The Hobo Museum in Britt, Iowa.

Believe it or not, there’s a difference between a hobo, a tramp and a bum.  Basically, a hobo travels in order to work (a migrant worker is a type of hobo) and a tramp travels but doesn’t do work.  A bum doesn’t travel around and doesn’t work, either.

The Hobo Museum, in Britt, Iowa has photos, various contraptions used by hobos, railroad memorabilia, etc.  There’s also a hobo cemetery one can visit to pay their, well, respects to various hobos of note.  A visit to the gift shop is a must; one can buy various hobo-made oddities like wood carvings, “monkey fists” (apparently the symbol of all official hobos) and more.

Each year, the town hosts a Hobo Convention where folks come by the thousands to do what it is hobos do.  There’s a parade, flea market, concerts and Mulligan Stew to serve 5,000!