Driving out into the wide-open spaces of the high desert, the beige sand is suddenly interrupted by a bright green box. Tucked away in the desert just 2 hours from Downtown L.A., the World Famous Crochet Museum is one of California’s quirkiest roadside gems.
Artist and collector Shari Elf transformed a tiny fiberglass photo booth into a colorful museum dedicated entirely to crochet art and handmade treasures. And while she doesn’t actually crochet herself, her massive collection has turned this tiny space in Joshua Tree into an iconic stop in the high desert.
The history of this tiny desert museum
The installation traces its roots back to the mid-90s when Shari lived in Los Angeles and began collecting hand-crafted poodles. That highly specific hobby quickly spiraled, and the museum ended up officially opening in 2006. Today, the painted shed is packed floor-to-ceiling with fuzzy creations. You will step inside a room just big enough to stand, surrounded by tightly packed shelves lined with dogs, dolls, smiling faces, and assorted animals.
The attraction sits within the Art Queen lot. It operates on a community-trust basis and is open to the public from 10am to 6pm daily. Stepping inside to look at the display costs absolutely nothing, as the site is completely free.
While entry requires no tickets, you can leave a donation to support the museum. After taking in the floor-to-ceiling artwork, step into the neighboring shop. They sell small mementos of the trip, including commemorative museum pins!
📍@worldfamouscrochetmuseum, 61855 CA-62, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
