Hammer Museum
Hammer Museum
4.5
About
What is a hammer? Can a fist be a hammer? Does it have to hit a nail? Stop in and explore our collection of 2,500 hammers and see the many uses of this diverse and long-lived tool. Although we see a lot of visitors from the trades, you don't have to be a hammer enthusiast to enjoy this unique museum. Hammers do more than hit things, they also tell stories about the people who use them. You may enter bewildered but you'll leave with a newfound appreciation for the hammer!
Duration: < 1 hour
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- Usia2014Calgary, Canada1,885 contributions“If I had a hammer, I’d…”Well with the huge honkin’ hammer on this lawn, you can certainly hammer out anything and everything! Find it when walking around Haines. There is a hammer for all hand types and needs. Excellent collection and display. I especially enjoyed the works of art made out of hammers.Visited June 2022Traveled as a coupleWritten May 13, 2023
- VillagerRick1,026 contributionsWell DoneThis is a small museum on the edge of town - what was once a dilapidated house has been nicely repurposed. Kind of a goofy entrance (also the exit) it can get jammed up with folks coming and going. We were fortunate to have a narrated tour of some of the highlights, and were left on our own to explore. While not a huge facility, it is jammed packed with well labeled displays. They also have a small gift shop.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten August 20, 2023
- Ed D3 contributionsVerryyyyyyy Interesting......I had an interest in visiting since my dad worked at Stanley Tools for decades making hammers. I had an open hour on our cruise ship stop and was glad I went. Interesting tool displays and a very engaging hammer SME who knows the collection inside and out. It was a good use of an hour.Visited August 2023Traveled with familyWritten September 25, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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Ed D
3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
I had an interest in visiting since my dad worked at Stanley Tools for decades making hammers. I had an open hour on our cruise ship stop and was glad I went. Interesting tool displays and a very engaging hammer SME who knows the collection inside and out. It was a good use of an hour.
Written September 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maxene923
New York City, NY111 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
I prefer quirky museums, and this was among the quirkiest! The young woman who worked there explained the origins, by a man whose wife made him clear out his tool collection! I like the life-size models of people working with the tools, and the explanations of some of the hammers (particularly the pig hammer!). There is also a display of nails!
Written November 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelNReviewer
San Diego168 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
Sorry about that title, as I'm sure the jokes have all been told before, and I can't read all the reviews to see if I have stolen someone else's lines. Others that came to mind (independently I assure you) are "I got hammered at the Hammer Museum", "Head for the Hammer Museum", "At only $5, you won't get hit too hard for admission", and so on. Anyway, to the review. We heard about this on our cruise ship, and decided to see what over 2,000 hammers look like. The big hammer outside is one of those "have to take a picture" spots and the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable, you just can't fail to have a good time.
As expected, the museum is a converted house, with walls and walls of every type of hammer you could possibly imagine and many you could not have imagined. I think this type of museum falls under the same category as the Museum of Toilets, or the Hair Museum in Independence, Missouri, or the parasite museum in Tokyo, or the giant ball of string somewhere in the American southwest.... The owners, who started collecting a few hammers on a lark, eventually got a bit carried away. Once others began donating to the cause...well you can guess the rest.
It sounds ridiculous, but I think you won't be sorry you saw it. It's only about 3 rooms, but as I said, the staff make the experience, and when was the last time you could pose in front of a wall of hundreds of odd looking hammers? Don't miss the hidden hammers in the stone wall along the sidewalk.
As expected, the museum is a converted house, with walls and walls of every type of hammer you could possibly imagine and many you could not have imagined. I think this type of museum falls under the same category as the Museum of Toilets, or the Hair Museum in Independence, Missouri, or the parasite museum in Tokyo, or the giant ball of string somewhere in the American southwest.... The owners, who started collecting a few hammers on a lark, eventually got a bit carried away. Once others began donating to the cause...well you can guess the rest.
