The unusual story of Madame Tussauds and her museum (9 photos). The story of Madame Tussauds: from the death masks of murderers and murdered to the world famous museum Madame who created the wax museum

Madame Tussaud's art studio produces wax figures for more than one hundred and fifty years. It takes up to four months for another masterpiece to be born; a team of twenty sculptors works on each sculpture. The creators take up to 500 measurements, real hairs are inserted one at a time, and countless layers of paint are designed to recreate the natural color of the skin. This is precisely what Tussaud's wax figures are famous for - their incredible resemblance...

1. New wax portrait (center) of Britney Spears, February 16, 2009, London, England.

2. Wax figure of Paris Hilton in a striped prisoner suit, June 4, 2007, New York. Hilton was repeatedly cited for driving while drunk and speeding.

3. Hugh Jackman as his Wolverine character, September 4, 2009.

4. Supermodel and TV personality Tyra Banks, July 2, 2008, Washington, DC.

5. Nine-year-old Elisinel Martinez touches a wax figure of US President Barack Obama on January 26, 2010.

6. “High School Musical” star Zac Efron, October 9, 2008, London, England.

7. Photographers take pictures of the wax figure of Australian film star Nicole Kidman at the branch. wax museum Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong.

8. Chuck Liddell with his wax double at the branch of Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas, July 1, 2010.

9. A wax replica of US President George W. Bush is seen at Madame Tussauds in Washington, DC on April 10, 2008.

10. British actress Helen Mirren, right, watches her husband Taylor Hackford kiss a wax portrait of his wife at Madame Tussauds in London.

11. Wax portrait of actress Kate Winslet, Madame Tussauds, London, UK, November 9, 2011.

12. Eli Manning of the New York Giants with his wax replica at Madame Tussauds in New York on September 23, 2008.

13. Wax figure of Adolf Hitler, a branch of Madame Tussauds in Berlin, Germany. On July 5, 2008, a few minutes after the opening of a new branch of Madame Tussauds in Berlin, one of the visitors tore off the head of a wax sculpture of Hitler. The police detained the criminal, he turned out to be 41 years old local. Museum workers chose to remove the figure from the exhibition.

14. Tony Siragusa with his wax double, February 3, 2011.

15. Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor, left, with her wax replica at Madame Tussauds, Blackpool branch, UK, October 27, 2011.

16. Wax copy of Madonna at Madame Tussauds in London, April 25, 2008. The figure went through restoration, it was made new hairstyle and new makeup, and also changed clothes.

17. Wax figure of Michael Jackson, Madame Tussauds London, June 9, 2009.

18. American President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain at Madame Tussauds in London, March 31, 2009.

19. British singer Amy Winehouse, Madame Tussauds in central London, July 23, 2008.

20. Model posing next to a wax figure Hollywood actor Johnny Depp at Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong on September 26, 2008.

21. Wax figure of Miley Cyrus, Madame Tussauds in New York, March 20, 2008.

22. Bullseye next to his wax copy, October 12, 2006. This is the first animal to be immortalized at Madame Tussauds.

Madame Tussauds in London should certainly be included in the list of the most famous and interesting collections of attractions. There are few people in the world who have never heard of an amazing collection of wax figures. Well, those people who happened to visit the capital of Great Britain probably did not forget about this famous landmark of London and visited it.

History of creation

The founder of the museum was born into a military family named Grosholz. The family lived in the city of Strasbourg, but after the death of the head of the family, which happened even before birth in youngest daughter Maria (in 1761), a widowed mother and children moved to Bern. There the woman took up the position of housekeeper in the house of Dr. Curtis. At this time, the doctor decided to end his medical practice in order to do his favorite thing - creating naturalistic figures cast from wax.

In 1767, Doctor Curtis and Mary's family moved to the capital of France. Already from a very young age, the girl begins to comprehend the difficult art of creating figures from wax, since the doctor is extremely kind to Maria and spares no time in teaching her.

