I want to clarify that I don't think death should be a taboo topic, including the horrific side of it. it is in our human nature to be curious about death, ways to die, and the human body after death. this video of course only encompasses my opinion that some can take it too far and lose respect for the dead. if you disagree, please keep it respectful in the comments!
I have already asked if you would do a video topic on the band SKYND on your twitter, not sure if you saw the tweet. But I would love to see your point of view on them and their music. They have a youtube channel with all their music and videos and there are interviews of the band as well on youtube that you can find. They base their music entirety on murderers. The lead singer claims that she isn't glamorizing serial killers but her music and the videos seem to show otherwise. She has even said in interview that she relates a lot to Katherine Knight because she did her killing for love even though the woman killed her partner, cut him up, cooked, ate him, and set a table to feed him to his children. I don't think I would call that love specially if you look into Katherine Knight's entire history. In her videos she seems to be acting as if she actually is making the killer commit his crimes and others she is observing them in action as she is amused and photographs them during as well as participates in the crime.The Gary Heidnik uncensored one specially is a good example of all of this, she is seen watching, laughing, smiling, and photographing him murder. I was really disappointed about this one because I love Jonathan Davis and he collabed with her on this song. Don't get me wrong some of their songs do sound aesthetically pleasing, but I struggle with it and I think that is what she is trying to do. To get people to like what they are hearing and seeing, even though she claims otherwise in interviews.
I think you did a great job with this. I am a Holocaust historian and museum professional. It really disturbs me to think of people like this collecting Holocaust artifacts and other dark history objects that should be in real museums, or archives. Working in this field I think I have a unique perspective on this. There are certain types of artifacts we don’t display, human remains in particular are one, though hair is often an exception. We do at times display objects used in mass murder, I have worked at museums that display zyklon-B canisters, bullets, etc. However these are always very much in their historical context. We do not do direct recreations, though there are some exhibits that kind of ground you in the place in sometimes a very unsettling or disturbing way, and there are a lot of different opinions on this. Personally I am not a fan of having people for example walk through cattle cars (as is done at USHMM) or walking over stones from the Warsaw ghetto (Yad Vashem) but I do understand the significance of curating this way. However, in my field there is no glorification, it is about memorialization, not glamorization, there is nothing glamorous about murder. It can be difficult on the day to day having your place of work be a place that holds some very dark artifacts, but it helps to know that you are preserving and honoring that history, rather than exploiting it as the Museum of Death clearly is.
How did he get brain matter from a stabbing? :/ I think they planted that probably fake story to make the place seem more scary and attract more people. Just what I think though.
I would love to visit that, it'd have a "cabinet of curiosities" vibe, but the way she handles the subject of death is honest but kind with a touch of humour.
I've read a few books about the murder. Beth Short was a person, not a character to be exploited. What edge lord wannabe would wear that pin in public?
lmao have y’all seen Spiderman Far from Home? i just thought of how peter gave that girl the black dahlia brooch because it was “her favorite murder” oop-
Estrella it’s a true crime case. i can’t quite remember the details, as i heard the case over a year ago, but it is murder case. i’d recommend looking it up for true crime videos if you’re interested (i’d recommend stephanie harlowe’s video)
I feel like in my opinion, a "Museum of Death" if anything, should be a tribute to the victims kind of showing the injustice, and that they were people and had lives. Not a praise to the killers.
I feel like if it this had been done CORRECTLY it could have been informational. Ya know if, instead of praising killers and exploiting victims, they were to educate people on these cases in a respectful way and a way the honored the victims.
I really like that you dug up old receipts on yourself and admit that you've changed, and with more education that your opinions have, too. It behooves others to have the same attitude on their own platforms.
there's a museum near me called "the anatomy of death" and I really enjoyed it because they don't discuss or exploit any certain victim or perpetrator and I think that's the main problem with the museum of death
As someone who studies a curating collections and heritage Master degree, and who has just written an easy on museum ethics, I can safely say these “collectors” would have a lot to answer to, I’m honestly not too sure how some of their collecting practice is even legal, let alone ethical 😩😩
Hi Zoe! I just finished my Masters in Museum Studies & Digital Curation and work as a curator. I agree with what you said, and their mission statement doesn’t hold up much. How do they operate in the public trust?! Are they non-profit? Have a board of directors or collections policy? To me it’s a loosely defined museum, more like a very public display of a personal collection.
i think that theres a specific difference between normalizing death and exploiting it. things such as 'the order of the good death' movement work to make death less taboo rather than exploiting death for profit/ romanticizing horrid deaths, especially and mainly when the families of the victims are not approving of it. the order of the good death works to show that funerals/grief/mourning doesnt have to be as sad and scary as we make it out to be but this museum and the way you described it made me feel physically sick because it emulates all of that fear and bottles it up to the public with a price tag.
Honestly I wanted to go, but thinking about it.. I don't want to give this people money.. And the black dhalia look alike contest??? Tf is wrong with this people???? 😳
abby sunshine it’s so messed how people glorify and romanticize Elizabeth Short’s (the black dahlia) murder She was a real person who was murdered not a doll or a made up story. It’s so fucked up
You know what someone should make a museum about actual death. It should show what happens when you die and how your body decomposes as while as embalming procedures around world. It could also include the different perspectives people have about death from all around the world. I volunteer
I’ve seen the museum of death from the outside and actually thought that was what it was about! It’s exterior kinda looks like it had a day of the dead theme going on so I thought it was Día de los Muertos.
A museum dedicated to death, how it happens and the process? Cool and educational But having actual artifacts of actual dead things and stuff like that? Kind of iffy to me 😬
what baffled me was how these collectors were able to even collect BRAIN TISSUE from A CRIME SCENE and think that was okay. like, i get it's their job and they have a fascination with stuff like that, but where is the empathy for the person? how did they even have the opportunity to collect it? i'm sure you're not even allowed near a crime scene unless you're a relative of that person. i wanted to go to this museum and check it out but what you showed, specially the dahlia pin definitely left a bad taste in my mouth
Agreed! When I first heard of the Museum of Death I wanted to go because I thought it would be more educational about how these cases were solved and maybe some artifacts but the way that they’ve essentially created little shrines for these killers leaves a really bad taste in my mouth too. I’ll have to keep my eye out for a different type of museum that doesn’t exploit these murders for profit.
it’s terrifying that future people who have a potential intention to kill can pay and idolise all these past killers and just how how explicit this is to members of the general public
just wanted to share my experience and how this museum has impacted me to this day (for anyone interested...sorry its long): I visited the museum in june 2018 and i originally went because i found a little flyer in the hostel i was staying at for a discounted ticket price. I had gone to a medical museum in Philly a few weeks before hand and found that really fascinating, so without a lot of research i headed down the boulevard to go check this place out. They guy at the front desk gave me a little warning chat about what to expect but didn't make it a big deal. I walked through the first 2 rooms, which were pretty intense but managed myself alright until i got to the wall of graphic crime scene photos and the car accident wall...i actually forgot about that until you mentioned it in your video. Basically there was an image on the crime scene wall that haunts me to this day. I study psychology and was writing a reflective paper on my experience with dealing with secondary traumatic stress from the way this particular image had impacted me emotionally. At the time of viewing the image, I was of course shocked but read the little blurb behind it. I moved on to the other rooms and begun to feel a bit of a panic attack coming on from just being in a cramped space with so much horrific content for an extended period of time. I went to the bathroom to re-group and decided I needed to leave immediately because I just felt so upset by what I was seeing. There was a room with a video playing that showed children being killed and harmed and I lost it. I was so utterly disgusted and saddened by how this material was being put on display that I frantically tried to get the fuck out of there. The impact this museum had on me lasted months. I remember on my flight home from LA to Melbourne, AUS, my sleep was disturbed because i couldnt close my eyes without seeing a particular photo from a crime scene. It to this day is one of the most horrific things I have ever seen. I had to get therapy to cope with this as I was just so distraught from this image and what had happened to this person. I wrote about my experience for my paper last week and was triggered so badly that all my emtions came back. I started to remember all the details of the image that I had forgotten as I healed over time and as a result, I had to hide certain pieces of clothing for a few days because the colours of mustard yellow, orange and pink triggered this image for me. I am proudly wearing a mustard coloured shirt today as I write this as with more therapy I have been able to get back to my normal self, but I felt the need to see if anyone else experienced something similar to me. When you mentioned you could still remember details of some of the images you saw, it made me feel a bit less alone with my experience. I don't even remember seeing the gift shop as I ran out of the doors and had a bit of a cry. This place made me feel so depressed and sadden for all the victims that are being exploited for this museum. I bet some people think I am a wimp for feeling this way and that I just am not strong enough to handle it. To those people I say, image it was your family member or even YOU on display so distastefully as all these people come and see how your life ended tragically. Its so disgusting to see that pin as well, holy shit i didn't even know this existed. Sending big hugs to anyone who had a similar experience, go stoke something fluffy and make yourself a cup of tea. We aren't weak for feeling this way about seeing graphic content, I would say it's pretty normal to be disturbed by what was on display there.
