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All the United States Missouri Diamond World's Largest Small Electrical Appliance Museum

World's Largest Small Electrical Appliance Museum

Thousands of small machines line the shelves of this personal collection which definitely delivers on its name.

Diamond, Missouri

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Michael Woodruff
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World’s Largest Small Electric Appliance Museum   michaelwoodruff99
World’s Largest Small Electric Appliance Museum   michaelwoodruff99
World’s Largest Small Electric Appliance Museum   michaelwoodruff99
  Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
  Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
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About

When you visit the World's Largest Small Electric Appliance Museum, you know exactly what you are going to get, thanks to one man's obsessive collection of vintage machines.

Richard Larrison of Diamond, Missouri has a very specific obsession. For years he has been collecting appliances no bigger than would fit on a kitchen counter. After polishing them up, and making them presentable, the appliances get put on one of the glass-covered shelves for display in the small museum attached to a western wear store. All manner of home appliance and domestic contraption can be found on display in the little museum. Kitschy hair dryers, vintage hot dog roasters (including the "Pup In A Poke" machine and the "Hot Dog Electrocuter"), popcorn poppers, razors, and much more. However, by far the most popular item on display are toasters. The museum holds over 700 of them.

The museum is definitely solely focused on small appliances, but that is not all it holds. There is also a sampling of competitive toasting ribbons from festivals where, yes, that is a thing.

Today the quaint little museum holds over 7,000 items from the age of kitchen and home convenience. It is a strange little museum, but well worth a trip for anyone interested in the history of product design or singularly focused obsessions. Who knows if it is truly the world's largest, it is certainly one of the most interesting small appliance museums around.  

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Museums And Collections Machines Collections Museums Roadside Attractions

Know Before You Go

Attached to J.R.'s Western Store. I-44 exit 18A. Drive south on Hwy 59 for two miles. Look for the large yellow boot and windmill on the right. Near the intersection of State Highway 59 and MO-FF/Newton Rd.

Community Contributors

Added By

Michael Woodruff

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson, Osage, Edward Denny

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • Osage
  • Edward Denny

Published

September 23, 2015

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  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/46760
  • http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/travel/2015/06/21/1-southwestern-missouri-stocked-with-odd-stuff.html
World's Largest Small Electrical Appliance Museum
51 Highway 59
Diamond, Missouri, 64840
United States
36.995941, -94.375669
Get Directions

Nearby Places

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Missouri

Missouri

United States

Places 178
Stories 6

Nearby Places

Precious Moments Chapel and Gardens

Carthage, Missouri

miles away

The Ozark Spooklight

Joplin, Missouri

miles away

National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum

Joplin, Missouri

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Missouri

Missouri

United States

Places 178
Stories 6

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