That’s Not a Real Mermaid, Is It?

Becky Kilimnik — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 18:30:00 +0000

From sideshow oddities to serial killer evidence and cult memorabilia, the Graveface Museum in Savannah has it all. We sat down with Chloë Manon, wife of Ryan Graveface, and chatted about what it’s like to run a museum full of the strange and unusual. Manon also relayed some chilling experiences with ghosts that also linger in this strange museum.

Listen here:

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Sideshow Oddities at Graveface Museum

Entrance to Graveface Museum in Savannah, Georgia

Upon entering the museum, you immediately meet Clementine, the five-legged cow. She is real, and sits in front of her original backdrop.

Taxidermy preserved five-legged cow named Clementine

Continue wandering through the room and you’ll encounter a creature labeled as a two-headed African tiger (also real, but we’re not sure it’s a tiger), a two-headed fawn, and a two-headed pig.

This strange creature is labeled to be a two-headed African tiger

A two-headed fawn found stillborn in utero

There are also other sideshow oddities that aren’t merely creatures formed in the womb when God wasn’t looking. The museum holds a Haitian Vodou zombie skull and several shrunken heads.

Some shrunken heads. I feel like these guys could start talking to me at any moment.

And then there are the gaffs—creatures made from parts of other things to look like they’re real. This FeeJee Mermaid is a perfect example. And, in our interview, Chloë talks about the man who is responsible for the bulk of the gaffs that appeared around the country in the 1940s and ’50s.

This Feejee Mermaid may not be real, but she’ll still give you nightmares

About Chloë Manon

Chloë Manon, artist, taxidermy instructor, and researcher of all things odd

Chloë may help run Graveface Museum, but she’s also a skilled artist and taxidermist. Check out her work on her Instagram!

We hope you had fun listening to this episode and perusing the fantastic images from Graveface. Until next time, have a spooky day!