I feel like I might be okay with the museum of death if it wasn’t crazy graphic and it was more educational. Like you have a wall dedicated to the killer and list what they did and part of all sales go to the families of victims or people who help solve the crimes, but even then I feel like I would have a funny taste in my mouth.
I’m a close friend of the owners! They’re actually super nice people and super awesome. My family’s known them for years and they’re definitely not sociopaths or anything of the sort. Super generous and kind people.
@@Mina-fl6us I don't think they're sociopaths, but the fascination with the macabre is a sociopathic tendency. It's only evil if one enacts terrible deeds. It's not evil to be enthralled with death. As the name implies, I'm a wee gothic lass, so I don't disparage them for their line of work at all. Sorry if it seemed disrespectful, truly.
Goth Empress it’s okay. They’re fascinated with morbid stuff for certain, but they’re certainly no sociopaths. My father has known them since before the San Diego location was opened and they’ve helped us with medical stuff and just helped us out in general. Really awesome people, I really don’t like the impression that this video’s making of them.
I think it's so great that you commented on your old video. People can change and so can our opinions and its great to hear someone finally talking about it. I also felt really weird about some aspects of the museum when i went there in November. I liked the funeral rooms that showed the process of grieving, but the uncensored photos of innocent victims who died in violent ways with their murders posing with them... big nope... thats when I knew something was VERY wrong. If they used the money to at least help victims' families or support some kind of cause it would be a little different. But the way it's presented it seems glorified stories of the killers, not condemning them.
I think what makes this so upsetting is that there’s definitely a way to make a museum like this /work/, but instead they made it some weird shrine dedicated to these awful, awful people. There’s no reason to have “the actual __ that __ used to__”. If anything I feel it would work so much better and wouldn’t be so weird if it was more of a memorial thing. Having said that, I think it’s kind of. A lot to SELL the experience of seeing all of this gore and awful things.
I feel like an actual Death Museum should be a place to educate people on the history of mourning and mortuary practices, not exploitation of crime and violence. I'd much rather go to a museum like that than this place.
Have you been to any of the Holocaust Museums? They are filled with a lot of death understandably but also a lot of History and memorabilia from the time. I live in Missouri and we have one here, there is also one in Chicago.
Fawks Murphy I’ve been to the one in dc. Very impactful. The hall of shoes left me speechless. Sometimes I believe stuff like this has to be in a museum to really educate us, to not repeat history time and time again. But the museum of death is taking it quite far and is very distasteful I would say. The holocaust museums are definitely different.
I went to one with my marching band when we went to d.c. and after like, the second floor i sped walked through the rest with my head down. I would never be okay in the museum of death if i couldn't get though the holocaust museum
I’m also from Missouri! I’ve been there, and one thing I like to point out is that the extremely gory stuff is hidden (or was when I was there) behind slats that you have to choose to look through.
@@acaseofyou12581 True but the person who leads the guided tour encouraged us to look through those slats when we went. Not sure if they still do but I did like seeing the clothes and patches that were there even if they were symbols of hate they were an interesting part of history. Those slat pictures are etched in my memory.
I believe that people can share a morbid fascination with gruesome crimes. I myself have always been fascinated, I have read books ; and watched countless documentaries just out of sheer fascination in which gruesome deaths result that being a direct result of murder, suicide, traumatic accidents, freak accidents, etc. I have also been in two car accidents so I understand that uneasy feeling of seeing photos! Much less an entire wall! I don’t believe there is anything wrong with that as long as you do not cross the line by disrespecting the person(s) involved. However, I don’t condone the owners behaviors and wicked actions to own and collect memorabilia. I visited the museum and though I did feel heavy because I am a human being with empathy and emotions, I enjoyed the museum and all of the artifacts and photos, in my opinion the museum was in fact educational. I believe it’s important for us to see the reality of things and not just what Hollywood or the news show us through movies and documentaries and 3 minute stories in order for us to thoroughly understand the events. I don’t feel guilty for enjoying the museum and I don’t think anyone should either. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & opinions. I enjoyed your video :)
the fact that they not only took photos of the blood splatter of a crime scene, but also take the brain matter of the victim. that is so sick, on another level. i dont know how to explain it.
I had been wanting to go to this museum for years and when I finally got the chance to go I went alone, I can’t even begin to describe the dread I felt while inside. After I left I was in such a negative headspace and it lasted a few weeks. I thought I’d have a good time learning some facts, but it was more gore filled than anything. All the serial killer, crime scene, and suicide stuff really got to me.
I went to the one in New Orleans and the feeling of “heaviness” and darkness really does follow you around in there. The funeral room and the room of traditions and honestly even the letters in the serial killer room were fine. But as you said, once you see the graphic images, they stick with you. The car crash reel sparked a deep fear and phobia of driving that I still can’t shake to this day. The photos of Sharon Tates crime scene is burned into my brain... I had no idea that all of this would bring about a month long panic attack. I wish I was joking. I wish the direction of this museum was more focused on the stuff they have away from the gore. Like personally- a letter and some art? Okay honestly not going to freak anyone out. Even going into traditions of death and celebration of death ? So fascinating especially in New Orleans! But the gore of it.... the people working there were like “Oh hey we have 911 on speed dial if you pass out, happens all the time.” That shouldn’t be okay. I regret now knowing how those people are and that I gave them money (I purchased a hoodie with just a skull because it was the least gore based one). If anyone is in New Orleans and wants to learn about death traditions, go to the Voodoo museum and go on the cemetery tours- this is a stop you can skip. I promise.
I feel like a “museum of death” could have been really cool! If it was more about how different cultures throughout history viewed death (ie. their afterlives, funerary processes, deities, etc.) then I think that would be waaay less morally wrong and more interesting. (Though I might just think it’s more interesting because I personally like history more than murder idk)
Add me to the number of people who assumed a "museum of death" would be centered around funerary/mortuary practices from other cultures or times. I never really looked in to the specifics of this museum because of the unlikelihood of me ever visiting either location, but.... yikes. It's all the unhealthiness of borderline-fetishizing murderers and death you see on tumblr, but packaged into the "educational" box you associate with typical museums. Like, some of what you showed and described in the video almost comes off like shrines which realllllly rubs me the wrong way.
I think it depends on the way in which the artifacts are shown. I think this museum seems bad because they don’t seem to put value on the people’s lives, but instead look at their death as an opportunity to make money. Whereas, in museums with displays about slavery, the holocaust, and other tragedies, the museum makes you feel upset and disgusted at the unjust loss of life. So I think it has to do with how the museum focuses on the issue and how they choose to value(or not value) the victims of crime.
I visited the museum in January of 2018, and I honestly wish I’d done better research on it, we left feeling so sad and heavy. It’s very obvious once you’re there that the owners or ‘curators’ are just trying to show off their sick hobby, rather than be educational about death and the human psyche. It got to the point where we were running through the exhibits trying to find anything safe and it just never came. 10/10 would not recommend
I appreciate that you’re one of the few folks out there who reminds us that the victims of these crimes were real humans who loved and were loved. I really struggle with the true crime community because of all the fetishizing of murderers that happens. It’s like they forget that what they’re saying and doing is actually hurtful.
I went when I was in NOLA, thinking it'd have taxidermy and talk about how people have celebrated and dealt with death throughout history and in different cultures. I was SO shocked and disgusted with what I found inside. It was so disrespectful to the victims of these crimes, and romanticized and idolized serial killers and mass shooters. The men's bathroom had pictures of topless corpses. It was so unbelievably disrespectful to the victims of those crimes. I'm in a community that celebrates and honors death in a respectful way. The vulture culture community, people that practice taxidermy and similar practices, like cleaning bones and skulls from roadkill. We do it because we have a deep respect of nature and want to honor the animals that have died. I was hoping the museum of death was going to have the same idea. I'm disgusted by the museum of death and the people running it.
