Torrington, Alberta, Canada: Gopher Hole Museum

It's a unique non-profit museum.

Torrington, home to roadside attraction Clem T. Gopher, also has the world's only gopher museum (Richardson Ground Squirrel to be correct). Here, you are a voyeur into the secret lives of ground squirrels that just happen to resemble the two-legged folks above ground.

For only $2.00 you can view gophers dressed up in everyday scenes, getting married, on a picnic, etc. Be sure to see "Albert GoFur." He made a special appearance at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, making him the only gopher to "go far"! It truly is "world famous" -- just look at their world map and it is full of pins from visitors around the world. Only open June - Sept. Be sure to spot the fire hydrants in town painted as gophers!

The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum - "So funny I nearly peed myself." Certainly a unique way to dispose of those hole digging pests! A 14-foot high gopher stands at the entrance of Torrington (his name is Clem...in case you wanted to intorduce yourself). My kids loved this attraction and were fascinated by the scenes depicting ground squirrels as the towns people in a variety of settings (church, fishing, hotel). My favorite is the beauty shop ("I'm a beautician, not a magician!"). People from all over the world have come to this sleepy town for a good-natured chuckle...just as much from the gophers as from the animal rights activist ranting letters ("Gophers are an endangered species." Not in my back yard!).

A must see for anyone who ever wondered what a gopher would look like if it were dressed as a preacher or any one of a number of other anthropomorphic poses. Be sure to check the book of hate mail sent in by animal rights activists angry that people have a stuffed display of these prairie rats.