Where is the museum located and how do you enter?

The museum is located at 412 E. 6th Street in downtown Austin's historic Sixth Street entertainment district. Visitors enter the museum through the doors of the Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts gift shop, which houses the attraction.

How much does it cost to visit?

General admission is $12.99 for adults and $8.99 for children under 8 years of age.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

No, the museum is not 100% wheelchair accessible because the layout includes stairs.

What should I check before going?

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

Museum of the Weird in Austin

Museum of the Weird

Discover Austin's eccentric side at the Museum of the Weird, a classic dime museum housed inside Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts. Explore a bizarre collection of oddities, folklore, and paranormal items on historic Sixth Street.

Open prototype

Official site

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What is the Museum of the Weird and what is its history?

The Museum of the Weird is Austin's take on a traditional "dime museum" in the P.T. Barnum tradition, blending oddities, folklore, and showmanship. It was opened in 2005 by Steve and Veronica Busti, who decided to exhibit some of their store's items because they were too unusual and interesting to sell.

What to know

Established in 2005 by owners Steve and Veronica Busti, the Museum of the Weird is located at 412 E. 6th Street in downtown Austin's historic entertainment district. The museum began as a passion project for Steve Busti, a collector fascinated by sideshow history and the paranormal. When the Bustis realized that some of the oddities in their Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts shop were simply too unusual and interesting to sell, they decided to display them, giving rise to this unique attraction. The Museum of the Weird is a fully functioning museum that proudly describes itself as one of the last traditional dime museums in the United States, keeping alive the 19th-century showmanship popularized by P.T. Barnum. It expertly blends folklore, bizarre physical oddities, and circus-style spectacle. Visitors enter the museum directly through the doors of the Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts gift shop on the first floor, stepping out of the modern Texas capital and into a world of curiosities. Inside, the exhibits showcase a wide array of memorabilia, bizarre artifacts, and paranormal items. Among the most notable displays is the world's only known surviving prototype of the famous Cottingley Fairies photograph, titled Frances and the Fairy Ring. Beyond the physical exhibits, the museum holds a spooky reputation, with some visitors and staff claiming that the historic building is actually haunted. General admission to this eccentric downtown attraction is $12.99 for adults and $8.99 for children under the age of 8. The museum is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., though it closes on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Please note that because the historic structure requires navigating stairs, the museum is not fully wheelchair accessible.

Visitor tips

Enter the museum directly through the doors of the Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts shop on the first floor.
Be prepared to climb stairs during your visit, as the historic building is not fully wheelchair accessible.
Plan your visit around their operating hours of Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Keep in mind the museum is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Nearby context

Located in the heart of downtown Austin's bustling Sixth Street entertainment district, the Museum of the Weird sits amidst a vibrant mix of historic buildings, bars, and eateries. After exploring the museum's bizarre exhibits, you can grab a quirky treat nearby at Voodoo Doughnut or seek out a sophisticated drink at the exclusive bar Here Nor There, both located just steps away.

Quick facts