Ripley's Believe It or Not! — Attraction in San Francisco

I'm sure a lot of us have gone to this bizarre but captivating museum at least once or twice in their lifetime. We have visited this museum on at least two occasions and always captivated with all the bizarre stuff people get into or by some calamity, have become celebrated in one way or another.

The museum was crammed with a lot of fascinating articles, exhibits and worth the price of admittances. As always, I relish looking into the historical aspect of a lot of the places we go to in order to better appreciate what the place is all about.

"Robert Ripley" delved into the uncanny stories of people's lives and has been called a liar more often than anyone else but has never failed to establish the truth of every allegation.

His museums have literally opened up all over the world and changed hands so many times that it's impossible to list everything so I just emphasized a few notables in this person's fascinating past.

In 1890, Robert Leroy Ripley was born in Santa Rosa, CA on Christmas Day.

In 1908, he quit school before graduating in order to support his widowed mother.

In 1914, he took his first trip abroad to Belgium and France.

In, 1918, he published "Champs and Chumps" cartoon and is regarded as the first Believe It or Not cartoon!

Since 1922, Ripley visited over 201 countries over the next fifteen years. Ripley was nicknamed "the Modern Marco Polo" by the Duke of Windsor. His travels took him to the four corners of the world.

On one trip alone, he crossed two continents and covered 24,000 miles - 15,000 miles by air, 8,000 miles by ship and more than 1,000 miles by camel, donkey and horse!

In 1927, Ripley stated that Charles Lindbergh was not the first man to cross the Atlantic by plane, drew 170,000 letters! Many of his readers demanded proof of his unbelievable statements.

This cartoon made Ripley so famous that postmen forwarded his mail even without a full address. Envelopes simply addressed, "To Rip" or "To the World's Biggest Liar" were all delivered.

In 1929, his Believe It or Not! Cartoon went from being published in 17 papers to worldwide distribution and his first Believe It or Not! Book was published.

In 1930, he began his 14-year run on radio and his 19-year association with radio show promoter Doug Storer (future president of Ripley's Believe It or Not!).

In 1932, he traveled to the Orient and the first and most successful national Believe It or Not! Contest was held.

In 1933, he opened his first Odditorium in Chicago, Ill. at the World's Fair. His wild and weird collections brought in nearly two million visitors.

In 1934, he purchased a 28- room home on an island in Long Island Sound, off the shore from Mamaroneck, NY and named it BION (Believe It or Not!) Island.

In 1936, he opened Odditorium at The Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas, Texas. In a national poll of newspaper readers Ripley was voted the most popular man in America, President Roosevelt came in second.

In 1937, Charles Schulz's first ever-published drawing, a sketch of a cute little dog that would later become famous as "Snoopy," appeared in the Believe It or Not! Cartoon panel.

In 1948, he created a TV show and celebrated his 30th anniversary of Believe It or Not!

In 1993, the 75th Anniversary of Ripley's Believe It or Not! cartoon was celebrated; "The Life and Times of Robert Ripley."

From 1993-1997, Asian expansion took place with openings of museums in Thailand, Korea, Jakarta and Hong Kong.

In 1996, the Guinness World Records Museum franchise rights were acquired.

In 1997, the first Ripley Aquarium opened in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and by 2007; over 10 million guests visited the aquarium, which is still the state's most attended paid attraction.

In 2001, Ripley's three Moving Theaters were converted to 3-D presentations.

In 2007, Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum made a triumphant return to New York City's Times Square after an absence of 35 years.

There are now 30 Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditoriums in operation around the...

Unveiling the Odditorium

Located at 175 Jefferson Street in the heart of San Francisco’s iconic Fisherman’s Wharf, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is a treasure trove of the bizarre, the mind-bending, and the utterly unexpected. Here’s why you should add this quirky attraction to your must-visit list:

Interactive Exhibits: With over 70 interactive and hands-on exhibits, this Odditorium takes interactivity to a whole new level. From optical illusions to mind-boggling puzzles, you’ll find yourself questioning reality at every turn.

Themed Galleries: Explore 18 themed galleries, each dedicated to a different facet of the extraordinary. Whether it’s shrunken heads, ancient artifacts, or mind-bending illusions, there’s something here to pique everyone’s curiosity. Bay Area Emphasis: Ripley’s has embraced its San Francisco home. You’ll discover exhibits that highlight local oddities, legends, and historical curiosities unique to the Bay Area. It’s like a scavenger hunt through the city’s weirdest secrets.

The 3D Mirror Maze: Brace yourself for the 3D mirror maze, a mind-twisting labyrinth where reflections play tricks on your senses. It’s a fun challenge for all ages, and getting lost in its twists and turns is part of the adventure. Friendly Staff: Visitors rave about the friendly and helpful employees. Whether you’re navigating the maze or deciphering cryptic exhibits, they’re there to guide you through the weird and wonderful.

Conclusion: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco is more than an attraction—it’s an invitation to marvel at the extraordinary, celebrate the weird, and embrace the unexpected. So gather your sense of wonder and step into a world where reality defies belief! 🌎🤯

Remember, the truth is often stranger than fiction, and Ripley’s is here...

To start, I am in a wheelchair. My family and I visited today and when we purchased tickets for the main part, the mirror maze and Lazer maze the employee did not say anything about me not believe able to do the mirror maze (I knew that I could not do the laser). I was actually looking forward to the mirror maze the most because I have never done anything like that before. Well, after fun in the museum, we made it to the mirror maze. My three kids were excited at that point. As we get ready to go in, the employee informed me that I could not bring my wheelchair into the maze. So, my husband and kids went in because it's not fair to them to have to miss out because I am not allowed to because I am disabled. So, after they did the mirrors and lasers we left, my three kids all said that they wish I could have been allowed to do it. Had they given me warning when I got the tickets, I would have given this 4 stars because we could have avoided the disappointment. It would have 5 stars if they made it handicapped accessible like the...