Ripley’s Believe It or Not! In St. Augustine, FL

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Robert Ripley was the founder of Ripley's Believe It or Not! This icon of Americana specializes in extraordinary artifacts and happenings that are so strange and outlandish that they are difficult to believe. The Believe It or Not feature actually began as a newspaper column. However, as it gained popularity, it morphed into a wide range of media. This included both radio and television, comic books, and a book series, as well as a worldwide network of museums.

Around 100,000 cartoon panels, 30,000 relics, 20,000 photos, and other items make up the Ripley collection. Located in Orlando, Florida, Ripley Entertainment, Inc. is a division of the Jim Pattison Group, a multinational Canadian corporation with more than 80 attractions and an annual attendance of more than 12 million visitors.

History of the Museum in St. Augustine

Located in St. Augustine, FL the Castle Warden is home to the oldest Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum. It was bought soon after Ripley's passing in 1949 and inaugurated in 1950. "The Castle," as it is called, was formerly a hotel that welcomed a number of renowned guests, including Ripley and author/owner Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, before becoming the home of his huge collections from his numerous journeys.

The mansion was initially constructed in the Moorish Revival style in 1887 as a winter residence by the wealthy William Warden. As a result of its success and popularity, associates of Ripley's opened other businesses worldwide, including many in the United States. A mummified cat, a replica of the original Ferris wheel built to scale out of erector sets, life-and-death masks of well-known figures (including Abraham Lincoln), and shamanic artifacts from various cultures are among the attractions here.

Worldwide Attractions

Ripley's Odditorium, known as Ripley's Collection when it opened to the public in 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair, received over two million visitors during the fair. Furthermore, in an apparent promotion, the collection owners offered beds in the Odditorium for people who might faint due to the display. As a result of that exhibition's success, trailer exhibits spread across the nation in the 1930s.

Ripley's collections were displayed at other significant fairs and expositions, including those in San Francisco, Dallas, San Diego, and Cleveland. The well-known Times Square exhibit in New York City debuted on Broadway in 1939. At St. Augustine, Florida, the first permanent Odditorium debuted in 1950, one year after Ripley died. The Castle Warden, erected in 1888 by a friend of Henry Flagler, president of the Florida East Coast Railway, houses the Odditorium.  

There are 28 Ripley's Believe It or Not! odditoriums in operation worldwide as of September 2022. In the vein of Believe It or Not! odditoriums frequently go beyond being mere museums with an abundance of strange and interesting displays. Some have theaters and arcades. Others even use the design of the museum itself as an attraction, such as the Odditorium in Orlando, which is built off-kilter to appear to be sinking.

Things to See

In 14 themed galleries, visitors of all ages will see artifacts, amazing works of art, bizarre animals, pop-culture relics, interactive games, and unbelievable yet unquestionably real tales about people and places. You can visit the only location in St. Augustine where you may see a real shrunken head up close, discover unique people, and do a double take at odd animal behaviors.

In addition, Ripley’s now offers the Space Gallery, where you will take off to the strange universe of space in this magnificent two-story exhibit. This unique experience provides an incredible interactive look into the consequences of space travel on the human body. See Chewbacca's fur from the first Star Wars film and be amazed at the International Space Station and a space shuttle constructed out of hundreds of matchsticks as you journey to a galaxy far, far away!

The newest exhibit, however, is the Jungle Room combining amazing tribal and animal artifacts with engaging activities to create an unforgettable experience. You'll see more than just a scary cat mummy and a lucky turtle that lived with a hippo tusk stuck in its shell. You will also be able to explore an interactive kiosk where you can make your own bizarre pet or try on a virtual tribal mask.

Seeing is Believing

At Ripley’s Believe it or Not! everyone has the chance to become a part of the amazingly odd world discovered by Ripley. At the Ripley’s Museum, you can experience hundreds of unusual artifacts and hands-on, interactive displays. This is truly where the unimaginable becomes real, right before your very eyes.

Office:

St. Augustine, FL

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(904) 347-9058

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