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A visit to Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is an entertaining way to spend time with the kids, and it’s a terrific place to take family and friends visiting from out of town. There are things here you’ve probably never seen before and some you won’t believe.
The World is filled with some strange and interesting things, but most of us don’t usually experience them in our daily lives. Ripley’s Believe it or Not! has been curating a collection of unusual things for years and they’re on display here for you and your kids to see and marvel at.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not! can be a fun thing to do with your kids here in Los Angeles, but there are some important things to know before you go. While many of the things on display here in the Hollywood location are amazing things people have made or done, there are some things that are very strange and even a little bit weird. In fact, some things may even be disturbing to some people, so it’s better to know in advance.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium
6780 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028
Guide to Ripley’s Believe it or Not! in Hollywood
Right up front we have to let you know that there are some things inside the Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium in Hollywood that may be disturbing to young kids, or possibly even to you. We’ll let you know what they are and then you can decide whether you want to go and simply skip past those parts, or whether you may want to wait until your kids are older.
As a parent, you know best what kind of experiences you want your kids to have and what they can handle.
Strange Things on Display
Some of the really weird stuff involves animals that were born deformed, called the “pranks of nature”. Yes, there are some animals preserved by taxidermy here with two heads or an extra leg. It’s the kind of thing that may have your kids asking questions, so we wanted you to be ready. To be fair, they are not displayed in an especially gruesome way, but some people may be offended to see them.
Similarly, the displays of shrunken heads and the “human oddities” section, showing people covered in tattoos, or with things implanted under their skin, may make you or your kids uncomfortable. Or you may think it’s all very cool – and that’s fine, too. We just want you to know.
The first display you’ll be greeted with when you enter the Odditorium is indeed very strange, but not really gruesome: it’s the World’s Tallest Man, Robert Wadlow, who grew to be 8 feet, 11 inches tall. Touch a button and the mechanical Wadlow stands up to show you just how tall he was in life. It’s quite astounding.
Amazing Things to See at Ripley’s
Lest you think the entire place is filled with things that might make you squirm, we want to quickly say that’s not the case. Most of the items on display are creative and fascinating, made by some amazingly talented people, and we think you and your kids will really like them.
There are dresses made out of post-it notes or candy wrappers, and portraits of celebrities made from all sorts of things. You’ll see sculptures made from matchsticks or toothpicks you can tell took a very long time to make, and there’s an entire room dedicated to Star Wars-themed creations.
There are artifacts from around the world, like carved tribal masks, or fantasy coffins from Ghana decorated like birds or sneakers. And one of the best things about the Odditorium is stepping up and down on the musical staircase and listening to the songs you can create! We bet your kids will love this one!
History of Ripley’s Believe it Or Not!
Robert Ripley started out as a cartoonist and created his first collection of odd facts and feats for the new York Globe newspaper in 1918. He had dreams of traveling the world and set out on his adventures in 1922. He explored the world, collecting artifacts and stories from places most Americans had never even heard of.
It’s hard to imagine now, in the time of the Internet, but 100 years ago this was how information was spread!
Ripley’s first Odditorium was a pop-up at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933, and an estimated 2 Million people came to see it. He wrote five books in his lifetime, and went on to host a radio show and then a TV show about his collections. After his death in 1949, his collection was purchased and over the years is displayed in multiple locations all over the US and internationally.
Plan Your Visit to Ripley’s Believe it or Not in Hollywood
The Odditorium is located in the heart of Hollywood, right on the Walk of Fame, within walking distance of other attractions. We recommend parking at Hollywood and Highland, which is diagonally across the street, and is a good central spot for when you visit Hollywood.
Related: Fun Things to Do on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Ripley’s Regular Hours of Operation
| Mondays – Thursdays | 11am – 10pm |
| Fridays and Saturdays | 10am – 12 midnight |
| Sundays | 10am – 10pm |
Check for special hours during the holidays.
Ticket prices may vary by the season, so be sure to check their website or visit via our affiliate link.
Have Fun at Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium
We hope you’ll take a trip to Hollywood and visit Ripley’s Odditorium. We think you’ll find it’s a fun way to spend time with the family, and to see some really strange things!
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