From the outside, Mini storage units may seem simple, but inside some of them conceal the most unexpected and interesting treasures. Although many people picture these areas loaded with vintage furniture or book boxes, some units feature absolutely strange and amazing objects—and their histories are as unusual. Discover more!

Consider the model train enthusiast who created a tiny world out of a whole storage apartment. This was a whole landscape with handcrafted mountains, painted sceneries, and even a small conductor’s cottage, not simply a basic rail line. Their past went out of hand, hence the entire community discovered a fresh life hidden behind a shut door.

Although some collectors take it to another level, most use storage facilities. There have been seen life-sized movie memorabilia ranging from Star Wars’ Stormtrooper gear to a duplicate DeLorean from Back to the Future, and even Darth Vader helmets laying atop boxes marked “Indiana Jones.” Usually, comic books have their own special place somewhere between.

For stashing ancient equipment—electric organs, dusty amps, stacks of vinyl records—musicians find these areas ideal. Opening a facility like this can be like entering an old dive bar humming with music or a memorable concert.

People may save items for emotional purposes. Every anniversary, one couple maintained a time capsule of their marriage including preserved slices of wedding cake. Though it’s a lovely homage to memories, whether they ever ate them again is unknown.

Then there’s the athletic gear with a twist: picture finding yourself instead of usual sports equipment stumbling on a medieval jousting suit with armor and lances.

Not living ones, but plenty of polished taxidermy, animals are not left out either. To the dismay of movers entering the door, one apartment was crammed with miniature animals sporting cowboy caps and painted bears.

The truly unusual also show up. Someone housed actual beehives in their apartment, moonlit tending to bees, discreetly gathering honey without neighbors knowing.

Here too, vintage arcade and pinball machines find a home; some of them even become late-night gaming hidden venues. Bowling balls abound in entire rooms, each apparently with an own “personality.”

Unexpected forms abound for family heirlooms: Civil War love letters, porcelain dolls with ghostly eyes, and even Victorian prosthetic limbs autographed by the manufacturer.

Mini storage spaces are like contemporary treasure boxes; behind every door could be a strange curiosity, a lost story, or an odd collection just waiting to be unearthed. Therefore, keep in mind that anything from beehives to ghostly antiques could be hidden inside the row of storage units you come across next time.