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Since today is Halloween, I wanted to share a little more about one of our stops on our recent trip to Austin and one of the most unique things to do in Austin, Texas. As you recall, it was a girls’ trip for Abby and me, and my Dad drove up from San Antonio to spend the day with us and show us around. Since he knows Austin pretty well, he planned out several fun stops and in true Austin fashion, they were WEIRD! Today, I want to specifically talk about the Museum of the Weird Austin, Texas because shockingly… we loved this stop!
I do also want to mention that we really loved Austin! We have been to Texas many times but mainly Dallas and San Antonio, where our family lives. But we did so much during our first trip to Ausing and feel like we didn’t scratch the surface. I so plan to create a handful of blog posts showcasing our favorite activities including watching the bats come out from beneath the Congress Street Bridge (check out our reel here) and our Austin Duck Boat ride! So, stay tuned and as always, thank you so much for following along on our adventures. And if you would like to see more, I have an Instagram story highlight from this trip available to watch here.
Museum of the Weird Austin, Texas
The Museum of the Weird is a dime museum located in downtown Austin, Texas, and since its opening in 2005, has found a home on the most “weird Austin” bucket lists. Is it a tourist trap? Maybe. But I would actually say maybe not. Because it’s the tourists going there just to go there, who may not appreciate or enjoy it as much as others will. If you scroll through the TripAdvisor reviews for the Museum of the Weird, it’s pretty easy to figure out why some people enjoy this place and some don’t. One online reviewer said “Unclear on scope of museum, small, nothing of significance” which kind of makes me laugh. Y’all, this is not the Getty Museum. It’s one man’s weird and kitschy collection of oddities both cringeworthy and fascinating and your ticket helps support a local business.
Not only is the Museum of the Weird a collection of memorabilia and oddities, but it is actually a functioning museum. It is here that you will find the world’s only known surviving “prototype” of the original Cottingley Fairies photograph “Frances and the Fairy Ring” which is now on display at The Museum of the Weird in Austin, Texas. The original contact print, which has been kept in a private collection and has never been available for public viewing before, is most likely the very first image developed from the original negative (now lost) back in 1917.
You will also be able to see a slew of other bizarre oddities such as the Creature on Ice, a life-size wax figure, The Fiji Mermaid, and even an original animatronic from Gremlins 2! Stories of ghosts and mummies, and tales of the unexplained line the narrow hallways. So, if you are into macabre and odd things the Museum of the Weird is a must-stop on your next trip to Austin, Texas! Some people even say it’s haunted!
Museum of the Weird Location, Hours, and Admission
Is your curiosity sparked? Here is everything you need to know about planning your visit to the Museum of the Weird
Museum of the Weird Location
The Museum of the Weird is located right on popular Sixth Street in downtown Austin, Texas. You should easily be able to see the signs and look for Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts, their gift shop located on the first floor. You enter through the gift shop doors. For parking, look for metered street parking first, and then there are a number of paid lots nearby.
WEBSITE: Museum of the Weird
ADDRESS: Museum of the Weird 412 East 6th St Austin, TX 78701
Hours
The Museum of the Weird is open daily from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm but does close on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I always recommend checking Facebook before planning a visit anywhere in case of last-minute or emergency closings. You can find the Museum of the Weird on Facebook by clicking here although it doesn’t look like their page is updated often so maybe call them first at (512) 476-5493 just to be safe.
Admission Cost
The general admission cost for the Museum of the Weird is $12. Tickets for kids under 8 years old are $8.
Tickets are available for purchase in the gift shop (which is free to browse) and include access to the museum’s Cabinet of Curiosities featuring mummies, mermaids, fossils, cryptids, freaks of nature, shrunken heads, movie props, and a collection of oddities from around the world, Sfanthor’s Chamber of Horrors ( a movie monster wax museum featuring a huge King Kong), a special exhibit featuring the Creature in Ice and more.
When is the Best Time to Visit the Museum of the Weird?
We visited the Museum of the Weird on a weekday, shortly after they opened, and for the most part, had the place to ourselves. I have heard that it can get pretty busy on the weekends, so my best advice would be to start your day here and do it on a weekday. This will help you avoid crowds and get the most out of your visit.
What is the Museum of the Weird Austin, Texas like?
The Museum of the Weird is kind of like Ripley’s Believe it or Not but in a much smaller, weirder, unpolished way. The uneven floors and unique doorways in this historic building are just as unique as the exhibits and while it’s not for everyone, I think it’s a unique place that is worth a visit.
Upon entering the Museum of the Wierd, you will see numerous small oddities and collectibles. There are quite a few shrunken heads and more oddities in jars than you would probably like to see, but weaved into the exhibits is a plethora of legend and lore to take in. If you like carnival-style attractions, this would probably be right up your alley, but I do want to point out that this is an actual museum and the collection of exhibits is quite impressive. Many of the items on display are original, but there are also a number of reproductions. Abby didn’t know the difference, and was taking photos of pretty much everything!
You can enjoy the museum at your own pace, with pretty much a one-way route through. Since the museum is located in an older building, and across multiple stories (stairs), you will find that the rooms and corridors are quite small. Since we were pretty much the only ones there, this didn’t bother us at all, but as I mentioned before, the weekends get busy so do avoid those if you don’t want to feel cramped or rushed during your visit to the Museum of the Wierd. It is not ideal for anyone with mobility issues.
Some of the exhibits have their own dedicated room, such as their special attraction – the legendary Creature in Ice. This exhibit has all sorts of information on this specific creature (featured on Unsolved Mysteries) and ice-men in general. And while it is fun, it’s also educational in a strange way! Abby has just finished a summer reading project for school in which they learned about Otzi the iceman so it was good timing and the exhibit held her interest well!
While there are quite a lot of Victoriana circus curiosities, there is also a heavy focus on movie props and memorabilia at this museum. Other exhibits include a movie monster wax museum, where you will want to take a picture with King Kong, and quite a lot of scary and spooky movie mementos!
If you want to get a better feel for what to expect at the Museum of the Weird, I would recommend perusing their TripAdvisor page. This is ALWAYS a great way to find out more about a location before visiting. As you can see, some people loved it, some didn’t. I am not sure what exactly people expect from a small 6th street museum of oddities, but for us, it was on par / slightly exceeded our expectations for less than the cost of a glass of wine back at the hotel. As the saying goes, Keep Austin Weird, and this is about as weird as it gets!
Is the Museum of the Weird kid-friendly?
Abby is 13 and I will say that she was really interested in everything. I may go even further and say that teenagers are actually the best age for a place like this! All ages are welcome, however, younger kids can possibly become scared and also may not necessarily appreciate the kitschy oddities as much as the older kids will. As an adult, I found it fascinating and a little bit creepy. But in reality, it was a unique and fun way for three generations to bond as my Dad joined us in the museum and it was fun to listen to the commentary between him and Abby. So, yes, take your tweens and teens to the Museum of the Weird but maybe think twice about your younger kids.
How Long Should Your Plan to Stay at the Museum of the Weird?
You can easily get through everything in 1-2 hours so, as I mentioned before, I would highly recommend starting your day here at 10:00 am, spending 1-2 hours here, and then heading to lunch. Of course, you can make your experience last longer or shorter as needed and there are so many fun and fascinating little tidbits to read that you may easily stretch it to 3 hours if you really wanted to.
Other Weird Things to do in Austin, Texas
Keep Austin Weird is the tried and true slogan of this southern city! True to the saying, there are plenty of weird things to do in Austin. Check out GetYourGuide, for a selection of weird and wacky activities when you plan you travel to Austin, Texas!
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