I just went to the condensed version of the Curiosity Shop and was glad to see all of my favorite props set up. It just isn't the real one though, so I couldn't give it a 5-star review. Hopefully they will be able to move back out to their former location on the main street once construction finishes. I always find unique gifts when I come in. This time I found a Seattle rain globe. Instead of snow coming down like in a snow globe, this rain globe featured a light drizzle over the miniature Seattle. It was the coolest! read more

There's seriously something for everyone at this place. From the strange, to bizarre, to downright interesting. Lots of fun weird things to gawk at and learn about. Along the way there is plants of fun unique gifts to check out and purchase for anyone on your list. Be sure to say hello to Medical Ed on your way in and don't forget to head back to check out the shrunken heads and other spooky bodies. Definitely worth a walk through if your visiting the area. You can easily spend an hour or two looking at all the unique oddities on the walls and ceilings. read more

Some very unique and weird things at this store. They have a great selection of all kinds of different items. Next time in area I will definitely stop again. read more

Cool little shop to look around. Shrunken heads, gifts and fudge lol. You could spend about 30 mins looking around here. Definitely a great spot to get out of the rain for a bit. The fudge was really good they also had other treats read more

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop - Jewelry Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I had to see this place and was so excited. It's a mix of curiosity and Seattle gift shop. I was hoping for more of just a curiosity shop but it was still very interesting. I picked up an animal made of hardware souvenir; lots of great gifts to check out ! I would definitely recommend people stop in if you go down to the waterfront. read more

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When I was a little kid the store was in a GIGANTIC wooden warehouse at the end of the piers. Naturally, it was far more cavernous inside, and because it was so old and creaky, it was pretty much 100% scarier and cooler then the building it's in now. That said... they still have all of the weird little items that made it worthwhile back then, so it's worth your time. Though I must recommend that you go in the winter when there are less tourists. It can get cramped in the new space. Number one on my list of things to see when you go into this store are the fleas that are dressed in formal wear! Most people miss them for completely obvious reasons... THEY'RE FREAKING TINY! But if you ask the staff they'll direct you to the right place. When I was a kid I always enjoyed the thought that they had actually found the fleas like that in their natural habitat, dressed up in a little tux and a wedding dress they're just so cute! But now that I think about it, those fleas are dead, so it's really quite a tragedy that they're dressed for a wedding... perhaps the artist should have just gone with work-out gear or scuba suits? (Nope... still tragic). Bring small change for the vintage vending machines! The physic card reading machine is my favorite! EVER! She has changed the events in my life almost as many times as I've seen the movie Big. I highly recommend buying the Mexican Jumping Beans, breaking out the worm inside and then inserting him/her into other types of nuts and ephemera. I hardly expect that there's anything funnier on this planet then a Mexican Jumping Macaroni Noodle, or a Mexican Jumping Pen Cap. There's a weight to worm ratio that needs to be considered here, but if you come up with funnier ideas let me know, I still have some fifth grade bets I'd like to win. read more

This place is @#$@#$#@%@%$ weird... but a good place to take a quick peek inside. This looks like a small museum had sex with your great grandparents' attic.. there are tons of random things in here from Native American totem poles and artifacts for purchase to rock pools to mummified people in the back of the store. Kids will either #$5t in their pants and cry or they will marvel at the things like the rocks or the millions of trinkets they can touch here. The taxidermy on the walls was interesting... as was the fortune teller.... I didn't spend much time here because I was on a coffee mission, but next time I head to Seattle I will examine it floor to ceiling. They also do "Haunted Ghost Tours" like they do in San Francisco. Something fun to do as a family at night... the information is at the back counter near the mummified woman. read more

I've spent a lot of time at Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe. In high school I ate acid and walked down here from Cap. Hill. I was severely overstimulated. They have: Two human mummies: Sylvester and Sylvia. A two-headed calf A 2-headed kitten in a jar A piglet ball (with 3 heads and 8 legs and shit) in a jar Paintings on the heads of pins Shrunken heads and a shrunken torso A "mermaid" like in House of 1000 Corpses Lacquered pufferfish for sale A couple of old-school "dirty" movies for a nickel (in viewer boxes... One has Bettie Page.) A bunch of other crap to look at and be mystified And dead baby sharks in jars of blue fluid. We named our favorite sharkling "Larry." Larry loved to dance, but he was a depressed heroin junkie. We liberated Larry from his jar of fluid, into the Puget Sound. It was like Free Willy, only better. read more

