After Hours

Plan trips to these geeky museums and exhibits

By // June 3, 2011, 2:08 AM PST // HuTerra

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  • Maison d'Ailleurs, a science-fiction museum

    Don't spend the dog days of summer hiding from the heat -- try to visit at least one of these geeky museums and exhibits. If you prefer to see the suggestions in list format, read my Geekend post Travel to these geeky museums and exhibits.

    Take a sci-fi fan's dream trip to Maison d'Ailleurs ("The House of Elsewhere") in Switzerland. It's a museum of science fiction!

    Image courtesy Maison d'Ailleurs

  • Computer History Museum

    TechRepublic member NickNielsen suggests, "The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. The destinations DON'T get much geekier than that!"

    (This suggestion was originally featured in our Geeky vacation destinations gallery.)

    Photo credit: Troy Holden via Flickr

  • Titan Missile Museum

    TechRepublic member James Mabry recommends the Titan Missile Museum in Sahuarita, AZ.

    (This suggestion was originally featured in our Geeky vacation destinations gallery.)

    Photo credit: CNET News.com

  • Altair 8800 Microcomputer in the NMAH Computers and Business Machines collection

    TechRepublic member GSG said, "I liked the history of computing section at the Smithsonian." You can see the Computers & Business Machines collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center, in Washington, DC.

    This photo is of the Altair 8800 Microcomputer.

    (This suggestion was originally featured in our Geeky vacation destinations gallery.)

    Photo credit: NMAH

  • Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

    TechRepublic contributor Justin James and member Angela Lawson both recommended the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

    (This suggestion was originally featured in our Geeky vacation destinations gallery.)

    Photo credit: Robert Alonso via Flickr

  • International Spy Museum

    TechRepublic member Angela Lawson encouraged folks to visit "The International Spy Museum to see some cool gadgets." The museum is located in Washington, DC.

    (This suggestion was originally featured in our Geeky vacation destinations gallery.)

    Photo credit: Cosmic Slop via Flickr

  • The Tech Museum

    TechRepublic member James Garvin recommended, "The Tech Museum in San Jose, CA."

    (This suggestion was originally featured in our Geeky vacation destinations gallery.)

    Photo credit: jvnunag via Flickr

  • Atomic Testing Museum

    Test your luck at the Las Vegas casinos, but don't miss out on science history at the Atomic Testing Museum.

    Image courtesy the Atomic Testing Museum

  • National Museum of Play

    Learn what makes gamers tick at The National Museum of Play, which is devoted to the study of play, where a new, permanent exhibit allows visitors to play through the history of video games. The museum is located in Rochester, NY.

    Image courtesy The Strong/The National Museum of Play

  • National Museum of the United States Air Force

    TechRepublic member Nij Mathur recommends, "The National Museum of the United States Air Force at Dayton, OH."

    (This suggestion was originally featured in our Geeky vacation destinations gallery.)

    Photo credit: carabino via Flickr

  • Toy and Action Figure Museum

    Play is important for the soul. Check out the toys at The Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. Take your favorite kid, and you'll have a toy collector friend for life.

    Image courtesy The Toy and Action Figure Museum

  • St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum

    A true treasure chest! At the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum in Florida. Hit it up on your way to the beach.

    Image courtesy the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum

  • Niagara Science Museum

    Niagara Falls is lovely, but the Niagara Science Museum offers a geekier afternoon of science. Make time for both when you're in Niagara Falls, NY!

    The picture is of an electrostatic machine from colonial times.

    Image courtesy Nick Dalacu, founder of the Niagara Science Museum

  • American Museum of Radio & Electricity

    Mama always told you not to play with electricity. Learn about the history of electrical invention at the American Museum of Radio & Electricity in Bellingham, Washington.

    Image courtesy the American Museum of Radio & Electricity

  • Baylor University Mayburn Museum

    Learn how modern science is used to understand ancienct civilizations at Baylor University's Mayburn Museum special exhibit "Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Medicine," which will be on display through Sept. 5, 2011. The museum is located in Waco, TX.

    This photo is a sea turtle skeleton.

    Image courtesy Baylor University

  • Da Vinci - The Genius traveling exhibit

    Da Vinci - The Genius is a traveling exhibition. The Leonardo exhibit is currently on display at the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, KY.

  • Sue at The Field Museum

    Natural history is geekier than it gets credit for most of the time. Plus, The Field Museum's Sue the dinosaur is amazing to behold, and Chicago is the perfect place for an interesting getaway.

    Image courtesy John Weinstein (c)The Field Museum.

    What museums and exhibits do you recommend? We'd especially like to get suggestions from our international readers.



Maison d'Ailleurs, a science-fiction museum

Don't spend the dog days of summer hiding from the heat -- try to visit at least one of these geeky museums and exhibits. If you prefer to see the suggestions in list format, read my Geekend post Travel to these geeky museums and exhibits.

Take a sci-fi fan's dream trip to Maison d'Ailleurs ("The House of Elsewhere") in Switzerland. It's a museum of science fiction!

Image courtesy Maison d'Ailleurs

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By Nicole Nash

Nicole Bremer Nash is Director of Content and Social Media for HuTerra, where she uses SEO and social media to promote charitable organizations in their community-building and fundraising efforts. She enjoys volunteering, arts and crafts, and conduct...