This was the last tourist attraction in Gatlinburg that we saw, right after getting off the Air Tram on April 8th 2017. I actually enjoyed it and found it interesting, used to watch the show as well when it was running on television.
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| Tibetan Demon Mask |
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| Ancestral Mask New Guinea |
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| Ancestor Shaman's Mask New Guinea |
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| Jacqueline Terry 1948 |
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| Making clean sweep with the world's largest broom |
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| Sushi Lint ArtBelieve It Or Not, Slater Barron of Long Beach, California, creatures portraits, murals and three-dimensional sculptures from colorful laundry lint! |
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| "Owl" RabbitBelieve It Or Not, Gary Hubbard of Virginia had a pet rabbit that could turn its head 180 degrees and eat with its head upside down! |
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| Siamese PigletsComplete with two tails, two tongues, two digestive tracts and eight legs, this piglet was born in February, 1990, on the farm of Janice Jones in Georgia. Injured during delivery, it lived for only a few hours. Believe It Or Not! |
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| Two-Headed Calf |
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Photo Developed From Polluted WaterBelieve It Or Not! Jeremy Lynch, a photographer from Toronto, Canada, developed this photo of Toronto's Harbor Front, using the polluted water of Lake Ontario instead of photographic developing chemicals.
Mr. Lynch has taken similar photos using polluted water of the River Thames, New York City, and Tokyo Harbor. |
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| THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST-1860One of the most bizarre items in the entire Ripley Collection, Believe It Or Not, this memento to a horrible plague of locusts that hit California in 1860 is made from the preserved bodies of dead locusts! |
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| CHINESE COIN SWORD-18TH CENTURYThese swords are used by magicians practicing the art of "Wu" (Exorcism) to drive devils from a person's home. Believe It Or Not? |
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| Tibetan Ram's SkullBelieve It or Not, The Altar Decoration Before You Was Made From The Skull And Horns Of A Tibetan Mountain Goat. |
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| Porcupine FishThis Porcupine Fish, protects itself from predators by swallowing water to inflate its body into a round, hard ball. |
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| Alabaster Indian BuddhaSeated in the lotus position this representation of Buddha, featuring elongated ear lobes, was carved from one sold piece of alabaster. Acquired by Ripley in India in 1936, this exquisite buddha was one of thousands of oriental objects of art that decorated Ripley's 10 room New York studio apartment. |
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The Power of LightningShown here are two pieces of telephone wire, one was hit by a small airplane. The other was twisted by a bolt of lightning in 1981. Both are coiled so tightly that they cannot be undone by hand.
Despite the destructive power of lightning, more people are killed per year by insect bites than by lightning! Believe It or Not! |
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| PRISON GAMBLING MONEYIn order to alleviate boredom, gambling often runs rampant in prisons. Believe It or Not, Sing Sing Prison printed currency-known as "do good" bills-to be used exclusively for betting in card games! |
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Prison ShivsThe word "shiv," a slang expression for a knife, derives from an old French word meaning "blade". Inspections of prison cells never fail to turn up shivs made from any kind of scrap metal prisoners can get their hands on.
The knives displayed here were collected by the warden of Walla Walla Washington's State Prison, and presented to Robert Ripley in the late 1930s. |
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WANTEDBank Robbery & Automobile Bauditry
Age 38, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 160 lbs, brown eyes, dark brown hair, fair complexion
This man wanted with John Dillinger in connection with the hold-up of the Daleville Bank and Robbery of Inn in this city, July 8th, 1933. They escaped driving a dark blue Chevrolet coupe with rumble seat, red wire wheels, this man on parole from Indiana State Prison. Wire collect any information concerning their whereabouts as we hold felony warrant for their arrest.
FRED W. PUCKEYE, Sheriff Muncie, Indiana July 24th 1933 |
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West African Hate GodIn Africa, witch doctors use voodoo paraphernalia, like this "Kondes," to hex their enemies. Every nail driven into this wooden "hate" god represents a prayer of hard luck or even a painful death will fall upon a rival!
Believe It or Not!Obtained by Robert Ripley in the 1930's, this Kondes was first featured in the Ripley's Odditiorim in New York City and in the Believe It or Not cartoon in 1990. |
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| Cotton Ball Funeral Wreath |
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| African Masai Blood Gourd (l)/Spiked Collar (r)Believe It or Not! The Masai people of Kenya, drink bulls blood mixed with milk in the belief it will strengthen and protect them from evil. Shown here is a gourd used by the Masai to store the blood/milk concoction. |
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| Spiked CollarSpiked collars were often put on criminals being transported. The prisoner was only a "little uncomfortable". However, should he struggle, the slightest twist of his head would mean ripping the flesh of his throat. |
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| Bone Crusher (l)/Genuine Medieval Animal Torture Mask (r) |
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| Genuine Medieval Animal Torture MaskIn the middle ages, people who committed minor offenses, were often forced to wear iron masks, called branks. These branks came in many shapes and symbolized the crime of the wearer. |
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Bone CrusherDuring the Spanish Inquisition torture devices were often used to extract confessions from suspected religious heretics. Using implements like this "bone crusher." The "Inquisitor" forced the accused to either confess or risk being maimed for life.
Believe It or Not! |
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| African Shaman's Vessel |
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| Human Bone DaggerBelieve It or Not! This dagger is fashioned from a human leg bone! |
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Tibetan Human Bone Rosary
Displayed here is a rosary made entirely of human bones. Each bone represents a prayer-each prayer is read by a believer. |
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| Tibetan Skull Bead NecklaceObtained by Ripley during his tour of Tibet in 1937, this witch doctor's necklace was worn during ceremonies to exorcise demons from dying persons. |
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| Ancient Egyptian Mummy |
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| Tibetan Prayer Book |
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| Ripley's Chinese Junk "Mon Lei" |
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| Children's Barber Chair-1920s |
Leaving Gatlinburg, TN for home.
