Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
27 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
27 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
27 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
27 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Iowa Britt The Hobo Museum
AO Edited

The Hobo Museum

An old town theater converted into a celebration of the hobo legacy.

Britt, Iowa

Added By
Laetitia Barbier
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Hobo Museum   Chicagogeek
Hobo Museum   Chicagogeek
Hobo Camp   Unknown
Hobo Museum   Carlafrances
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

“Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you.” This is the first rule of the Hobo ethical code. 

In most people's minds, hoboes are a thing of the past, frozen in time since the Depression. The hobo’s picturesque image, walking along rails with a light bindle stick, hopping steam trains from state to state to avert his fate, solidifies him as an iconic American figure.

However, one might be surprised that "hoboes" don’t just belong to the past of the US. Small but dynamic communities mindful of preserving their history, their ethics, and their legacy exist today.

Since 1974, three different generations composing the hobo community converge once a year in the city of Britt, Iowa to celebrate and exchange thoughts, tips, and stories about a penniless lifestyle. They gather to share tales of wandering around the country avoiding troubles and danger and preserve their self-taught train engineering and coded languages generated by decades of hoboes.

With the goal of archiving and keeping alive their culture, the Hobo Foundation bought the Britt movie theater and installed a permanent display of artifacts donated by the itinerant workers: extensive memorabilia of such famous hoboes as Frisco Jack, Connecticut Slim, Hard Rock Kid, and Pennsylvania Kid, just to name a few. The foundation also hosts the National Hobo Convention.

On display are original hobo crafts, photographs, videos, and documentaries depicting the hobo lifestyle, paintings, a historic postcard collection, and a hobo doll collection. Visiting the Hobo Museum is a deep dive into the most Americana‑esque branch of vernacular archeology.

Related Tags

Hoboes Museums Outsider Art Collections Places To Stay

Know Before You Go

Downtown, in the old Chief Theater. On the east side of Main Ave. S. between Center and 1st Sts.

Community Contributors

Added By

Laetitia Barbier

Edited By

hrnick, Molly McBride Jacobson, 26wiande, megan

  • hrnick
  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • 26wiande
  • megan

Published

April 15, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
The Hobo Museum
51 Main Ave S
Britt, Iowa, 50423
United States
43.096425, -93.80137
Get Directions

Nearby Places

National Hobo Convention

Britt, Iowa

miles away

Surf Ballroom

Clear Lake, Iowa

miles away

The Day The Music Died Memorial

Clear Lake, Iowa

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Britt

Britt

Iowa

Places 2

Nearby Places

National Hobo Convention

Britt, Iowa

miles away

Surf Ballroom

Clear Lake, Iowa

miles away

The Day The Music Died Memorial

Clear Lake, Iowa

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Britt

Britt

Iowa

Places 2

Related Stories and Lists

Everything You Thought You Knew About ‘Hobo Code’ Is Wrong

hoboes

By Maggie Downs

Related Places

  • Verbeke Foundation.

    Kemzeke, Belgium

    Verbeke Foundation

    A collection of weird and wonderful art fills a former houseplant nursery.

  • Ilana Goor Museum .

    Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

    Ilana Goor Museum

    A modern-day cabinet of curiosities housed in a 300-year-old inn.

  • The outside of the museum, complete with M&M greeters and half of a “Barney Smith Day” sign.

    The Colony, Texas

    Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum

    A master plumber has turned his love of art and toilets into a folk museum that's not taking the piss.

  • The Button King

    Bishopville, South Carolina

    The Button Museum

    A hobby born from insomnia has turned into a hangar full of objects that have been be-buttoned by the Button King.

  • Folk artist Ben Ploughman’s studio in Port Au Choix, Newfoundland.

    Port au Choix, Newfoundland and Labrador

    Museum of Whales and Things

    A chaotic collection of maritime artifacts, art, and really whatever else happens to be around.

  • Fred and Myrtle’s famous Shell Lounge

    Christchurch, New Zealand

    Fred and Myrtle's Paua Shell House

    A New Zealand couple's shell-adorned home living room, now on display at the Canterbury Museum.

  • Portland, Oregon

    The Zymoglyphic Museum

    Private collection of art inspired by cabinets of curiosity.

  • Cincinnati, Ohio

    American Sign Museum

    Where beautiful signs live on forever.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.