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If you’re not into clowns, taxidermied creatures, or centuries-old piles of hair, you probably should avoid the hashtag on Twitter. In recent days, museums worldwide have been digging into their nightmare-inducing archives to uncover the most disturbing pieces their collections have to offer. Findings include a preserved mermaid-like animal, a cross-section of a pregnant cat, and a children’s toy that’s rumored to move on its own.
Similar to and the challenge to , the movement is one of the ways shuttered museums are engaging with—and now terrifying—their quarantined audiences. We’ve gathered some of their picks below, but please consider this your warning before you scroll down or dive deeper into . (via )
Our has to be this ‘mermaid’…
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— Natural Sciences NMS (@NatSciNMS)
how can we ignore such a call to arms?
This particular item has caused a few nightmares for our followers this week.
Our is…this pincushion! Complete with tiny children’s heads. You’re welcome, Twitter.
— Norwich Castle (@NorwichCastle)
“STEP ASIDE ALL. These are hand-made models of figures playing cards and of gold miners hauling gold nuggets to the surface. BUT the figures are made from crab’s legs and claws… Typical Victorians, they loved weird/creepy stuff. #CreepiestObject” —
We’re convinced the people on the horse don’t know the clown is there …
— GR Public Museum (@GRMuseum)
We have quite a few creepy specimen. According to many visitors, our is this one – half a pregnant cat in fluid:
— Grant Museum of Zoology (@GrantMuseum)
“Bringin’ our A-game for this #CURATORBATTLE! What is it? Just a CURSED CHILDREN’S TOY that we found inside the walls of a 155-year-old mansion. We call it ‘Wheelie’ – and it MOVES ON ITS OWN: Staff put it in one place and find it in another spot later on…. #Creepiestobject” —
So we couldn’t let the moment for pass us by… From the Dept of Creepy in our Education Collection: a naturally mummified pigeon. Sealed into the wall of a building, this pigeon died, desiccated and then its feathers were eaten clean by insects.
— Bell Museum (@BellMuseum)
Thanks for thinking of us and wow, will we be having nightmares tonight with all these |s ! Here is the one we just can’t hide from you, one of our many creepy gems – our Plague Mask (1650/1750)!
— Deutsches Historisches Museum (@DHMBerlin)
“Imagine rummaging through an archive and unwrapping this Down pointing backhand index MC 490A: Broken Dolls head in many parts with fair hair c.1920 Found on the grounds of @StJudesHead . Let’s hope they treat the pupils better Face with tears of joy #CuratorBattle #CreepiestObject” —
As the only staff member at Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre (Ontario, Canada) with a Twitter, allow me to present creepy kids costumes for
— Jenna Locke (@JennaLocke)