Such a quirky little place. Total tourist trap and lots of junk. But I love it anyway. How could you NOT love it? They've got a freakin' mummified guy in there. And a big whale dong hanging from the ceiling. It does smell a bit like musty death in there, so be prepared for that. I wouldn't suggest going freshly healed of the flu or anything. But still, a neat little place to pop into. read more

Gift shop down on the waterfront in Seattle. Has been open since 1899. I found it a bit cramped and packed in the place and too easy for a big guy like me to bump into things. I am going 4-stars for the history of this place and interesting gifts one can pick up here. read more

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop - Proclamation from Mayor of Seattle marking 100 years in business on 10/8/1999. - Jewelry Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The museum aspect of the ye olde curiosity shoppe is intriguingly mystifying. Apparently they showcase the largest collection of shrunken heads. If you're into macabre or forensics, you may enjoy some of the historic "creepy" artifacts on display, like Sylvester and Sylvia the mummies. *I've never been able to enjoy their fudge without the thought of mummy.* The merchandise is crap. Sorry! Overpriced low quality tourist junk. Just about any gift shop in the 2 mile radius of this store will carry the same capsule machine bracelets, head shop paraphernalia, generic T-shirts, candy and keychains. Tacky! It's a fun stop to make if you want to see some interesting amusements. But don't bring back any of these miscellaneous souvenirs to your family in your home state. Ps- it smells like taxidermy inside. read more

I grew up going to this store with my family whenever we would take out of town guests to the pier or to Ivar's. As many have mentioned I loved the Mexican Jumping Beans more than anything and now 20+ years later I carry the tradition by bringing my kids along when we take out of town visitors or spend a day in our favorite city. I remember how terrified I was of the skeletons in the back, and now there is NO WAY to go in the store without making your way to the back. They sell a plethora of nick nacks and the regular tourists items. I swear I come in with the intention of NOT buying a thing; but somehow the inner child in me begs me to buy something. So many odds and ends that you find grown adults giggling like school children. Although its a pretty tight fit and those with strollers should avoid, it is still a Seattle institution that one must visit. It may bring out your inner child. :-) read more

The store was very interesting as it had real corpses on display however the store had toys which I thought did not fall within what I had expected the store to have. Some items could have been simply purchased at Walmart if I wanted them. I would have rather had the store filled with only rare oddities. read more

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Cheesy but fun, this is a must-stop if you're walking the waterfront without a serious agenda. We got little tiny license plate keychains for the kids (the first time in a long time I've seen any place have BOTH kids' names on personalized stuff), and a book about folding dollar bills that looks pretty cool. Alas, they were fresh out of million-dollar bills, which is what we really wanted. We plunked a quarter into a diorama machine from 1874; that was kinda bitchin, that the curtain still raises and the little people inside still do stuff. A cheap thrill, to be sure. We almost bought a beautiful inlaid cribbage board but I bailed when I couldn't tell where it was made... no $50 made-in-Taiwan where the worker has gotten 50 cents for 10 hours' work stuff for me if I can help it. The Mexican jumping beans are a blast from the past and it was hard not to buy some. The service was disorganized and when we finally got her, a bit surly. Seems appropriate for here, so I won't even ding them for that. LOL read more

I didn't buy anything in here, but my sister brought me in to see the mummies because she knows I'm a fan of oddball stuff like that. We got to see them as well as poking around at all the other little oddball things for sale and on display in here. The prices actually aren't that bad for a touristy kind of place and there was some pretty cool, totally random stuff in here. If you like weird stuff you're not going to find everywhere else and really have no need for what-so-ever...then check this place out. read more

Hahah, gotta visit here whenever in Seattle! Though this place smells like pee, is full of weirdness and has an abundant amount of pressed penny machines - it really is an institution. How can you not like it?? read more

Ok, so I am a bit shocked myself that I would give a tourist trap a full 5 stars, but this place is definitely the kind of store you would want to visit on any trip... They have petrified animals and creepy old fortune telling machines... random bits and baubles made from animal bone, leather tooled handbags and local native crafts. Jewelry and Mexican Jumping Beans... dreamcatchers, books, gifts, etc. The reason this place stands out to me is because it seems as though someone went through my entire bank of memories and took every cool gift shop I've been to in my past and rolled them all up into one giant store. People w/ young kids, you might want to stay away if your kid is easily rattled... but then shoot - bring them in! It builds character! read more

This place has the most random things in here and I absolutely love it! Do you need a Seattle shot glass? Check. Do you need some Mexican jumping beans? Check. Do you want some fudge? Check. Do you want to see two headed animals? Check. It's like a one stop shop for anything weird and unusual. This place is also the meeting place for the Ghost Tour, so check that out too. The location is prime for tourists and locals since it is by the ferry terminals. Parking does suck, but sucky parking is what Seattle is all about. If you want to see some unusual things, give this a place a try. read more

