceramic pitcher modeled in the form of a popular character, historical, fictional or generic.” The museum’s collection has centuries old Toby Jugs and more than 8,000 of them, making it a museum you have to see to believe.

Historic Museum of Torture Devices in Alton, Illinois

Gruesomely intriguing, this museum takes you through human history from the perspective of torture devices. The Chinese Death Cage, the Garrotte, the Pillory…the list goes on with the 50 exhibits this museum has in store for visitors’ amusement and horror!

DeMoulin Museum in Greenville, Illinois

While the DeMoulin family makes band uniforms these days, they started out by making costumes and initiation devices for secret societies. Some of the items they have on display are bucking goats, trick chairs, and a guillotine.

Illinois, mile after magnificent (but weird in spots) mile...

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