As a funeral director/embalmer it was interesting to see all the old tools and funeral stuff. It was fun to explain to my family what each tool was used for. But the rest was pretty messed up, and that’s coming from someone who does this stuff everyday.
Two of my coworkers said they went a while ago. They had to leave once they hit the snuff videos room. Sat in the car for 30 mins listening to EDM trying to decompress. One of them said I might like it because I'm into dark things. Well I did have a fascination with the macabre more snow in high school, I don't know if I could mentally handle it these days. Not without mentally prepping myself for it.
You seem really passionate about people disrespecting or glorifying Elizabeth Short. I share so many of the same opinions about the situation with you. Would you be interested in making a video about the problematic behavior people have towards her case? If not, it's totally okay
when I was 8 months pregnant I went to the one in New Orleans. Personally, I was...iffy about it. It was a little disappointing as they turned me away because I left my ID at the hotel. So, I had to walk from the museum to my hotel about a mile away in the summer heat and then it was a little bit more grotesque than I had anticipated. I honestly thought it was supposed to be more like a learning experience than an exploitative experience. I wanted to hear facts and events that happened in some of the true crime stories I've always been interested in. The NOLA one is mild compared to the one in LA or so I was told by the owner. It's something I'm interested in. Death has always intrigued me. HOWEVER the merch is AWFUL. My husband and I purchased the most mild shirts there. I felt dirty when I left. especially when I witnessed the fetal skeletons as I was pregnant with my son. I agree with you 100%.
I definitely understand how you feel about the images not leaving your mind. I went there recently BECAUSE of its infamy in the true crime community and left with a sinking feeling in my stomach. In the car crash hallway that you referred to, there was also a set of photos from a specific murder that I haven't been able to shake off my brain since.
I agree with you on the fact that it's hard to get traumatic things out of your head. I experienced a loss last year and I still haven't gotten it out of my head.
Went to the museum of the death and I can see how it is more just a shrine, but in my opinion, when I went and read the letters and saw the pictures, it grounded me more than anything because I thought wow what was this person lacking in their heart to where they didn’t think about their behavior and what consequences would happen. Definitely wouldn’t have gone though if I knew about the black dahlia contest, and how EXTREME the owner is and the two set pin. That’s no longer “look at what horrible acts a human person can commit if not given the proper mental up bringing.” It’s more of “how can I exploit their remains to make money.”
i had kind of just assumed the museum of death was about historical and contemporary attitudes towards death and education for the purpose of living with joy and without fear. What you described absolutely disgusts me, how so many people's suffering is used to make money for the owners. I am so surprised that so many people would disrespect the horrific murder of Elizabeth Short. And I spend time learning about true crime and I love museums but this is way too far, for no justifiable reason. I'm glad you made this video.
When I went four years ago, I actually almost passed out because it really was too much for me. I ended up rushing through the last few rooms bc I was so nauseous. I left with a massive headache. I’d have to agree with you, I also should have researched the museum more. The thing is, is that the museum doesn’t let you take pictures inside or they’ll immediately kick you out and don’t refund your money and escort you out of the museum
Totally with you on this. These people are profitting off of human suffering, not just death. It's very disturbing and makes me so sad for the victims of these crimes..
I went to this museum on a holiday to LA because it was so famous and as a true crime fan it felt like i had to, but honestly walking around i just felt like low key dirty? It felt like i shouldn't be there, there were people walking around laughing and having a blast and i honestly couldn't fathom it, it was such a weird experience
I feel so conflicted about things like this. I've always been intrigued by true crime but like you I don't believe in exploitative practices for the sake of the dollar or reaction. You've really given me a lot of food for thought when it comes to ethical curiosity VS tasteless "fangirling."
I'm glad you made a video about this because this museum bothered me. The website states that the owners think that there is not enough education about death. Naturally, I believed that this museum would educate visitors about death. Instead, this museum is just a glorification of serial killers and a lot of the items there are unnecessary. I really disliked their merch, that pin is so disrespectful. I think a museum in which there is information about both the biological and cultural aspect of death would be so much better
Thank you so much for this video. I went to the museum of death about 5 years ago and I’ll never forget how I felt afterwards. Never in my life had I felt so uneasy and uncomfortable I couldn’t even eat for the rest of the day. I, for some reason, went back last year thinking maybe I just overreacted but I had the same feeling and I felt odd because everyone I knew thought it was so cool and interesting but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who felt off about the whole thing. I regret giving the owners my money especially now knowing what garbage people they are. I completely agree that there’s just some things we aren’t meant to see and certain images (like the foot in mouth one, y’all know what I’m talking about) that stick in your brain even 5 years later. Also, my favorite thing about you is how comfortable you are calling yourself out lol reason #1000 why you’re the most honest and amazing youtuber I’ve ever watched.
I was curious about the museum but I will pass. I haven't learned how to drive yet bc im scared of it so that car accident wall, even hearing you talk about it freaks me out.
I went last summer and it's mostly just gorey pictures of crime scenes. The pictures are EVERYWHERE. they also were VERY strict about phones. I went by myself so I texted one of my friends while I was there and one of the staff members told me I had to put my phone away. I was literally just sending a quick text to let my friend know where I was and what I was doing, not taking pictures. I'm almost positive it's because most of the stuff they claim to be "real items from serial killers" aren't actually real items from serial killers. The last room you enter is like a funeral home set up? They had an educational autopsy video from the 90's playing on this giant screen TV. It was clear that the only reason they had this playing on a loop was to shock people. In the same room they had a display dedicated to GG Allin, who was a pretty terrible person. But they practically glorified him...the way they had his outfit, and photos of him displayed made it seem like a tribute and not just a display. It was disturbing but only because they treated the victims like THINGS to be showcased. The way the walls were covered in incredibly graphic crime scene photos served only to shock people not really educate them on the violent acts of injustice that occurred. Part of me wishes I never went because it just felt not right to me, it felt really invasive and like I was a voyeur. I mean sure yeah it was an interesting experience but would I go again? NO.
I went a few years back and made the mistake of looking at the car accident wall. Driving became a great source of anxiety for me after seeing that wall. It was all gore and it is still something I can remember vividly today.
I think it's really brave you came back and addressed your old video. It's obvious you've grown which is nothing less than beautiful to see. I think you are amazing
This video was so well done Sarah! I’ve been watching you for a couple of years - congrats on 400k+ subs!!! Your vids lately have been fantastic & I just wanted to tell you that! I’m glad someone is out there calling out horrible places like this museum and other sickos who get obsessed with tragic events and murderers. Any praise of murder & killers is a disrespect to the victims and their families so thank you for this video.
I dragged my mom with me to the museum when I was like 15 because I have always had a fascination with death and how we deal with it. Neither of us were expecting it to be what it was. At the time my mom was more horrified than I was, I did enjoy seeing some of the rooms, mainly the old mortuary stuff. However some of those pictures really stick with you, I remember leaving pretty on edge. I don't personally regret going though because it made me seek out less exploitative death education and find healthier ways to learn about respecting and honoring death! Still wish it was marketed and even titled differently though...
I wouldn’t mind a museum about morticians or funeral practices, nor would I be against a true crime museum about famous serial killers. However, I feel like profiting off of victims of serial killers and glorifying people who have committed horrific acts is just sickening. I really wanted to visit too :(
I went there last summer. One of the staff-members stood by the wall with all the murders and was laughing about the way the bodies were positioned in the crime scene with another visitor. I was genuily scared there and had the feeling i was walking around in a museum with possible offenders.
i’m from/live in new orleans, and i had been under the impression that the museum of death was a true crime museum (it was advertised as such). i really wanted to go because of my interest in true crime and all of the psychology that goes into it. i haven’t taken the time to, and now i definitely won’t. sick people who are trying to profit from exploitation. museums should be about education & should pay respect to those whom are discussed. i’m glad i saw this video before giving my money to that organization!