A tourist trap worth getting trapped in. Need postcards? They got 'em? T-shirts? No problem. Shrunken heads? Mummies? Freaky taxidermied animals? Check, check and check. Part museum, part junk store, part souvenir shop this place is the type of place you want to stumble upon when you're on vacation. My favorite thing there is the Laughing Jack. it's one of those old animatronic machines and it's a sailor that is creepy as hell with a disintegrating cigarette in its mouth. You throw in a quarter and it shakes and laughs. This is the type of thing that horror movies are born from. It is bizarre, scary and totally rad. After that check out the old girlie machines in back and make sure to look up from time to time. There is plenty of odd stuff hanging on the wall from front to back. Worth a visit even if you don't buy anything. Which you probably won't. read more

Had a kick ass Seattle day date with the bf yesterday that started off here. Oh man! I have been missing out. Here, there, everywhere is useless crap! It DOES smell like funk, though. It had me scared (more than I should have been) to get closer to the mummies... but the strangest thing happened... The mummies smelled like... chocolate? No. Wait. That's just the fudge that I COMPLETELY missed worrying about how the mummies were going to come alive and chase me. ...He bought me a crab mug. Named him "Chris Tayshaun Muggerson." [Crustacean Mug, teehee.] Careful for the lady at the checkout counter. She was pleasant... but very slow, seemingly absent-minded, with a twist of disgruntled. ... she asked the bf if he wanted Mr. Muggerson wrapped (yes, please) and then proceeded to look for the wrap for two minutes. I didn't notice until we left that there were free fudge samples. I'll be back. read more

Ahh I gotta give this place 5 stars, just due to the famous reputation its established here in Seattle. For years I can remember coming here and always being entertained and somewhat disturbed at all the weird stuff in here. For sure a tourist trap but how can you pass up an opportunity to go look at one of the most bizarre stores around here? I think its a great place to check out and kill some time. read more

This place was cool to visit while in seattle, sadly it was not as creepy or morbid as i wish it was. The best parts of the store are the very entrance where you can see animal mash ups and skeletons followed by the back of the store where mummies are displayed and shrunken heads. None which you can buy, all that you can buy are regular souvenirs, good but not that great. I do have to say the staff was nice. read more

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Awesome place. Probably one of the more interesting spots on that row. Lots of interesting items from antiques to modern toys like fidget spinners. When you're there, there's a 10 cent machine that will show you old dirty videos. Don't be a cheap ass and pass that great opportunity up. I purchased a extendable back scratcher (raven claw theme) and it's awesome. read more

Was in need of shrunken head, Mexican jumping beans, and alligator claw back scratcher. Thank God I only had to make one stop. *Touristy - but then again, this is the waterfront. read more

This was basically just another tourist shop at first glance, but in looking up at the ceiling I was amazed by all of the artifacts and skeleton's collected. That's where this store is really cool. They do have some unique and cool stuff, though they even admit that much of the history is lost. The stop is worth it though to check out what they do have. The touristy stuff though, my guess, is to keep them open....they need to make a profit somehow. read more

A tourist trap, for sure, but definitely an entertaining one. You can get all of the knick-knacks and souvenirs that you want, but you can also just look at all sorts of random stuff. Writing on a grain of rice, natural skeletons (a tad gross), shrunken heads, Native American mask-- you name it, they have it. Look UP because that's where the most interesting stuff is. I wouldn't make a special trip here, but if you're all ready at the aquarium/Ivar's/ferry terminal/Waterfront in general, it's worth checking out. read more

Always a pleasure to come here! I loving bringing visiting friends and family here because there are so many fascinating items and new displays each time I go! It is definitely a tourist destination since it is located on the Seattle Waterfront, but it is always tons of fun! Even if you don't want to drop some big change, there is something for everyone here! There is even a 5 cent photo slideshow of some racy lady posing in lingerie during the 1920s ;) (it was considered X-rated back then)! Also don't forget to check out the shrunken heads, Sylvester the mummy, the mermaid, and the whale oosik! Pros: - Fun and FREE tourist attraction on the Seattle Waterfront (10 minutes from Pike Place Market) - Lots of fascinating and unusual items - FREE fudge sample Cons: - Parking can be a pain; try to visit on a weekday! Why I gave it a 5..... Lots of cool exhibits here and there is always something new to find here. Always interesting and a fun time! It's free and it's great to bring any visitors to Seattle you may have here! There is something for everyone here! read more

