The history and uniqueness of Madame Tussauds Museum

Piece by: GARVIN PATRICK

05 July 2024

• The 20th century saw a surge in the popularity of film and music. Madame Tussauds responded by adding wax likenesses of Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley

Museums are basically buildings in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited where the Madame Tussauds Museum has caught the eye of most tourists because of its uniqueness.

Madame Tussauds, a name synonymous with lifelike wax figures, boasts a rich history intertwined with celebrity and artistic innovation.

It's a place where visitors go face-to-face with historical icons, sports legends, and Hollywood A-listers, all meticulously rendered in wax. But the story behind Madame Tussauds is just as fascinating as the figures themselves.

Its history begins in 18th century France with Marie Grosholtz, a young woman who apprenticed under a wax sculptor named Philippe Curtius.

Marie honed her craft, creating figures of famous figures like Voltaire and Rousseau. During the tumultuous French Revolution, she even made death masks of executed revolutionaries, a chilling reflection of that era.

Following the revolution, Marie inherited Curtius' wax exhibition and embarked on a touring career. In 1802, she brought her collection to Great Britain, where it captured the public imagination.

By 1835, she established a permanent base in London's Baker Street Bazaar, laying the foundation for the museum we know today.

Madame Tussauds' success stemmed from its ability to capture the spirit of the times. Early exhibits showcased historical figures like Napoleon Bonaparte and Horatio Nelson, while also featuring macabre displays from the French Revolution in a separate "Chamber of Horrors."

As the years progressed, Madame Tussauds embraced the growing fascination with celebrity. Charles Dickens, a literary giant of the Victorian era, became one of the first celebrities to be immortalized in wax.

The 20th century saw a surge in the popularity of film and music. Madame Tussauds responded by adding wax likenesses of Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.