World of the Unexplained facts for kids
The World of the Unexplained was the name of two special museums that opened in 1972. These museums were created by the famous company Ripley's Believe It or Not!. One museum was located in San Francisco, California, at a popular spot called Fisherman's Wharf. The other museum was in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
When they first opened, the museum in Gatlinburg was called the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. Both museums displayed a collection of items related to old beliefs and folklore.
In 1975, the museums changed their names to the World of the Unexplained. This happened because some people in the local communities felt the original name and focus were not quite right. Ripley's then added many new and exciting exhibits.
To make the museums even more interesting, Ripley's hired Leonard Nimoy. He was famous for narrating the popular TV show "In Search Of". Nimoy filmed a short introduction that visitors watched before exploring the museums.
The World of the Unexplained museums featured many mysterious topics. Visitors could learn about Bigfoot, which is a legendary ape-like creature. There were also exhibits about flying saucers, which are often linked to UFOs. Another popular display covered the Bermuda Triangle, a mysterious area in the ocean where ships and planes have supposedly disappeared. The museums also had exhibits about werewolves and even a fortune teller with a talking crystal ball.
Unfortunately, the museums closed down in 1985. This was because not enough people were buying tickets to visit them.
After the museums closed, Ripley's moved all the interesting exhibits. They were sent to other Ripley's Odditoriums across the United States and Canada. Today, the building in Gatlinburg is no longer operated by Ripley's. However, the building in San Francisco is still a Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium, continuing the tradition of showcasing strange and unusual things.