Yuck. What is that smell!? Combination of fake museum and tourist souvenir shop, this place was on my tour book as a tourist destination. I wish I had skipped it. So they have a couple of mummies. Um, sure. Maybe that is what accounts for the smell. However, the only saving grace is I love coin-operated machinery and am very fascinated with the ones from yesteryear. Most of those machines only took a quarter. They had a few different pressed penny machines but be careful of not duplicating the generic elongateds. I guess I'd only come back if I really really really wanted some junk to take home. read more

One of the first places I visited when I moved here to Washington. I go back every so often to try on silly hats, stare at two-headed animals, and buy a shark in a jar. If you're looking for weird and silly items you don't really need but want anyway, this place is for you!! read more

I had great memories of this place from a visit as a child, but now it just seems like a souvenir shop. Maybe it was that all along. I remember being in awe as a child, looking at all the curios on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. The two headed pigs in a jar or the "mermaid" skeleton. There seems to be less of that now, or they are so crowded together and up high that you can't really appreciate it anymore. I made sure to stop by this place in the few hours I had in Seattle, but I was disappointed that it wasn't the same place I visited as a child. Or maybe it is, and I just have this fantasy of what I thought it was. Either way, it's still a cool place to see weird things and pick up some quirky or typical souvenirs. read more

I've only come here when I was a tourist, before moving to Seattle... and I was incredibly pleased. It was a great stop on our waterfront walk and so much fun to browse! We found my fiance's smashed penny book-holder here, the first one we'd seen. Trust me, this was pretty much the highlight of his trip (and not because he hated Seattle... just because he loves smashed pennies THAT much for some odd reason). Even if you don't buy anything here and you think it's full of junk you won't use - at least it's full of fun and interesting junk you won't use that is great to look at! :) I should revisit now that we're residents and buy some creative birthday presents for friends... read more

If you come here, the 5-cent vintage pin-up-women slideshow from the 1920's are definitely worth a peek! Oh, how far our society has come in terms of what is scandalous and what is... hints of a little naughty here and there. This place is 40% touristy stuff and 60% random, intersting bits and pieces. Definitely got a bit of the weird and silly... read more

Yikes! This place totally creeps me out! It smells funny. There is way too much junk to look at. The freak show stuff (the skeletons and pickled animals) gives me the heebie-jeebies. The only good thing is the vintage fortune telling machine which once told me I was a misanthrope. Surprisingly accurate!! (Just kidding!) read more

This was a really fun & interesting place! It has artifacts, fun things to buy/tourist knick knacks, & fudge! You could spend an hour in here alone just looking at everything. My only con is it gets crowded & it's tight to walk around, also it's not organized in any order, so take it all in! A definite spot for a tourist or an eccentric locale! read more

Every child should go here. Still as fun and interesting as when I was a kid over 40 years ago.

Great place if you want to pick up souvenirs from Seattle. They have the weirdest, most unique set of gifts out there. Usually when you go to a souvenir store, you'll see one item or two that sticks out because you've never seen it before. Different than the t-shirts, hoodies, key chains, snow globes. Now imagine an entire store filled with it. Paper made with elephant poo? Little musical boxes with your favorite showtunes. Good stuff. read more

I admit -- Im taking a Museum course with the owner (I think?) of this awesome little shop. I also admit I was excited to have her in my class because I really love this wacky tourist shop/museum. This place is just weird and awesome. Great location on the pier! Want souveniers of the Emerald City? Come here for all your standards - postcards, shot classes, t-shirts, etc. Want weirder things? You are in the right place too. Got myself an awesome pair of Zombie earrings here and I couldn't be happier. Want a free museum? Well here you go! Granted, you'll be seeing curiosities but who isn't interested in mummies, shrunken heads, bugs, walrus skulls and a fake mermaid? Yes -- it is a bit of a tourist trap and full of kitschy stuff. If that isn't your bag then don't come here. If you're down for some silly fun and in the mood to see some strange things Id say you should definitely stop in. read more

Good for a walk through but a bit on the spendy side. They certainly have the weirdness down pat. read more

Total tourist trap. Great for kids or anyone who wants tacky Seattle merchandise or junk like Mexican jumping beans. Sort of like Ripley's believe it or not meets roadside gas station shop. Not a bad spot to stop if you are killing some time waiting for the ferry and want to look at a few multi-headed animals, mummies, or coin operated movies. Totally not worth going out of your way for. read more

A must see in Seattle, favorite childhood memories read more

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop - Sylvia - Jewelry Near Me - Seattle, Washington