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Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum: A Step Back in Time

Experience history and pop culture in wax at Hot Springs' unique Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum. A family-friendly attraction since 1971.

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The Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum in Hot Springs, Arkansas, offers a unique and somewhat quirky experience with its collection of over 100 wax figures. Housed in the historic Southern Club building, the museum presents a mix of historical figures, celebrities, and fictional characters in various themed settings. It's a nostalgic trip back to the 1970s, with a dash of the macabre and a touch of Hot Springs' gambling history.

A brief summary to Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum

  • Monday 9 am-8 pm
  • Tuesday 9 am-8 pm
  • Wednesday 9 am-8 pm
  • Thursday 9 am-8 pm
  • Friday 9 am-9 pm
  • Saturday 9 am-10 pm
  • Sunday 9 am-8 pm

Local tips

  • Allow at least 1-2 hours to fully explore the museum's exhibits and themed areas.
  • Check out the Gangster Museum of America nearby to learn more about Hot Springs' history as a gambling destination.
  • Be aware that some exhibits, like the 'World of Horrors,' may be too intense for young children.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    The Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum is located in downtown Hot Springs, easily accessible on foot from many hotels and attractions. From the Arlington Hotel, simply cross Central Avenue. From Bathhouse Row, walk two blocks north on Central Avenue.

  • Public Transport

    Intracity Transit (IT) buses serve the downtown Hot Springs area. Check the IT website for routes and schedules to find the nearest stop to 250 Central Avenue. A single ride fare is around $1-$3.

  • Ride Share

    Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are available in Hot Springs. Request a ride to 250 Central Avenue. Fares from other locations in Hot Springs typically range from $10-$15.

  • Driving

    From I-30, take US-70 W into Hot Springs. Navigate to Central Avenue in the downtown area. Parking is available in the downtown area. Priority parking is $2 per hour for the first two hours, with tiered rates up to $8 per hour for four hours. Secondary parking is $1 per hour with no time limit.

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Discover more about Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum

Step into a world of wax and history at the Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum, a long-standing attraction in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Located in the historic Southern Club building at 250 Central Avenue, the museum is directly across from the Arlington Hotel and straddles Hot Springs National Park. This unique museum, established in 1971, is named after Josephine Tussaud, the great-great-granddaughter of Marie Tussaud, founder of the famous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London. However, the Hot Springs museum is not affiliated with the international chain. The museum features over 100 life-size wax figures, crafted by Gems Wax Models of London, depicting a wide range of personalities from presidents and royalty to celebrities and characters from fiction. The figures are made from beeswax and a secret chemical compound, with human hair imported from Italy and optical glass eyes from Germany. The museum is organized into themed areas such as "The World of Religion", "The World of Horrors", and "The Hall of Battles". The building itself has a rich history, originally built in 1893 as the Southern Club, a popular gambling spot. The museum also includes gambling paraphernalia and an exhibit that showcases Hot Springs' past as a gambling destination. A non-functioning escalator at the entrance, known as the "Stairway of Stars", displays figures like Louis Armstrong, Clark Gable, and Pope John Paul II. At the end of the tour, visitors can explore a recreation of the escape tunnel used by gangsters during police raids.

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