America's First Wax Museum Potters in St Augustine
Gathering together with a group of old friends on a bright and humid day in St Augustine, we found ourselves searching for a place to cool down since we had been shopping all morning.
Standing in front of Potter’s Wax Museum, nestled on Orange Street in the heart of the oldest city, we decided they would certainly keep it cold for their star attractions inside.
Glancing at the weathered stone walls of the building, it whispered stories of centuries past.
Inside a world of over 160 wax figures, frozen moments in time awaited.
As I stepped through the doors, the cool air and dim lighting gave the space an almost theatrical feel.
The first thing that struck me was how real the figures looked – George Washington stood tall, his expression calm but commanding, while Cleopatra, robed in regal gold, seemed ready to step down from her pedestal and greet her admirers.
A guide near the entrance shared a bit of the museum’s quirky history. Founded in 1948 by George L Potter, it was the first wax museum in the United States.
Potter, fascinated by history and inspired by Madame Tussaud’s in London, wanted to create something uniquely American- a place where people could meet historical figures and legends face to face.
As I wandered through the exhibits, it felt like a surreal journey through time.
I walked past Abraham Lincoln, then turned the corner and found myself eye to eye with Michael Jackson in full “Thriller” garb. It wasn’t just American icons either- Shakespeare was there next to Queen Elizabeth I, with a faint spotlight casting shadows that made them seem almost alive.
Children giggled as they posed with Harry Potter and Captain Jack Sparrow, while older visitors lingered at the figures of Martin Luther King Jr and Amelia Earhart, lost in thought.
One man whispered to his wife, “it’s like they’re watching us”.
In the Hall of Horrors, the vibe changed completely- dark, eerie, with thunder sound effects rumbling above. Count Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster and the Headless Horseman all made appearances. I jumped more than once and laughed at my own nerves..
By the time I exited, the Florida sun was still blazing, but something had shifted. I had shaken hands with presidents, stared into the eyes of serial killers and stood alongside revolutionaries, athletes and movie stars all in the span of an hour for only $15.
Potter’s Wax Museum wasn’t just a quirky tourist stop.
It was a strange and wonderful time capsule, where history, pop culture and imagination stood side by side and where, for a brief moment I got to be part of that frozen world.
Paula Garland FL St. Augustine Jun 17, 2025 Back in Time Family Museums
Jun 17, 2025
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