17 photos of the most bizarre conventions in America

Arthur Drooker

Each year, there are approximately 1.8 million conventions, conferences, and trade shows in the United States. Conventions are a big business and, for many, an even bigger social event.

For photographer Arthur Drooker, these gatherings are "visual treasures."

In his new book, Conventional Wisdom, Drooker gathered over two years worth of photographs from 10 different bizarre conventions — from taxidermy championships, to Bronycon, which celebrates My Little Pony.

"To me, they're unique expressions of community, culture, and connection," he writes in the introduction. 

Ahead, a look into America's strangest conventions. 

When choosing what conventions to attend, Drooker wanted to avoid oversaturated events like ComicCon or Star Trek. He was looking for those like the Association of Lincoln Presenters, the first convention he attended, that have a grassroots following.

At the Lincoln convention in Columbus, Ohio, 150 people dressed as Lincoln. The group's goal is to provide real-looking Lincolns to reenactments, parades, and schools.

Each convention was filled with people that were "passionate and obsessive" about their interests. Drooker told Business Insider that the energy was infectious. The Vent Haven Convention in Cincinnati bills itself as "the oldest and largest annual gathering of ventriloquists." The convention has open mics, appearances by pros, and workshops on how to ventriloquize.