About Ripley's Museum
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum offers fun for all ages. Experience the thrill of adventure
while you explore more than 800 exhibits at the Original Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in
historic St. Augustine, Florida. You'll laugh one moment and gasp the next! You will be amazed and
wonder why ... is it real or is it a fake? See the unusual, the unorthodox, and the exotic,
collected from the far corners of the world. Join us for a journey from the past to the
present...or is it the future?
 Seeing is
Believing!
In the first half of the 20th Century, Robert Ripley was one of the most famous people in the
world. His Believe it or Not! cartoon featured tales that were too incredible to believe, but he
claimed they were all true.
Ripley's notoriety was so widespread that his fame has carried into the 21st Century, more than
50 years after his death. Ripley's Believe It or Not! continues to be a tremendously popular
newspaper and magazine feature and the spin-off television program, videos and numerous books are
as popular as the 29 Ripley Believe It or Not! Museums around the world.
The St. Augustine Ripley's is located in Castle Warden, an historic Moorish Revival style mansion
built in 1887. Built as a winter home for Millionaire William Warden, Castle Warden later served
as a fashionable hotel owned by Norton Baskin and his wife, Pulitzer prize-winning novelist,
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of The Yearling, Cross Creek and South Moon
Under. Since 1950 the building has been the original permanent location of Ripley's Believe It
or Not! Museum.
While a hotel, Robert Ripley was a frequent visitor to the hotel and had commented on numerous
occasions that Castle Warden would be an ideal location to showcase his collection of unbelievable
curiosities.
Mr. Ripley attempted to purchase the building several times, but was not successful in his
lifetime. After his death in 1949, his heirs managed the purchase of the building and in December
of 1950, the museum opened.
Want to Know More About Robert Ripley?
See our online biography page!
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum is open 365 days a year. For more information, please see
our rates page. |