At that time, creating wax figures was a lucrative business, because there was not even a movie yet, so the only opportunity for many people to see what a celebrity looked like was to visit wax figure exhibitions.

After some time, Maria Grosholz received an invitation from the king’s sister Elizabeth to come to Versailles, where the girl spent 9 years. She was able to complete her education and gain useful work skills by creating wax copies of the king's relatives.

During the “revolutionary” purges that began in 1789, Maria, as a person close to the royal family, was imprisoned. There she met Madame de Beauharnais, who later became the wife of Emperor Bonaparte. Maria miraculously escaped execution, since the new authorities needed to create a wax copy of the murdered Robespierre, and the best master there was no way to find one to do this job.

After Napoleon came to power, things improved for Maria. Her mentor, Dr. Curtis, had died by that time, and she independently and quite successfully conducts the work. After some time, Maria gets married and takes her husband's surname, becoming Madame Tussauds. True, the marriage was not very successful, and Maria, along with her two sons, leaves her husband for London. There the family organizes traveling exhibition, showing in different cities figures of celebrities made of wax.

When Maria turned 74, a permanent exhibition was opened. The first museum building in London was located on Baker Street. After the death of Mary, who lived to almost 90 years, the business of creating wax copies famous people continued by her sons and grandchildren. In 1884, the exhibition was moved to a new building located on Marylebone Road, where the museum remains today. Although today the museum is no longer run by Mary’s descendants.

It must be said that in the history of the museum there were many tragic villages. So in 1925 there was a severe fire that destroyed most collections. But the exposition was restored according to the surviving forms. Another serious incident occurred during a Nazi air raid on London. An aircraft bomb hit the building, destroying a significant part of the exhibits, which then had to be painstakingly restored.

Modern everyday life

And today, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London is one of the most visited museums in the world. Every year it receives about 2.5 million visitors. Visiting a museum is not a simple visual experience; visitors will learn about the exhibits on display Interesting Facts You are allowed to touch their biographies and figures and take pictures with them.

Every day until the museum opens, eight specialists inspect the exhibition. Each specialist performs certain part maintenance of exhibits. One is responsible for the hairstyle of the exhibited figures, another corrects makeup as necessary, the third is responsible for costumes, etc.

Making one figure modern masters They work for about six months, the cost of each exhibit is approximately 50 thousand dollars. About two dozen new figures are created per year. To achieve an ideal resemblance to living people, several dozen photographs of the face and body are taken in different projections.

The modern exhibition consists of 400 sculptures depicting famous historical figures and modern celebrities. But the first figure that visitors see is an elderly lady in a snow-white cap, this is an image of the founder of the museum, that is, Madame Tussauds herself.

Then, walking through the halls, you can see copies famous personalities. Even the photographs of the exhibits show that the images are frighteningly realistic. When viewed “live” the impressions are even stronger.

You can see a variety of celebrities in the exhibition. Here and famous musicians, and actors, and politicians. Some characters receive special attention. For example, Napoleon and his wife were allocated two halls, in which, in addition to figures of historical figures, some personal belongings belonging to the emperor's family are presented.

In a separate room there is an exhibition dedicated to the royal family. There are figures of the current Queen Elizabeth and young princes - William with his charming wife Kate and Harry.

Cultural and scientific figures are not left without attention. Moreover, visitors are invited to “compete” with celebrities. For example, you can take an interactive test to compare your IQ score with Albert Einstein's or find out who has more creative thinking - the visitor or Picasso.

The museum not only displays figures of real people; there are special rooms where you can look at famous literary and film characters. Children and adults will be interested in seeing Jack Sparrow, shaking hands with Shrek or taking a photo with Spider-Man.

When creating figures for exhibitions, craftsmen use all the achievements of scientific research. technical progress. Some figures may move or engage in conversation with visitors.

