The One-Of-A-Kind Antique Store In Delaware That You Could Spend Hours Exploring
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published November 13, 2023
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
In 1988’s Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder’s Lydia said in iconic deadpan, “I, myself, am strange and unusual.” If, like Lydia, you’ve always been drawn to what others find bizarre, then you’ll enjoy the most unique antique store in Delaware, the Oddporium. This haven is a paradise for oddballs, and you’ll find it near some of Delaware’s best attractions in big-city Wilmington.
Part museum, part antique store, and all its own, Oddporium has the distinction of being Delaware's only oddity shop, a role it takes seriously. The treasures here are guaranteed to delight and disgust, and no one walks away without appreciating its one-of-a-kind curation of oddball finds.
Some memorable inventory items include an electroshock machine, a preserved cycloptic pig, and a human skeleton from the late 1800s affectionately named "Lizzy."
But however off-putting some objects can be, the goal is to inspire visitor's curiosity and preserve small pieces of history that may not find their place in more traditional museums or antique stores. This earnest mission is close to the hearts of husband-and-wife team Ken and Beth Schuler, who bonded over their shared love of what most would overlook.
Over the years, they amassed a collection of unique finds. When Ken's job closed almost ten years ago, they decided to pursue their dream. With some elbow grease and plenty of determination, the duo converted a family building into Oddporium. They couldn't have predicted its runaway success. Customers found community in this refuge for what others might mistake for refuse.
Nowadays, visitors can spend hours perusing the maze of oddities. I recommend scheduling breaks in your browsing to cuddle the shop cat, Grimm, who's a proud mascot of his parent's business.
Beth and Ken understand that everyone doesn't share their tastes. Occasionally, children are frightened by some of Oddporium's treasures. But the couple sees this as a learning moment and are happy to explain how medicine has relied on instruments and preserved samples to advance science and keep people safe.
Like so much of what's strange at first glance, Oddporium reveals itself as an endeavor in empathy and genuine curiosity. Even the most macabre object is an opportunity for reflection on the bygone past, on the many lives that inhabited it, and how we will be remembered ourselves.
