White River Junction, Vermont -
Main Street Museum - Cabinet of Curiosities

The Main Street Museum is an eclectic display space for material culture and an experiment in a new taxonomy. Originally thought of as an "alternative" museum, the museum's present form and activities resemble the 18th and 19th century "cabinet of curiosities" and point to an interest in the historic roots of museums and museology.

The Main Street Museum is a small, public collection of curiosities and artifacts, each one of which is significant and each one of which tells some kind of story about human beings and the complex, sometimes baffling, universe we are a part of. Through the study of an accumulation of small details, the aim of the Museum is to cultivate among the general public a sense of wonder at the big questions that arise when we study and categorize objects and our reactions to them. We believe that our relationship to things becomes richer the more it is intentional.

"White River Junction: It's not so bad!" [Anna, 07/14/2010]

[RA: Even for travelers not seeking a "new taxonomy" and the historic roots of "museology," this oddity collection might be interesting to check out.]