The Atlas Obscura Guide To Amherst

11 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Amherst, Massachusetts

Updated September 23, 2024

Unusual Attractions in Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Founded by the famed children's book artist, this museum spreads an appreciation of the arts through picture books.

Amherst, Massachusetts

Emily Dickinson's Bedroom

The mighty room where the poet spent most of her life is available to rent for an hour or two.

Amherst, Massachusetts

Hitchcock Ichnological Cabinet

This exhibit is one of the largest and most well-preserved collections of Jurassic-era trackways in the United States.

Amherst, Massachusetts

Stearns Steeple

The monumental steeple on Amherst College's campus has no church attached to it.

Amherst, Massachusetts

Simeon Strong House

The owner of one of the oldest homes in Amherst had a unique request before the home could be turned into a museum.

What happens when you press “the button.”

Amherst, Massachusetts

The Rausch Mineral Gallery

A unique collection of more than 250 rocks and minerals located on a university campus.

Amherst, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts Entomology Collection

This miniature museum is home to a vast array of insects.

Amherst, Massachusetts

Henry Street Salamander Tunnels

One of the first amphibian migration tunnels in the United States encourages a tradition that has inspired Amherst residents for decades.

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