niagara wax museum of history

I don't think even Mark Twain's words could do justice to the EXPERIENCE that is visiting the Niagara Wax Museum of History. It's like a time capsule of a really cool museum that was built 40 years ago, and the owners just wiped their hands, said "welp, we did it," and never once looked back. Visiting here is like going on an archaeological expedition through the ruins of 1970s kitsch.Exhibits are in disrepair. A wax statue of Mother Teresa (that famous historical figure of Niagara Falls, right?) is leaning to the side. One display cabinet of fossils and minerals appears to be held together by packing tape and hope. There's an exhibit of an old-timey general store, with a frightening realistic shopkeeper, and several jars of candy. The candy is not wax---you can tell, because it's barely even candy anymore; over the last few decades it's congealed into an indecipherable mess. It's endearingly revolting.In another room, an exhibit boasts an atomic clock that is 100% accurate, all of the time, forever. It's three hours slow. NOBODY HAS NOTICED, and nobody has done anything to fix it. Signage scattered around the museum was printed out on computer paper, now wrinkly and browning with age. Perhaps the clearest indicator of neglect, though, was a display listing every U.S. President who's visited Niagara Falls. The last time it was updated was for Jimmy Carter.I thought all of this was FANTASTIC. I'm glad my wife and I were the only visitors at the time, because I couldn't stop laughing and jumping around---yes, actually jumping around in excitement, and I'm almost thirty---at how weird and goofy and insane every single piece in this museum was. It wasn't just that half the place was falling apart. That's nothing unique in Niagara Falls; EVERYTHING is falling apart here. But so many of the exhibits barely had anything to do with anything. You might see an exhibit on daredevils going down the falls, and in the next room over---there's a hall of presidents! With license plates from every state! And an animatronic statue of Mark Twain in a rocking chair, because I guess he mentioned the falls once in a story. You're my kind of insanity, Niagara Wax Museum of History. Never change. (But I have a feeling I don't have to worry too much about that.)The museum leads you to a gift shop at the end (of course), although there's almost nothing there that has anything to do with the museum itself; it's mostly generic Niagara Falls stuff. The only item I could find that actually said "Wax Museum" on it was a bumper sticker that looked like it was manufactured in 1972 and left sitting in a warehouse ever since, only recently unearthed and put on sale for less than a buck. (It didn't even have the museum's current name; it just said "Niagara's Museum of History U.S.A".) I wanted to buy them all and give them a good home.

I enjoyed learning about the history of the falls. The wax figures made it a little eerie like walking through a haunted house, but educational none the less. My son was hoping for a bit more excitement but he still learned a few things.

Some of the wax figures are just ok.. I believe their clothes dont fit them very good... but the history in this place makes up for all of it.. they have a range of historical facts... one that interested me was when Niagra Falls stopped completely for 30hrs in the 1800's.. as people thought it was the end of the world.. you must read to find out why the basin went dry.. very interesting..

took 40 min ( with reading almost all avaiable info on the walls.simply put history of Falls with some unrelated materials 9 pictures of all presidents?)

Niagara Wax Museum of History is located at 303 Prospect St., Niagara Falls, end of Rainbow Bridge next to the Hard Rock Cafe.. This is not a worth visit. The quality of the figures is not good.As this was nearer to the Hotel, where we stayed, we just walked into the Museum. The entry fee is $10. Though there are many potential visitors to the Museum, it is difficult to.note how many people would like it. As far as we are concerned, we were not safisfied.

This wax museum is by the Hard Rock on Prospect - it just has a sign that reads WAX MUSEUM above the windows. It looks like a place you'd just skip - don't skip this one. It is so much more than just a wax museum. It was so cool inside - so many interesting facts about the Falls, history of the area, a Presidents portrait room, articles and information about the people who have gone over the falls and more. I am so glad we went through this place.

This place was very nice. I found it to be very educational and interesting. The children enjoyed it also.

Niagara wax museum of history is definitely that: all about the history of the Falls. If your looking for some updated modern place then thats not history. This place is worth every penny and will visit it again with my grandkids. I noticed on here that some of the reviews are not even for the Niagara Wax museum of History and shouldn't even be here. Those are probably the people that don't like the museum since there is a lot of things you may enjoy reading in there and can't tell their putting their reviews in the wrong place. Others are some good some bad but to me and my family its definitely worth it.

We enjoyed the wax museum. I was a bit hesitant based on some other reviews but I am glad we went. There were some interesting facts about the falls and a portrait hall of presidents. The wax figures are not well crafted but the museum has other things to offer. We went in with an open mind and read the information displays and found it worth the time it took to go through.

just down the street from hard rock cafe...enter thru gift shop,not so good at first...once in you will be rewarded its a great way to learn about the falls..great rain day visit

Yes it is a little old and cheesy, but you can't miss it! We had a blast in here. This was one of our favorite things. And, at the end they have an area where you can take your pic so it looks like you are going over the falls in a barrel (priceless) and sitting on a bench in front of the falls. I loved this place as a child. I loved it as an adult. And, I had so much fun sharing it with my son.

This place is set up directly across the street from the Falls State Park. We saw it & stopped in. It was not previously planned but we did want to see a wax figure museum. This place was very disappointing & a waste of money. Even though it was only $20 for 3 of us, it was not worth $10. VISUAL:Dark, Erie, maze like corners, similar to haunted house set up. Then you turn the corner & there's an old man sitting there with black eyes. You would have to approach the figure & read to know who these old men were. They were not celebrities, & I was worked up about the whole thing. I thought it was Erie, we did a straight walk through right out the museum & back to the desk. They would not give us a refund but they gave us $ credit at the gift shop. The girl saw us walk in, then out, because the museum was creepy. She went & told the manager & he never approached us just sent her out with a message. Not the type of place I would have went to if I had known.

Nice and clean museum. It was nice seeing the wax figures portrayed in action scenes, instead of just standing in dead space as with other museums. They had several interesting items including several modes of transportation for going over the falls. This place really has not changed in over 30 years - something I enjoyed. It brought back a lot of warm, fuzzy, nostalgic feelings. Nice break from the overcrowded stuff.

This place was such a disaponting waste of time! My husband and I didn't plan to go to a museum while visiting the falls, but when I saw a sign for one I was excited. I've been to a few wax museums and they were fun and exciting. This place was a joke! $7 admission, it should be less than $3, and that's even a stretch! It smelled like an old, vacant house from the 1800's, and the exhibits were a HUGE letdown! Poorly lit, and beyond non-interesting. The figures were not even recognizable, they looked like mannequins with plastic disfigured faces that a small child sculpted! There is absolutely nothing positive to say about this place, which is sad because I always find at least one positive in any crappy situation, but it was seriously horrible!

This wax museum is tucked away in a gift shop. It adequately depicts many events regarding the falls and it's history. Definitely worth the admission price.