Austin Sideshow and Curiosities
Museum of the Weird: Austin's Living Tribute to the Dime Museum
Austin, Texas, United States
This rare survivor of the dime-store museum era keeps P.T. Barnum’s spirit alive with a mix of taxidermy gaffs, historical oddities, and live sideshow acts.
Tucked behind the Lucky Lizard storefront on Austin's bustling 6th Street, this curated collection of oddities revives the nearly extinct tradition of the American dime museum. While most of these curiosity shops vanished by the mid-20th century, this Texas outpost keeps the spirit of P.T.
Barnum alive, inviting visitors to distinguish between genuine biological anomalies and clever "humbugs."
Why It Stands Out
Founded by artist Steve Busti, the museum is a rare survivor of a genre that once defined American entertainment. The collection is anchored by classic "gaff" taxidermy, most notably the Feejee mermaid—a grotesque hybrid of monkey and fish parts.
Nearby, display cases hold shrunken heads, a two-headed chicken, and a "hand of glory," which is purportedly the preserved limb of a convicted criminal. The experience deepens with a walk through a wax museum and an encounter with the "Minnesota Iceman," a frozen mystery that has fueled cryptozoological debates for decades.
The visit concludes in a small theater—once a temporary residence for Johnny Depp—where a rotating cast of sideshow performers, such as the Black Scorpion or John T. Rex, demonstrate feats of endurance and physical anomalies.
Before You Go
Admission is $12, providing access to the main galleries, the special exhibits, and the live show. Because the performers rely on the generosity of the audience, it is customary to bring cash for tips.
The museum is located at the back of the Lucky Lizard shop, so look for the retail entrance to find the ticket counter.
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