Which is the first name that crosses your mind when you hear about a wax museum? Madame Tussauds, probably!

So, today, we’ll take you on a journey to the past Madame Tussauds DC (Yes! That’s been closed) and uncover what the museum was all about.

1. A Brief Look Into Madame Tussauds (The Wax Attraction)

Madame Tussaud’s wax museum is filled with famous figures, from political leaders to celebrities. Millions of people have become witnesses to its roaring success to this date. That’s why it is a legend among all the tourist attractions and carved out a place in the pages of history. History calls for Her Story, the story of Madame Tussaud.

Another tale of an inspiring woman, Marrie Tussauds – popularly named Madame Tussauds – made into this industry by mastering from her master and launching the first sculpture, and boom!

Was it easy to amass all the famous wax figures in one place?

Nope, she took great pains to create the first museum of the much-celebrated attraction in the world. Madame Tussaud’s official museum in London resides as the most popular wax museum, expanding worldwide with over 23 more such museums.

This article discusses one such Madame Tussauds in the United States’ capital city, Washington, DC. Madame Tussauds DC entertained wax museum lovers in the city for over 12 years. The attraction, inaugurated in October 2007, was the 12th wax exhibit in a series of Madame Tussauds museums.

2. Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.

Location: Penn Quarter Area 1001 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

The museum offered a hands-on experience meeting with all the 45 American presidents before Joe Biden, including President Obama and Trump. It was a one-stop destination to let your hair down in the company of A-list celebs and other noted figures. The museum, retained by Merlin Entertainments, operated around 28,143 sq ft of space.

Madame Tussauds DC Museum hosted America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, as the first figure to enter the museum. This Madame Tussauds in DC was located near the Ford’s Theatre, where Lincoln was shot. Madame Tussauds DC seemed to be paying homage to the former president among other presidents in US history.

3. The Must-See Wax Figures in the Museum

I) Political Figures:

1. George Washington
2. John Adams
3. Thomas Jefferson
4. Bill Clinton
5. Barack Obama
6. Donald Trump

II) Cultural Icons: 

1. Frederick Douglass
2. Harriet Tubman
3. Rosa Parks
4. Martin Luther King Jr
5. Juliette Gordon Low

III) First Ladies:

1. Nancy Reagan
2. Michelle Obama

IV) A-list Party:

1. Brad Pitt
2. Angelina Jolie
3. Zac Efron
4. Taylor Swift
5. George Clooney
6. Marilyn Monroe
7. Jimmy Fallon

V) Sports Stars:

1. Babe Ruth
2. Tiger Woods

The attraction would take 45 mins to 2 hours to explore.

4. Fun Facts about Madame Tussauds

1. Madame Tussauds opened on London’s Baker Street for the first time in 1835.
2. Amsterdam is Madame Tussaud’s first branch abroad to be opened after Madame Tussaud’s London branch.
3. The first Madame Tussauds museum displayed the Chamber of Horrors, which featured some notorious historical figures.
4. The Baker Street location of Madame Tussauds Museum exhibited all her hand-made wax sculptures.
5. Madame Tussauds modeled her wax figure in 1842, which now honors the gateway of the London Museum.
6. The President’s Gallery in the Madame Tussauds DC was worth $2 million and was the museum’s highlight.
7. Madame Tussauds DC also had a wax sculpture of Marie Tussauds.
8. The cost of one sculpture in the DC museum was about $125,000, and it took around 3-6 months to become lifelike.

5. The Highlights offered by the Washington DC Museum for the Visitors

• Meet the presidential army and take photos with them.
• Sit in the White House’s Oval Office and get the real feel of handling political matters.
• Go face-to-face with the Uncle Sam exhibit.
• Know the history behind the moments of importance in the American presidents’ lifespan.
• Educational experience.
• Boast selfies with the lifelike wax figures of cultural icons.

6. Pros and Cons of the Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C.

I) Pros

• Kids-friendly and suitable for all ages.
• Realistic figures
• All American Presidents in one place.
• Stars such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
• Allowed taking pictures with the wax figures.
• Interactive museum – one could touch the figures and even pose with them.
• Friendly and helpful staff.
• Props to use while taking selfies with your favorite figure.

II) Cons

• Small as compared to other Madame Tussauds.
• Fewer figures
• Pricey
• It was not amusing to some, as the attraction mostly featured presidents.

7. FAQs

7.1. What are the nearby attractions of Madame Tussauds DC? 

Lincoln Memorial, National Mall, Washington Monument, National World War II Memorial, Ford’s Theatre, and National Gallery of Art are some nearby attractions, along with Madame Tussauds DC.

7.2. What was so special about the Madame Tussauds DC wax museum?

Madame Tussauds DC Wax Museum was the only one with a collection of all American presidents under one roof. The museum had a ‘President’s Gallery.’ 

7.3. Can you still visit the Madame Tussauds DC museum?

You can’t visit DC’s Wax Museum as it was closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic and hasn’t opened till now.

7.4. Why did Madame Tussauds DC close?

The museum was shut down amid COVID-19, and later, the owner intended to sublease the attraction area.

7.5. Will Madame Tussauds DC never open?

No, the Madame Tussauds in Washington DC will not open its door to wax statue lovers as the site was supposed to be rented instead of reopening.

7.6. What will replace the DC museum?

The owner proposed settling the area near Ford’s Theatre with a similar concept.

7.7. Where can I see the same wax figures when Madame Tussauds DC has closed?

Madame Tussauds DC was just one of the many wax museums of the Madame Tussauds franchise. The world-famous attraction has many other sites where you can see your favorite wax figures from all the fields.

7.8. Which wax statue did Tussauds make first?

Madame Tussauds made King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s death masks as her first sculpture models.

7.9. Is there any other wax museum near Washington, DC?

The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum is one wax attraction in Baltimore, Maryland, near Washington, DC. It portrays the “black historical figures” with the rich African-American culture.

Last Updated on March 30, 2024 by Pragya Chakrapani