Museums play a valuable role in preserving society’s history, art, and culture. There are museums dedicated to serious subjects like science and technology, and there are some that capture the more entertaining side of life. Quirky and oddly-themed museums offer a glimpse into the more whimsical side of life today. It is these we’d like to introduce to you now.
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Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum
Wax museums fit the profile of quirky. Creating life-like representations of famous figures, both past and present, is wildly entertaining to look upon. The Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum has done a tremendous job of reproducing some of your favorite movie stars, presidents, and mythical creatures. They’ve also captured some of the scariest monsters and villains throughout history and legend.
Located in the center of Laclede’s Landing, the museum covers over 5,000 square feet in five levels of wax creations. You can view the Life of Christ exhibit chronicling the man responsible for Christianity, or you can wander through the Chamber of Horrors and see the gruesome work in animatronic action of torture throughout history.
A Movie Monsters exhibit brings to life your favorite monsters from the big screen in a terrifying fashion. War history enthusiasts will enjoy the World War II exhibit, while those comic book lovers can gaze upon their childhood heroes in the Superhero exhibit. With over 250 life-size figures to see, Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum offers a truly unique museum experience anyone can enjoy.
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The Awakening Sculpture
While not technically a museum, The Awakening Sculpture is a fantastic piece of art and an absolute must-see attraction. It was originally cast in aluminum by artist J. Seward Johnson, Jr. in 1980 for an art exhibition in Washington, D.C. This second casting is a permanent fixture in Chesterfield’s Central Park.
The sculpture is of a giant in distress trying to free himself from the ground. A small portion of his right leg and left hand protrude from the ground while his right arm is fully extended and his left knee and leg are exposed. Yet it’s the agonizing face of the bearded giant that captures the imagination.
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The Lemp Mansion
The Lemp Mansion provides a unique look back at one of St. Louis’ oldest buildings. Once the home of the Lemp family, one of the Beer Barons of St. Louis, it is now an inn and restaurant where you can have dinner and spend the night. Just be warned, the building is considered one of the most haunted buildings in the world.
Ghost hunters flock to the Lemp Mansion to experience other-worldly activity daily. Tours are available throughout the week, and they host a Mystery Dinner event and ghost hunting adventures for those who want an up-close and personal view of paranormal activity at its finest. If you love a good scare, you can book a night in one of the original family bedrooms, though it might be difficult to sleep.
There are some truly unique museums in the St. Louis area. The next time you feel like exploring the weirder side of life you should check out one of these three places.
Image via Pixabay.
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