Attraction "Spirit of London"

An interesting and funny attraction, which is very popular among visitors, allows you to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of medieval London. Museum guests are offered accommodation in small cabins and are transported through the halls, in which the atmosphere of “old” London is meticulously recreated. Moreover, the characters that visitors will meet are by no means static. The townspeople will wave their hands welcomingly to the guests, and the military personnel will salute.

Famous Chamber of Horrors

Speaking about the museum, one cannot fail to mention the famous chamber of horrors. This section of the museum is of particular interest to visitors, because it contains figures of the bloodiest and most terrible villains from the history of mankind. To visit the horror room you need to have strong nerves, so children, pregnant women and people suffering from heart disease are not allowed there.

In the room you can see terrifying scenes from medieval torture dungeons. And since visiting the halls is accompanied by special audio effects that simulate the screams of people during torture, the impression of the excursion will be extremely strong. Groups of made-up actors who suddenly appear in the halls also take part in the excursions. It must be said that all this can be very frightening, so people who are not confident in the stability of their nervous system It is better to refuse such an excursion.

Of course, describing all the exhibits and talking about all the attractions of the famous London museum is an impossible task. And no one will be able to convey in words and photographs the impressions that are born when visiting a unique collection of celebrity figures. That is why Tussauds remains one of the most visited and beloved places in London by tourists.

How to get?

It remains to tell where it is famous museum. The exact address of this attraction is London, Marylebone Rd, NW1 5LR. You can get there by subway to Baker Street station or by bus routes 274, 74, 113, 82.

Find Right place It’s not difficult; the photo of the building shows that it has an unusual domed roof and stands out from the background of other buildings.

On weekdays, the exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On weekends the museum opens half an hour earlier, and on holidays it closes half an hour later.

The total cost of a ticket to visit the exhibition is 30 euros for an adult and 25 for a child. But, if you purchase tickets online on the museum’s website, you can save from 10 to 25%. On the museum’s website you can buy a complex ticket, which allows you to purchase several famous London attractions at once; such a “wholesale” purchase allows you to save a significant amount.

Madame Tussauds has branches located in 14 different cities around the world, so you can see the famous wax figures not only in London.

Who among us has not dreamed of meeting a celebrity at least once in our lives? Ask for an autograph from the singer of your favorite band or take a photo with a popular actor? Interest in people who have achieved great success in creativity, sports or politics lives in each of us.
The beautiful and the great delight and attract. However, just like the terrible and disgusting... But in real life Few people will be lucky enough to be photographed hugging Hollywood beauties, shaking hands with the president, or fearlessly looking into the eyes of the most cruel and terrible maniacs. The exception is the lucky ones who visited Madame Tussauds in London! Or its branch in another city, although any branch is far from the main museum.

Madame Tussauds (French: “Madame Tussauds”) is the world’s most famous wax museum, founded by the sculptor Marie Tussauds and located in Marylebone, a prestigious area of ​​London. The museum has branches in 14 largest cities world (New York, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Vienna, Berlin, etc.). The branch exhibitions number over a thousand wax sculptures prominent politicians, movie and pop stars, historical figures. But the most famous and interesting museum is Madame Tussauds in London. More than 2.5 million people visit it every year and that says a lot.

The history of Madame Tussauds began on that cold December day when, in 1761, in Strasbourg (France), a daughter named Maria was born into the family of an officer and a simple Swiss girl. The girl's father died in the war shortly before her birth, and soon Maria's mother moved with her and the rest of her children to another city - Bern. There she got a job as a housekeeper for Dr. Philip Wilhelm Curtius. The doctor had unusual hobby– he made anatomically correct wax models of people. As it turned out, the meeting of the old doctor and little Maria was fateful.
In 1765, Dr. Curtius moved to Paris. Two years later, Maria and her mother join him. The mother continues to work as a housekeeper, and little Maria begins to learn the art of creating wax sculptures. Even then, in childhood, she showed a deep interest and talent for recreating accurate images people made of wax. The doctor, seeing her as a diligent student, willingly shares the secrets of his skill with the girl.

