Medical Oddities and Victorian Era curiosities Across America

As the New Year rushed in, many were up late celebrating and cheering, hoping 2005 would be a fresh, new start. The year in which their problems would fade away, or at least they would have the opportunity to redeem themselves. But at 57 Clinton Street in New York's Lower East Side, the New Year was the end to a wonderful odyssey begun several years earlier by sword-swallower Johnny Fox. The Freakatorium, presenting antique oddities from sideshows and dime museums, was closing. This small hole in the wall, jam-packed with obscure artifacts, had to go due to lack of patrons. At $5 a pop and no time limit so to speak, the Freakatorium was a well-kept secret. Sporting small tags in English and Spanish (for the local population), the real fun was in talking to the Freakatorium's extremely knowledgeable host, for behind every item there was a fantastic tale. And now the Frekatorium is gone, but do not despair quite yet. Johnny does not wish to part with the collection or split it up (an opening Ebay bid on the entire collection was suggested at 3 million). With good luck, Johnny may yet find a new, more traffic heavy venue for his strange experiment in bizarre museum going, or, failing that, perhaps a cross-country tour of his fantastic items is not inconceivable. For those who simply cannot wait and wish to view strange items NOW, here is a list of museums around the United States that cater to this type of thing. Click on the following links to visit each respective website. And by the way, if there are any millionaires out there who wish to help provide funding for Mr. Johnny Fox's new Freakatorium location, do not hesitate to e-mail him.
The Freakatorium (El Museo Loco)
The Mutter Museum
The American Dime Museum
The Barnum Museum
Ripley's Believe It or Not Museums
Coney Island U.S.A.