Dime museum

Dime museums were institutions that were popular at the end of the 19th century in the United States. Designed as centers for entertainment and moral education for the working class (lowbrow), the museums were distinctly different from upper-middle class' cultural events (highbrow). In urban centers like New York City, where many immigrants settled, dime museums were popular and cheap entertainment. The social trend reached its peak during the Progressive Era (c. 1890–1920). Although lowbrow entertainment they became birthing grounds for the careers of many notable Vaudeville-era entertainers including Harry Houdini, Lew Fields, Joe Weber & Maggie Cline.

Baltimore

In Baltimore, Maryland, Peale's Museum is credited as one of the first serious museums in the country. This type of attraction was continued in the work of the American Dime Museum operated for eight years before closing permanently and auctioning off its exhibits in late February 2007.

Boston

Kimball's Museum and Austin & Stones Museum in Scollay Square were both well known attractions, the former having a friendly connection to, and sometimes competition with, P. T. Barnum. Barnum and Moses Kimball even shared "Fee Gee Mermaids" on a regular basis.