Los Angeles Curiosities
Holyland Exhibition: The Ark Hunter's Private Collection
Los Angeles, California, United States
By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published
Why it’s cool
This hidden Los Angeles museum showcases thousands of years of Middle Eastern history through the personal collection of a real-life adventurer who spent his life searching for the Ark of the Covenant.
Tucked away in a residential pocket of Los Angeles, a five-room archive holds the spoils of a lifetime spent chasing biblical mysteries. Antonia F.
Futterer, a man whose exploits reportedly inspired the creation of Indiana Jones, established this space to house the treasures he gathered during his 1920s expeditions. While he never secured the Ark of the Covenant, the relics he brought back offer a dense, tactile look at the ancient world.
Why It Stands Out
The sheer density of history in such a small footprint is staggering. Visitors can stand inches away from a sarcophagus that dates back 2,700 years or inspect a mummy casket from six centuries before the common era.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels also houses ancient remains within its mausoleum. The collection spans several nations, including Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, featuring everything from delicate silver jewelry to ancient oil lamps that are five millennia old.
One of the most intricate pieces is a gaming table from Damascus. It is crafted from fourteen different types of fruit wood and decorated with 10,000 individual pearls.
Even the botanical world is represented here through ears of Egyptian corn from a species that no longer exists. The museum serves as a time capsule of Futterer’s personal journey, which began after a recovery from illness sparked a deep devotion to biblical history.
Before You Go
Tours of the exhibition conclude with a traditional hospitality ritual that mirrors the flavors of the regions Futterer explored. Guests are served almond bread known as Mandel, along with apricot fruit leather sourced from Damascus and a refreshing grape drink.
This small, private museum remains exactly where Futterer first arranged it, maintaining an atmosphere of early 20th-century exploration. Another historic site in the city is the Heritage Square Museum.
Because it is a small facility, the experience is intimate and focused on the specific artifacts recovered from Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Cyprus, and Palestine.
Questions worth answering
Who started this collection?
Antonia F. Futterer gathered these items during his travels in the 1920s. He spent his life looking for the Ark of the Covenant and turned his Los Angeles home into a museum for his finds.
What kind of ancient objects are on display?
You will find a casket for a mummy and a sarcophagus from 2,700 years ago. The rooms also hold oil lamps from five millennia back and corn from a species that is now extinct.
Is there anything particularly detailed to look for?
A Damascus gaming table is the most intricate piece in the house. It features 10,000 pearls and uses fourteen different varieties of fruit wood in its construction.
Do we get anything to eat or drink during the visit?
Tours end with a snack of almond bread and fruit leather made from apricots. They also serve a drink made from grapes to match the regions Futterer visited.
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