In Paris, Curtius decides to show his work to the general public. The first exhibition took place in 1770 and had resounding success. Wax copies of real people, including, for example, Madame DuBarry (a favorite of King Louis XV), were liked by Parisians.

In those years, Maria also worked on creating her own sculptures, which would later be included in the exhibits of Madame Tussauds in London. Among others were wax figures of Voltaire (her first sculpture), Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin.
Meanwhile, Phillip Curtius continues to organize exhibitions in Paris. Among them, especially noteworthy is the one that took place in 1782 on the Boulevard du Temple. Shocked spectators saw shockingly life-like wax sculptures of famous murderers and executed criminals. It was this exhibition that became the prototype of the Chamber of Horrors, for which Madame Tussauds in London is so famous.

Meanwhile, the streets of Paris are becoming restless - a revolution is approaching. In 1789, rioting rebels, shouting and cursing, carried wax figures of hated politicians made by Maria through the streets. With the change of power, Maria is arrested and imprisoned, where she meets Josephine Beauharnais - future wife Napoleon. Maria was saved from the guillotine only by the fact that after the death of one of the leaders of the revolution, Robespierre, she was invited to make death masks for him and his killer.
After her release, Maria returns to the workshop of Dr. Curtius, who by that time had already died, but managed to bequeath his collection to his student. In 1802, Maria married engineer François Tussaud and became Madame Tussaud. The collection of figures of Mary herself continues to grow, and so does her popularity. But her husband starts drinking and losing his fortune at cards, so Maria leaves him and, taking her eldest son and her collection, moves to the UK.

In 1835, the first exhibition of wax figures opened on the famous Baker Street in London. From this moment, the history of Madame Tussauds in London begins, who lived to be 88 years old, having managed to create many more amazing sculptures during her life.

Today, Madame Tussauds is located in one of the most prosperous and prestigious areas of London - Marylebone, on Marylebone Road. This is north of Westminster, not too far from Trafalgar Square.

The museum displays more than 400 wax sculptures depicting famous people different eras. Each sculpture is made so precisely and carefully that at first it’s hard to believe that in front of you there is no real people made of flesh and blood, and their copies are made of wax! Therefore, it is not surprising that the production of just one figure takes up to 6 months, and its cost is $50,000.

Entering the museum, visitors see... no, not a famous politician or actor. They are greeted by the figure of a small elderly woman. She's wearing black dress and a snow-white cap. The eyes on a round, good-natured face look through the glasses attentively and affably. This is a wax sculpture of Madame Tussauds herself - an amazing woman, the owner of this extraordinary place.
Walking through the halls of Madame Tussauds in London, visitors will see almost all more or less famous people of history and modernity.

Music lovers can admire legendary group The Beatles, imposingly lounging on a velvet sofa, or the shocking Michael Jackson. Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn are just like alive, hundreds of times more real than on the screen.

Some particularly significant historical figures are given special attention increased attention. Napoleon Bonaparte, whose wife Madame Tussaud knew, was given two entire halls. There, in addition to the figure of the great conqueror himself, you can see his personal belongings, such as the commander’s camp bed.

A separate exhibition at Madame Tussauds in London is dedicated to the British royal family. Here are Elizabeth II, Princess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, and Princes of the British Crown William and Harry. Of course, there is also a masterfully executed figure of Princess Diana.

Cultural figures and people of science are not forgotten. You can recognize Albert Einstein from afar by his famous hairstyle. You can also “get to know” Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde.
You can freely take pictures with all the exhibits (hugging and touching the figures is not prohibited!

