How have I not reviewed my favorite place in Harper's Ferry WV!? We first visited in 2023 and so today when we were pleasantly surprised to find them open on Monday we had to enjoy the museum again. Just so you're aware the museum is up for sale and it's future is uncertain. Because of that the hours can vary from what you see posted. Due to the uncertainty of its future it is more important than ever to visit and support this historic marvel. Opened back in 1961 the wax figures are extremely life like and tell the entire story of John Brown's life and then the culmination at John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry that resulted finally in his death by hanging after the botched raid. I feel grateful to have visited a couple times and I really hope once it's sold that the new owners continue to operate it as a wax museum. This type of attraction has become increasingly rare and should be celebrated. read more

My fiancé and I visited Harpers Ferry for my birthday and we weren't planning on going here but we just kinda went in for the heck of it. When we came in we were greeted by the person working at the front desk, they were so nice! We had a good time chatting with them before and after walking through. We paid i think $5 each for the both of us. You could either pay the cash or choose a little something to buy. We both already knew the history of John Brown but it was still so much fun and felt so nostalgic to see the wax figures and listening to the audio narrations with a push of a button. Walking through the building was really neat, it felt like it was going to be never ending. There were signs saying the building is up for sale.. i'm worried for the fate of the museum. I'm glad we were able to explore it! read more

I wanted to go here so badly, but the hours of operation are apparently just a loose suggestion. We arrived yesterday at 3:56 and they were closing, so we came back this morning at 10:15 and they were closed. It is now 11:02, and our stay in harpers ferry has come to an end. Terribly disappointing. UPDATE: we waited 30 more minutes and got to go! A very nice woman came in, it was apparently meant to be her day off but she saved the day. The museum was amazing, though you do get the feeling if you look too long they start looking back at you. Keep an eye out for the wax figure smiling in a scene where he really shouldn't be, that's apparently one of the former owners! read more

To be completely honest, I really enjoyed the wax museum. It was $7 for an adult ticket which is very inexpensive. It isn't modern by any stretch of imagination and the building is a bit dark and damp but I think that adds to the charm and character of this museum. I thought the wax figures and demonstrations were very cool and informative. It is a self-guided tour so you can spend as long as you like at each exhibit. I would come back again. I took 1 point off due to the man at the front gate collecting money who didn't say a word to us. What is his deal? read more

John Brown Wax Museum - Museums Near Me - Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Thank goodness we didn't pay more than $14 for my husband and I to see the museum. Big thing that attracted me here was being haunted. And I believe it is. But it's not totally accurate (minor details, but details nonetheless). Some wax figures look good and some look horrible. Guy at the entrance barely said a word and didn't seem to want to be there. Scene of the hanging could be lit better (not brighter, just set up better). I wouldn't recommend to visit as the free exhibits in town are better than this one. Hopefully the owners can use the money they earn to fix things up a little bit. read more

Needs work some of the displays do not work don't see why they charge none of the money goes for updates

OK, I'm not going to lie... this museum is old and cheesy. But that's part of it's charm! Set in a historic building, you walk throughout long, narrow halls and look at displays chronicling the life of John Brown. Being in an old building, the whole place smells like a damp basement. You follow this labyrinth up several levels and then down into the "basement" for the final large scene. The waxwork isn't the worst I've seen, but it's not realistic or on the level of Madame Tussaud's either. In fact, the statues can be downright creepy. Some displays have signs telling you what's going on, while others have buttons to press for audio. The state of (dis)repair of either varies with each section. I will say, as an informative experience, there is something unique to ~seeing~ the "action" as opposed to just reading about it (like you do down in the official park). By combining both this private museum and the public one down the road, you end up with a more solid understanding of John Brown and the Harper's Ferry raid. I rate this so high because I think we don't prize the simple (if silly) attractions of the past. I really enjoy places like this ~because~ of their archaic feel. Also, this place is a touch creepy, and as a horror/paranormal buff that's an added bonus! (Kudos to "Ghosts of Shepherdstown" for putting this place on our map!) If you're not too picky and don't mind old-style educational experiences or spooky wax statues, then you should definitely visit this museum. read more

Def worth the 7 dollar entry, short but informative about John Brown, air conditioned, creepy as hell but glad we did it

This was fun. The tableaux are well done. The narrations are informative. The photos of John Brown's crew on the wall at the end with their causes of death was interesting in a macabre way. Be warned.The stairs are steep and narrow. You do have to walk up (and down) 2 flights to see everything. I think it took us about 30 of not rushing through and reading everything. read more