THANK YOU! I found it to be incredibly disrespectful. I went with a group with 4 of my girlfriends. Afterwards we were all visibly shook and sad we gave them our money. It felt like a hall of fame for serial killers. Truly disappointing.
We had a Crime & Punishment Museum here in DC and it was amazing. Some of the most famous Serial Killers personal items were on exhibits there including the Bonnie & Clyde death Car.
Teresa girl please. I was stating my experience with a Museum that was semi similar but done in a more tasteful way. It was no where near as horrific as the one she went to.
@@articewashington3186 Okay, well I'm relieved that's the case. Your original comment just sort of sounded that way, I wasn't sure, which is why I said "sound like". But I'm glad I was mistaken.
I’m interested in true crime and the psychology of it all, but the experience was sickening. I left feeling so woozy and I’m never like super sensitive about things like hearing about that, but it was just so overwhelming. My heart goes out to all the victims and their loved ones.
I just typed “Black Dahlia” into UA-cam, and at the top there were several “suggested products” that were disgusting and so devastating to see. I feel sad now.
Your videos always encourage me to be open to criticism, when it's constructive especially, and I can't thank you enough for helping me and my ego. I'm glad you made this video, it cleared up a lot of things for me. Have a wonderful day!
Personally, I find the stuff in the museum itself pretty interesting since I’m into true crime and things of that nature. I’m not sensitive to the gore either, but I definitely am with you on the merchandise aspect. I think it’s sick to sell merchandise parading these serial killers around as if they didn’t take the lives of innocent people. It’s also downright disrespectful of them to even consider making merch off of Elizabeth Short.
omg I went to this in LA last july, I was randomly walking around with family, I think it’s hollywood but yeah we seen it and decided to go in which none of us never been. it’s really really gruesome to be honest with photos of stuff that shouldn’t be for the public imo, and as a victim, or as a family/friend of the victim I would not want these pictures displayed for someone’s “amusement” be aware
I visited the museum in 2015 and death never really disturbed me much. I don't know the whole thing was uncomfortable, like it was made for people who are weirdly obsessed with murderers. There was a couple who would try make out in a couple of rooms before they got kicked out. Whole place wasn't right
I went to it about a year and a half ago when I was visiting LA and really regret it. It was disturbing on so many levels. I found myself going quickly through some areas because it was so gruesome. I'm not super squeamish usually, but it made me sick to my stomach and felt heavy for the rest of the day. It's not a place for empathetic individuals.
I recommend the Crime Museum I believe it was called in Tennessee, it has different rooms for different sorts of crimes and educational areas on how they test for DNA, etc. They did, however, have merch for Ted Bundy I think it was in their gift shop but other than that I remember their gift shop to have good options. I personally bought a book there called " Member of The Family, My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside The Cult, and The Darkness That Ended The Sixties".
I don’t know if the one in LA has this but the one in New Orleans has a section of it that’s called the theater of death which is just a couple rows of church pews in a back room where a projected video of SO MANY crimes scenes, dead bodies (some more graphic than others) , and even a video of a firing squad. I did not stay to see the whole video so I’m not sure what other things are included in it but based off the few minutes I was back there for that’s what I saw. I mean obviously that’s a portion of the museum that’s label “enter at your own risk” but this back room is also where the restroom is so basically if at any point you need to use the restroom you have to enter this room and unfortunately even if you don’t want to see these images you probably will catch a glimpse or two of the video while walking in/out of the room.
I've been to the museum multiple times, and I see no issue with it. It's quite informative and fascinating to read about/view. The external events and some items for purchase, however, such as the Elizabeth Short contest, or the serial killer merchandise, strikes me as problematic. I still adore the place, but I think it needs some fine tuning...or new management >.>
I think the owners are the bigger issue in my opinion. Just the way they’ve collected stuff and the things they’ve said. Made me feel for lack of a better word , icky.
I always thought of going. That's an awful place to experience. I was always interested in the psych side of what goes on for this acts to happen but that's taking it too far. Hope you don't get hate or problems for this vid🌼
I went to the LA one a year ago with a friend, not knowing anything about it but thought the outside looked interesting. I felt so anxious and sick for hours after we left. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Disappointed to hear about the owners as well.
I remember you vlogging about going to the museum and looking it up bc I had never heard about it and feeling so uncomfortable that that was a thing bc death is my biggest fear. I can’t imagine going to look at literal crime scenes and being surrounded by it. However I DO love murder podcasts and listen to them all the time, but actually seeing things like that makes me so uncomfortable. I could never go there and not have a panic attack.
I've been twice and was very fascinated by the autopsy room and the taxidermy room cause I genuinely thought it was informative and interesting, but now as I look back at it from this new perspective I can definitely see how the other categories were definitely exploitative. And I had no clue those heaven's gate bunkbeds were the real ones from the site!!
Girl you have me shook! I went there just last year and everything was NOT like I imagined a true crime museum to look like. When you said shrine, you hit it on the head! And now all this shit about the owners.... fucking yikes dude. The part of that place that fucked me up the most was that little hallway with REAL POLAROIDS of a woman and her boyfriend naked, after having mutilated her EX. I will never unsee those images, and the fact that it had the woman's "out" date (from prison) on a little postcard... BLEH dude I literally can not get those pictures out of my mind.
A couple years ago, I interviewed with an art director at a true crime show in LA, I didn't get the job and I'm so glad. The more I learn about true crime, the more exploitative these films and exhibits are getting, the more grossed out I am about even applying for the job.
My city has a funeral museum, which is run by the city, not private people, which means it's a lot more educational and not exploitative like the museum of death. It's basically just a history museum about funeral practises throughout the centuries
I met the owners in the 90s . They seem quirky but really their collection was rather educational! People like them with their collections are a good public display of death and process of decay! You could go to med school or just walk through a collection. Tks for your review! Even my text books are difficult to digest on same subject!
I will say you probably bought the postcard because it was only a dollar. I do it everywhere I go. I always lose them and never find them again, yet I always buy them because they're only a dollar!
This video was made & structured very well it was interesting, especially since the museum was something I was interested in but never wanted to go there or look it up out of fear what I might see I also think it's really good how you adressed your previous standpoint on the postcard and museum
I want to clarify that I don't think death should be a taboo topic, including the horrific side of it. it is in our human nature to be curious about death, ways to die, and the human body after death. this video of course only encompasses my opinion that some can take it too far and lose respect for the dead. if you disagree, please keep it respectful in the comments!
Sarah Hawkinson thank you for doing this!!!
I have already asked if you would do a video topic on the band SKYND on your twitter, not sure if you saw the tweet. But I would love to see your point of view on them and their music. They have a youtube channel with all their music and videos and there are interviews of the band as well on youtube that you can find. They base their music entirety on murderers. The lead singer claims that she isn't glamorizing serial killers but her music and the videos seem to show otherwise. She has even said in interview that she relates a lot to Katherine Knight because she did her killing for love even though the woman killed her partner, cut him up, cooked, ate him, and set a table to feed him to his children. I don't think I would call that love specially if you look into Katherine Knight's entire history. In her videos she seems to be acting as if she actually is making the killer commit his crimes and others she is observing them in action as she is amused and photographs them during as well as participates in the crime.The Gary Heidnik uncensored one specially is a good example of all of this, she is seen watching, laughing, smiling, and photographing him murder. I was really disappointed about this one because I love Jonathan Davis and he collabed with her on this song. Don't get me wrong some of their songs do sound aesthetically pleasing, but I struggle with it and I think that is what she is trying to do. To get people to like what they are hearing and seeing, even though she claims otherwise in interviews.
Sarah Hawkinson just wondering, do they have Dahmer’s polaroids?
I think you did a great job with this. I am a Holocaust historian and museum professional. It really disturbs me to think of people like this collecting Holocaust artifacts and other dark history objects that should be in real museums, or archives. Working in this field I think I have a unique perspective on this. There are certain types of artifacts we don’t display, human remains in particular are one, though hair is often an exception. We do at times display objects used in mass murder, I have worked at museums that display zyklon-B canisters, bullets, etc. However these are always very much in their historical context. We do not do direct recreations, though there are some exhibits that kind of ground you in the place in sometimes a very unsettling or disturbing way, and there are a lot of different opinions on this. Personally I am not a fan of having people for example walk through cattle cars (as is done at USHMM) or walking over stones from the Warsaw ghetto (Yad Vashem) but I do understand the significance of curating this way. However, in my field there is no glorification, it is about memorialization, not glamorization, there is nothing glamorous about murder. It can be difficult on the day to day having your place of work be a place that holds some very dark artifacts, but it helps to know that you are preserving and honoring that history, rather than exploiting it as the Museum of Death clearly is.
