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All the United States Massachusetts South Hadley Joseph Allen Skinner Museum

Joseph Allen Skinner Museum

One philanthropist's extensive collection of knick-knacks and curiosities is now a public museum of oddity.

South Hadley, Massachusetts

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wwatson
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Joseph Allen Skinner Museum   Wikimedia Commons
Joseph Allen Skinner Museum   Wikimedia Commons
Joseph Allen Skinner Museum   Wikimedia Commons
Joseph Allen Skinner Museum   Wikimedia Commons
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About

Established in 1932 by silk magnate and philanthropist Joseph Allen Skinner, the museum that now carries his name displays the wide-ranging collection of curious that the man was able to accumulate in an effort to create some wonder through his oddities. 

Containing over 7,000 items accumulated by Skinner during his time in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Strict record keeping was not a priority at the museum so the origin of many of the items is nearly unknown, however, this actually works to give the collection an even greater air of mystery. Among the collection are such varied items as antique rifles, Native American artifacts, a rare coco-de-mare, ship models, lighting devices, early American kitchen implements, stuffed birds, and more and more. The Skinner Museum is a cacophony of curiosity unlike any other.

The collection is held in a church that used to be located in a nearby town, but Skinner had the 1800's chapel moved to South Hadley just to contain his stuff. After Skinner passed away, the museum came under the care of Mount Holyoke College who maintains the collection to this day. Skinner may be gone, but his sense of wonder is alive and well.    

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Museums And Collections Museums Wunderkammers Curio Cabinets

Know Before You Go

On route 116 just north of Mount Holyoke college, located in a 19th-century church building relocated from Prescott, MA, one of the Lost Towns dismantled to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir.

Update: The Skinner Museum is closed for the foreseeable future. Please use the Visitor Interest form to receive updates.

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Added By

wwatson

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ragamonster, bwpohner, Blindcolour, ChloeMac...

  • ragamonster
  • bwpohner
  • Blindcolour
  • ChloeMac
  • EricGrundhauser

Published

April 8, 2014

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Sources
  • http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2009/10/favorite_places_joseph_allen_s.html
  • http://www.valleyvisitor.com/events-calendar-jump-to/events/joseph-allen-skinner-museum-commemorates-150th-anniversary-of-civil-war.html
Joseph Allen Skinner Museum
33 Woodbridge Street
South Hadley, Massachusetts, 01075
United States
42.262757, -72.572412
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Eyrie House Ruins

Holyoke, Massachusetts

miles away

Dinosaur Footprints of Holyoke

Holyoke, Massachusetts

miles away

Holyoke Heritage State Park

Holyoke, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Massachusetts

Massachusetts

United States

Places 556
Stories 43

Nearby Places

Eyrie House Ruins

Holyoke, Massachusetts

miles away

Dinosaur Footprints of Holyoke

Holyoke, Massachusetts

miles away

Holyoke Heritage State Park

Holyoke, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Massachusetts

Massachusetts

United States

Places 556
Stories 43

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