This is a great opportunity to become the owner general photo With famous politicians(Barack Obama, George Bush, Vladimir Putin), pop and film stars (Madonna, Britney Spears, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise), or outstanding athletes(David Beckham, Eli Manning). Or perhaps someone would prefer a photo with supermodel and actress Kate Moss, or the notorious socialite Paris Hilton.

A special part of Madame Tussauds in London, its creepy “dungeons”, is the Chamber of Horrors. The same one, the prototype and source of ideas for which was the Cabinet of Horrors of Dr. Curtius, Madame Tussaud’s teacher.
The horror room fully lives up to its name and can make a very strong impression. Therefore, heart patients, pregnant women and small children are not allowed there. And then you never know...

Those brave souls who decide to visit the Chamber of Horrors, filled with alarming dim light, will see the dark underside English history. Wax figures of the most famous English thieves, murderers and traitors are collected here. A chilling thrill is evoked by Jack the Ripper, a serial killer who operated on the streets of London in the 19th century and was never caught.
Completes gloomy picture atmospheric sound background: the screams of tortured people, pleas for help, the crunch of bones being ground on the rack. Add the costumed performances of made-up actors suddenly jumping out from around the corner, and you will probably agree that children and people with weak hearts really should not be allowed here!
And although you understand with your mind that the Chamber of Horrors is an ordinary, albeit the most terrible exhibition, when you are in it, it is difficult to get rid of the impression that someone’s evil and merciless gaze is watching you. In the end, it’s surprising but true that when one day there was a fire at Madame Tussauds (in 1925), in which almost all the wax figures died, the fire for some reason did not affect the Chamber of Horrors...

Madame Tussauds London continues to develop rapidly. The collection of wax figures is constantly being replenished with realistic copies of famous personalities. The administration zealously ensures that Madame Tussauds presents wax doubles of all the most popular (or notorious) currently the time of politicians, actors, singers, athletes, showmen and musicians.
Madame Tussauds in London does not lag behind the latest technological progress. To make exhibitions more exciting and dynamic, the most advanced Computer techologies and achievements of modern chemistry.
In order to ensure greater verisimilitude, special plastic is now used in the manufacture of figures that imitates nails and eyes, as well as artificial leather. In addition, to recreate the spirit of the era to which the wax sculpture belongs, costumes of that time, scenery, and sound effects are widely used.

Moreover, the wax figures themselves can now move and speak! They even react in a certain way to the behavior of visitors. For example, Jennifer Lopez's figure turns red when people unceremoniously stare at her “prominent” part of the body.
Of particular note is the Spirit of London attraction at the end of the tour of Madame Tussauds. This is an exciting journey through medieval London! Visitors are seated in miniature London taxis, which take them through halls where the past comes to life. Moreover, it literally “comes to life” - the characters greet guests passing by, wave their hands, and the military salutes. The trip ends in the Chamber of Horrors, which was described above.
Describing all the wonders of Madame Tussauds in London is an impossible task. It is hardly possible to convey in words and photographs all the impressions of this amazing “kingdom of doubles.” One thing is certain - among the attractions of London there are few places as unusual and fascinating as Madame Tussauds.

Wax figures of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI

...And they also say that the British have no sense of humor!
See how fun they are getting ready to celebrate Christmas at Madame Tussauds London.
The entire royal family was dressed in cheerful New Year's sweaters. Moreover, one must assume that the royal family is aware and is not at all offended.
The coolest sweaters on the Queen Mother and Prince Harry, the Queen chose the image of her favorite breed of corgi dog. Corgis, by the way, are also present in the photo, and also in cheerful colorful clothes.
The couple, Prince William and his wife Catherine, were dressed in the same sweater, which is symbolic.
The most boring outfit is Camilla, the wife of Prince Charles, and he, in turn, has the most ridiculous outfit.
Actually, these outfits express the attitude towards members of the royal family - either museum workers, or the entire nation as a whole.

