Madame Tussauds
WHERE: London, England
Marie Tussaud, born in Strasbourg, France, in 1761, learned the art of wax modeling from Dr. Phillipe Curtius. Her mother worked as a housekeeper for the skilled waxworker, who eventually left Marie his wax collection after he died. In 1765, Madame Tussaud created what we believe to be her first waxwork; Marie-Jeanne du Barry, one of Louis XV's mistresses is the oldest work currently on display at Madame Tussauds. Madame Tussaud passed away in 1850, but her sons took over the family business whose popularity never wanes. Together, they moved the London exhibit to its current location on Marylebone Road, London.
While the wax figures at Madame Tussauds are frighteningly realistic, there are not the sole occupants of the wax museum -- and they certainly are not the scariest. In the museum's Stardome, a planetarium-like theater that offers a dazzling 360-degree show produced by Aardman Animations ("Wallace & Gromit," "Chicken Run"), a menacing spirit lurks after the lights go out. Dressed in 1930s-style clothing, this tall, dark apparition strikes people with cold and startlingly intense fear.
By far the most terrifying area of the wax museum is the Chamber of Horrors. This feature of the museum dates back to the days of Dr. Curtius, and in the late 1800s, people were offered money to spend the night in the dark, ghastly chamber. Many spirits linger in this gory waxen hall, including an older gentleman, believed to have been a highwayman in the 19th century, and a young boy, killed during a World War I blitz. Common paranormal activity, like the sound of falling footsteps and sudden drops in temperature, occur here on a nightly basis.
Of course, when visiting a location to experience paranormal activity, the site's history is just as important as its current status. The building on Marylebone Road currently housing Madame Tussauds is thought to have once been a grain store dating back to medieval times. Perhaps one of the spirits roaming the museum's decorated halls has been trapped there for hundreds of years.
The museum is open from 9:30 to 5:30 daily, with extended hours during peak times. Families can book ahead of time for a group discount, but be forewarned: the Chamber of Horrors and its featured show, Scream, are recommended for children over the age of 12.
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