The Thing (roadside attraction) facts for kids
The Thing is a famous roadside attraction in Arizona. It's known for its many signs along Interstate 10 between El Paso, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona. People visit to see "The Thing," which is said to be a mummified mother and child. Many believe this mysterious exhibit was made by a clever artist named Homer Tate for old-fashioned sideshows.
A lawyer named Thomas Binkley Prince bought "The Thing" in the mid-1900s. He then built a whole tourist spot around it. After he passed away in 1969, his wife, Janet, kept the attraction running for many years. Today, Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc. owns the site. Even though it's in a quiet area, "The Thing" has always been popular. It has even been in travel guides and news stories!
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Where is The Thing?
"The Thing" is located right off Interstate 10 at Exit 322. You can find it on a small hill between the towns of Benson and Willcox. It's near a cool area called Texas Canyon. The exact address is 2631 North Johnson Road, Dragoon, Arizona.
What's Inside the Museum?
When you go inside, you'll find many interesting items. There's a "Wooden Fantasy" made from painted driftwood. You can also see old pictures from the 1880s and early 1900s. There are historic saddles, guns, and rifles from the Old West. You might even spot a Conestoga wagon that was used in the movie Oklahoma!.
There's also a vintage American car from the 1930s. A sign next to a 1937 Rolls-Royce suggests it might have belonged to Adolf Hitler. The museum has winding hallways with painted monster footprints on the floor. These footprints lead you to the main attraction: "The Thing."
"The Thing" itself is a mummified figure, likely a female "Mother." She might have been from Chinese or Native American descent and lived in the late 1800s or early 1900s. There's also a mummified "Child" next to her. They are shown in separate displays, each with a small coffin and a clear cover. The true story of "The Thing" remains a mystery!
In 2018, the owners updated the museum. They built a new, modern building to show off most of the items. They also added a fun new alien and dinosaur theme. This is the first thing visitors see when they enter! The cost to get in also went up a bit. It's now $5 per person or $10 for a family.
How The Thing Started
A man named Homer Tate is believed to have created "The Thing." Homer Tate was famous for making fake curiosities for sideshows. He worked from Phoenix, Arizona, and made all sorts of strange items, like pretend shrunken heads.
The roadside attraction was started by a lawyer named Thomas Binkley Prince. He was born in Texas in 1913. Prince went to Arizona State University and became a lawyer. He practiced law in Phoenix, Arizona for a while. Later, he and his wife, Janet, moved to the Mojave Desert. There, they opened their first "The Thing" attraction.
However, a new interstate highway was built, and they had to move. In 1965, the Prince family moved "The Thing" to its current spot in Arizona. Thomas Prince loved the nearby Texas Canyon area. He passed away in 1969 at age 56. Janet ran the attraction for several more years before moving away.
The story of how "The Thing" was found came from an interview with Janet Prince in 1956. She told a writer that a man came by about six years earlier. He had three mummified bodies and was selling them for $50 each. Today, the attraction is run by Bowlins, Inc. This company owns several roadside stops in the Southwest.
Signs and Popularity
"The Thing" is famous for its many billboards along the interstate. A fun, but untrue, story says the billboards stretch all the way from New Orleans to Los Angeles. The owner in 1993, Mike Bowlin, said the signs really start around El Paso in the east. To the west, they are found between Phoenix and Tucson. One website claims there are over 247 billboards spread out over 200 miles!
Because "The Thing" is so popular, it has been in many books. These include New Roadside America and Weird Arizona. It was even featured on a TV special by Jane Pauley on NBC. The attraction is also mentioned in a song called "The Church of Logic Sin and Love" by the band The Men.
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