SAN ANTONIO — The first thing we notice walking into Ripley’s Believe It or Not is how quickly everything around us changes. One moment we’re outside in the middle of San Antonio, and the next we’re surrounded by things that don’t quite feel real.
Located across from the Alamo and just steps from the River Walk, the museum stands out from the usual tourist spots. Instead of long lines and crowded walkways, it offers something different — an experience built on curiosity and the unexpected.
As one moves through the exhibits, it becomes clear that no two displays are alike. Some are detailed and creative, such as a model of the Eiffel Tower by Joe King from Stockton, California built entirely from toothpicks. Standing 24-feet tall, the structure is made from over 110,000 toothpicks and weighs less than five pounds.
Other exhibits are based on real people and records including a life-size display of Robert Wadlow, the tallest man ever recorded. He began growing abnormally at two years old, and by the time of his death at age 22, he stood 8 feet, 11 inches tall, with a 9-feet-5-inch arm span, a size 37AA shoe, and weighed 440 pounds. This display puts into perspective just how unusual the human body can be.
Staffer Jesus said beyond the exhibits it is the experience that keeps people coming back.
“We get a mix of people every day, from tourists to locals who have been here before,” he said. “What makes it fun is watching people react, because no two exhibits get the same reaction.”
Cheyenne Smith said her family visits Ripley’s every time they visit San Antonio.
“It’s a nice break from the crowded tourist spots like the Alamo and the River Walk,” she said. “The kids love it, but honestly, there’s something interesting for everyone.”
Throughout the museum, the exhibits shift between history, science and creativity. A massive mammoth skeleton stretches across an entire room, immediately catching your attention. Nearby, other cases hold smaller objects that raise just as many questions. Some of these come from native tribes, whether it’s a Karuat dance ornament from New Guinea designed to make men resemble a boar, or shrunken heads from the Jivaro Indians of Ecuador, who kept their enemies’ heads as war trophies. From unusual artifacts to odd collections, each display has us wondering what is waiting for us at the next turn.
The museum also includes modern pieces made from unexpected materials. A scrap metal sculpture of pop-culture icon Spider-Man, made from recycled auto parts by artist Anchalee Saengtai of Thailand stands out.
Larger exhibits and interactive displays make the experience feel immersive. Instead of simply walking past everything, one finds oneself stopping, looking closer, and trying to understand how or why something exists in the first place.
A personal favorite is the hand-painted butterflies from Mexico. As someone who has always loved both butterflies and art, this display stands out. Each butterfly is carefully preserved and painted, with designs that reflect Mexico’s culture and history. It was interesting to see how something that represents life and beauty can still hold that same presence even after death. There’s something about taking something that no longer has life and transforming it into art that feels intentional and respectful. Instead of feeling unsettling, it feels peaceful and symbolic, and memorable.
Ripley’s doesn’t follow a single theme, and that’s what makes it work. It moves between the strange, the historical and the creative without feeling disconnected. Each section adds something new, keeping the experience from feeling predictable.
What makes Ripley’s Believe It or Not worth a visit is not just one exhibit that stands out, but the variety of everything. Ripley’s Believe It or Not lives up to its name — and that you can believe.
For more, visit ripleys.com.
