Treasures come in all shapes and sizes here in Nebraska, and this small-town gem is one that you probably never even knew existed. The Plainview Klown Doll Museum is a charming, colorful little attraction in the equally charming town of Plainview. But this isn't just any old Klown Doll Museum - this little building holds the world's largest collection of clown dolls.

The Plainview Klown Doll Museum sits in a modest one-level building, its cheery exterior colors giving just a little glimpse of the fun that awaits inside.

The collection includes more than 2,000 clown dolls along with other bits of clown-related fun and history.

Thinking of clowns as creepy or scary is pretty common, but this collection is honestly very impressive and well laid out.

The museum is supported by the city and the chamber of commerce, and you can always count on the good folks of Plainview coming out to support the museum's fundraisers.

Of course, there's one question that everyone asks: "Why do they spell clown with a 'K'?"

The museum's website gives a truthful, if rather unsatisfying, answer: somebody just spelled it that way once and it stuck. It all goes back to the 1950s when a group of locals came up with the idea of creating and embracing a clown theme for the town. (The '50s sound really wholesome, right?)

The group formed the Plainview Klown Band, which still plays "oom pah music" while its members are dressed in clown costumes.

The band's name was apparently the first time the unique spelling was used, and it's stuck for all these decades.

The origin of the huge clown doll collection is equally anti-climactic but adorable: somebody just kept bringing them.

A former Chamber of Commerce secretary is said to have placed a few clown dolls in the Chamber office. Once people saw the little pile, they kept donating clown dolls until it became a big pile. The museum is still receiving donations from all around the world, so the collection is still growing.

Admission is free, so the Klown Doll Museum is a great budget-friendly family activity.

Although it's fun to play up the "creepy" element associated with clowns, the museum's mission is actually quite heartwarming. It just wants to put a smile on your face, because that's what clowns do.

The Plainview Klown Doll Museum is open seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but you can call to arrange for a tour during the off-season. Visit the museum's website for more history, or visit the Klown Doll Museum on Facebook to keep up with news and events.

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