How did he get brain matter from a stabbing? :/ I think they planted that probably fake story to make the place seem more scary and attract more people. Just what I think though.
Caitlin from Ask a Mortician would be able to create a great museum of death (that’s actually helpful, informative, and not exploitative)
omg I would support this, I love her videos on death it’s really helped with my fear!
This is exactly what I was thinking!!
I would love to visit that, it'd have a "cabinet of curiosities" vibe, but the way she handles the subject of death is honest but kind with a touch of humour.
tiffanyferg I LITERALLY LOVE HER!! She’s part of the reason I’m majoring in funeral directing science!!
Agreed!
the black dahlia pin is honestly heartbreaking :( how could anyone think that’s ok?
I've read a few books about the murder. Beth Short was a person, not a character to be exploited. What edge lord wannabe would wear that pin in public?
My jaw DROPPED when I saw the pin. I can’t believe anyone could buy that.
lmao have y’all seen Spiderman Far from Home? i just thought of how peter gave that girl the black dahlia brooch because it was “her favorite murder” oop-
Estrella
it’s a true crime case. i can’t quite remember the details, as i heard the case over a year ago, but it is murder case. i’d recommend looking it up for true crime videos if you’re interested
(i’d recommend stephanie harlowe’s video)
Estrella it’s a pretty sad and graphic case , if you are gonna look it up make sure you are prepared because there are pictures of the crime scene.
I feel like in my opinion, a "Museum of Death" if anything, should be a tribute to the victims kind of showing the injustice, and that they were people and had lives. Not a praise to the killers.
Autumn Knifong exactly!
Right?!
I feel like if it this had been done CORRECTLY it could have been informational. Ya know if, instead of praising killers and exploiting victims, they were to educate people on these cases in a respectful way and a way the honored the victims.
absolutely
I really like that you dug up old receipts on yourself and admit that you've changed, and with more education that your opinions have, too. It behooves others to have the same attitude on their own platforms.
there's a museum near me called "the anatomy of death" and I really enjoyed it because they don't discuss or exploit any certain victim or perpetrator and I think that's the main problem with the museum of death
Where is this based? Sounds great, I've never heard of it.
As someone who studies a curating collections and heritage Master degree, and who has just written an easy on museum ethics, I can safely say these “collectors” would have a lot to answer to,
I’m honestly not too sure how some of their collecting practice is even legal, let alone ethical 😩😩
I'd be interested in reading your essay
Wow! Your that seems so interesting, care to share more about your masters degree? 😯
@@Tweegrrl Me too - that sounds fascinating! @Zoe - would you be open to sharing it? Totally understand if not!
Id love to read that essay if you want to share!
Hi Zoe! I just finished my Masters in Museum Studies & Digital Curation and work as a curator. I agree with what you said, and their mission statement doesn’t hold up much. How do they operate in the public trust?! Are they non-profit? Have a board of directors or collections policy? To me it’s a loosely defined museum, more like a very public display of a personal collection.
i think that theres a specific difference between normalizing death and exploiting it. things such as 'the order of the good death' movement work to make death less taboo rather than exploiting death for profit/ romanticizing horrid deaths, especially and mainly when the families of the victims are not approving of it. the order of the good death works to show that funerals/grief/mourning doesnt have to be as sad and scary as we make it out to be but this museum and the way you described it made me feel physically sick because it emulates all of that fear and bottles it up to the public with a price tag.
i feel so bad for elizabeth short. her murder is so romanticized it’s disgusting
Honestly I wanted to go, but thinking about it.. I don't want to give this people money.. And the black dhalia look alike contest??? Tf is wrong with this people???? 😳
abby sunshine it’s so messed how people glorify and romanticize Elizabeth Short’s (the black dahlia) murder She was a real person who was murdered not a doll or a made up story. It’s so fucked up
@@espresshoe9253 literally! Hearing about this makes me feel sick. How could they profit off this? It's horrible.
You know what someone should make a museum about actual death. It should show what happens when you die and how your body decomposes as while as embalming procedures around world. It could also include the different perspectives people have about death from all around the world. I volunteer
B the human that’s what i thought it was tbh!
That’s what I thought it would be about. I’d be really excited to see that kind of museum, it sounds really interesting
But ya know,let’s just romanticize serial killers instead 😁
I’ve seen the museum of death from the outside and actually thought that was what it was about! It’s exterior kinda looks like it had a day of the dead theme going on so I thought it was Día de los Muertos.
i CANNOT believe that pin set. like WTFFF?????
We did ACTUALLY need both cats in the video
Yes
A museum dedicated to death, how it happens and the process? Cool and educational
But having actual artifacts of actual dead things and stuff like that? Kind of iffy to me 😬
It’s one thing to have artifacts. It’s the way they present them, and the items they sell. It’s a shame because it could be a great museum
what baffled me was how these collectors were able to even collect BRAIN TISSUE from A CRIME SCENE and think that was okay. like, i get it's their job and they have a fascination with stuff like that, but where is the empathy for the person? how did they even have the opportunity to collect it? i'm sure you're not even allowed near a crime scene unless you're a relative of that person. i wanted to go to this museum and check it out but what you showed, specially the dahlia pin definitely left a bad taste in my mouth
Agreed! When I first heard of the Museum of Death I wanted to go because I thought it would be more educational about how these cases were solved and maybe some artifacts but the way that they’ve essentially created little shrines for these killers leaves a really bad taste in my mouth too. I’ll have to keep my eye out for a different type of museum that doesn’t exploit these murders for profit.
it’s terrifying that future people who have a potential intention to kill can pay and idolise all these past killers and just how how explicit this is to members of the general public
I don't know logically how they don't have "break rooms" where you can calm down, have a mental break.
At the one on NOLA, you can (or at least were able to as of Oct 2018) leave the exhibits and re-enter at your pace and choosing.
they should in the one in LA...tbh
They are making a complete joke of these tragedies. This is really disturbing.
just wanted to share my experience and how this museum has impacted me to this day (for anyone interested...sorry its long):
I visited the museum in june 2018 and i originally went because i found a little flyer in the hostel i was staying at for a discounted ticket price. I had gone to a medical museum in Philly a few weeks before hand and found that really fascinating, so without a lot of research i headed down the boulevard to go check this place out. They guy at the front desk gave me a little warning chat about what to expect but didn't make it a big deal. I walked through the first 2 rooms, which were pretty intense but managed myself alright until i got to the wall of graphic crime scene photos and the car accident wall...i actually forgot about that until you mentioned it in your video.
Basically there was an image on the crime scene wall that haunts me to this day. I study psychology and was writing a reflective paper on my experience with dealing with secondary traumatic stress from the way this particular image had impacted me emotionally. At the time of viewing the image, I was of course shocked but read the little blurb behind it. I moved on to the other rooms and begun to feel a bit of a panic attack coming on from just being in a cramped space with so much horrific content for an extended period of time. I went to the bathroom to re-group and decided I needed to leave immediately because I just felt so upset by what I was seeing. There was a room with a video playing that showed children being killed and harmed and I lost it. I was so utterly disgusted and saddened by how this material was being put on display that I frantically tried to get the fuck out of there.
The impact this museum had on me lasted months. I remember on my flight home from LA to Melbourne, AUS, my sleep was disturbed because i couldnt close my eyes without seeing a particular photo from a crime scene. It to this day is one of the most horrific things I have ever seen. I had to get therapy to cope with this as I was just so distraught from this image and what had happened to this person.
I wrote about my experience for my paper last week and was triggered so badly that all my emtions came back. I started to remember all the details of the image that I had forgotten as I healed over time and as a result, I had to hide certain pieces of clothing for a few days because the colours of mustard yellow, orange and pink triggered this image for me. I am proudly wearing a mustard coloured shirt today as I write this as with more therapy I have been able to get back to my normal self, but I felt the need to see if anyone else experienced something similar to me. When you mentioned you could still remember details of some of the images you saw, it made me feel a bit less alone with my experience.