It sounds ridiculous, but I think you won't be sorry you saw it. It's only about 3 rooms, but as I said, the staff make the experience, and when was the last time you could pose in front of a wall of hundreds of odd looking hammers? Don't miss the hidden hammers in the stone wall along the sidewalk.
Written June 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Love the Puns!!! We will have to start using 'Head for The Hammer Museum' That one is great!Thank you for your visit.
Written August 10, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dan Fendel
4 contributions
Aug 2019
This is apparently the largest collection of hammers in the world. As I wandered in the collection, I came across an item by a relative of my late wife. He had invented an improved version of the reflex hammer - the thing that doctors use to hit your knee and test your reflexes. I contacted his daughter, and she hadn't known of this invention of his.
Written November 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LouAnn R
Wauwatosa, WI247 contributions
Sep 2019
While on our Cruise, Haines was a stop. While the girls in our group wandered a few of the shops, the guys went to the Hammer Museum. Honestly, they could not stop talking about it. There are hammers of every size and shape. You can spend as much or as little time as you want to look at hammers. The guys loved it!
Written October 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff H
Kennewick, WA59 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
When you hear of the hammer museum, you think so what? But it is well worth the $5 admission fee. We were lucky since a tour came through while we were there and the guide explained some of the hammers. His favorite was one that was used to light the oil lanterns on old cars that also had an attachment for smoking and another one for drinking. So it was a driving& smoking and drinking tool! Lots of hammers from the Egyptians to the modern era.
Written April 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Family N
14 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
It sounds like a joke when people say “Go to the hammer museum.” This is a quirky place by so interesting. Hammers of all shapes, sizes and so many different and such different functions. Take time to visit. Who knows you might be able to identify the hammers they do not know what they were used for in the past.
Written January 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rgylling
Palatine, IL51 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
As folks who enjoy home projects, this place is a hoot! Who knew there were so many types of hammers for every function. Very thorough and interesting. Well worth the 5$ admission! Quirky and fun!
Written October 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eric G
Florissant, MO368 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
Usually the time of year I travel to Haines, the Hammer Museum was closed. This year, he opened for one night during the Eagle Festival. I made certain to finally visit the museum. Off beat and unique does not begin to describe the place. The 30 foot Hammer off Main Street clearly tells you that you are at the right place. Even the Smithsonian Museum has contributed to this museum. Every sort of hammer you can imagine is represented here, including some novelties. You'll have fun. Usually, a small donation is requested.
Written November 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brittany_11_10
Los Angeles, CA1,745 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
If you love hammers or tools, this is a no-brainer. But, really, how many people LOVE hammers? Clearly the docents of the Hammer Museum do, as evidenced by their massive collection of all types of hammers throughout history. Even if you're not a hammer junkie, as I am not, it's still an interesting place to visit for thirty or forty minutes. There's not a ton of info, but I suppose if you're on a group tour or something you'll get more info. Still fun to see.
Written January 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting The Hammer Museum! We are working on getting more information on the walls so that each individual experience is both fun and educational. Thanks so much for the feedback!
Written August 13, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Satvik Gupta
3 contributions
How long would you spend here?
Jeff K
Pittsburgh, PA2,111 contributions
My wife and I spent 45 minutes to an hour there. It was very interesting. If you're in to hammers you could spend a lot longer there.
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Claim your listingHammer Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Hammer Museum
- Hammer Museum is open:
- Wed - Thu 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Hammer Museum:
- (0.10 mi) The Inn at Haines
- (0.08 mi) Captain's Choice Motel
- (0.10 mi) The Attic, 2 BR downtown apartment, private deck
- (0.08 mi) Oceanside RV Park
- (0.06 mi) The Cottage 2 BR cabin downtown, water view
- Restaurants near Hammer Museum:
- (0.02 mi) The Rusty Compass Coffeehouse
- (0.03 mi) Fogcutter Bar
- (0.09 mi) Chilkat Bakery and Restaurant
- (0.05 mi) The Bamboo Room & Pioneer Bar
- (0.07 mi) Alpenglow Wood Fired Pizza