Detour Worth Making: The Icelandic Phallological Museum

In an otherwise unassuming building, in extreme northern Iceland, sits the only museum in the world to contain a collection of phallic specimens belonging to all the mammals found in a single country. That museum, The Icelandic Phallological Museum, dedicated to the science of phallology, contains more than 150 penises and penile parts of a variety of Icelandic creatures — including those from an Icelandic Christmas lad, a Merman, a Changeling, and an Elf. More unusually, the museum’s collection also includes penises from whales, polar bears, reindeer, and mice.

In addition to the biological section of the museum, visitors can view the collection of “artistic oddments and other practical utensils related to the museum’s chosen theme.” Umm…you got me.

Open noon to 6 p.m. from May through September, the museum’s curator, Sigurdur Hjartarson, is passionate about his subject and happy to show you around the place. Just be careful of some of the questions you ask him.