I don't even remember seeing the gift shop as I ran out of the doors and had a bit of a cry. This place made me feel so depressed and sadden for all the victims that are being exploited for this museum. I bet some people think I am a wimp for feeling this way and that I just am not strong enough to handle it. To those people I say, image it was your family member or even YOU on display so distastefully as all these people come and see how your life ended tragically. Its so disgusting to see that pin as well, holy shit i didn't even know this existed. Sending big hugs to anyone who had a similar experience, go stoke something fluffy and make yourself a cup of tea. We aren't weak for feeling this way about seeing graphic content, I would say it's pretty normal to be disturbed by what was on display there.
I hope you're doing okay 💚
I feel like I might be okay with the museum of death if it wasn’t crazy graphic and it was more educational. Like you have a wall dedicated to the killer and list what they did and part of all sales go to the families of victims or people who help solve the crimes, but even then I feel like I would have a funny taste in my mouth.
I think that the Museum of Death is a fairly healthy way for the owners to release their sociopathic tendencies without harming anyone. lbs
Goth Empress does that say IBS like... irritable bowel syndrome?
@@realitymuzic357 haha no it says LBS like laughing but serious
I’m a close friend of the owners! They’re actually super nice people and super awesome. My family’s known them for years and they’re definitely not sociopaths or anything of the sort. Super generous and kind people.
@@Mina-fl6us I don't think they're sociopaths, but the fascination with the macabre is a sociopathic tendency. It's only evil if one enacts terrible deeds. It's not evil to be enthralled with death. As the name implies, I'm a wee gothic lass, so I don't disparage them for their line of work at all. Sorry if it seemed disrespectful, truly.
Goth Empress it’s okay. They’re fascinated with morbid stuff for certain, but they’re certainly no sociopaths. My father has known them since before the San Diego location was opened and they’ve helped us with medical stuff and just helped us out in general. Really awesome people, I really don’t like the impression that this video’s making of them.
I think it's so great that you commented on your old video.
People can change and so can our opinions and its great to hear someone finally talking about it.
I also felt really weird about some aspects of the museum when i went there in November.
I liked the funeral rooms that showed the process of grieving, but the uncensored photos of innocent victims who died in violent ways with their murders posing with them... big nope... thats when I knew something was VERY wrong.
If they used the money to at least help victims' families or support some kind of cause it would be a little different.
But the way it's presented it seems glorified stories of the killers, not condemning them.
I think what makes this so upsetting is that there’s definitely a way to make a museum like this /work/, but instead they made it some weird shrine dedicated to these awful, awful people. There’s no reason to have “the actual __ that __ used to__”. If anything I feel it would work so much better and wouldn’t be so weird if it was more of a memorial thing. Having said that, I think it’s kind of. A lot to SELL the experience of seeing all of this gore and awful things.
I feel like an actual Death Museum should be a place to educate people on the history of mourning and mortuary practices, not exploitation of crime and violence. I'd much rather go to a museum like that than this place.
Have you been to any of the Holocaust Museums? They are filled with a lot of death understandably but also a lot of History and memorabilia from the time. I live in Missouri and we have one here, there is also one in Chicago.
Fawks Murphy I’ve been to the one in dc. Very impactful. The hall of shoes left me speechless. Sometimes I believe stuff like this has to be in a museum to really educate us, to not repeat history time and time again. But the museum of death is taking it quite far and is very distasteful I would say. The holocaust museums are definitely different.
I went to one with my marching band when we went to d.c. and after like, the second floor i sped walked through the rest with my head down.
I would never be okay in the museum of death if i couldn't get though the holocaust museum
I’m also from Missouri! I’ve been there, and one thing I like to point out is that the extremely gory stuff is hidden (or was when I was there) behind slats that you have to choose to look through.
@@acaseofyou12581 True but the person who leads the guided tour encouraged us to look through those slats when we went. Not sure if they still do but I did like seeing the clothes and patches that were there even if they were symbols of hate they were an interesting part of history. Those slat pictures are etched in my memory.
I guess I feel like one still has a choice, you know? Or at least much more of a choice than the museum in this video. You know what I mean?
you mentioned the possibility of having a school shooting exhibit, and i would hate to see that added to the museum.
I believe that people can share a morbid fascination with gruesome crimes. I myself have always been fascinated, I have read books ; and watched countless documentaries just out of sheer fascination in which gruesome deaths result that being a direct result of murder, suicide, traumatic accidents, freak accidents, etc. I have also been in two car accidents so I understand that uneasy feeling of seeing photos! Much less an entire wall! I don’t believe there is anything wrong with that as long as you do not cross the line by disrespecting the person(s) involved. However, I don’t condone the owners behaviors and wicked actions to own and collect memorabilia. I visited the museum and though I did feel heavy because I am a human being with empathy and emotions, I enjoyed the museum and all of the artifacts and photos, in my opinion the museum was in fact educational. I believe it’s important for us to see the reality of things and not just what Hollywood or the news show us through movies and documentaries and 3 minute stories in order for us to thoroughly understand the events. I don’t feel guilty for enjoying the museum and I don’t think anyone should either.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts & opinions. I enjoyed your video :)
the fact that they not only took photos of the blood splatter of a crime scene, but also take the brain matter of the victim. that is so sick, on another level. i dont know how to explain it.
I had been wanting to go to this museum for years and when I finally got the chance to go I went alone, I can’t even begin to describe the dread I felt while inside. After I left I was in such a negative headspace and it lasted a few weeks.
I thought I’d have a good time learning some facts, but it was more gore filled than anything. All the serial killer, crime scene, and suicide stuff really got to me.
I went to the one in New Orleans and the feeling of “heaviness” and darkness really does follow you around in there. The funeral room and the room of traditions and honestly even the letters in the serial killer room were fine. But as you said, once you see the graphic images, they stick with you. The car crash reel sparked a deep fear and phobia of driving that I still can’t shake to this day. The photos of Sharon Tates crime scene is burned into my brain... I had no idea that all of this would bring about a month long panic attack. I wish I was joking.
I wish the direction of this museum was more focused on the stuff they have away from the gore. Like personally- a letter and some art? Okay honestly not going to freak anyone out. Even going into traditions of death and celebration of death ? So fascinating especially in New Orleans! But the gore of it.... the people working there were like “Oh hey we have 911 on speed dial if you pass out, happens all the time.” That shouldn’t be okay.
I regret now knowing how those people are and that I gave them money (I purchased a hoodie with just a skull because it was the least gore based one). If anyone is in New Orleans and wants to learn about death traditions, go to the Voodoo museum and go on the cemetery tours- this is a stop you can skip. I promise.
I feel like a “museum of death” could have been really cool! If it was more about how different cultures throughout history viewed death (ie. their afterlives, funerary processes, deities, etc.) then I think that would be waaay less morally wrong and more interesting. (Though I might just think it’s more interesting because I personally like history more than murder idk)
They actually have an exhibit in NOLA about these things !
Add me to the number of people who assumed a "museum of death" would be centered around funerary/mortuary practices from other cultures or times. I never really looked in to the specifics of this museum because of the unlikelihood of me ever visiting either location, but.... yikes. It's all the unhealthiness of borderline-fetishizing murderers and death you see on tumblr, but packaged into the "educational" box you associate with typical museums. Like, some of what you showed and described in the video almost comes off like shrines which realllllly rubs me the wrong way.
I think it depends on the way in which the artifacts are shown. I think this museum seems bad because they don’t seem to put value on the people’s lives, but instead look at their death as an opportunity to make money. Whereas, in museums with displays about slavery, the holocaust, and other tragedies, the museum makes you feel upset and disgusted at the unjust loss of life. So I think it has to do with how the museum focuses on the issue and how they choose to value(or not value) the victims of crime.
I'm already uneasy when I see medevial torture devices in historic museums, I can't imagine going and seeing the stuff in this one
I visited the museum in January of 2018, and I honestly wish I’d done better research on it, we left feeling so sad and heavy. It’s very obvious once you’re there that the owners or ‘curators’ are just trying to show off their sick hobby, rather than be educational about death and the human psyche. It got to the point where we were running through the exhibits trying to find anything safe and it just never came.
10/10 would not recommend
I appreciate that you’re one of the few folks out there who reminds us that the victims of these crimes were real humans who loved and were loved.