Original message

Anna-Marie was born in 1761 in France; later she and her mother moved to Switzerland. There Anna's mother got a job as a housekeeper for famous sculptor Philip Curtis. He first made anatomical wax models for medical purposes, and then began creating portraits and figures. Wax sculptures were in demand and brought considerable income to their manufacturer. Curtis soon began creating wax portraits of members of the royal family, moved to Paris and opened his own studio. Anna-Maria spent hours watching the master work and soon decided to try sculpting herself. She became a student and assistant to the sculptor, and at the age of 17 she created her first independent work- Bust of Voltaire. The work was displayed in the workshop window, and people crowded around the windows all day long.

Wax figures of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI

In 1779, Anna Maria received an invitation to teach the king's sister Elizabeth her skills. She remained court sculptor for the next 10 years until the French Revolution began. The woman, as an accomplice of the royalists, was thrown behind bars and was about to be executed, but in last moment pardoned. She was offered to make death masks of the executed Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

On the left is Madame Tussauds. On the right, Madame Tussaud creates a portrait of the guillotined Marie Antoinette.

Cooperation with the revolutionaries was forced - if she refused, she herself would have been deprived of her life. The collection included more and more figures of executed victims of the revolution. All Parisian executioners knew it, allowing them to remove the masks from their victims during their lifetime and cut their hair after execution. “I paid for these relics by having blood on my hands. These memories will not leave me as long as I live,” she said. She also had to sculpt masks of criminals, and then she came up with an idea: not to show them one by one, but to line them up plot composition crimes. This was the first step towards creating a museum.


Exhibits from Madame Tussauds' horror room

In 1795, the woman married engineer Francois Tussaud. Due to her husband's addiction to gambling and alcohol, the marriage did not last long, and Anna-Maria left for the UK. There she expanded her collection with wax figures of English politicians and organized exhibitions in different cities. She subsequently received British citizenship and, at age 74, opened a permanent museum in London. All the most famous people of the era were immortalized by Madame Tussauds, and people visited the exhibitions in droves.

Self-portrait of Madame Tussaud at the age of 81

Even as a famous and wealthy lady, Tussauds continued to collaborate with executioners to make death masks of serial killers and famous criminals. This is how a “room of horrors” appeared in the museum with their figures and sculptures of victims of the French Revolution. Sometimes Madame Tussauds independently conducted excursions for visitors. In a room with a guillotine and figures of executed Frenchmen, she said: “By order of the leaders of the revolution, I had to make wax casts of the heads thrown into the basket by the executioner. Just cut off by this weapon. But they are all my friends, and I would like not to part with them.”

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London

Tussauds continued own life and after the death of the founder, it was replenished with new exhibits and opened branches all over the world.

Has long become the same for London business card like Big Ben, Tower or Trafalgar Square. Its exhibits include wax figures of celebrities from different eras. Sculptures of politicians, show business stars, athletes and other people who have become famous throughout the world are collected here. Any tourist who finds himself in the British capital includes this museum in the list of attractions that must be visited, because here you can not only see the wax figures of your idols with your own eyes, but also touch them and even take a photo next to them as a souvenir.

Museum in the capital of Great Britain and its branches

Wax figures from Madame Tussauds are now presented not only in London. The institution has its branches in different countries. You can admire the waxworks in Berlin, Amsterdam, Tokyo, New York, Sydney and other cities. In total, the museum has 14 branches around the world. Several centuries have passed since the talented female sculptor Marie Tussaud created her first wax creation, and since then her establishment has turned into a huge entertainment industry. Its London branch alone is visited annually by 2.5 million tourists from all over the world.

Mary's life in France

(before her marriage she bore the surname Grosholz) was born in 1761 in Strasbourg. Her mother worked as a simple housekeeper in the house of Philip Curtis, a doctor who made wax plaster casts of famous people. It was he who became the first and only teacher for little Maria, who taught her the art that became the meaning of her whole life. In 1769, Curtis moved to Paris, taking with him a student and her mother. Here he organizes exhibitions of his works and receives orders to make wax doubles of Louis XV, Marie Antoinette and other noble persons.

