Among the bright lights of Times Square in New York City and in the scenic small-town charms of Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, the state of New York also offers curious travelers and dedicated tourists a diversionary activity of a different color: the wax museum.
Madame Tussauds New York Wax Museum
Perhaps the mother of all wax museums, Madame Tussauds of New York City offers Times Square tourists the opportunity to view professionally created lifelike models of some of their favorite celebrities, politicians and historical figures. Madame Tussauds allows visitors to take photographs with wax versions of Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt, John F. Kennedy, Muhammad Ali and many more. The museum also boasts short films at its 4D theater, which exposes audiences to simulated weather elements and scents in addition to the experience of a three-dimensional film. Madame Tussauds often hosts ceremonies with the real-life versions of its wax figures, so be sure to take a look at the museum's website for a schedule.
Cooperstown Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum
The Cooperstown Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum is located in the upstate Village of Cooperstown, just blocks from the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame. This museum houses wax figures of some of the giants in the history of Major League Baseball, featured in elaborate in-game and off-field displays. View such diamond heroes as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Jackie Robinson, as well as baseball-related pop-culture icons such as George Costanza and Abbot and Costello. The Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum also features a virtual batting cage and films on the funniest bloopers in baseball history, as well as an outdoor cafe.
House of Frankenstein Wax Museum
Lake George's House of Frankenstein features wax figures of history's most famous and scary monsters. Part haunted house and part wax figure display, this museum pays tribute to frightening figures both real and fictional, from Edgar Allen Poe to Freddy Krueger and, of course, Frankenstein. This museum also includes interactive elements that allow you to throw switches to electrocute prisoners and turn Doctor Jekyll into Mister Hyde.
Travel and Cost Considerations
While each of these wax museums might pique your interest, they are quite spread out around the state, and you are advised to plan seeing just one per day on any sort of New York wax museum tour. As of January 2011, tickets for a tour of Madame Tussauds in New York City will cost $35.50 per person ages 13 to 59, $28.50 per child ages 4 to 12 and $32.50 per senior 60 and older. Admission is free for children 3 and under. There is also a 20-percent discount for purchasing your tickets online. Madame Tussauds is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets for the Cooperstown Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum run $9.95 for ages 13 to 64 and $7.95 for children four to 12 and seniors 65 and older as of January 2011. The museum is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. As of January 2011 tickets for the House of Frankenstein Wax Museum are $8.99 for adults, $7.99 for students ages 13 to 17 and $4.49 for children ages six to 12. House of Frankenstein is open seasonally, so check the calendar linked in the Resources section before planning your trip.
