Traer, Iowa: World's 2nd Largest Collection of Salt and Pepper Shakers

The volunteers love giving tours, and it gives you a personal touch of the history of the salt and pepper shakers, so take them up on it. Ask them about all the weird stuff that they've heard that people collect. Definitely take a peek in the "Slightly Risque'" closet of salt and pepper shakers.

If you're lucky, founder Ruth Rasmussen still visits occasionally from the nursing home.

I stopped by this collection a short while back. For $3 you will see something you'll never forget...a TON of salt and pepper shakers. It's a fun and unique stop. The gal giving the tour really took pride in the collection, too, which was great to see.

The farm town of Traer, known until now only for its odd outdoor "winding staircase" in the middle of a downtown sidewalk, has unveiled what it claims is the second largest salt and pepper shaker collection in the world. Most of the over 16,000 go-withs, hangers, huggers, kissers, longboys, minis, nesters, and tallboys were donated by Traer resident Ruth Rasmussen, who began accumulating them in 1946. It was at one time the world's largest collection, but was eclipsed by one in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The salt and pepper shakers are displayed only a block west of the winding staircase.