Tucked away in the vibrant heart of Asbury Park, The Paranormal Museum is more than just a curiosity stop — it’s a deep dive into the shadowy side of history, folklore, and the unexplainable. Since opening in 2008, this boutique attraction has welcomed both skeptics and true believers, inviting them to explore a world where haunted relics, ghostly tales, and mysterious phenomena collide.
Accessed through Paranormal Books & Curiosities, the museum offers an intimate, fully guided experience that’s part history lesson, part supernatural investigation. Your 60-minute visit includes a docent-led tour rich with background stories, historical context, and first-hand accounts. And unlike many museums, this one encourages a more “hands-on” approach — allowing guests to get closer to the artifacts that have sparked intrigue, fear, and fascination for centuries.
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A Collection That Tells Ghost Stories Without Speaking
The Paranormal Museum’s exhibits are permanent in theme but rotate regularly, ensuring that even repeat visitors discover something new. Artifacts range from centuries-old relics to modern items with chilling reputations — each with a story that often blurs the line between fact and folklore.
Highlights include:
- Haunted Objects – Donated by individuals desperate to remove them from their homes, these items are reported to cause unexplained activity. Often historically significant, they now rest here for safekeeping — both for the public and from the public.
- Famous Haunts of the USA – Stories from the Salem Witch Trials, America’s last vampire legend, haunted presidents, and the lingering echoes of the Civil War.
- Haunted Dolls – Meet Alice, Tina, Marcel, and Kyle — dolls whose presence has unsettled even seasoned investigators. While secured behind glass, these figures remain a highlight of the tour for those drawn to their unsettling allure.
- Cryptids – From the infamous Jersey Devil to American legends like Bigfoot, the museum showcases evidence, artwork, and theories surrounding creatures that straddle the boundary between myth and reality.
- Relics & Remains – Physical fragments from historic sites such as Chichen Itza and Poveglia Island, each carrying the weight of their dark pasts.
- Prison Ghosts – Stand before artifacts from Eastern State Penitentiary, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, and even the lethal prison door responsible for 360 deaths in 1930.
- Ouija Wall – A safe resting place for cursed and unwanted spirit boards. Here, no questions are asked, and no one is tricked into taking them home.
- Ritual & Occult – A section reserved for the truly curious — but not everyone chooses to step inside.
The Haunted Doll Phenomenon
The museum’s doll collection deserves its own mention. These figures embody the eerie possibility that inanimate objects can harbor sentience, memory, or malice. Some are connected to personal tragedies, others to cultural rituals. The display explores various types:
- Playthings of the Past that reportedly move, whisper, or cause mischief.
- Funerary Figures from ancient traditions meant to accompany the dead into the afterlife.
- Voodoo and Ritual Dolls with uses ranging from healing to harm in religious contexts.
The collection is both unsettling and captivating, serving as a reminder of how human imagination — and fear — shapes our relationship with the unknown.
History’s Darker Side
Some artifacts carry the weight of history itself. A lock of Abraham Lincoln’s hair sits in one case, offering a tangible connection to one of America’s most tragic assassinations. In another, a centuries-old newspaper from the Salem Witch Trials whispers the story of hysteria, injustice, and lives cut short. These pieces connect visitors not just to paranormal lore, but to pivotal — and often painful — chapters of human history.
Tours, Investigations, and Private Experiences
The Paranormal Museum isn’t a static display — it’s an interactive research space. Visitors can choose from themed guided tours, some allowing extra time for personal investigation. Private tours are available for up to six guests, each tailored to the group’s interest. Because tours are led by scheduled guides, bookings are non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled, ensuring an exclusive, uninterrupted experience.
The final portion of your visit is an open exploration period, where you can ask questions, review evidence, or even attempt your own mini-investigation. Any experiences you share may be archived, becoming part of the museum’s ongoing research into the unexplained.
Why You Should Go
Whether you’re fascinated by ghost stories, intrigued by folklore, or simply love Asbury Park’s eclectic culture, The Paranormal Museum offers something unforgettable. It’s an immersive blend of history, mystery, and hands-on curiosity that you won’t find anywhere else in New Jersey.
For a day that’s equal parts eerie and educational, make sure to include The Paranormal Museum in your itinerary — and keep your mind open. After all, in a place like this, you never know who (or what) might be watching.