I really struggle with the true crime community because of all the fetishizing of murderers that happens. It’s like they forget that what they’re saying and doing is actually hurtful.
a PossessedbyHorror and Sarah Hawkinson video in one day? we stan a horror queen
I wish it was more of a memorial to the victims than a shrine for the wicked
I went when I was in NOLA, thinking it'd have taxidermy and talk about how people have celebrated and dealt with death throughout history and in different cultures. I was SO shocked and disgusted with what I found inside. It was so disrespectful to the victims of these crimes, and romanticized and idolized serial killers and mass shooters.
The men's bathroom had pictures of topless corpses. It was so unbelievably disrespectful to the victims of those crimes.
I'm in a community that celebrates and honors death in a respectful way. The vulture culture community, people that practice taxidermy and similar practices, like cleaning bones and skulls from roadkill. We do it because we have a deep respect of nature and want to honor the animals that have died. I was hoping the museum of death was going to have the same idea. I'm disgusted by the museum of death and the people running it.
As a funeral director/embalmer it was interesting to see all the old tools and funeral stuff. It was fun to explain to my family what each tool was used for. But the rest was pretty messed up, and that’s coming from someone who does this stuff everyday.
Two of my coworkers said they went a while ago. They had to leave once they hit the snuff videos room. Sat in the car for 30 mins listening to EDM trying to decompress. One of them said I might like it because I'm into dark things. Well I did have a fascination with the macabre more snow in high school, I don't know if I could mentally handle it these days. Not without mentally prepping myself for it.
You seem really passionate about people disrespecting or glorifying Elizabeth Short. I share so many of the same opinions about the situation with you. Would you be interested in making a video about the problematic behavior people have towards her case? If not, it's totally okay
One video on each channel at the same time ?? We're SPOILED !! 😂😍
when I was 8 months pregnant I went to the one in New Orleans. Personally, I was...iffy about it. It was a little disappointing as they turned me away because I left my ID at the hotel. So, I had to walk from the museum to my hotel about a mile away in the summer heat and then it was a little bit more grotesque than I had anticipated. I honestly thought it was supposed to be more like a learning experience than an exploitative experience. I wanted to hear facts and events that happened in some of the true crime stories I've always been interested in. The NOLA one is mild compared to the one in LA or so I was told by the owner. It's something I'm interested in. Death has always intrigued me. HOWEVER the merch is AWFUL. My husband and I purchased the most mild shirts there. I felt dirty when I left. especially when I witnessed the fetal skeletons as I was pregnant with my son. I agree with you 100%.
I definitely understand how you feel about the images not leaving your mind. I went there recently BECAUSE of its infamy in the true crime community and left with a sinking feeling in my stomach. In the car crash hallway that you referred to, there was also a set of photos from a specific murder that I haven't been able to shake off my brain since.
Wendy Rodriguez me too, I went 3 days ago and I relate. I’ve been so heavy :(
I agree with you on the fact that it's hard to get traumatic things out of your head. I experienced a loss last year and I still haven't gotten it out of my head.
Went to the museum of the death and I can see how it is more just a shrine, but in my opinion, when I went and read the letters and saw the pictures, it grounded me more than anything because I thought wow what was this person lacking in their heart to where they didn’t think about their behavior and what consequences would happen. Definitely wouldn’t have gone though if I knew about the black dahlia contest, and how EXTREME the owner is and the two set pin. That’s no longer “look at what horrible acts a human person can commit if not given the proper mental up bringing.” It’s more of “how can I exploit their remains to make money.”
I honestly wanna go there but I'm 100% sure I won't leave with a smile on my face 😓 my empathy could never.
i had kind of just assumed the museum of death was about historical and contemporary attitudes towards death and education for the purpose of living with joy and without fear. What you described absolutely disgusts me, how so many people's suffering is used to make money for the owners. I am so surprised that so many people would disrespect the horrific murder of Elizabeth Short. And I spend time learning about true crime and I love museums but this is way too far, for no justifiable reason. I'm glad you made this video.
When I went four years ago, I actually almost passed out because it really was too much for me. I ended up rushing through the last few rooms bc I was so nauseous. I left with a massive headache. I’d have to agree with you, I also should have researched the museum more. The thing is, is that the museum doesn’t let you take pictures inside or they’ll immediately kick you out and don’t refund your money and escort you out of the museum
Totally with you on this. These people are profitting off of human suffering, not just death. It's very disturbing and makes me so sad for the victims of these crimes..
I went to this museum on a holiday to LA because it was so famous and as a true crime fan it felt like i had to, but honestly walking around i just felt like low key dirty? It felt like i shouldn't be there, there were people walking around laughing and having a blast and i honestly couldn't fathom it, it was such a weird experience
I feel so conflicted about things like this. I've always been intrigued by true crime but like you I don't believe in exploitative practices for the sake of the dollar or reaction. You've really given me a lot of food for thought when it comes to ethical curiosity VS tasteless "fangirling."
it's normal to be curious, but isn't the internet/photos/articles enough to satisfy it?
I'm glad you made a video about this because this museum bothered me. The website states that the owners think that there is not enough education about death. Naturally, I believed that this museum would educate visitors about death. Instead, this museum is just a glorification of serial killers and a lot of the items there are unnecessary. I really disliked their merch, that pin is so disrespectful. I think a museum in which there is information about both the biological and cultural aspect of death would be so much better
Thank you so much for this video. I went to the museum of death about 5 years ago and I’ll never forget how I felt afterwards. Never in my life had I felt so uneasy and uncomfortable I couldn’t even eat for the rest of the day. I, for some reason, went back last year thinking maybe I just overreacted but I had the same feeling and I felt odd because everyone I knew thought it was so cool and interesting but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who felt off about the whole thing. I regret giving the owners my money especially now knowing what garbage people they are. I completely agree that there’s just some things we aren’t meant to see and certain images (like the foot in mouth one, y’all know what I’m talking about) that stick in your brain even 5 years later. Also, my favorite thing about you is how comfortable you are calling yourself out lol reason #1000 why you’re the most honest and amazing youtuber I’ve ever watched.
I was curious about the museum but I will pass. I haven't learned how to drive yet bc im scared of it so that car accident wall, even hearing you talk about it freaks me out.
I went last summer and it's mostly just gorey pictures of crime scenes. The pictures are EVERYWHERE. they also were VERY strict about phones. I went by myself so I texted one of my friends while I was there and one of the staff members told me I had to put my phone away. I was literally just sending a quick text to let my friend know where I was and what I was doing, not taking pictures. I'm almost positive it's because most of the stuff they claim to be "real items from serial killers" aren't actually real items from serial killers.
The last room you enter is like a funeral home set up? They had an educational autopsy video from the 90's playing on this giant screen TV. It was clear that the only reason they had this playing on a loop was to shock people. In the same room they had a display dedicated to GG Allin, who was a pretty terrible person. But they practically glorified him...the way they had his outfit, and photos of him displayed made it seem like a tribute and not just a display.
It was disturbing but only because they treated the victims like THINGS to be showcased. The way the walls were covered in incredibly graphic crime scene photos served only to shock people not really educate them on the violent acts of injustice that occurred. Part of me wishes I never went because it just felt not right to me, it felt really invasive and like I was a voyeur. I mean sure yeah it was an interesting experience but would I go again? NO.
Went in 1996 when it was in San Diego near Horton Plaza.
I went a few years back and made the mistake of looking at the car accident wall. Driving became a great source of anxiety for me after seeing that wall. It was all gore and it is still something I can remember vividly today.
I think it's really brave you came back and addressed your old video. It's obvious you've grown which is nothing less than beautiful to see. I think you are amazing
Having your opinions change over time is not hypocritical.. it's a part of your own personal growth
I feel sorry for the victims family :(
This video was so well done Sarah! I’ve been watching you for a couple of years - congrats on 400k+ subs!!! Your vids lately have been fantastic & I just wanted to tell you that! I’m glad someone is out there calling out horrible places like this museum and other sickos who get obsessed with tragic events and murderers. Any praise of murder & killers is a disrespect to the victims and their families so thank you for this video.
I dragged my mom with me to the museum when I was like 15 because I have always had a fascination with death and how we deal with it. Neither of us were expecting it to be what it was. At the time my mom was more horrified than I was, I did enjoy seeing some of the rooms, mainly the old mortuary stuff. However some of those pictures really stick with you, I remember leaving pretty on edge. I don't personally regret going though because it made me seek out less exploitative death education and find healthier ways to learn about respecting and honoring death! Still wish it was marketed and even titled differently though...
