Ever wondered where you can admire thousands of mustards, dive into a pool of sprinkles or learn how SPAM became a global icon? Food museums can get wonderfully specific, turning everyday snacks, drinks and pantry staples into full-blown attractions. From potatoes and Dr Pepper to JELL-O and ice cream, these eight museums serve up plenty of history, nostalgia and quirky fun.
National Mustard Museum — Middleton, Wisconsin
Mustard gets the full museum treatment at the National Mustard Museum, where the collection includes more than 7,000 mustards from all 50 states and more than 70 countries. You’ll also find antique tins and jars, vintage advertisements, and ornate mustard pots made from porcelain and silver. Admission is free, and the museum is open seven days a week.
SPAM Museum — Austin, Minnesota
Few foods have inspired as much devotion, ridicule and pop culture as SPAM. The free SPAM Museum explores the canned meat’s history through interactive exhibits, games, memorabilia and plenty of quirky storytelling. Visitors can learn how SPAM became a global pantry staple, test their knowledge along the way and may even encounter bite-sized samples during their visit.
Idaho Potato Museum — Blackfoot, Idaho
Housed inside a former Oregon Short Line Railroad depot completed in 1913, the Idaho Potato Museum celebrates everything potato. Exhibits cover the crop’s history, growing, harvesting, processing and role in Idaho agriculture, while the collection includes vintage farming equipment, potato memorabilia and the largest potato crisp ever made by Pringles.
JELL-O Gallery Museum — Le Roy, New York
JELL-O was developed in Le Roy in 1897, and the town has not forgotten it. The JELL-O Gallery Museum traces the gelatin dessert’s colorful history through vintage advertising, television commercials, molds, paintings and plenty of nostalgic memorabilia. It operates seasonally, generally from spring through late December, so check current opening dates before planning a visit.
Dr Pepper Museum — Waco, Texas
The Dr Pepper Museum explores the history of the famous soda and the wider soft-drink industry from its home in the historic 1906 Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company Building. The attraction now spans two historic buildings, with exhibits on bottling, advertising, soda-fountain culture and beverage science. Paid general admission includes a complimentary Dr Pepper, which feels like the appropriate way to finish the visit.
Southern Food & Beverage Museum — New Orleans, Louisiana
Gumbo, cocktails and Southern food culture all share the spotlight at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum. Exhibits include the Gallery of the South, the Culinary Heritage Sign Gallery and collections from the Museum of the American Cocktail, which digs into the history of bartending and drinking culture. Together, the displays explore how regional food traditions, migration and creativity have shaped Southern cuisine.
World of Coca-Cola — Atlanta, Georgia
Part museum and part immersive attraction, World of Coca-Cola dives into the history and global reach of one of the world’s best-known drinks. Visitors can explore the Vault of the Secret Formula, browse hundreds of artifacts, check out the newer Coca-Cola Stories experience and finish with Taste It!, where more than 100 Coca-Cola beverages from around the world are available to sample.
Museum of Ice Cream — Multiple U.S. Cities
This one is more an immersive food-themed attraction than a traditional museum, but the giant Sprinkle Pool earns the Museum of Ice Cream a spot on the list. Visitors move through colorful installations, dive into the signature pool and enjoy unlimited ice cream tastings along the way. Current U.S. locations include New York City, Chicago, Boston, Miami and Las Vegas.
