Not your Average Museums Trivia Game | World Sites

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1. Where in northern England would you find a museum dedicated to the history of sodium chloride, otherwise known as salt?

Answer: Northwich, Cheshire

Salt has been produced in Northwich, Cheshire for over 2,000 years. Northwich is one of the three "wiches" producing salt over the centuries, the other two towns being Middlewich and Nantwich. Salt mining over the years has caused building subsidence and collapse of buildings in the Northwich and Winsford areas.

The museum's "Made From Salt" gallery explores just some of the 14,000 uses of salt over the millennia. Rock salt mining continues in 3 locations in the UK.

2. Barney Smith is a retired master plumber in San Antonio, Texas. He has a museum dedicated to what item relating to his former career?

Answer: Toilet seat art

Barney Smith's museum has over 600 decorated toilet seats but strangely has no toilet. Visitors must make other arrangements if they are caught short.

3. The Bramah Museum of Tea and Coffee can be found in which English city better known for Big Ben and double decker buses?

Answer: London

This museum illustrates the history of tea and coffee over the last few centuries, mainly from an British perspective. Exhibits include artworks, and tea and coffee making equipment. Thankfully there is a tea and coffee shop on the premises so you don't have to go far for a decent cuppa.

4. Roslyn, South Dakota has a museum featuring what foodstuff that some consider essential to a good fish and chips meal?

Answer: Vinegar

At the International Vinegar Museum you can learn how vinegar is made around the world, taste vinegars made from different plants, learn everything you wanted to know about vinegar and buy unusual vinegars. I hope there's a fish and chip shop nearby because I'd have a craving for them if I'm surrounded by all that vinegar!

5. In what European city more renowned for its art and canals would you find the Torture Museum?

Answer: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

This museum details the methods of torture used by the powerful to control the mainstream populace over the years. The museum's website warns you that it's only natural to be horrified by what you see there. The instruments are designed not only to torture but to incite fear. I don't think this is a museum you should take your gentle grandmother to.

6. A woman's dream museum? Hundreds of shoes from a collection of over 10,000 are on display in the Bata Shoe Museum in what Canadian city?

Answer: Toronto, Ontario

The Bata Shoe Museum has over 10,000 shoes in its collection with several hundred on display at any one time. Shoes range from the purely functional, such as the chestnut-crushing clog dating from 19th century France, and skiboots worn by sporting heroes, to celebrity shoes from modern times designed for beauty rather than functionality. Shoes come from the world over including ancient Egyptian sandals and Chinese bound foot shoes.

7. La Crosse, Kansas has a museum dedicated to which item developed in the 19th century to aid farmers?

Answer: Barbed wire

Joseph Glidden is the "Father of Barbed Wire" as he applied for the first patent for barbed wire in 1873. The Kansas Barbed Wire Museum has over 2,000 types of barbed wire on display. Fencing tools can also be seen to demonstrate the ingenuity of the early farmers.

The museum was officially dedicated in 1971 and moved to its purpose-built building in 1991. I only hope the barbed wire is behind glass because I'd hate to dust it all.

8. The Crime Museum isn't open to the public, yet it features exhibits from bank robberies, espionage and famous murderers such as the Jack The Ripper. It can be found in which English city more famous for Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace?

Answer: London

The Crime Museum started in the 1870s as a tool to help police learn about crime and detection. It is run by the Metropolitan Police. The Crime Museum has information about famous murders perpetrated by the likes of Dr Crippen,
Nevile Heath, Jack The Ripper and the Kray Gang. I'd love to have a look around but unfortunately it's not open to the public. It's used to educate police officers and associated professionals such as forensic scientists.

9. The Johann Jacobs Museum is dedicated to the wonderfully aromatic beverage called coffee. In what European city situated on the River Limmat and more well known for its banks would you find this museum?

Answer: Zurich, Switzerland

The Johann Jacobs Museum opened in 1984 to commemorate coffee's history in Europe over the last 4 centuries. Exhibits include thousands of paintings and postcards, silver and porcelain coffee utensils and photographs relating to coffee. The museum is housed in a baroque inspired villa built in 1913 overlooking Lake Zurich. Only open three days per week so plan your visit carefully. Alas, I can't tell from the website if there is a coffee shop at the museum. I'd need one after being inspired by all the exhibits.

10. The Brewing Museum documents the change in beer production from a cottage industry product to the drink of today's standard quality. It's located in the town of Plzen in which European country?

Answer: Czech Republic

Beer has been brewed in Plzen since the late 13th century. The building housing the museum has links to beer back to the 15th centruy when there was a malthouse on the site. Exhibits include a fully equipped coopers' workshop and a functioning model of a steam brewery.

Source: Author Tizzabelle

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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