Cabinets of curiosities

This article by K. Fred explains Curiosity Cabinets:

The first museums were collections privately held. These collections were started during the 16th and 17th centuries. They were usually named Curiosity Cabinets in the English speaking countries. Though other names were used such as, Cabinet's of Wonders, Wunder-kammer, Rariteitenkabinett, and Chamber's of Curiosities. These collections usually were divided into three segments. Natural, artificial, and scientific. The collectors could be found from the Pope to a local Tavern with the most spectacular ones largely owned by the wealthy.

Phantasmaphile provides some examples of curious museums that you can visit like the weirdly lovely Necromance in Los Angeles.

Thanks for directing me to this, John.