Another World

Driving along the route, it would be nearly impossible to miss this place. Even traffic on the nearby interstate is sure to spot the huge sign screaming for attention. Once you get nearby, you are already aware that the owner is attempting to attract visitors. For us, it is part of the draw of the Mother Road. All along the way, Route 66 has been known for its unique sights and unusual attractions. In its early days, these were designed to capture attention and get travelers to take a break from the road. These days the same still applies, except that many of the older sites have become abandoned. We were happy to check out Uranus since it was a new stop attempting to capture the spirit of the tourist traps of old.

Strangely Familiar

Stepping out of our car, we found ourselves trying to take it all in. Dinosaur statues competed with selfie spots. If you are desiring a hodge-podge of businesses this is certainly a place to find them. The signage called out a tattoo shop, escape rooms, ax-throwing, and outdoor outfitters to name a few.  On top of that, there is a collection of novelty décor that would appeal to any selfie starved traveler. This place is the perfect place to snap a few one-of-a-kind memories.

Tourist Trap Treasures

Now we weren’t about to let this opportunity pass us by, especially when we were in the company of the World’s Largest Belt Buckle. It hadn’t been that long ago that we had attempted to break some records ourselves, during a visit to Gatlinburg. Of course, we may have fallen short, but here we could stand in close proximity to one.

Sideshow Seduction

Our schedule did not include time for visits to the bulk of the small shops, but we did have enough for the Circus Sideshow Museum. This interesting collection of freaky exhibits hearkened back to the days of the traveling circuses. We are both old enough to remember walking along the midway and hearing the barkers call out to the crowd. Their promises of fantastic creatures and unbelievable oddities enticed us inside for a closer look. In Uranus, we were able to relive these childhood days. Check out this article to see some of the unusual specimens.

Fudge Factory

At the far end of the strip, we found the main store for souvenirs. We knew that it was a must-see since we had heard so much about it. Besides, traveling along Route 66 requires a certain amount of snacks to keep up your strength. The bright colors of the building were definitely designed to attract attention and it worked. While traveler traffic was lower during this pandemic, those that did stop were checking out the store, as well.

Juvenile Jokes On Demand

Up until now, the juvenile jokes had just been assumed. Stepping into the Uranus Fudge factory brought them front and center. Inside, it was reminiscent of many of the Stuckey’s style stops we saw in our younger days. The mixed bag of merchandise ran the gambit from collector’s items to novelty gag gifts. The bright color scheme continued on the inside and the place is packed with eye candy. A large candy counter contained the staff members dishing out the various flavors of fudge. An assortment of t-shirts, car tags, posters, and signs displayed the juvenile jokes that come with the name Uranus. This place certainly takes a light-hearted approach at souvenir sales.

Mixed Bag

While our shopping desires were pretty limited at the Uranus General Store, it was still quite interesting to see all of the artifacts they had scattered around the store. One must really pay attention if you want to see the majority. It seems they have taken the idea of “Where’s Waldo” to heart, as they tuck unique displays in every nook and cranny. With such a wide range of merchandise available, there were a lot of temptations to purchase unnecessary items.

Different Times

Being so close to the Ozarks, we found quite a few items and displays that were throwbacks from our youth. While the majority of the kitschy items were interesting to see, we found ourselves easily able to overcome the temptation to buy. Then there was the assortment of candies. Oh you know that is where our strength wavered. As we walked down row after row of bushel baskets filled with salt-water taffy, we couldn’t help but fill a bag with some assorted flavors. The fresh chocolates on display were far too tempting to pass up, so we grabbed a couple of those, as well.

Route 66 Rest Stop

With our treasures in hand, we made our way back toward our car. We were still smiling from the juvenile jokes that are so commonplace in Uranus, Missouri. One more chance to take in all of the sights that line the landscape, before heading back out onto the Mother Road. This unusual stop may not be decades old, but it certainly captures the spirit of Route 66. People from all over the world travel to the Midwest to experience the fun and frivolity associated with the bygone era of road trips. Maybe this pandemic will help kickstart a new generation of auto-exploration. After all, you never know what you will find when you get off the interstate.

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Carnival Vibes

Since we were needing to stretch our legs, this looked like a good place to do it. The tantalizing banners hinted of unbelievable, and possibly cringe-worthy sights. Entering the Uranus Sideshow Museum, we found that the ceiling is covered in the types of banners that would have been commonplace in the early 1900s. The majority of these types of displays would have been associated with traveling circuses, like Barnum and Bailey. There was a time when there were also permanent displays, which were often referred to as ‘dime museums’.

Animal Acts Abound

Often the exhibits featured animal acts. Showing off trained animals was an inexpensive form of entertainment that would have offered higher profitability for the owner. After all, the costs would have been food, housing, and the trainer. These shows were popular with crowds of gawkers who piled in to see them perform. Freak shows are not an American invention. As early as the 17th century there were ‘monster shows’ traveling across the European continent. Many of these concentrated on human abnormalities like dwarfism.

Local Legend

Some of the attractions that I vaguely remember focused more attention on animal deformities. More than a few of the exhibits were obvious taxidermy experiments where the union of two species was concocted. Here is a modern example of this where they have crafted a mix of monkey and fish. Like the ones of old, it plays off of the intrigue of impossibility. It also includes the mystery of how such a possibility could exist. This scenario is covered by the explanation of a scientific experiment gone wrong. Doesn’t that sound a lot like the majority of the sci-fi flicks from the 1950s?

Twin-Headed Oddities

Another common sighting at these types of attractions has to do with two-headed abnormalities. Whether it was human or animal, these were commonplace at the old carnival shows. I remember seeing two-headed calves and the Uranus Sideshow Museum has a two-headed turtle swimming around a tank. In the early 1800s, there was a famous pair of Siamese twins who toured all through Europe. It was estimated that over 100,000 people came to see them in just a span of seven months. It was obvious that people were intrigued by these types of sights.

Mermaid Mystery

Another popular exhibit to capture the attention of a crowd was the hopes of seeing a true-to-life mermaid. Obviously, this would have been impossible, but it still drew plenty of people into the show. As you can see above, these require the skill of a taxidermist to fashion the mythical creature. They have a variety of versions on display at the museum, and it was interesting to see the skill levels of the different tradespeople. While all were aiming for the same final product, they each put their own unique spin on it.

Uranus Sideshow Museum Live Action

As we were nearing the completion of our visit, a staff member notified us that there was a show preparing to begin. There was only one other couple there at that point, but we all made our way to the stage area. The staff member introduced herself as the ‘tattooed lady’ and showed off some of her body tapestries to the ‘crowd’. Then she proceeded to do a few corny magic tricks, before moving to the main event.

Sparking Scene

Her feature performance is sword-swallowing. We’ve probably all seen it done, whether in person or on television. At the Uranus Sideshow Museum, we found that she adds a little extra zest. There are plenty of people who can perform sword-swallowing, but how many times do you find such an electrifying performance? This was definitely something we didn’t expect and it was met with a round of applause. I would have said a standing ovation, but there were no chairs for us to start from a seated position.

Uranus Sideshow Museum

While many of the displays at the Uranus Sideshow Museum are a bit hokey, they are all G-rated and can be viewed by all ages. Nothing will jump out at you and the views of living creatures are pretty rare. (I can only recall the turtle.) Admission was reasonable at $6.00 per adult and the length of visits depends on how in-depth you study the displays. For those who are looking for an unusual stop along a mid-Missouri road trip, this is one you won’t soon forget.

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