I didn't realise it was like this. Thank you for taking about this
I wouldn’t mind a museum about morticians or funeral practices, nor would I be against a true crime museum about famous serial killers. However, I feel like profiting off of victims of serial killers and glorifying people who have committed horrific acts is just sickening. I really wanted to visit too :(
It feels like the owners are trying to second-handedly live out their sadistic murder fantasies
Well.. it's better than them doing it themselves I guess. You're probably right though
I went there last summer. One of the staff-members stood by the wall with all the murders and was laughing about the way the bodies were positioned in the crime scene with another visitor. I was genuily scared there and had the feeling i was walking around in a museum with possible offenders.
I very much like your self-reflection and growth. You go girl!
I went to the museum of death in LA when I was 15 it felt so heavyyyyy inside
I went two years ago and I carried an extreme heavy dark energy the entire day. A lot to take in...
i’m from/live in new orleans, and i had been under the impression that the museum of death was a true crime museum (it was advertised as such). i really wanted to go because of my interest in true crime and all of the psychology that goes into it. i haven’t taken the time to, and now i definitely won’t. sick people who are trying to profit from exploitation. museums should be about education & should pay respect to those whom are discussed. i’m glad i saw this video before giving my money to that organization!
THANK YOU! I found it to be incredibly disrespectful. I went with a group with 4 of my girlfriends. Afterwards we were all visibly shook and sad we gave them our money. It felt like a hall of fame for serial killers. Truly disappointing.
We had a Crime & Punishment Museum here in DC and it was amazing. Some of the most famous Serial Killers personal items were on exhibits there including the Bonnie & Clyde death Car.
You sound like one of the people she's talking about...
Teresa girl please. I was stating my experience with a Museum that was semi similar but done in a more tasteful way. It was no where near as horrific as the one she went to.
@@articewashington3186 Okay, well I'm relieved that's the case. Your original comment just sort of sounded that way, I wasn't sure, which is why I said "sound like". But I'm glad I was mistaken.
I’m interested in true crime and the psychology of it all, but the experience was sickening. I left feeling so woozy and I’m never like super sensitive about things like hearing about that, but it was just so overwhelming. My heart goes out to all the victims and their loved ones.
I just typed “Black Dahlia” into UA-cam, and at the top there were several “suggested products” that were disgusting and so devastating to see. I feel sad now.
Your videos always encourage me to be open to criticism, when it's constructive especially, and I can't thank you enough for helping me and my ego. I'm glad you made this video, it cleared up a lot of things for me. Have a wonderful day!
Personally, I find the stuff in the museum itself pretty interesting since I’m into true crime and things of that nature. I’m not sensitive to the gore either, but I definitely am with you on the merchandise aspect. I think it’s sick to sell merchandise parading these serial killers around as if they didn’t take the lives of innocent people. It’s also downright disrespectful of them to even consider making merch off of Elizabeth Short.
omg I went to this in LA last july, I was randomly walking around with family, I think it’s hollywood but yeah we seen it and decided to go in which none of us never been. it’s really really gruesome to be honest with photos of stuff that shouldn’t be for the public imo, and as a victim, or as a family/friend of the victim I would not want these pictures displayed for someone’s “amusement”
be aware
but yeah it’s very dark and heavy stuff so just be prepared of what you’re walking into, it makes you think a lot
I swear every single one of your videos are so interesting! Still my favourite youtuber after years of being subscribed to you.
I visited the museum in 2015 and death never really disturbed me much. I don't know the whole thing was uncomfortable, like it was made for people who are weirdly obsessed with murderers. There was a couple who would try make out in a couple of rooms before they got kicked out. Whole place wasn't right
I went to it about a year and a half ago when I was visiting LA and really regret it. It was disturbing on so many levels. I found myself going quickly through some areas because it was so gruesome. I'm not super squeamish usually, but it made me sick to my stomach and felt heavy for the rest of the day. It's not a place for empathetic individuals.
I recommend the Crime Museum I believe it was called in Tennessee, it has different rooms for different sorts of crimes and educational areas on how they test for DNA, etc. They did, however, have merch for Ted Bundy I think it was in their gift shop but other than that I remember their gift shop to have good options. I personally bought a book there called " Member of The Family, My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside The Cult, and The Darkness That Ended The Sixties".
Thanks for the video- I also really appreciate how open you are to reflection. You were able to articulate feelings I didn’t know how to but words to.
I don’t know if the one in LA has this but the one in New Orleans has a section of it that’s called the theater of death which is just a couple rows of church pews in a back room where a projected video of SO MANY crimes scenes, dead bodies (some more graphic than others) , and even a video of a firing squad. I did not stay to see the whole video so I’m not sure what other things are included in it but based off the few minutes I was back there for that’s what I saw. I mean obviously that’s a portion of the museum that’s label “enter at your own risk” but this back room is also where the restroom is so basically if at any point you need to use the restroom you have to enter this room and unfortunately even if you don’t want to see these images you probably will catch a glimpse or two of the video while walking in/out of the room.
I've been to the museum multiple times, and I see no issue with it. It's quite informative and fascinating to read about/view. The external events and some items for purchase, however, such as the Elizabeth Short contest, or the serial killer merchandise, strikes me as problematic. I still adore the place, but I think it needs some fine tuning...or new management >.>
I think the owners are the bigger issue in my opinion. Just the way they’ve collected stuff and the things they’ve said. Made me feel for lack of a better word , icky.
I always thought of going. That's an awful place to experience. I was always interested in the psych side of what goes on for this acts to happen but that's taking it too far. Hope you don't get hate or problems for this vid🌼
I went to the LA one a year ago with a friend, not knowing anything about it but thought the outside looked interesting. I felt so anxious and sick for hours after we left. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Disappointed to hear about the owners as well.
I remember you vlogging about going to the museum and looking it up bc I had never heard about it and feeling so uncomfortable that that was a thing bc death is my biggest fear. I can’t imagine going to look at literal crime scenes and being surrounded by it. However I DO love murder podcasts and listen to them all the time, but actually seeing things like that makes me so uncomfortable. I could never go there and not have a panic attack.
I've been twice and was very fascinated by the autopsy room and the taxidermy room cause I genuinely thought it was informative and interesting, but now as I look back at it from this new perspective I can definitely see how the other categories were definitely exploitative. And I had no clue those heaven's gate bunkbeds were the real ones from the site!!
Girl you have me shook! I went there just last year and everything was NOT like I imagined a true crime museum to look like. When you said shrine, you hit it on the head! And now all this shit about the owners.... fucking yikes dude. The part of that place that fucked me up the most was that little hallway with REAL POLAROIDS of a woman and her boyfriend naked, after having mutilated her EX. I will never unsee those images, and the fact that it had the woman's "out" date (from prison) on a little postcard... BLEH dude I literally can not get those pictures out of my mind.
A couple years ago, I interviewed with an art director at a true crime show in LA, I didn't get the job and I'm so glad. The more I learn about true crime, the more exploitative these films and exhibits are getting, the more grossed out I am about even applying for the job.
Yikes although I would like to go to the museum, it sounds like really heavy stuff.
same
I loved this video, as someone who always wanted to go to death museum but didn’t know everything it entailed, has really changed my thoughts on going
My city has a funeral museum, which is run by the city, not private people, which means it's a lot more educational and not exploitative like the museum of death. It's basically just a history museum about funeral practises throughout the centuries
I met the owners in the 90s . They seem quirky but really their collection was rather educational! People like them with their collections are a good public display of death and process of decay! You could go to med school or just walk through a collection. Tks for your review! Even my text books are difficult to digest on same subject!
I will say you probably bought the postcard because it was only a dollar. I do it everywhere I go. I always lose them and never find them again, yet I always buy them because they're only a dollar!
i fainted when i got to the Manson section smh
This video was made & structured very well it was interesting, especially since the museum was something I was interested in but never wanted to go there or look it up out of fear what I might see
I also think it's really good how you adressed your previous standpoint on the postcard and museum
I recommend you read Caitlyn Doughty’s books! I think you would find them very interesting and they would challenge some of your views on death.