How to Tour a Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum

Ripley's Believe It or Not museums are something of an institution in America. Roy Ripley, the Believe It or Not founder, was an artist, explorer and adventurer constantly on the lookout for oddities and eccentricities that he could share with the rest of the world. The Ripley Corporation has carried on Roy Ripley's work in their Believe It or Not museums, aquariums and other attractions across the globe. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Find a location. Ripley's museums and attractions are spread across the United States and the world. U.S. locations include California, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
2. Buy a ticket. The cost to tour a Ripley's museum is generally between ten and twenty dollars for adults and five to ten dollars for children. Be sure to check your local Ripley's or the Ripley's website for exact pricing and hours of admission. Individual Ripley's attractions often host websites; so search for the one nearest you for a detailed list of exhibits.
3. Watch your step. Ripley's museums, often called "Odditoriums" are filled with the strange and surprising. The building facades are unusual some of which are built to look as if they are sinking. Others include castles, buildings half-destroyed by earthquakes, and the Taj Majal. Inside the Odditorium you may find beds in the lobby to accomodate those who faint upon touring the exhibits (a gimmick conceived in Chicago in 1938).
4. Tour with a grain of salt. Some of the oddities inside a Ripley's museum are so odd as to strike doubt into the hearts of viewers. However, some exhibits are authentic. Which ones are which, are left to the viewer's discretion. Sample exhibits include a 19th century vampire killing kit, an iron maiden torture device and one of John Wilkes Booth's derringer guns.
5. Enjoy the experience. Millions of people worldwide have toured a Ripley's museum since the beginnings of the phenomenon in 1918. By touring a Ripley's attraction you join a very long line of gawkers and skeptics.