It doesn't take long to realize you're in the
National Museum of Crime & Punishment: Take one step past the entrance turnstile, look up and there
they are... Serial killer
Ted Bundy's haunting eyes, staring right back atcha. Creepy, but par for the course at one of DC's most
unique and popular tourist attractions. You won't find the
Hope Diamond here, yet alone the
Spirit of St. Louis; but you
will find some of the coolest memorabilia you never thought existed in the nation's capital (yet alone anywhere else.)
The
fun (and mayhem) starts before you even
purchase your ticket ($21.95, $14.95 for kids.) Walk inside, and you'll see the aforementioned Bundy's 1968 Volkswagen Beetle
parked in the lobby. Make sure you have a chat with your kids before visiting (It's the actual car used in some of Bundy's kidnappings/murders... Yikes.)
Fear not, the rest of the trip isn't nearly as scary; although you get to sit inside prison cells, observe crime scenes, electric chairs, guillotines and even an autopsy table (complete with cadaver, thankfully
not real.) Like I said, no need to keep an eye out for the Hope Diamond: The Crime Museum has its own
brand of rare gems.
For example, you'll
uncover death masks of
John Dillinger and
Martin Luther King, Jr.; and weapons galore, including a replica of a "fake" gun Dillinger carved out of a piece of
washboard.
Al Capone? How about a peak inside his
luxurious cell at the old
Eastern State Penitentiary? Even the original 1934 Ford V8 featured in the 1967 Warner Bros. classic "
Bonnie and Clyde," is on display. There's so much to see and do (28,000 square feet, across three levels) you'd be wise to set aside at least an hour or two, to soak it all in.
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| Bonnie and Clyde Death Car (courtesy of the Crime Museum) |
Children under 5 get in for free; and discounts are available for seniors (60+) as well as active and retired US Law Enforcement & Military personnel (with valid ID.)
Purchase tickets online, ahead of time and save even
more. The Crime Museum (which opened back on May 23, 2008) is open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.
Click here for a full breakdown of museum hours (they vary.) Need further information? Visit the Crime Museum
online, or call (202) 393-1099.
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| 1963 Harley Davidson Police (Pan-Head Engine) Motorcycle |
Did you know? Every 22.2 seconds, there is one violent crime committed in the United States (according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice, 2006.) This includes...
• One aggravated assault, every 36.6 seconds
• One forcible rape, every 5.7 minutes
• One murder, every 30.9 minutes
• One robbery, every 1.2 minutes
Can you say "
Too much information?"
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| Jailhouse Rock |
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| Bunk Beds! |
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| Dental Identification |
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| Exit wound? Check. |
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| Lie Detector Test |
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| Off with Their Heads! |
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| Lineup in Progress |
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| The Cop Shop |
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| Coolest souvenir ever! |
