Those of us old enough to have seen a little of love and life have more than a few hangover stories worth telling. Most can recall at least one seriously epic hangover — that morning after that damn-near killed us. For one Croatian university student, those stories were worth immortalizing at the all-new, one-of-a-kind Museum of Hangovers.
One night in 2019, Rino Dubokovic was out with friends sharing their most memorable (or not) drinking and hangover stories. Evidently, those anecdotes seemed worthy of elevating to museum status. Six months later, the Museum of Hangovers opened its doors with the tagline, “An unforgettable place of forgettable happenings.” On December 1, it debuted in a space adjacent to the same bar where Dubokovic had been drinking in the capital city of Zagreb.
The tiny museum includes an exhibit where visitors can don a pair of “beer googles” while testing their walking and driving reflexes. There’s a section for visitors to share their favorite hangover stories and another that displays curious objects that people discovered around them the morning after a hard night out. The attached gift shop sells kitschy booze-inspired wares like a Drinkopoly board game, branded darts, and more. While the museum might suggest otherwise, Dubokovic is quick to point out that his intention is not to glamorize excessive drinking. “In the future, we want to make people aware of the bad things related to alcohol,” he told CNN.
Worldwide, dozens of quirky niche museums have popped up over the past decade. Sweden debuted the aptly named Disgusting Food Museum last year; Iceland has a museum dedicated to all things phallic; and Osaka pays homage to the world’s most beloved instant noodles at The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum. Croatia, in particular, is no stranger to similar museums. In 2010, the Museum of Broken Relationships opened in Zagreb with the goal of presenting and gathering miscellaneous artifacts from romantic couples who were no more. The idea proved so popular that a satellite location for the museum opened in Los Angeles in 2016.
The Museum of Hangovers opened earlier this month, just in time for New Year’s Eve. The concept is a semi-permanent test to gauge visitor reactions. Dubokovic hopes to expand and make it a larger installation this year.
If you’re too hungover to make it to Zagreb this Wednesday, we have you covered with our complete guide to hangover cures. Of course, your best bet is to steel yourself with an ounce of prevention even before you head out Tuesday night.
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