Ralph Foster Museum
It’s unlikely you’ve heard of the Ralph Foster Museum, so here’s a little background.
Ralph Foster has been described as a pioneer of radio in Missouri. He began by setting up a small radio station at his store before deciding to make his career in radio. Credited with introducing many musical artists to his broad listening audience, Foster was also an avid collector of native American artifacts, and in the 1960s he donated his extensive collection to the museum at The School of the Ozarks near Branson, Missouri. As a result of Foster’s influence and generosity, in the late 1960s the museum was renamed after Foster.
That’s interesting enough—but the big draw at the Ralph Foster Museum on the campus of the renamed College of the Ozarks has nothing to do with native Americans or with Foster himself. The key attraction is something you’re probably familiar with and might even recognize immediately.
Here’s a hint. It’s a car.
No, it’s not the Batmobile or the Back to the Future DeLorean. But we’re on the right track.
It’s a car from TV.
The Munsters’ hearse? No, not that one. And it’s not the General Lee.
It’s not the talking Trans Am from Knight Rider, either.
Since we’re on talking cars, let’s also eliminate My Mother the Car.
Need another hint? Remember, we’re talking about the Ozarks. The Ozark Mountains … complete with mountaineers … including one who could barely keep his family fed.
And then one day he was shooting at some food …
You probably know the rest. Jed Clampett struck oil by accident, struck it rich, loaded up the car that’s on display at the Foster Museum, and moved to Beverly … Hills, that is.
Branson is already known for an abundance of retro music acts, but for some people the biggest attraction in the area is that open-air retro car so many of us used to watch and laugh at every week.
Hell, Michigan
If you’re looking for a place that may bring new meaning to the expression, “I’ve been to hell and back,” this may be the place.
Located about 60 miles west of Detroit, Hell has a cheeky website that makes note of Michigan’s largest city by declaring, “Hell—It’s Safer than Detroit.”
That’s pretty much the tone you’ll find all over the website, titled “Go to Hell, Michigan.” Navigate the site and you’re likely to get a few laughs, as I did. Not only that, I’ve definitely decided the next time I’m in Michigan I’m heading straight for Hell.
If you live in the West and want to make a similar journey, you might consider going to Hell, California—although that version of the bad place doesn’t seem to promote itself nearly to the degree Hell, Michigan, does.
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There are many more weird places to visit in America than we’ve covered here. What weird but fun places would you add to the list?
Off the Beaten Track … 15 Weird but Fun Places to Visit© 2013 MedicareMall.com
Once Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, wrote that Captain James T. Kirk was from Iowa. The super-small town of Riverside needed a theme for its yearly festival and the council thought, “Hey, why can’t Kirk be from our town?” and wrote Mr. Roddenberry to ask if it could be so. They received an official letter with his permission, and with that, Riverside became “The Future Birthplace of Captain Kirk.” A tiny, former beauty salon became the birthplace; a sad wooden plaque saying so is in the backyard. [Apparently they wanted to make a nice statue, but Paramount, which owns Star Trek, wanted $60,000 in licensing. So the wooden sign won’t be going anywhere soon.] The city also holds an annual “Trek Fest”, celebrating all things Star Trek.
Ronny: Great explanation. I appreciate the info.