14 Monuments and Museums Only in Idaho

It makes sense that a state so well known for its bold, wide-open landscapes would be home to a bevy of more discreet attractions as well.  Idaho, turns out, is home to a whole lot more than meets the eye.

One of the fastest growing states in the nation is brimming with unusual finds, tucked within the region’s dashing forests and dramatic canyons. Take the manhole cover that proclaims Wallace, Idaho, to be the “Center of the Universe,” solely on the basis that it’s impossible to prove that it’s not. If you appreciate hygiene, consider a mandatory stop at the Museum of Clean, which boasts a collection of 250 pre-electric vacuums as well as a replica of Noah’s Ark (it’s related, somehow). 

Or perhaps you fancy yourself an interstellar excursion? Head up, up, and away to Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, a land of cinder cones, lava tubes, and the deepest volcanic rift in the country. 

Then there’s the “Skycycle” launch site, a gravel ramp leading to a 1,600-foot jump across Snake River Canyon, attempted in 1974 by daredevil Evel Knievel. Swim a ways upstream, and you’ll find an ancient petroglyph map dating back as many as 12,000 years.

And don’t think we’d leave out the crème de la crème: the Idaho Potato Museum, home to the world’s largest potato chip (c. 1991), a build-your-own-Mr.-Potato-Head station, and plenty of fries to go around.

Whatever you’re looking for in Idaho, whether it’s bird taxidermy, homemade mini golf, or an old state penitentiary, we guarantee this list will have you covered, and then some.