Butch Anthony’s Drive-Thru Museum is truly one-of-a-kind. As you cruise through an outdoor aisle of shipping containers, you’ll discover Butch’s playful blend of bones, found objects, paintings, and cheeky marquee signs. This roadside gem charms everyone from folk art enthusiasts, road trippers, and those who are lucky enough to stumble upon it.
Location
970 Alabama 169, Seale, AL, 36875
Seale, AL is a tiny town about 15 miles southwest of Columbus, GA, off Highway 431. It’s about 3 hours from Athens, GA, 2 hours from Atlanta, GA, and 1.5 hours from Montgomery, AL. The Museum of Wonder is located 1 mile away at 41 Poorhouse Rd but is open by appointment only.
Hours: 24/7. The Drive-Thru Museum is lit at night.
Cost: $1 suggested donation, as well as any notes visitors would like to leave
Butch Anthony
A lifelong collector of curios, Butch Anthony began making art as a kid out of bones and wire, but didn’t start selling his art until 1994. He developed a signature style he calls “intertwanglelism,” blending his background in zoology and anatomy with humor and a fascination for oddities. His work combines salvaged trash, taxidermy, sculpture, and painting. You can find Butch’s folk art, sculptures, and murals all over the world, with a special concentration around the Southeast. Check out his work at the city nearest you!
The Drive-Thru Museum
In 2014, Butch Anthony opened the World’s First Drive-Thru Museum, an extension of his Museum of Wonder. The Drive-Thru allows visitors to view his rotating collection of art and curiosities anytime they like—just drive on through!
When you arrive, you’ll spot an Airstream trailer to your right and an archway made of red shipping containers. While the exhibits rotate, here are a few of the quirky and unusual pieces I’ve seen on my visits:
Nearby Attractions
The border of Georgia and Alabama is full of neat/interesting places. Here are a few ideas:
- Columbus, GA – People are always sleeping on Columbus but it’s one of my favorite cities in Georgia. Stroll along the Riverwalk, go whitewater rafting, grab a scramble dog at Dinglewood or a seafood platter at Rosehill, dig for treasures at Joey’s, or bike Cooper Creek. The Lunchbox Museum and its connected collections are a nostalgia dream.
- Little Nadine’s Grave – Oakwood Cemetery in Lanett, Alabama. Dollhouse graves were a fleeting trend and to see one today is both haunting and captivating. Nadine Earles’ grave is one of the most well-preserved in the South.
- Montgomery, AL – About an 1.5 hours west of Seale is the state capital. Montgomery is a historically rich and interesting city with tons to see. Here’s my guide.
The Drive-Thru Museum captures so much of what I love about the South. Butch Anthony has given us an experience that is original, colorful, warm-hearted, and strange. Each visit is unique and memorable. Best of all, he’s made art as accessible as it gets – no tickets required, just drive on through!
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