The first celebrity whose appearance Dr. Curtis's talented student managed to capture in wax was Voltaire. This happened in 1777, when Maria was only 16 years old. It was followed by sculptures of Rousseau and Franklin. Madame Tussaud's wax figures amazed with their extraordinary resemblance to their originals, and the craftswoman began to receive many lucrative orders. The girl's talent was noticed by representatives of the royal family and she was invited to teach sculptural art to members of the royal family. During French Revolution she was tasked with making death masks for political prisoners and those sentenced to death. After Curtis's death (1794), all of his huge collection passed on to Maria. The craftswoman began to replenish it with her creations.

Maria's move to London, organization of a permanent exhibition

In 1802, Tussauds brought wax sculptures of public figures and criminals to London. Due to the events of the Anglo-French War, she was unable to return to Paris and was forced to remain in England, moving with exhibits from one city to another. 1835 proved to be a key year for Marie Tussaud, as it was then that she was able to open a permanent exhibition of her work on Baker Street. From this moment begins the history of the Wax Museum, which glorified the talented woman throughout the world. At first, about 30 figures were presented at the exhibition; gradually it was replenished with new ones, among which were statues of Walter Scott, Admiral Nelson and other famous personalities. sculptures presented in the museum did not exceed three years, so old figures regularly had to be replaced with new ones. It was only after Tussaud's death in 1850 that her sons François and Joseph invented new technology fixing the wax, which made the figures more durable. Mary's children and grandchildren became worthy followers of her work. In 1884, the wax figures of Madame Tussauds changed their address, moving to Marylebone Road. This is where the establishment is located now, welcoming its visitors.

Features of making wax figures

Today, it takes about 4 months to create one sculpture at Madame Tussauds. A professional team of two dozen people works on each figure. Making a wax double of a famous person is similar to jewelry work. Before making a statue, museum staff take several hundred measurements to accurately recreate the figure and the celebrity. Selecting a color to create a natural shade of a star’s skin and shaping her hairstyle is no less painstaking work, which requires a lot of time. The result of such work is stunning: the sculpture of a celebrity turns out to be so believable that not everyone can tell which is a copy and which is the original.

Exhibits from the Modern London Museum

The wax figures of Madame Tussauds are more than 1000 exhibits that accurately depict famous people different eras. The exhibition halls of the museum represent all members of the British royal family, presidents of the leading countries of the world, writers, scientists, generals, actors, singers, musicians, etc. Any celebrity considers it an honor to have his double in the museum, because this indicates his popularity and public recognition. Here under one roof you can see Princess Diana, the young Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Gerard Depardieu, Nicole Kidman, Johnny Depp, David Beckham, Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin and many other famous of people. Some figures move and even talk. In one of the halls, a little old woman made of wax, dressed in a black outfit, stands modestly. This is Marie Tussaud. It’s as if she is watching from the depths of centuries the huge wax empire she created.

"Chamber of Horrors"

Not only stars are represented in the museum. The establishment has an exhibition hall designed for people with a strong psyche. It's called the "Chamber of Horrors". Wax figures of serial killers, maniacs, and criminals hanging on the gallows are collected here. The collection is complemented by severed heads and instruments of torture. In the same room you can see representatives of the French royal family, made by Marie Tussaud herself. The entire hall brings horror to visitors, so children, pregnant women and people with poor health and unstable psyche are prohibited from entering here.

Today it is difficult to meet a traveler who has been to London and not seen the wax figures of Madame Tussauds. Photos with doubles of their idols are a source of pride for any tourist. It’s common to brag about them, just like with pictures in the background. Eiffel Tower or Egyptian pyramids. You can visit the museum on weekdays from 9.30 to 15.30. On holidays and weekends exhibition halls establishments are open to guests until 18.00.