Jimmy Stewart Museum

Indiana, Pennsylvania

Jimmy Stewart's home town wanted to build a stylish museum to celebrate its most famous native son. But Jimmy, who was still alive at the time, vetoed the idea. He wanted something modest. So the Jimmy Stewart Museum occupies the third floor of the town's library. Jimmy himself picked out most of the items to be placed on display.

It's a museum to a Hollywood superstar that gives off the sleepy vibe of a local historical collection. There's Jimmy's Dad's office desk from the family hardware store. There's a photo of Jimmy's great-granddad in his Civil War uniform. There's a citation of merit from the Boy Scouts. Among the more notable Hollywood artifacts are a propeller blade autographed by the cast and crew of "Flight of the Phoenix," and a six-foot-tall stuffed rabbit meant to represent Stewart's invisible pal in "Harvey." Our favorite exhibit in the museum is a life-size statue of Jimmy made of fiberglass, an exact replica of the bronze statue that stands next door in front of the courthouse.

Some folks might think that the Jimmy Stewart Museum is kind of like mayonnaise on white bread. But that's the way Jimmy wanted it.