Folks, you need to do your research before choosing to pay for this experience. Nowhere in its marketing materials does this wax museum present itself as new, present day attraction. In fact, it makes it quite clear that these wax figures and scenes are original and more than 50 years old. Your ticket buys you entry into a museum of your youth, gives you a chance to show kids in your group what museums in the 60s and 70s focused on. Our group was divided on scoring this museum. The kids (ages 7-12) were all positive, after the younger ones got over their initial feeling that the place was creepy. Although they had already seen the movie at the Harper's Ferry John Brown Museum, seeing the events of the raid up close and in greater detail allowed them to better understand and discuss whether John Brown's actions and beliefs were justified, necessary, or extreme. It prompted several more discussions over the following days. The adults were split. One felt it was old and overpriced for what you got. I grew up often visiting a similarly styled wax museum on the Pilgrims (that has since closed) and liked the nostalgia as well as sharing that experience with our kids. This museum is well reviewed on the Roadside America website. If you are on the fence about visiting, I recommend you read those reviews as well. read more

Cost per person was too much for this party of four. It is a small building too so not sure why so expensive when right at the bottom of the hill is a FREE John Brown museum that had a 3 part short film of JB's mission and loyalty. That museum was terrific and the ranger there was extremely knowledgeable and educated at length regarding the slavery-political map and much more! Go the the free museum. No listing for it on yelp and didn't google the address. read more

John Brown Wax Museum - Museums Near Me - Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Ive been here so many times I am always amazed at the story and the animatronic wax people. Spooky warmness- love it!

I have amazing childhood field trip memories of this place... don't take it too seriously and you will have a great time. Just soak in the history. Amazing place on this planet. read more

I agree to an extent with the other reviewer that this is a little bit of a dated exhibit, but the wax figures are decent and it is very educational. My kids and I knew very little about John Brown before we came and left feeling like we learned something. We had found 2 for 1 coupons online. I believe that deal is good for November. I would recommend Googling that if you plan to come. My kids were a little scared of some of the exhibits toward the end, but nothing too bad. read more

My children and I were intrigued by this (then closed) museum on a previous visit. They are familiar with Brown's story but enjoyed seeing it told this way. My tenderhearted 7&9 year olds both felt like it was a little "scary" or "creepy" but my 15 year old suggested that it helped to see the figures in the story as real people. Most of the audio worked. A couple of the figures were slightly animatronic. $7 12 and older $5 kids may be a little high but I figure they have little traffic and taxes/utilities to pay. No one is getting rich off of this museum and the employee was friendly. Part of the experience is in seeing this art form. We would recommend for people who value small, nostalgic museums, inspiration for dioramas, and as a great conversation started about motives and methods. read more

On a recent visit to Harper's Ferry, I started with a visit to the John Brown Wax Museum. I thought it would give me a good overview before seeing some of the other sites. It didn't share too much information, but it was campy fun which is what I was hoping for. I can't necessarily recommend it to others...but I'll share some more info to hopefully help people decide whether to visit or not. Just to warn you, there are no public bathrooms there. Before going into the museum, I had to run down the street to a coffee shop (as I didn't know about the public national park restrooms having just arrived). The tour costs $7 per adult admission and it lasts something like 15-20 minutes if you take some time to take some pics and such. You can't really go by what's stated on the museum's website where they compare their price of admission to Madame Tussaud's as they offer very different experiences with Madame's at least providing a diversion that can last a couple of hours. read more

John Brown Wax Museum - This is John Brown's "happy face" greeting you in the front window of the wax museum. - Museums Near Me - Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

The reason I love the John Brown Wax Museum so much is for the same reasons that the previous reviewer didn't. I enjoyed the experience as a step back into time, before the "in your face" style of media delivery. All of the information that you might care to know about the life and death of John Brown is contained within the walls of this humble museum. Visiting the John Brown Wax Museum is similar to inspecting an antique relic that has yet to be spoiled by modernization and the "upgrades" of today's times. -Stephen Blickenstaff read more

A somewhat... corpsey experience. Someone went to a lot of work to put this all together, but the museum needs an overhaul. This was built in the era before Internets, so it's designed for a more patient audience willing to stand and listen to a 1960's style narrator drone through muffled speakers and are impressed by a few occasional lighting effects. The dimly lit wax has darkened over the years to give the faces an unnatural jaundiced ruddy complexion, and many of the figures are dusty, slumped and disjointed (which is where a "propped up corpses" image comes to mind). It's a bit of a horror show for the little ones in some respects, but not enough of one to entertain the teenagers for that same reason. According to my companion who visited in a school group some 15 years prior, the big payoff was at the end of the tour where there was a creepy finale ending with the lights going out and a suggested hanging, but apparently it has been toned down to a soft inspirational message.. alas. read more