White River Junction's cabinet-of-curiosity-style Main Street Museum is known for its unusual offerings — taxidermied animals, bizarre toys, frankly unrecognizable "material culture," that sort of thing.

The place also has frequent entertainments such as the upcoming 6th Annual Russian Avant-Garde exhibit with potluck dinner. (Think beet-basil-infused vodka!)

What the MSM is not noted for is HIV testing. That all changes today. From 4 to 7, all comers can get an anonymous, confidential test in the museum's Reading Room. Why? Perhaps because, according to a recent MSM newsletter, a million people in the U.S. have the virus, and one in five is unaware of it.

"Even if you're sure you're negative, get tested. I do!" chirps museum proprietor David Fairbanks Ford. But don't just take his word for it. Apparently Pope Francis has sanctioned it.

"It's now official," vows the newsletter. "The Pope says that you should all get tested at the Main Street Museum."

Who's gonna argue with that?

Image courtesy of the Main Street Museum.