What is the Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata?

Located in East Austin, it is one of the last in-home, family-run museums in the United States. It serves as an homage to dime museums and P.T. Barnum-style sideshows, with a mission to preserve endangered modes of collection and provide a space for the public to share objects and stories.

What kind of exhibits and objects can you see at the museum?

The museum features themed exhibitions dedicated to Celebrities, Naturalia & Artificialia, Urban Phantasmagoria, Snow Globes, and Sleep. Notable objects on display include Marilyn Monroe's last cigarette butt, a strand of Willie Nelson's hair, a lock of Elvis's hair, a double-headed chick, and a spoon bent by the mind of a child.

How can I visit the museum, and how much does it cost?

The museum is open by appointment and offers curator-led tours on Saturdays by RSVP. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person to visit.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata in Austin

What to know

The Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata is a unique cultural treasure located at 1808 Singleton Avenue in East Austin, Texas. Recognized as one of the last remaining in-home, family-run museums in the United States, it offers a fascinating glimpse into endangered modes of collection. Originally founded on November 7, 1921, in Tucson, Arizona, by Mercury Curie and Rasputin Zaplatynska, the museum was later revived. The current curators, husband and wife Scott and Jen Webel, reopened the institution in Tucson in 1999 before permanently relocating it to Austin in 2001. The museum's mission is to preserve endangered modes of collection, provide a venue for the public to share objects and stories, and encourage contemplation of the diverse processes of collecting. It serves as a knowing yet earnest homage to traditional dime museums and the crowd-pleasing sideshows popularized by P.T. Barnum. This eccentric space keeps Austin's signature "weirdness" alive, offering an intimate, thought-provoking alternative to standard institutional galleries. Visitors can explore five distinct themed exhibitions: Celebrities, Naturalia & Artificialia, Urban Phantasmagoria, Snow Globes, and Sleep. Within these categories lies an array of bizarre and unusual items. Natural oddities include a stuffed pygmy kangaroo, a double-headed chick, a replica of a narwhal tooth, and a crocodile that supposedly cries crocodile tears. You will also find mind-bending items like a spoon bent by the mind of a child. The museum is particularly famous for its celebrity-related relics. Among the highly unusual items on display are a lock of Elvis's hair, a single strand of Willie Nelson's hair, a chocolate eyeball from George W. Bush, and the butt of the very last cigarette smoked and rolled by Marilyn Monroe. To experience this whimsical collection, visitors must plan ahead. The museum is open by appointment and offers exclusive curator-led tours on Saturdays by RSVP. Hosted by Scott and Jen, who are known for their warm hospitality, these tours bring the exhibits to life as the couple shares the wonderful stories behind each eccentric artifact.

Visitor tips

Plan ahead and RSVP for a Saturday curator-led tour, or book an appointment in advance.
Prepare a suggested donation of $5 per person to support this family-run museum.
Check the museum's official website before visiting to confirm current hours.

Nearby context

Situated in East Austin, the Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata serves as an ideal starting point for exploring the vibrant and eclectic East Side. This neighborhood is celebrated for retaining its unique, creative character, and this in-home museum perfectly encapsulates that enduring spirit of local "weirdness." After your tour, you can easily wander the surrounding streets to experience the area's diverse cultural landscape.