American Banjo Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The word "rustic" may come to mind when you think of a banjo museum, but the American Banjo Museum -- home to the largest collection of banjos on public display anywhere in the world -- is well-endowed and serious, part of its attempt to take "America's adopted native musical instrument" beyond images of theme park performers and hillbillies. Hundreds and hundreds of banjos are displayed in elegant glass cases -- but there's also a recreated Shakey's Pizza Parlor from the 1960s, a banjo signed by FDR, and genuinely psychedelic tie-dyed banjo t-shirts in the gift shop.